R/Feby 1^st

A/Feby 23 & 4

 

Matamoros Dec 2^nd 64

           

Dear John

                                    I met a gentleman yesterday who says he is just from N.Y. & says he saw your Father & Grand Father & that you were all well. I was very glad to hear from you all as months has elapsed since we have heard one word

 

I suppose you have heard ere this as I wrote (several times) about the death of my beloved Mother yes death has taken her whom we so dearly loved & Ellerslie is now indeed a desolate home. My poor old Father is completely heartbroken & I sometimes fear he will never recover from the shock. I am & have been since the commencement of the war a soldier Morgan now my only Brother is also in the / ranks of his countrys defenders & poor Pa is left at home alone with Maria who is soon to leave us. She has a beautiful little girl whose name is Georgia Annie M^cNeel. Her oldest boy our dear little Johnnie is nearly 3 years old & the handsomest & smartest boy I ever saw.

 

I left Ellerslie 2 weeks ago & Maria was there quite well & would leave by the 1^st opportunity for N.Y. poor sister I hope her trip may improve her health & spirits she is the saddest creature I ever saw. I am now a Captain have been assigned to duty as Aid De Camp to Gen J. E. Slaughter who commands the West Sub Dist Hd Qrs at Brownsville. My health has been splendid all summer but have been quite ill since my arrival here & do not expect to be entirely well again until spring. I never enjoy any health in the winter / as soon as I am well enough will have have my picture taken & send you what has become of Meserole Pampelby & Bliss & John Duryea I have not heard from any of them since the commencement of the war. You must write me regularly & direct in an envelope to Mess^rs Vaquier Robertson & Co inside you will direct to me care of Messrs King Kendidry & Stilman Matamoros Mexico who will deliver My wife is not with me but I am expecting her soon when she comes I will have her picture taken & send to you I wish Dear John that you knew my wife she is as pretty as a pink & just as good as she can be your Father will give you however a description of her looks &c You must remember me kindly to your Dear Mother & Father also to your sisters & little brothers Also to your noble Grand Father & his family you must never think Dear John because you seldom hear from me that I have forgotten you all no your images are as bright in my memory as the sun at midday splendor & my love for every member of your family is as true as the steel of my trusty sword We have just received the news of Lincolns election he was the choice of the South we know now what we have to do & that is to fight to the bitter end & there is not a Southern man in this broad & sunny land who is not willing to fight it out on M^r Lincolns plan we would rather die than be subjugated. in fact subjugation is death to our institutions & principles we have no other alternative but to die like men or submit like slaves / We believe that M^r Lincoln is honest in his intentions to subjugate or exterminate us & I can assure you that we are equally sincere to welcome the invader to hospitable graves we can never be subjugated I think 4 years ought to satisfy any one but if he M^r L wants another 4 years trial why we will have to accommodate him I have lost as you know two brothers in the war & now but 2 of us remain & we are both willing to die in defense of our country I could never live under the Lincoln government I would rather that our country should be a colony of Liberia than that we should go back in the Union these are the sentiments of every true / man in the country. I will not write any more upon this subject. I only add that the Northern people will sooner or later will see that they can not conquer us. Good bye Dear Cousin write me soon with much much love for all & every member of your Fathers & Grand Fathers families I am truly your

                                                                                               

friend & kinsman

J. G. M^cNeel, Jr

 

 

[note]

 

J. G. McNeel

13^th Texas Infantry

Capt & ADC to General Slaughter

            (West Sub. District HQ at Brownsville)

SOURCES