THE CIVIL WAR LETTERS
Five brothers (sons of George Washington Steward, SR) served as soldiers of the Confederate Army: William Randolph Steward; Jeremiah Terry Steward; George Washington Steward, Jr; Francis Marion Steward, Sr; and Huett Burt Steward. William, George and Huett did not survive the war. Following are letters from three of the sons. They were written home to family during the Civil War.
The interpreted text of all the letters are on this page:
Letters of George Washington Steward
Letters of Huett Burt Steward
Letters of Jeremiah Terry Steward
An actual sample of the letters are on separate pages: (Warning, slow download!)
I scanned only a portion of one letter for each of them. They were then reduced as small as possible to remain legible.
Sample George Washington Steward
Sample Huett Burt Steward
Sample Jeremiah Terry Steward
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George Washington Steward,
Jr. died in the Civil War at Hopkinsville,
KY when he was 20 years old. He was a private in Captain William Lewis Moody's Company which was the first company of men formed in Freestone County, TX.
Spelling is as George wrote it, blanks are for words I couldn't read.
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Marshal Texas October the 6 1861
Dear Sister
I take my pen in hand to rite to you for the first time in life. we are all well. My
mes… I am well and doing as wel as you might expect. I was soall the second day of this month. I mean that we was mustered in to
servis. they are 6 companeys muster into servis. we had three more on the ground and one more acoming now on the road. we will leave this plase next week. I would like to hear from you all the best _____ world. I have not hear from home sinse I left. I want you to wright to if Jerry is gone home. If he has tell him right to me. all of the family to right to me. I want you to get me that ___ _____ and send it to me. good nuse from home. Give my love and respects to all inquiring friends. Tel Huet if he is not started to right to me whether he acoming or not. Tel him I would like for him to come if posable. You must write soon. Back your letter to Monro in care of Capt Moody. I have not time to right eny more. I have to drill. Give my love and respects to all of the family. I remain your dear brother until death.
George W Steward
______ ________ sendes his respects too you all
tel Jerry I will right to him soon
NOTES: Jerry is George's brother, Jeremiah T. Steward, and Huet is another brother, Huet Burt Steward.
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Memphist October the 22, 1861
Dear father and Mother
I am well and have bin ever since I left Marshal. I have nothing of importance to write to you. we got her on the 20. we have not drild any yet. we have bin washing our cloaths and cleaning up things generally. they are too cavaraldy here. one from mississp and one from Alabama. ther are nine thousand min on the ground. there are oanley two company of our regerment got here yet. they come in every day. Captain Moody get a letter from Mister Neal. he roat that him and mister neal would catch up in two or three days. He has not got her yet. we are a looking for him everay day. there a company from arkansaw. the day before we got here they say before we got here they was 2 nine of them died and the next day they was 7 died. that was yeterday. they have got the measles and they think it is the filth and the way the management. they are campted about 7 miles from her. they have measles in one company in about 50 yards that has had them and have one case yet and they have not lost any yet. theys all well in our company except a few that has the chils. everything is very hi here. red russsets is worth two dollars and a half. Capt Moody ast the talor what he would make a pare of pants and coat gray cloth and wanted him to make them as plain as posable and he sed that he would make the coat for 25 dollars and the pants for ten. Mr Carner sed that he would send us everything that was nessary. he tuck a list of evrthing that we had and he sed that if he could not get the country to send them he would get individuals to git them and send them rite away. I would like to have a pare of undershirts and over coat. if mister carner don't git them I wish you would git them for me. if huet don' come in a few days I will go down to _____ in a few days and will rite again and rite all the nuse I have not got time yet. I rote this on a borde and held hit in my lap. I have not heard from home yet. I would like to her from youall the _____ in the world. I want you to write soon and tell them all to write to me and I will try to answer there letter. they all have a better _____ than me. I have sean hard times ever since I have ben in camp but I am afrade that I have not sead anything yet. tel nancy to rite all about the school and tel her to rite one at the scool house and tell all of the girls that wants to send me an word to put it down and Miss Betty all so. it took about 24 hours to come from Monro to Memphist. I will rite more the next time. give my love to all of the family and all inquirryng friends. you must excuse bad spelling for I have not time to spell it. So good by til the next time.
I remain your sone until death
G. W. Steward
Envelope reads:
Geo W. Steward private in Capt W. L. Moody's Comp.
Greggs' Redgment Texas Volunteers
Mr Wash Steward (his father George Washington Steward,
SR)
Fairfield
Freestone County, Texas
Postmarked Memp Tenn Oct __ 1861 DUE 10
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Memphist, ten October the 15th 1861
Dear Brother and Sister
I take this short spase of time to inform you whar I am now and how I a agetting along. I am well exept a bad coald. Several of the boys has that. All of the balance is well. our company got there last Sunday the _____ _____ tuesday amd about fore today. we all left marshal the same day. we look for the balance every day. they ladyes come to see us every day. they was about a hundred ther every day. we walked from ther to monro. We had prit wether except the last 2 or 3 days. we left Monro Satureday morning and got here the next morning. we went about a hundred miles in about 24 hours. a feller never lerns eanything til he pais for it thou here he pais for mor then he lerns. he lerns a heap but he pais for a heap mor. we generally had bred and bacon and coffee but for the last three or four days we have had a little pore beef and a little pore barly and meal brand and a little coffy mixt together it makes a little sort of slop and nothing to shorten with and flour and peas and a little grise and you may guse how it eats. We will draw a little _____ Saturday. I have not had but one good meal of vituals since I left home. Tell Cousin Beacy a good glas of cream and a plate of butter would be worth something to me jest about now. we have orders to leave here in a few days. we will go to Clarksville, ten. I will be glad when the day comes. we will alect our officers as soon as all of the regiment gets here and then we will have a ______ of our own. I heard that Huett had started here but he has not get here yet. I look for him every day. Jerry they have got the measles in a hundred yards of us tho we have not got them yet. they are ten thousand volunteers on the ground here at this plase. they ain't eany of them volunteers for but twelve months. if the war lasts more than twelve months we are gone under. they are lots of the boys wish they was at home. we drill about 6 or 7 hours in a day. Cournel Greg __________ they have been several battles fought lately. we whip them every time. Memphist is the largest town I ever saw and a beautiful plase. they are amaking canons and bom shells and grapeshot and cannon balls. everyday the cares is as thick as the wagons is at our mill of a good grinding day. you can hear them _____ all of the time. I have not went down to Uncle Terry yet. I think I will go in a few days. I can staret here at 6 oclock in the morning and git there at 4 in the evening. I have no herd from home since I left. it would be the greatest sadisfaction to me in the world for me. you all tell them all to write to me and I will try answer all of ther letters. tell them to rite soon and rite long letters. if one can't fil it out tell all of them to put a little in. You must excuse bad spelling for have not got time to spel my words and have to write on a board on my lap. tell Cousin Jim that I have not shaved since I was out ther. Tell him I have _______ set and if he has not go anof jest to come over and I will let him have some grafts ______ that is ______. so farwell til the next time. I trust in God that I will se you all again
G W Steward
back your letter to the Cear of Capt Moody and Gregg regiment.
