Detailing VVic Adventures of The 6th Texas Cavalry) 1861-1865 Edited by HOBART KEY, JR. and MAX S. LALE Marshall, Texas LINCOLN ROOM UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY MEMORIAL the Class of 1901 founded by HARLAN HOYT HORNER and HENRIETTA CALHOUN HORNER Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://archive.org/details/civilwarlettersoOOgarr THE CIVIL WAR LETTERS of DAVID li. GARRETT THE CIVIL WAR LETTERS of Hit III II. GARRETT Detailing The Adventures of The 6th Texas Cavalry 1861-1865 Edited By Lt. Col. Max Lale, U. S. A. R. With Annotations and Background Material By Cdr. Hobart Key, Jr., U. S. N. R. (Ret.) Great Grandson of David Garrett PORT CADDO PRESS MARSHALL, TEXAS FRONTISPIECE: David R. Garrett T Mrs. Wylie Garrett of Wills Point, Texas, the last of the Garretts to live near Cedar Grove, who 'preserved the photographs and furnished much of the information in this book. . 36. three columns, one under the regimental commander, another commanded by J. S. Griffith, the regimental executive officer, and the third by a brand new major, Sul Ross. The latter had taken the oath at Dallas as a private in Company G of McLennan County, only to be elevated to field grade at the regiment's organization elec- tion at Camp Bartow.' The Sixth continued to march in three columns until it reached and crossed Red River, presumably at Colbert's Ferry, as had the Third earlier. At Northtown the columns were reunited under the command of Colonel Stone for the march toward Fort Smith. Although Rose does not discuss the point, the route was undoubtedly from Col- bert's Ferry to Fort Washita in present day Bryan Coun- ty, Oklahoma, then to Boggy Depot over what had been U. S. Mail Route No. 7908, later to become Confederate States Mail Route No. 378." Mail routes tended to follow the best cross-country course in those days. In a letter written at Boggy Depot, Garrett noted that in the march up from Red River he had "taken a fancy to the Nation ... I think it is the best country I have seened (sic) in a great while." It is indicative of the high optimism with which the Sixth entered upon its war service that Garrett in the same letter should add the comment that "I will write you a long letter when we get to St. Louis, as I expect that will be the place of our winter quarters . . ." There was a great deal of apprehension in the ranks of the Sixth that the regiment might be too late for the fun. Up in Missouri, Gov. Claiborne F. Jackson, acting under broad powers granted him by a newly enacted military bill, had appointed Sterling Price major general 'Ibid., p. 37. 5 George H. Shirk, "Confederate Postal System in the Indian Territory," The Chronicles of Oklahoma, LXI (Summer 1963), pp. 163, 190. and commander of the Missouri State Guard. Late in July, Price had persuaded McCulloch, whose temperament was not to require undue persuasion when a fight was in prospect (he had led the charge on the Bishop's Palace at Monterrey during the Mexican War) to cross the Mis- souri border for a cooperative attack against Federal forces under Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon. This was, of course, contrary to his orders against invading a loyal state. In a hard fight August 10 at Wilson's Creek, near Springfield, the combined forces of Price and McCulloch had defeated the Federal army and killed Lyon. The Third Texas had got in on that fight, and it appeared to some in the Sixth that the work for which they had taken the oath at Dallas might have been finished. McCulloch had retired once again to northern Arkansas with his head- quarters, declining to join Price for a pursuit of the defeated Federal army deeper into Missouri. Price and McCulloch had discovered early that their personalities would not permit them to work together in double harness. As a Confederate brigadier general, and with considerable war experience to boot, McCulloch be- lieved he should rank above a major general of Missouri volunteers. Price, a former governor of the state, wasn't buying anything of the sort. This contention about rank, coupled with the personality clash, probably accounted for McCulloch's return to Arkansas. He had never backed away from a fight before, and, having advanced into Missouri already, he would have been subject to no addi- tional censure had he joined the pursuit. The Sixth's apprehensions about the fighting being- over were allayed soon after crossing the Red. Colonel Stone received word that a large body of hostile Indians was operating against the Confederate Indian Superin- tendent, Colonel Cooper, in the vicinity of Fort Gibson, Indian Territory. The regiment immediately began a series of hard marches to reinforce Cooper.' 1 Its route must have been over U. S. Mail Route No. 7948, later to be Confederate States Mail Route No. 406, running from Boggy Depot to Fort Gibson via Perryville, Taboxky and Micco. 