East Texas Family Records, Volume 6, Number 1, Spring 1982 Page: 2
63 p. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Chattanooga, Tenn.
July 30, 1862
Dear Cousin Florence:
Captain Neal of Upshur County leaves for home tomorrow and I will write a short
note by him. We are stacking tents and sending off baggage preparatory to leaving
for Knoxville. I suppose this afternoon at 4 P.M. I know nothing of the object
of this move unless it be to march on Nashville from Knoxville. Large numbers of
troups are coming in now and it is said that Bragg's whole force is on its way
here. Stirring events are on the carpet here but what they are are more than we
subalterns can tell.
Brother Edl is in fine health. Douglas Battery2 starts tomorrow and will go by
land. I have been quite indisposed for several days past but am able to get about.
I very much fear that my health will get so bad again that I shall be compelled to
leave the service. If I could only get into one big battle I should be content to
retire but to have been in this war for twelve months without smelling gunpowder
would be too bad. But if I ever go into battle I have little hopes of coming out
alive.
I received last week a box containing knick-knacks and delicacies of various
kinds from Aunt Sallie Smith3 and with it a letter. Uncle Sam3 was in all the
battles near Richmond and came out unhurt. He is under "Stonewall" who has gone
back to the valley. He says old Jackson leads too active a life to suit him. He
hasn't slept under a tent since he went to Virginia. I heard from Griffin4 a few
days ago. All well there. Major Dean5 has gone on to Texas I suppose. I think
it was as little as he could have done to have come by and seen us all. I wanted
very much to see him.
I have not yet heard one word from home. I never was so anxious to hear from
them before and yet there is no probability of my doing so for months to come. If
the people of Smith County will deputize a representative to come here and see
their boys they would confer a lasting obligation on them. The sight of a citizen
of that county would be good for the sore eyes.
My love to your mother6 and all the rest of the family. Let Mother know that
you have heard from me.
Your affectionate
Cousin Will
Manchester, Tenn,
Dec. 3rd, 1862
My dear Cousin:
Your "very dignified" cousin has seen a letter in which you pretend to want him
to write to you. I think if you really wanted to hear from me you might have had
confidence enough in me to believe that I would answer any letter to me and have
written without waiting for me to write. I will try you this once but I expect
that you will forget me and send your letters to some of those big headed boys
from about Tyler. But maybe as nobody else in Texas will write to me you will
take pity on your cousin.
I don't know anything about what is going on at home, I can hear nothing from
EAST TEXAS FAMILY RECORDS -2 SN 6. NO
-eaiNG OL 6 h. 1
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East Texas Genealogical Society. East Texas Family Records, Volume 6, Number 1, Spring 1982, periodical, Spring 1982; Tyler, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth38050/m1/4/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting East Texas Genealogical Society.