give my love to all the family and reserve_____ portion for yourself and allot the inquiring friends & to the girls aspesshily. write soon.
back your letter to Memphist first. TOP
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Huett Burt Steward
died at the Confederate Prison Camp Douglas in Chicago, IL. I do not know if Huett's body was ever shipped home, but there is a tombstone for him in the Steward's Mill Cemetery near Fairfield, TX. The following letters were written by Huett from college and from the prison camp. (copies in files). Spelling is exactly as written by Huett, blanks are for words I couldn't read.
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McKenzie College
April 28, 1860
Dear Sister,
I received your letter of the 16th of April. I was glad to here that you all were well and also received the five dollars ($5.00) which Pa sent me. Your letter found me well. you made some inquirey with regard to when the examination or if you please when the school will be out. It will be out the last of June. I would like for the one that comes to get here in time. let him start in time to get here then. it will about six days to come _____. I said send a two horse wagon after us. as to the wagon I am not paticular. a carriage or anything that is convenient so it will hall us and our produce. And again how much money I would owe at the close of the school. I suppose it will take about two hundred dollars ($200.00). it will be that ______ and I will want some books besides. But tell pa that to not put himself to any extra trouble to send it all. but if he can I would be glad. As I said in my last letter I reckon _____ _____ will stay with me on vacation. he is making his arrangements to that effect and our intention is to study there at home. If you can, it would do well to have us a house built. about large enough to hold two beds and have sufficient room besides. the place to put it would be best between the new house and fence (nere the fence) to the right of the gait from the house. or if you will not have time to build it if you can get the planks we can help to make it. I take this to be the better plan as the family is large and frequently has company. if you call upon any better plan do so. Tel Jerry if he at home that I would have written to him but I thought it uncertain about his getting it as he spoke of going to be absent from home. as soon as I learn that he is stationary I will write to him. Tell George I think it is to me he is learning how to write. We have some very cool mornings & heavy dews now. very recently we had some heavy rains. Write if your school is going on now & how long it will continue and write how your preacher is doing and what his name is and if he is a man of a family and where he boards. Give me all the nuse that would interest me. give my love to all. May God with his infinite goodness preside over you all.
Yours until death
H. B. Steward
P.S. It may be that you do not understand how it is that I owe so much. a part of it is on the old score last year. I believe I shall want about five dollars more. you may think that it takes a heap to do me, so it does. everything I get I have it to buy. I would also like for you to send me a pare of boots or if you cannot get good boots a pare of shoes will do. send them by the one that comes after us. a pare that fits Jerry will fit me. write soon.
Yours as ever
H. B Steward
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE: The following letter was written sometime after Feb 21, 1862.
Camp Douglass Chicago, Ill.
My Dear Pa & Ma
I am glad to write to you (letter torn here) for I know you will be glad even to hear that I am well. as you have doubtless heard it is my sad fate to be prisner of war though I expect to see better and happier days. Since we were taken at Ft. Donaldson we been treated as well as prisoners of war are commononly treated I reckon. we were surrendered 16th Febr and was brought to this place on the 21st of Feb and have been here ever since. in a few days after we got here our officers was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio near Colombus and from there the field officers were sent to ______ ______. Geo Bradley Lee Moody Geo Blair Bob _____ Bill Harris went with the officers to Camp Chase. Si is with George yet. we have received a letter from Col Gregg and Capt Moody each. they were all well. the locality of this place is very low and in wet weather is very muddy & would I suppose afford a beautiful scenery if it wasn't for the plant wall which surrounds us. it is in sight of Lake Michigan. There has been a good deal of sickness amon the prisoners (here the top corner of the letter is torn away and the opening words of the first five sentences are missing)…..up to this morning 165 dead _____lost but one out of our co. that _____ Joseph S Manning. Died of plurasne. ____ are three in the hospital viz Bob Steele, Will Huckaby & Jeff Tull. I met with Jim George & Marion Seelys son Steward and several other old acquaintances at Ft. Donaldson. They are here & I see them evry day. Jim Seely was wounded in the arm and was left at Perduca ____. he got here about a week ago. he is well of his would but has the mumphs. Knowing the deep interest that is felt for the entire Co. I will give you a list of all that is here. Our killed was Wm L Neal, Wm McIlveen, J___ Mayo & Forkner Sims. the wounded was Syrms Love, John Means, Josh S____ & Tom Jourden.
We have had an opportunity of being released by taking the oath of allegiance but when we come home we will come with honor. Pray for us. as ever your obedient son
H. B. Steward
NOTES: This letter was written sometime after Feb 21st in 1862. H.B. had only a short time to live. He died on 16 April 1862. He was only 22. Many men did take the "oath" and either came home or went on fighting. Many felt that an oath was an oath, no matter to whom it was given. Some felt that an oath given to "Yankees" wasn't worth the ink it was written in. Obviously, our Huet felt it would be dishonorable to take the oath.
