After the War Between The States, many a young man just sort of gave up and totally left the country. Most of them went to South America, like Tom did to Brazil, South America. Perhaps the only difference is that Tom came back and wrote about it in his memoirs. This was written by Tom, but we don't know if it was to anyone in particular, or just everyone in general within the family. You have to remember, Tom's immediate family was rapidly dwindling. All three of his daughter were dead by 1910. Leaving him with two sons, neither of which had issue. Of course, by the time of his death he wouldn't have know this.

"A Confederate Soldier, In A Strange Land"

The time frame of this would have been mid 1865 - 1868.