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Norman Mis August 24th 1863
My dearest Jennie
Since my last by Sid I have been moving about a good deal. The enemy made a raid from Yazoo city to Grenada where we had a large amount of rolling stock of the Mississippi Central rail road. This they burned, and made good their escape in the direction of Helena. We followed them to Duck Hill station ten miles south of Grenada where we learned of their success and their distance ahead and Gen. Whitfield determined to return to camp. We broke down our horses and men and it will take fully a month to nourish them - so much for hard marching on green corn.
Having no one of my assistance in camp I accompanied the Brigade although very unwell when we started. I reunited up the first day when I was affected with a severe boil and the rubbing of my clothes against it rendered it ten times worse. The third day I got worse[;] got my horse foundered and on a road where the enemy had taken every horse and mule and it looked as if fate was against me. The command had gone and had no friends, and late
Object Description
| Title | Letter to Jennie Adkins, August 24, 1863 |
| Creator | Coleman, John N. |
| Creator Role | Author |
| Creator Information | Major John N. Coleman, Commissary, Third Texas Cavalry, CSA |
| Date | 1863-08-24 |
| Language | English |
| Content Description | Letter written by John N. Coleman to Virginia E. "Jennie" Adkins. |
| Physical Description | ink-written text on 7.5" x 9.5" paper -- paper shows evidence of creasing, moderate staining and a tear affecting pages three and four -- pages five and six are written horizontally across pages one and two in two different colors of ink; this technique was used as a means of conserving paper -- [4 pages of paper, 6 pages of content] |
| Subject - Library of Congress | Coleman, John N. -- Correspondence |
| Coverage - Place | United States -- Mississippi -- Vernon |
| Coverage - Time Period | American Civil War |
| Coverage - Date | 1863-08-24 |
| Transcription |
Norman Mis August 24th 1863 My dearest Jennie Since my last by Sid I have been moving about a good deal. The enemy made a raid from Yazoo city to Grenada where we had a large amount of rolling stock of the Mississippi Central rail road. This they burned, and made good their escape in the direction of Helena. We followed them to Duck Hill station ten miles south of Grenada where we learned of their success and their distance ahead and Gen. Whitfield determined to return to camp. We broke down our horses and men and it will take fully a month to nourish them - so much for hard marching on green corn. Having no one of my assistance in camp I accompanied the Brigade although very unwell when we started. I reunited up the first day when I was affected with a severe boil and the rubbing of my clothes against it rendered it ten times worse. The third day I got worse[;] got my horse foundered and on a road where the enemy had taken every horse and mule and it looked as if fate was against me. The command had gone and had no friends, and late in the evening while hobbling along on my horse I met a citizen in the road riding a mule. I told him he had to give me his mule and take my horse and that I should return that way and exchange again[;] he remonstrated but finally consented to swap, and about twelve that night I overtook the command but was unable to proceed further without rest and here we turned back after delaying to my turn of luck about six hours. I am not yet well but am well enough to attend to all business. I had to leave my horse but will get him in the course of a week. The above is not half the hardship I had to endure but merely a taste. Hunger and Rain were the severest trials of all. I think tonight you are reading my letters sent by Capt. Cooke of Dangerfield and Nath Gregg or you are being lectured by your father upon our conduct. I pray God that he may use mild words and gentle means and in conclusion may yield to our most ardent wish. How strange to-day and twelve months ago. I then started home after the horses for the regiment and now the enemy have a space of nearly a hundred miles between me and home. Oh! That I could tonight start to see you but alas! it is folly to anticipate such. I must banish such air castles from my mind and talk to you about realities and things which may come to pass sooner than you anticipate. You have hundreds of yours and my letters and should the enemy get possession of Marshall it would be best to burn them. Yours I carry on my person and I may wear them out but no one can ever get them without killing me first. Judging from accounts in the papers I think Harrison County will yet be a military camp and Marshall a general rendezvous of officers. You cannot be too careful how you treat them. Don't understand me as becoming jealous but a hint to the wise is not out of way. You have proven yourself too true for me to doubt you but knowing how you are placed you might ignorantly and