TOP
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The following are letters written between
Jeremiah Terry Steward and his wife, Eliza Jane Whitaker Steward, during the civil war. Spelling is exactly as in the original letters, blanks are used when the word couldn't be read. It's interesting to note that he clearly signs his last name as Stewart. (copies in files):
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Camp 20 miles north of little Rock Dec the 23/62
My dear Wife,
I take the present opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you no how I am getting a long. I am only tolerable well this morning. I have a very bad cold and coff and have had ever since I left camp Nelson. I have been puny every since then tho I have never stoped. I have been going al the time. I ast the Capt to excuse me from general Review. he told me I would have to go the the Dr and get him to let me off. I tolled him I would not. I tolde him I would go if it killed me before I would go to the Dr. there is a great deal of sickenss in camp. the diseases are janders Pneumonea and diarear. we have lost and other man. George McMilan is dead. this makes 12 that has died out of our company. it looks like we wil ketch up with Wood co if we keep on. it is thought that we will got Vikburg yet. if we go then whitch must I do. come home or go the see my kin folks when I get a furlough. I am satisfied that it will be some time before I get to come home if General Holmes turns me lose. he is gon up to _____ man's army and it will be some time before he returns. if that letter does not do try the subscription. I think it will have to go the secatary of war. you said something about Frank coming to the army. tel him to wate just as long as he can. not to come until he is old enof to be conscripted. tel him he wil soon get tired of the service. I believe that I am better off than anyone. I have no brother to died and leave me and I can't leave them grieving after me. when a man dies in camp if he has no brother with him there is but little fus make about it. there would be more fus make about a dead hog than a dead man. you said something about having fatty bread. I got your letter last night and yesterday we got two hog feet to our mes and after reading your letter I was determining you should not live better than I did so I put the feat on to boil and when ______________it is very uncertain about our being mounted aain. if you keep growing you will be longer than I am when I get home if I ever do get there. I just weight 175 pounds with my heavy close on. the boys say I look very pale lately. I have not been clear of the head ache in some time. tho it is cold we have 19teen report for duty in our co. I did not mean to hurt your feelings about the Jim story. I said it in a joke. I hope you will for give me this time and kiss him if you want to or wait until………(rest of the letter is missing).
I did not send them that ring.
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Dec. 25, 1862
Camp 20 miles north of little Rock on Ark river
Dear Sister
I take the present opportunity to let you no how I am getting along. I am not very well this morning. I believe I am taking the janders. I have been on the decline for some time. I keep going tho I feal very weak. there is several cases of janders in our company. have orders to march tomorrow in the directin of Pine Bluff Ark. it is thought that we will go to Vicburg yet. we will have to go somewhere. it is impossible for Ark to fead us more than a month long. that is this part. we will have to go to Vicburg or fall back to the Red River on accoaunt of provisions. our boys seem to be very ancious to get in battle. we are armed with enfield rifles, Belgium rifles and muskets. we are very well armed and we would do some good fighting if we had an opportunity. Nan I no what to think when Tom looks so mutch better than he use too and has got so mutch smarter. that is a mity good sine that there is some thing ______. Nan let him run until the war ends. there is many a poor woman that would be a heap better of than they are if they had of been single when this war commensed. look at Jane and see. suppose I never get back. it is rumered here that we have sunk sixteen of the feds gun boats at Vickburg. there is but little talk of pease. rite soon. tel the rest to rite.
J T Steward
(Notations across top of this letter seems to refer to rings he sent his wife and sisters during his service).
~~~
February the 9 1863
My Dear I am again permitted to drop a few lines to let you now how I am getting a long. this leaves me in tolerable health. I hope when these few lines reach your hand that they may finde you all enjoying the best of health and doing well in this world.
we have had some very cold weather this winter. we have had four snows this winter. one has just melted off and it looks very mutch like rain this morning.
NOTES: This letter made envelope style from steam boat receipts folder over. It is addressed on the front to Mrs. J. T. Stewart, Fairfield, Freestone Texas. The return is J. T. Stewart, Co. H. Randal Reg. _____ _____ Calvary. The Postmark is unreadable. There is also a broken sentence written on the envelop side. Can make out what may the county of _________.
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Camp near Pine Bluff Ark April 18, 1863
Miss N V Stewart
My dear and affectionate sister
It is with great pleasure that I am permitted to answer your kind letter whitch came to hand yesterday. it found me enjoying good health and I hope when these few lines comes to hand that they may find you all enjoying the same good blessing. we lost another man the other day ______. J.B. Taylor he died with the typhoid fever. this is 14 men that has died out of our co. the health in camp is very good at this time. Josh Burleson is not wel. he has had the mumps and has had lite fever for too or three days. the rest of the boys is all wel. we have no nuse in camp and have not had for too months. I never saw as dul times in my life. there is no movements at all that we can here of. sometimes I think that they are trying to make pease and then I think that they are fixing to do some of the biggest fighting that ever has been dun since the war commenst. I would be glad that they would do one or the other. if I had my choice I would have them to make pease. we look every ______ mail for some nuse tho it never comes. I would like to see home one more time tho it looks like it is a long ways off. tho I hope the time wil come soon. you nead not be afraid of my shoing my letters to my mess. I never sho mine and I never keap them on hand. I read them and then burn them so no one reads them but me. the young men shos there letters that they get to there mess. if I could see you I could keep you company of sundays and I could interest you too., I hope that time is close at hand.
J T Stewart
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Camp near Pine Bluff Ark April the 24th, 1863
My dear wife
It is with pleasure that I am permitted to answer your long and interesting letter. it found me wel and I hope that this may find you all injoying the same good blessing. the report is that the feds has taken Elexandra and that Old Banks is ther with sixty thousand men. we are going to take up the tine of march tomorrow morning for that plase. if they are there when we get there we wil have a lively time. Josh Burleson and Dave wil be left here. Josh had the mumps and they have fel on him. Dave has the rheumatic pains so bad he can't go. I can't write mutch. everything is in sutch a stir fixing to get off. if that subscription does wel and goes on to the war department and comes there before it comes to me you had better wait until you here from me when I stop before you start it to me. it mite be that it would get lost. tel Molie and Nancy that I wil write to them when I stop. it may be some time before you here from me. you must not get uneasy. an I wil write every cance I have. you must be more cautious how you write for I mite come home some time. if the boys was to ready your letters whitch they would be shure to do if any come after I left they would make a heap of sport of them. direct yours as you have until you here from me. I will close. leave off the sweetnes in your letters. just say dear or something of that kind. give my respects to all enquiring friends and receive my love to yourself.