7 This was a well-established road, offering the easiest approach to the fort. At Fort Gibson, Stone learned that Hopotheohola ( Opothyleyaholo ) , a veteran Creek leader who had fought at Talladega and Horse Shoe, had gathered together the disaffected of a number of tribes and was, in fact, menac- ing Cooper. The Sixth once more began a series of hard marches up the Verdigris River valley, hoping to reinforce Cooper for a decisive engagement. Hopotheohola, on learn- ing that Cooper was being reinforced, turned his column about and retreated toward Kansas, burning and pillag- ing as he went. The eager Sixth felt itself again frus- trated. 8 Colonel Stone also countermarched his column toward Fort Gibson, from which point the regiment moved in more leisurely marches to join General McCulloch's com- mand. After reporting in, Colonel Stone led his regiment to the vicinity of Carthage, where the cavalry was being concentrated for a raid into Kansas. [> On September 28, Governor Jackson, with his staff, arrived at Carthage to visit General McCulloch's forces and was escorted into the city by Colonel Greer and the Third Texas Cavalry. On the night of September 30, standing on the courthouse steps, the fugitive governor "Rose, op. cit., p. 37. 7 Shirk, "Confederate Postal Svstem in the Indian Territory," op. cit., v p. 63, 194. 5 Rose, op. cit., p. 38. 'Ibid, p. 38 addressed "a large concourse of citizens and soldiers," among them no doubt many of the Sixth Texas, in the course of which he revealed plans for a punitive operation against the Kansas "Jayhawkers" who had been raiding in the western counties of Missouri. "In ten days," he declared, "we will turn upon them the most ruthless in- vasion known to man since the razing of Jerusalem to the earth, and burn the accursed land from Dan to Beer- sheba!" 1 " Garrett took note of the plans for the Kansas expedition in somewhat less Biblical language in his letter of October 14 (mistakenly dated September 14) with the comment that "there is some talk of us going to Kansas." The matter of Jayhawker punishment was a long time dying in Texan minds. However, before this operation could be put into mo- tion, if ever there was any real intention to mount such a campaign, intelligence reached McCulloch of the with- drawal of General Price before the columns of the Federal Fremont, advancing from St. Louis. Fremont moved as far as Springfield, so encumbered by wagon trains that "he made but a desultory pursuit of General Price, and, like the dog in pursuit of the wolf, w r as not extremely anx- ious to overtake him."" Fremont remained in Springfield until the advancing season prompted a decision to return to St. Louis for winter quarters, thus disappointing Pvt. Garrett. General McCulloch, at the head of a column including the Texas cavalry units, occupied Springfield for a brief period after Fremont's evacuation of the city, during which he pondered an attempt on St. Louis. He elected to retire with his command toward the Arkansas line, however, and during the first week in December, the liii.se, op. cit., ]>. 38. Ibid, p. 38 various regiments went into winter quarters. The Sixth chose the name Camp Washington for their location a few miles downstream from the mouth of Frog Bayou on the Arkansas River, where the Third was camped. ,L ' Garrett wasn't overly impressed with the Springfield operation. In his letter of December 14 he commented that "we acted brave . . . after we found out that all the Dutch had left Springfield." He reported to his friend and future father-in-law that "we went to the P. 0. & broke it open, & took out a thousand & one letters, Papers & magazines in large quantities. I never saw the like of Dutch love letters in all my life. I want to try & preserve one or two as a sample, after robbing the P. 0. next we went into the Saloons & took a few whiffs at the essence of corn & Rye." Soldiers of any century are pretty much the same! From the rustic pleasures of winter quarters, the Sixth and Third regiments, along with the recently-joined Eleventh Texas Cavalry and Whitfield's Battalion, were turned out late in December to chastize the irrepressible Hopotheohola, who had undertaken a winter campaign against Cooper and his Indian brigade. The command crossed the Arkansas River at Van Buren, where it was joined by a regiment of mounted infantry, and began a forced march to Fort Gibson in bitter cold. Seventy miles beyond Fort Gibson, Hopotheohola, a former principal chief of the Creek Nation, had posted his Indian troops atop a precipitous eminence overlooking Chustenahlah Creek in the Cherokee Nation, where the Confederate forces located them on the afternoon of Christmas Day. The next morning, an attack was launched with the Sixth on the right, the Third in the center, and the Elev- enth on the left. A scrambling charge up the steep ascent a Ibid, p. 40 succeeded in dislodging the Indians, whose formations promptly broke under the pressure. The Texans pursued scattered elements for nine miles during the remainder of the day, and followed for an additional 25 miles the next, capturing large numbers of women and children, Negro slaves and livestock. 