Carrolton May 17^th 1864.

           

Kind Friend,

                                    Your letter dated the 18^th was received a short time since and answered immediately. The reply was written somewhat hastily but you must, you will forgive me. Will you not? Accompanying it was your cap It is out of season I know, and would have been much more acceptable had it been sent during the winter but it was not my fault, for I would have been too happy to have forwarded it long ago, had I had an opportunity You will forgive me this time and in the future I shall endeavor to keep my promises better.

 

                                    Your request concerning the cloth I shall try to comply with. You know that they there are others whose consent I shall have to gain should they with-hold their approval, I shall endeavor anyway to bring the articles for which you have written. I will not promise positively, but I will promise to do what I can. I am favored, I know to have been chosen among your numerous friends, and for this preference, I am indeed grateful To comply with your requests (as far as it is in my power) is and ever will be my greatest pleasure.

 

                                    You say that Mobile is gay and so is Carrolton: that is where we live. We have made the acquaintance of some young ladies near by, and with as many paroled prisoners as we can muster and as many gentlemen whose "loyalty" is not doubted, we are enabled to have a Crawfish party every Saturday. Our dinner accompanies us, and when we have caught a sufficient number of fish the gentlemen make the fire, whil'st the ladies attend to the gumbo and when it is sufficiently cooked, we spread out our table cloth and their partake of our dinner in the woods. We seldom return until dark and when we do we repair either to one young ladies house or the other and there dance until midnight, when all retire to their respective homes to renew again their pleasures on the following Saturday. I often wish that you were with us & that I could introduce you to some of my lady friends for I know that they would be delighted and that you would be the "admired of all admirers" but oftener wish / that we could be in Ocean Springs to remain until your furlough expires. We may be there any day. I know not how soon.

 

                                    I had the pleasure of meeting (Since my return home) at a private party Miss Evans. She inquired after you and bade me should I return soon to give you her respects. She is very pretty, extremely sociable and very entertaining. Her friend Cys Turner I suppose you know is married. Have you heard of the death of Rayburn the son of Mr Price. Poor little fellow. he died after a short illness of only a few days. I have not seen her since my return home but have met Johnnie several times He had a great deal to say, but I place very little confidence in what he utters and so avoid speaking to him, as little as possible for a conversation with him seldom raises my drooping spirit. But enough of him! I have written you all the news that I can think about at present and in return I expect to have some of you. I have heard of your brigade several times through the / news-paper. It always awards you the highest praise especially in your march from Morton to Mobile where it speaks most flatteringly. How much more pleasant it would be to hear you describe it. But it cannot be. Although it would interest me, I must wait patiently until we bid fare-well to our enemies. But I must say Good bye, hoping that we may soon have the exquisite pleasure of seeing one another again. Ma has promised to go by the first conveyance, when that will be I have not the remotest idea. My patience is completely exhausted. you can guess how much Josephine has.

 

                                    Do you know I sometimes think if by some magic power, I could be transported over to your part of the country, I would be the happiest creature on earth. Then again it may not be. But patience and we shall see. There are a great many questions that I would like to ask you and have answered, but they must be postponed until another time. You will not think me forward if I ask you to write oftener. Your letters always / affords me the greatest pleasure. That I suppose you are already aware of, and for that reason, would have me receive as few pleasures as possible. How selfish! The idea of writing me only twice during six months It is shameful! It is ungenerous! it is unkind!! Time is precious around where you live I suppose I cannot tell you how many letters I sent and an answer to one of them I have not been the recipient of. You may not have received them, and if so, I will exonerate you from all blame But you must promise me in the future, that your letters shall not be so few and far between. It is only those living in "Yankeedom" that know how to appreciate a letter coming from a very dear friend in the Confederacy. Before closing, I must not forget to tell you that M^rs Newman is dead She died this morning after a long and painful illness. Mary and Joe Newman I have not seen for a long time. their grief must be great at the lost of their only parent. I thank God for / having spared me mine, for my father has suffered every thing but death this past winter.

 

                                    I have heard that Col. Kennedy is wounded, I believe in the fight at Spottsylvania Court house. If you could ascertain whether it is my brother or not, and let me know as early as possible you would confer a lasting favor, and receive my sincerest thanks. Josephine sends her love regard and begs that you will remember her to her Joe. My respects to your sister, and Miss Cutler should you see her. Accept of my grateful thanks, for your kind remembrance, and in conclusion allow me to sign my name, in connexion with the assurance that I am,

                                                                       

Your sincerest wel-wisher, and

warmest friend,

Mary

 

P.S. I sent you a few lines last month by Mr Sodom or Soddern (I don't know which) he belongs to O. Springs and was M^rs Schmidt's gardner. Your cap ac / companies it and I have no doubt but they will reach you. Should you be enabled to send a letter sooner to Oakland Miss. than New Orleans you would do so by directing them to M^rs Birch, care of M^rs Watson. Send one that way and one to this city, and I will certainly receive a letter Do write soon. Josephine says you must write and tell Joe Gardner to direct his letters to Galland Miss. You can give him the directions.

M.E.S.

 

[overleaf]

 

Kenesaw Mountain

Recd' June 20^th 1864

Ans—July 27^th 1864.

            Atlanta. Ga.

SOURCES