J T Stewart
NOTES: The curator at the Fairfield County Museum said that they were several other letters between JT Steward and his wife passed down to descendants. At one point, a family member destroyed the letters because they were considered "too warm" for others to read.
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State of Ark, county of Drew April 29, 1863
My dear wife
I take the present opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you no how I am a getting along. this is the fourth day of our march. I am wel and getting along tolerable wel with my nap sack on my back. It has rained a great deal sinse we left and the roads is very bad. if they wer a little worse we could not go at all. we are on our way to Monroe La. you must not write to me until I write to you again. I have no nuse to write to you. I hope when those few lines comes to hand that they may find you all wel and doing wel. that dres pattern that man give to you you must keep it until you see me. and if you never see me keep it any how all the time. I wil write soon as I ______ (letter torn here) before. give my respects to all enquiring friends and receive my love to yourself. may the blessings of God be with you forever is my prayer.
J T Stewart
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NOTE: This letter is written on a ledger sheet marked Monticello, La….185, Dealers in Hardware, Cutlery, Dry Goods & Groceries, _____of OLIVER & TRAVIS.
Delp______La July the 3/63
Dear and beloved wife
it is with pleasure that I am again permitted to drop you a few lines to let you no that I am in good health and I hope when these few lines reach your hand that they may find you enjoying the same blessing. we have had another fight with the feds and negros. we killed a large number of negros and a few feds and taken eleven hundred negros and 40 feds. our loss too killed and thirteen wounded. we detroid several large farms and ________ that the feds had planted in cotton. we will strike them again in a few days. we fout this battle last Monday. this is the third battle. the other too was fought on Sunday. we heard yesterday that Johnson had whip Grant out a Vikburg but whethere it is so or not I can't tel. I hope it is. we have been on the march ever sinse the 25th of April. and I have marched a heap of it in the night. I stood it as wel as any of them. I have got to be a small man. I weight one hundred and sixty pounds tho my health is very good. Several of the boys is sick. one has died. James Gorman (possibly Norman or Newman) died last Sunday with the flue. Josh Burelson had got a very bad bile on his neck. the Chancelors are both wel. I saw Josh and John Guffee about a weak ago. they were both puny. we have 37 men for duty in our company. I rote to pa about that petition but perhaps he did not get the letter. I will write again. the one they sent was no account. they said the government did not need any cotton _________. if he wil get up another one and get it up write it wil do some good. tel him to send it to me this time. Mr Yarbro, Carner, Gorden (Garner?) and Dr. Adams, George Bradley has been to see us. Dr. Adams and _______ staid at home yesterday. Yarbro, _______ and Geo Bradley has gone over the Misp Riuver. if you can see any chance you may send me some close. send me one shirt one pare of pants and three pare of yarn socks. put pockets in the shirt. you (letter torn). I had plenty of (letter torn) to throw them away. patch the pants the first thing you do to them. you no where they will ware out first. on the seat and on the nease. tel the girls that I have got letters from all of them and was glad to get them but for the want of time and paper I could not answer them. I have got plenty of paper but had to leave it at Alexander. When we left Alexander we though we would go back in eight days. we started back but the order was countermanded and do not no when we will go back there. I would like to come home to see you all but the time looks like it is a long ways off. I am glad you can dream sweet dreams about me if you can't see me. I am so tired when I lay down to sleap that I do not take time to dream. when we march all day and until midnite we camp and then have our next days rations to cook you can get wheter we have time to dream or not. the boys all look like they was nearly worne out and we wil not get to rest until the fight is desided at Vixburg. I here heavy cannonading there this morning. kiss that big boy for me. that is all I can write.
J T Stewart
(Notes: Letter has been folded into enveloped shape with the last page left blank so as to form an addressable front. Post marked Shreveport, La, July 10 1863. Addressed to Mrs. J. T. Stewart, Fairfield, Texas. Return to J. T. Stewart, Co. H, Randals Regiment Cavalry.
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Chenieville La Oct 4 1863
My dear and affectionate wife
I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you no that I am wel and I hope when those few lines reach your hand that they may find you all well. I was very sorry to hear of Randolf's death. tho we all have to die sooner or later the plan is to try to be prepared to meet death. there is no getting around that death. my dear I did play cards some times for fun but while Randolph was out here I quit and wil not play any more. you may depend on that. the health of our co is very good. they were all wel the last time I herd from them. I have not been with the command in over two weeks. I am detailed on provo guarde. I do not no how long the detail wil last. the winter I hope. I am acting ordily while I am on the detail and I have a house to stay in. you are talking about coming to see me. if you wait until you get this letter you had better wait unti Spring. the weathe wil be getting so colde and worse. by that time I wil be closer to home than I am now. unless Mr. Guffee comes. if he comes and brings a wagon you can come with him if you want to. If Mr Guffee does not come tel Pa to send Frank with my close. tel him to come by the country so the Jay Hawkers will not ketch him. what Mr. David tolde was so. if yuou was to to come to see me, if you was here now we could do fines as I am away frome the comande and we could have a house to stay in. tho I do not no long I will stay here. I saw John Guffee about two weaks ago. he was well. you must tel Mary Jane that I would have been very proud to have been at home to of seen her. give her my warmest respects. maby your petition wil do some good. it looks like you intend to have me to come home if there is any chance. wel that is rite. if at first you donte sucsead you wil sucsead this time I hope. you ned not send me any suspender buckles. I have aplenty. you may send me some buck skin to make me some shoe strings and you may send me an over shirt. I do not want any ten dollar________ move down in the morning. our calvary has taken too hundred fed prisoners in the last too weaks. I would like if you could have my filley got up tho you nead not_______ yourself to too mutch trouble. if she is lost it is not mutch. if I every get home I will try to finde he. what is the reason your Ma does not get some boddy to attend to her stock. I would think that they would not increase mutch running at larte.