innocently permit some officer to wait on you[;] after learning his former character you would regret your conduct the balance of your life. I might here name a hundred cases where young ladies have been ruined by such conduct, but I know you are too well raised and knowing my supreme aversion to young ladies permitting strangers to wait on them I feel confident that your love for me would dictate otherwise. After getting the five last letters written you I trust that you may agree with me in the letter address[ed] your father. As I don't feel as well as I might to-night I will bid you a sweet kiss and a pleasant dream and close my letter tomorrow morning - my darling "goodnight." Tuesday morning Aug 25 1863 In less than five minutes after my quitting writing I had a slight chill but this morning feel almost as well as ever I did. But my dear one I am worked down and nothing but a letter of encouragement from you can do me any good. You must write me a long letter, filled with affection such as the one you wrote me on the 14th day of March. You must send me something nice by Nath. Your good taste and knowledge of my wants will suggest something. I will prize anything that you may send. I have not been as affectionate in this letter as I could have been but there are two reasons[:] I fear its reaching you; secondly I was too unwell to write such a letter but were you here to attend to me while sick I don't believe you would think that I had any of my ardor or affection for you. As the boys will be returning at different times you must write me a long letter on the 19th September and send by some one. I shall write you the same day, for to me that has a melancholy far beyond any day on which I may have lost a father, mother or sister. It is true my loss is only imaginary, and the future may give the same rich jewel - but I had set my heart on realizing it on the 19th of September and to be denied has hurt me more than any misfortune which has befallen me. (carried to first page) I have often thought "suppose after our marriage you should sicken and die. I really believe such would kill me" for it does seem that life has but one charm and you are it. Yes my dearest one you are today dearer than life itself and while I love you so devotedly how can I blame your father for loving you[,] the offspring of himself, but I do hope for your sake that he will lay aside his prejudice and [approve?] yours and my request which will make two hearts leap for joy. I had the naming for the first day of our marriage and circumstances were such as to prevent my being present, therefore [you] must name the next[;] perhaps I will be more lucky on your preferred day. You wait and learn of my ability to get a leave of absence and then set the day. I shall look for the return of Nath and Sid with a great deal of doubt because I have never yet imagine[d] that your father's consent to our marriage - but I feel confident of one thing[:] I shall get a long and affection letter from his daughter which is preferable to his consent and no letter from her. Try sending a letter to San Augustine in the 25th of September to Mrs. J. D. Thomas Sr. - he would willingly bring it - as he will be start back about the 1st of October. Be sure to write by [that] time[.] I shall expect the letter written on the 19th September to be sent by him. You must write me by Nath how many of my letters you have received since 7th June 1863. My kindest regards to all of our friends and May Heaven bless and protect you and at some future day unite us too is my prayer. A sweet kiss farewell for the present Your devoted affiance J. N. Coleman |
| Collection Title | Guthrie Civil War Letter |
| Institution | Baylor University, Waco, Texas |
| Rights | http://www.baylor.edu/lib/digitization/digitalrights |
| Resource Type | text - letter |
| ID | 1863-08-24 |
Description
| Title | 01 |
| Transcription |
Norman Mis August 24th 1863 My dearest Jennie Since my last by Sid I have been moving about a good deal. The enemy made a raid from Yazoo city to Grenada where we had a large amount of rolling stock of the Mississippi Central rail road. This they burned, and made good their escape in the direction of Helena. We followed them to Duck Hill station ten miles south of Grenada where we learned of their success and their distance ahead and Gen. Whitfield determined to return to camp. We broke down our horses and men and it will take fully a month to nourish them - so much for hard marching on green corn. Having no one of my assistance in camp I accompanied the Brigade although very unwell when we started. I reunited up the first day when I was affected with a severe boil and the rubbing of my clothes against it rendered it ten times worse. The third day I got worse[;] got my horse foundered and on a road where the enemy had taken every horse and mule and it looked as if fate was against me. The command had gone and had no friends, and late |
| Rights | http://www.baylor.edu/lib/digitization/digitalrights |
