Ocean Springs Miss

Sunday August 28^th 1864

 

My Own Darling Brother

                                                As my last terminated rather abruptly on account of my finding myself commencing a subject at the last point of the last page of my paper, I have concluded to take a larger sheet this time notwithstanding it is confederate paper & requires a much greater effort for me to write upon, but paper is very scarce in these parts & one sheet is quite as much as I can afford to use for one letter. I was bitterly disappointed in not receiving a letter this morning we have had no mail for a week & then when it does come to get no letters it is as you can imagine a bitter bitter disappointment. I so eagerly expected one letter at least but none came not one either from Brother Lizzie or Jennie. I have not heard one word from Jennie since I left H. nearly two weeks ago. I left her quite sick & beged her to write at least once a week to which she promised compliance. I wrote as I promised but she remains silent. my feelings are deeply wounded by her conduct if I did not know that she was so far recovered as to be able to ride, I would not feel this neglect so much. I know not but I do wrong to tell you this, it may seem like complaining to you of your wife but if I did not realy love her I would not care sufficiently to speak of her at all & much less complainingly. The Yanks are again becoming quite familiar. Their gunboats & launches are constantly coming inside & gunboat came in at the east end of deer Island last Saturday & left Monday morning since a gunboat & several launches have landed at Biloxi captureing several small boats. Bill Brown among others were taken / & paroled to go home & get their clothes but he did not go back as he promised. Ned Keith was also taken & nine letters taken from him & he only released because he said he only carried citizens mail. Your friend Corp^l Jones came into Biloxi two days since to bring corn to the starving poor of that precious slough of traitorism & every other iniquity. all the poor wretches who are recipients of this Yankee charity must append their names to a list kept for the purpose & under each name they are required to write Yankee friend. Quite an ingenious method of finding out their friends dont you think? quite worthy a Yank isnt it? a Yankee launch was in here yesterday evening late it came nearer the shore than at any time since those Yanks were on there three years ago. I am fearfull that we are not destined to live in the peacefull serenity that we have thithertofore enjoyed. I like not their night prowls about our little villiage. let them / come in daylight & I have but little fear of them but I do not fancy having them come & cut my throat while the world sleeps. God has undisputed control of my faculties. Have you found out where Willie is I do not feel quite at ease not knowing where he is. Mother has been growing anxious about him. I wish you both were home to get a share of the peaches. All the best & largest were gone when I got back from Mobile. Ma has sold peaches to the amount of one hundred & fifety ($150) dollars we are getting along much better than I expected. I will commence teaching a small school tomorrow but am affraid I shall not be able to continue long. I am very weak. the least exertion tires me very much. I think it is the warm weather today. it past one month since L^t Jeter fell & still uncertainty still shrouds his fate I can't believe that one so good so noble can have fallen a victim to Yankee balls Miss Mollie H. has just left here she desires me to /

 

[cross written]

 

thank you for your kind remembrances & gives her respects & as many kind remembrances to you Mrs H sends her regards as does Mamie & Fannie say give "My love both double & twisted & tyed in hard knots to your Brother & tell him it makes me mad for anyone to say he loves anyone but me" I give her own words as she was very particular in telling me not to forget. We are all very greatfull to D^r [blotted] for his kindness & only hope we may be enabled to repay it but not in the same way God grant that he may never need the like care but if it should his misfortune to require something and it is in our power to give God knows none would give it quicker than we or more heartily. Give our love to Willie reserving a share for your dear self. I desire to be remembered to Major Pullen & Mr. Gostenhopher. With many kisses & a heartfull of love I am Ever

 

Write Soon                                                                 

 

Devotedly Thine own "Little Sis".

SOURCES