(NOTE: Rest of letter is missing)
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Camp near Evergreen La October the 11th, 1863
My dear and affectionate wife
it is with the greatest pleasure that I am permitted to drop you a few lines in answer to your kinde letter that came to hand last night. I was glad to here from you all tho sorry to hear of McNabbs bad health. I am wel this morning and I hope when these few lines reach your hand that they may finde you all well and doing well. the health of our company is very good. the Burleson boys is wel. we have been expecting a fight for too days tho it is reported that the feds has fel back this morning. Col Spates Brigade has a fight last weak. they killed about 40 yanks and taken 484 prisners. one col and one lieutenance col. I saw the prisoners. our loss was bout 30 killed. I do not no the number wounded. the skirmishers has been light fighting several days. it is hard to tel when we will have a fight or wil not have one. tel Randolph that our boys that was in jale when he was hear is out. they was not punished only kept in jale about a month. I rote to you about my close. I wil want too shirts as I have lost one and one over shirt. send me too shirts and one over shirt. and if you can make me a good heavy blanket. I do not ______ one like Randolph had. weave it like jeans heavy. it is said that the jay hawkers are stoping the people that are moving to Texas and rob their wagons. turn them back and tel them to stay in La. there has been a protracted meeting going on in our Brigade for about a month and it is still going on and it is doing a great deal of good. there has been something near fifty joined the church. it is a babtis meeting. you said you wanted me to use every means to come home. I want to come home worse than you want me to come but there is no chance for me to come unless I desert. I don't think you want me to come that way. I want you to send me Huet's testament if you can and if you send my close by Mr. Gufee or by Frank send me your ambrotype. that one that is in the double case. make a leather packet to put it in buckskin. my dear I am glad to hear of you being in sutch fine health and so large and stout. you are larger than I am. I exspect you are the best man now. I would like to take a rastle with you to see whitch could throw down. you mite throw me but I would turn you mity quick. I dreamed the other night that I ent home and staid three days and nites and you would not sleep with me and hardly talk to me. that makes twiste that I have drempt that. I exspect that it is so. is it. direct your letters to Marshall. I have been to preaching. there was six baptized today and 8 yesterday. I had just got back from the lodge. I feel just as happy as any boddy could feel so fare from home.
J T Stewart to his wife
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Camp Near Marksville, La - January the 11, 1864
My Dear and Affectionate Wife,
it is with pleasure that I am onste more permited to drop you a few lines in answer to your kinde letter that you directed to Chenneyville. It found me wel and doing as wel as a man could in camp so far from his friends and his home. these few lines leave me the best of health and I hope that they may find you all we and doing wel.. My dear, you say that you have lost all hope of ever seeing me again. I am sorry to hear that you have. I have a brighter hope of seeing you now than I ever have had, that is for a long time, and have more hope of the war ending soon. I don't see how the war can last more that one more year, for if the feds donte let us alone in that time, we will have to give it up in that time for all the corn growing lands in this has been destroyed. that is all the fences has been burned and the negroes run off, all that did not go off with the feds and the whole army west of the Misps (Mississippi ??) River will have to look to Texas for support and if the feds take that, I donte see what we will do. You have heard so many reports about Walkers invasion. It is all false. There has been only one brigade and too Regt of walkers Division in a battle yet there was Skwnynd (??) Brigade last summer at Milikens Bend and Robbert's and Kings's at appaloulas last fall. that all of the walkers division that has every been in a fight yet. Randals Brigade has never fired a gun in battle yet. only Robbert Regt. there was a few killed. I do not no how many and a bout 20 taken prisner they were taken to new Orleans but they have also been exchanged and are now back in with their Regt. we taken more of them them then they did of any men. they were all exchanged Christmas day at neworlean. everything is very still now and times is very dul in Camps. we have plenty of blue beaf and yellow corn bread to eat. this may make you laugh but I wil tel you the taste the vituals that we have to eat here a dog would not eat it unless he was very hungry. the beaf is so ______ that when it is boiled it shrivels up and makes a pot full of jelly. I tel you that it looks too nasty for a dog to eat but it is that or nothing. some times we come by a little pork at a dollar a pound. Chickens is seling from too to four dollars a pease. you note that you was nearly out of money. I donte no what you wil do for I have got no more to send to you. everything is so xxx and I wil buy something to eat and my wages is so little tht it takes all I get to keep me up. I use to save all my money and send it to and when I had sent enof to pay my debts though I would try to live off of the rest. the reason that note to you not to send me any more close I thought I would try to draw my closths from the government. I have not drawn any cloaths yet and have not got any clothing money yet and I thought that the you taken to make my cloaths that you could knit or sew and get money to buy sutch little thing as you need. if I could draw my cloathing money I would sent it to you. they owe me over a hundred dollars for cloathing but there is no teling when I wil get it. they was to of payed it last September but it is not payed yet and I have not got all the money fro my horse yet by a hundred and 15 dollars. If I had all that is owing to me I could send you too hundred dollars but I do not no when I wil get it. I have a hundred dollars by me now but I want to keep it so if I get a furlow that I wil hae money to bare my expenses home. my Dear I am comeing the first chance I get that you may depend on. I have plenty of paper and ink and envelopes and more than I wil use. I want you to lend me that golde pen of George's by Jose Burleson if you get this letter before he starts back. donte send mine send Georges. Nancy had it when I left home. I donte want a holder. I only want the pen point. Send me a pare of socks by Josh and you may send me them shoes and ____ Carter wants you to knit him a pare of gloves like mine as soon as you can and send them to me. knit them as soon as you can and send them first chance you have. my Dear if I never see you and the feds comes where you are donte do like the ladys of La. take your jewlry and bury it for if you them and the negros will get it but keap it on and in your trunk. the best way wil be to keap I on tho I hope they may never come where you are. my Dear I think I wil get a furlow the next time there is any ones forlowed from our company. I am coming if there is any chance for me to come if it was not for the after affect I would come furlow or no furlow. I would take me of one and come any how. I tel you I am getting very tired of this war now. xxxx I am given my best respects to all enquiring friends and receive my love to yourself my dear. if I could tel you my dream I had last night, you would nearly kill yourself laffing. good bye sweetness. J T Stewart
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Camp near Clarksville La March the 1/64
My dear and affectionate wife
I take the present opportunity to answer your kinde letter which came to hand yesterday. they found me wel and I hope when these few lines reach your hand that they may finde you all wel and doing wel. I have no war nuse to write. only our officers has opened free trade with the feds and have got all the government wagons hauling cotton. they trade cotton for all kinds of good and the calico they get is issued out the officers and the privates gets nothing and it is causing great dissatisfaction among our soldiers and a great many swares that they wil go home if it is stoped or explained. they want to no what it means having free trade with a nation and fighting at the same time and it does look strange to me tho it may all be for the better. I hope it is. you rote to me to come home. I intend to come home the first change and maby before tho you need not think that I will desert to come home. if I do not get home by the first of May I want you to put off coming a month longer. say the first of June. that wil be soon enof for you to start to see me. you may tel Tarlton that he can't sho the paper that has got my name in it published as a deserter. it was James Story, Bill Day and bill Driver. tel him my name was not in it and he noes it and I hope it will never be said to our boy your father was a deserter. I would like very mutch to go with you and the girls to the Falls a fishing. if you and them will be ready if I get a furlow this Spring we wil go by after Mr. J_____ and take a _____. I think I could enjoy a trip of that sort now. finely I wi not tel you what them presents are that I have got for you and the girls but I no you all wil like them. I have got one for Mrs. Wells tho I have nearly got out of the notion of giving it to her. I think if nothing happens I will get to start home by the middle of April. Josh Burleson says your boy is the ugliest childe he ever saw in his life. he says he is ugly as a mud fence stucked and ____ with tadpoles tho I hope he is mistaken about him. I hope the time won't be long before I can see for myself tho it may be some time yet. my dear I try to write you a letter every weak. my dear we have some mity fine fish here. we are camped too miles from the River. we have a very strong forte on the River tho I hope wil never have no use for it. I hope this war wil end some of these days. I will close. give my best respects to all enquiring friends and receive my love to yourself. tel Mollie I wil answer her letter in a few days.
J T Stewart
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Camp Bayou de lack March the 8th/64
My dear wife
I take the present opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you no that I am wel and I hope when these few lines reach your hand that they may finde you all wel and doing wel. we have moved our camp. we had to move on account of water. we moved about ten miles. my dear we had a great excitement up in our Regt last weak about this cotton trade. all of our Regt refused to do duty until it was esplained. the officers was too days a getting things to wright. the men are now getting to become satisfied. the officers has promised and explaination in a short tiem. I hope it wil turn out rite. my dear I wish I could write you a long letter tho it is implosible for me to do it at this time. my dear you can make my clouths as you spoke of doing. I do not like the culler of my overshirt as wel as I thought I would. you make them to please yourself and they wil please me. my dear I hope it wil not be long before I can have the opportunity to come and bring you a verble letter. that would please me better than any thing I no of at this time. my dear the longer I stay here the worse I want to come and see you. our mail has not come in this weak. I have a chance to send a ltter by Mr. A. C Anderson who has just come acrost the River. he is a member of Moody's olde company and if any of you wants to sende letters across the River you can send them by him when he goes back and they will go threw safe. his command is in Georgia. my dearl tel the girls not to get tired of writing to me for I wil not get tired of reading letters. I would be glad if it was so that I would read a new one every morning. I will write every chance I have. I can't complain of your for I do think that you do very wel. it does me so mutch good to read a letter from my affectionate wife. my dear I am in fine spirits this morning. I wish I new you was in as good spritis as I am. tho I am in too big a _____ to write muctch this time. when the mail comes in I will write again. _____ my respects to all inquiring friends and receive my love to yourself.
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Camp Twenty Miles East of Alexand___ 5/64
My Dear and beloved wife
I take the opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you no that Frank and I are well and hope when these few lines reach your hand that they may find you all well and doing well. We had a hard rain day before yesterday there was to omen shot in our Regt. This moring they was shot accidently…a man had his gun cocked and was working with it and it went off and shot one man in the knee and one in the thy. They one ____ baly wounded. It was a veary careless trick. The war nuse is ___ if it be so you hae heard it before. This letter wil get to you & hope it may be So. There is some talk of our moveing over on Black River. If we go over then it will be for the purpose of getting forage. We have to hall all of our corn from there now. Take my star and tassel off of that hat and give it to bill and tel him if he says another word to you after you give it to him he had better not let me see him for I will lick him ___ when I come home if he says another word about it. Tel Mrs. Awalt that I have not seen Isace but one time since he came back & tolde him all she tolde me to tel him and he tolde me that he would come over the next day and get me to write a letter for him and I have not seen him since. He is well and I tolde him about Sinda? Linda? And he said that his mother need not troble her self one minute about him every living with Sinda again. That he thought if he did go back and lived wither again that god was not a just god if he did not send a streak of lightning to kill him. He says the way that it got out that he was a going to live with her was any time Coraley? Robinson rote to his wife he would tell her to tell Sindy that __ was well. He sais he does not claim her as his wife and does not want the County to let her have any thing on his account. He tolde me that he was a going to write to Pa? About it and I thought he had note long ago. My dear, I want you to keep the money that you have for I do not nead it. I have not spend a dollar since I came to camp. There is nothing here to spend money for. You must be kinde to Mrs. Awalt for if you are not mistaken, you will have a particular use for in about eight months. So in Stands you in hand to keep on the good side of her. My Dear I hate to ask you to work for me and it looks like I never will have the opportunity to do any thing for you. It looks to me like that it would be very little satisfaction to me if I was a woman and had a husband in the army and he would come home and leave the prospect of another child and so little prospect of his ever coming back to help me raise, then it looks to me like I had rather he would stay away until he came to stay with me. I tel you what I want, cloth enof to make I and Frank a small tent but you must do your own work first. Then if you have any time you can make the cloth for the tent. It wil take twelves yards and if you make it, it aught to be very strong. My Dear I am sorry to learn that you have got so ill ___ I no if you have got so ill you will rinche your fase and fourhead and you will look so ugly with a frown on your fase all the time. What makes you so ill. My knap sack and blanket has not come yet. they ___ sent often then, they will be in a few days. I rote to some of you how we lived it has got no better. We have not drawn flour since I got to camp. I am worse dis-satisfied with camps then I was before I went home but I hope this war will end by next Spring and any how. If not before. I will close. Give my respects to all enquiring friends and receive my love to your self. My the blessings of god rest upon you is my _____.
Jerry
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J T Stewart to his dear wife you must write ofter I wil not get of reading your letters.
Camp Mag______ (Magruder?) near Mindon La Decenber 30/64
Dear Jane
It is with pleasure that I am one time more permitted to drop you a few lines to let you no how I get a long. the too first days was as colde as every I felt. the next day was more moderate. the next day it rained nearly all day and after riding in the rain until nine in the night we got to a house that we could stay at. next morning it was clear. we went on our jurney. that night it was equally as hard to get to stay at a house. I never had as hard a time in getting to stay at houses in my life before. some had no corn to fead horses on and others had no house room. some did not want soldiers to stay for fear they would steal something and some did not want soldiers to stay for fear they would steal something and some did not take Confederate money. we got to camp the seveth moring safe and sound with a windshake or wood pecker hold. we found a 11 in moderate health and comfortably situation in good houses and getting nearly enuf to eat. the Burleson boys are wel and the Chancelors. I saw Isack Awalt the other day. he was wel. he belongs to Gools Battalion. he is campted about four hundred yards from us. Frank is wel. I found all the things that was sent to me. the pants that pa sent for me to give away did not come. Bill Blair said they were left at Fairfield. he did not bring them. I want to no if you put a pare of socks in my alet when I started. if you did I lost them before I got to camp. if I did lose them that was all I did losse on the way to camp. I am wel pleased with the couler and the make of my coat tho it is too short waisted and too small in the waist. tho it does very wel. I do not like the couler of my pants as wel as if they had of been brown. I never did like red pants tho they do mity wel. I think my coat is very pretty. if you ever have to make me another one make it a little longer in the waist. it large enof every wher else. frank has too many clouths and I intend to send some of them home. I thought I would send my new over shirt but frank has worn the bindings of his and he wanted mine because it was warmer than his and I let him have mine. ma can make me one if the plase of it next year if I nead it. I like the make of it too ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ the pockets is made. you lacked one pocket of putting pockets enof in my coat. you aught to have put one side pocket in the right side. Frank has the itch very bad tho I think I will cure him in a short time. there is several of the boys got it. the reason that I did not start the horses rite back is Henry Arp has sent up a furlow and if he gets it he wants to ride one of them home. it taken nearly all the money I had to have (haul) our _____ to camp ______. I wil have enof to send them back it wil be a tite fit. tho they say that the government wil pay us all it ows us next month. if they do pay I have money plenty to do me. my dear I thought I would write a few lines this morning just to ask your for your new years gift while I was traveling Christmas Day. I got a fine egg Christmas. that is more than I have got _____ this morning. It is colde that ails me. I don't think it wil hurt me mutch. I hope these few lines may find you all wel and doing wel. I wil write a few lines when Steve gets ready to start. Jan 5, 1865…my dear I got your letter you sent by John Guffee. it found me wel and I hope these few lines may finde you all wel and doing wel. I would like very mutch to see you now. I could tel you something that would interest you. I wil try to write a ltter that wil be interesting to you next time. I do not feel like writing more this time. may the blessing of god rest upon you now and forever is my prayer.
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Camp near Pine Bluff Ark March the __________
Molie Dear Sister
it is with pleasure that I am again permitted to wright you a few lines in answer to your kinde letter of the 22nd of February. I was glad to hear that you all was wel tho sorry to hear that Jane bothered paw so mutch and was so mutch trouble to him. it makes me feel very sad. I hope she wil not trouble mutch more. the health of our company is better than it has ever been. we have but too sick men. they are not dangerous. their was too men shot last friday for desertion and one to be shot next friday and seven to be shot next friday weak for the same act. tho none of them belonged to our Regiment seven of them was from our Brigade. they are all Ducth but one. they tried to get to the feds and was caut by our pickets. there is but little nuse in camp now and there is _____ prospect of the war coming to and end soon. there is talk of our being ordered to Missour as soon as the roads gets so we can move. they are so bad that we can not move now. as for my part do not no where we will go too. Molie suppose that Bob is a prisner. I have not heard a word of him since the fight. I saw him about too weaks ago before the fight. he was wel and on his way to the Post. I inquired of all the boys that away and they did not no whiter he was killed or taken prisner. it has been some time since I herd from Josh and John. John had been sick tho he was getting wel. Molie I have a ring for you if you want it. it is like Jane's and Nancy's. I would have sent it to you but I thought I would get to come and bring it.
Jerry to Molie
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(This next part goes with a letter to his sister Molie. There is no date on either letter other than March)
Miss Nancy Stewart
Dear Sister a few lines to answer to your short letter. I do not ____ you for that short letter for there is plenty of nuse in the country that you could wright and that I would like to hear and if I was at home and had nothing to do I could wright a letter a mile long. there is a great difference between writing at home and in camp. when at home you have a cair sister Nancy to set on and a good table to wright on. while in camp I have to set on a chunk and wright on my nee and so mutch to do that I hardly have time to wright before I am called to do something. this leves me wel with the exception of a bad cold. the weather is very pretty at this time. looks like foolishness for so many men to be in camp doing nothing. it looks like we aught to be at home making something to live on. the sap has just commenst rising. the froot trees is just now in bloom. I think that there will be a fine froot crop here this year. there wil be but little corn made here this year. all the negrows has been run of and but few has returned yet. the wheat that is sown here looks very promising. General ______ has been suspended by Kerby Smith. they was that Jane bothered paw so mutch was she was all ways wanting him to carry her to Falls to see her ma and it caused him to have to marry her so that Jane could see her with out his having to quit his work to go with here. the trouble is all over now. he said that was the sole cause of his marrying. I donte think so. I think it was something else.
Terry to Nancy
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Somewhere in Ark. April the 5
(NOTES: there is no year on this letter - this is only part of a letter from Jerry to his wife)
this leaves me tolerably wel. I can't say that I have been rite since the first of last December tho I have been going all the time. that is I always have went on duty when my time come. the small pox has broke out in out Regt and they have stoped furlowing. they do not want it cartered over the country. they say it is better for a man to stay in camp than for him to go home on furlow and carry the small pox and give it to his family and I think so too. you wanted me to get a furlow and come. tho you see that furlowing is dun for some time. there is but one cacel for me and that is that subscription. I hope it may do wel. I no if the people want me there they can get me there. My dear I have not got that pretty wife yet tho I do not no what I may do. there has been a many a soldier married in Ark that had wives at home. the owmen of Ark say that they wil give a hundred dollars to see a married man from Texas. they say they are all single. that they _____have seen a married man from Texas yet. they say they do not no the caus unless there is no women in Texas. our officers say that we wil start down the country in a short time. they say we wil go down to ______ on the coast. they say we are going down there to see Olde Banks. they think we wil start in a weak or too tho it is unserten when we wil start. the weather is very _____ now. we had sleat and snow on the 29 of March.
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Piney Wood Camp thirty miles west of Alexander La March the 17
(Note: No year on this letter)
My dear wife--------in haste I drop you a few lines to let you no that I am wel tho the tierdes person you every saw. the feds got after us last monday morning and we have been on a forse martch ever since. they taken fort ______. there was eleven companys in the fort. some of our men got away. I do not know how many. there was one co from our regt they all got away but tren. they got in this evening. we are ordered to put all of our bggage but one blanket. the train wil start by day lite tomorrow morning. I do not no whether we wil go to meat the enemy or not. that is the talk. they are in possession of ?Alexander. I do not no how far they are this side. I expect we will have _____ time for awhile now. when this fus is over it wil be my time to come home. I can not tel when that wil be. the reason we had to march so hard as the feds was a coming from too ways and was about to cut us off from the hills. if we had some cavalary we could holde our own with them. they have sent for ______. we wil have to wate for _____ him. I would not be surprised at a fight any day. there has one gun boat gone above the shoals. they have six at Alexandra but could not get any more above the shoals. I have lost my gloves on this trip. we have had some very colde weather lately for the time of year. I saw the boys from falls this morning. they were all wel. Jasper, John, Jo and Larkin. give my respects to all enquiring friends and receive my love to yourself.
J. T Stewart
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NOTE: This letter is from Eliza Jane Steward to Jermiah Terry Steward
Stewart's Mill Sunday night March the ____ 186___
My Dear - I was very agreeable surprised this eavening by receiving two letter from you. I was not expecting a letter and received one friday dated March the 5th and two tonight 10th and 15th. Talton saw Capt. Means yesterday in Fairfied. My Dear I will not write much tonight. I hope I will see you soon. I am coming to see you if possibly can. Talton wants to come. I think Pa or Talton one will go with me. Sarah says she is going if I go to see you. I have bin to church today. Parson Green and Caperton boath preached. the preacher Mrrs. Awalt ____ Mel____ and Albert Lemons spent the eavening hear. I sent to the office this eavening. I thought maby you had writin for me to come to see you but you say you will tell me when to start. Mrs. Ownes sent me word I was perfectly welcome to here wagon when I wanted to go to see you. I reckon I can get a mule. Jim belongs to Pa now. I most know I can get him. I did the cloath cut out your pants and intended to finish them last night but I hear ____ Robinson would not start until Wednesday. I did not know wheather he would go to you or not so I never finished them. Ma has the cloath to make your tenet. Mat is writing to _____ and Mary to. Sarah has just finished writing to Adam C. I told Sarah what you said. she said they would be in Germany before you would get home. Hardleman's Brig. that is Green's old Brig is at Cotton Gin or what friday. I will quit for tonight. I don't feel well. Jane
Monday night, March the 20th. My Dear I will write you a few lines tonight. I sent to Mr. Johnson's today for my ring ____ and your gloves. I got them. I am very much obliged to you for them. I hope I will be able to pay you for them. I think I will if you ever get home to stay long enough. I will have me a hat as soon as I can. I do think my ring is the pretties one I ever saw. My Dear we had the hardest hail this eavening I ever saw. Pa says it was the largest hail he ever saw. it hailed a half lites out of the widowns in the north end of the MIll House. that was all that was in that end of the House. Tuesday morning-My Dear all is well this morning. the wind is in the north. very cold but the rain has stopt. My Dear you don't know how I felt about you last night and yesterday when it was raining and hailing so hard. I could think of nothing but you. I heard good news yesterday it is so. it was in the ____. if says Jeff Davis has peace in his hands now. if he is a mind to make peace it will be very soon. it also says that Sherman's army is split all to peaces. we heard that Richmond and Charleston and Branchville was in the hands of the enemy but is was only Yankee account. I do hope peace will soon be made. Tom has not come in yet. we have not heard anything of him. I believe from the way Pa talked he is in good humor with him now. he misses him so at the Mill. I am sorry now that I wrote to you anything about it but it is too lat now. I am just as mad with them now as I was at first. you will see the names of all but the guilty on the top of this page. if you see any name missing you will know who I spoke of in my last letter. My Dear I am waiting patiently for another letter to say for me to come. I have no idea who will come with me. I don't want to go with Steve if there is any other chance. it looks to me like the women is all trying to see what they can do. this woman that is in jail here and another owman dressed in men cloaths and went at night and robed a war widows house nand then burnt it. they said they went to kill the lady of the house but she was not at home. it was Mrs. Wilder. lives near Cotton Gin. they caught boath of the woman. bill Wood went and got one of them and took her off. the one that is in jail had a little baby. she says her husband has bin gone four year. they was a soldier talking to her through the jail window. she said she had not seen her husband in four years. he says he surely sent you a damed good letter. Pa and Ma is going to town. I must quit. excuse mistakes.
I am yours truly, E. J. Stewart
NOTES: There are no names at the top of any of the pages on the original of this letter. Unsure of what Jane was referring to or who she was mad at. In his letter of June 5, 1864, J. T. asks for enough cloth to make a tent. In this letter Jan says "Ma has the cloath to make your tent". Unsure if this is the same or a different request, or if this letter should be dated 1864 or 1865.
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