11 Colonel W. P. Lane, commanding the Third in the absence of Colonel Greer, on leave in Texas, himself ob- tained leave on the return of the column to Fort Gibson, and returned to Marshall. There his account of the battle in The Texas Republican was extremely complimentary of the conduct of Colonel Griffith and the Sixth, as well as the other elements of the command. 14 The Sixth returned to winter quarters, where in the latter part of February it was rejoined by men who had been home on furlough, many of them — in both the Sixth and other regiments — accompanied by fresh volunteers. The respite was short-lived, how T ever. Old Sterling Price was having his troubles with superior Union forces in Missouri, and in late February he retreated stubbornly to the Boston Mountains, where he took up position to cooperate with McCulloch's Texans. It was at this junc- ture, on February 28 — or a day or two later, depending upon the source — that Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn arrived to assume command of what became essentially the first Trans-Mississippi army. In the words of the brigade his- torian, ". . . thus a period was put to the unseemly wrang- ling as to precedent, that had formerly characterized the intercourse of Price and McCulloch with each other, and which, at times, very seriously impaired the efficiency of both armies.'""' The (Marshal!) Texas Republican, January ll, 1862. "Ibid. l5 Rosc, i'/i. cit., p. 55. 8 I IllWoi K aNsas * LewfceOce St Loo.j 2£ • . • .- ' — ~ yMrntsKaU Ne vo \ — J3-^ ,/ l /V T ; ) Van Dora promptly made it known that he intended to wage an active campaign to drive the Union forces from Arkansas and back across Missouri to St. Louis, thus regaining control of the state for the Confederacy. On March 4 he stalled the army northward, and by eve- ning of the next day it had cleared Fayetteville. The same day, Brig. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, newly appointed Union commander, ordered a concentration of his forces to op- pose this vigorous threat to his Department. By the evening of March 6, Van Dorn's forces con- fronted Curtis in the vicinity of a well known landmark, Elkhorn Tavern, where an involved double envelopment, much too sophisticated a plan of attack for anything less than veteran units, was planned for the next day. Price's Missourians would attack the Federal right, McCulloch's Texans the left. Beefing up McCulloch's formation would be the Louisiana brigade under Col. Louis Hebert, the cavalry brigade of Brig. Gen. James Mcintosh, and three regiments of Indians under the Massachusetts scholar and classicist, Brig. Gen. Albert Pike. This force would skirt the western end of Pea Ridge, a 150-foot ridge extending 2V1> miles west from Elkhorn Tavern. The attacking formations moved off on schedule early the morning of March 7, and by nightfall, Van Dorn was in possession of the tavern area. On the right, however, the attack had fallen into confusion. Conspicuously attired in black velvet and plumed hat, McCulloch was leading Mcintosh's men, all dismounted except the Sixth Texas, when he was slain by a shot reportedly fired by Pvt. Peter Pelican of the 36th Illinois." 1 Mcintosh was killed shortly afterward, and Colonel Hebert and the commander of the 14th Arkansas were captured almost at the same time, thus depriving the attack of most of its leadership. "The Battl, of Pea Ridg* ls<;2 (Rogers, Arkansas, 1963), p. 19. 10 Pike withdrew his Indians and the Sixth Texas shortly after mid-afternoon, leaving Colonel Greer of the Third the senior officer on the ground. Greer subsequently with- drew his own troops, and at 1:00 a.m. the morning of March 8 Greer began marching his troops toward Van Dorn's position. A confusion in orders for the ammunition train left Van Dorn's batteries disastrously low on ammunition as the Federals opened the battle the next morning, and by 10:00 a.m., when the Confederate artillery was forced to suspend firing, it was apparent to Van Dorn that the battle had been lost — and Missouri with it! The army retreated toward Little Rock, its Texas regiments saddened by the death of their old Ranger gen- eral and humiliated by the loss at Elkhorn Tavern, which the Union designated, under its system for naming en- gagements for topographic features, the Battle of Pea Ridge. There awaited them, however, an announcement that struck at them even more personally. They were to be dismounted, their horses returned to Texas and they themselves transferred to Beauregard's command in Mis- sissippi. Toward mid-April the regiments were embarked on steamers and transported to Memphis, where they camped a few days before moving by rail to Corinth. 17 None unacquainted with Texans of that clay could adequately appraise the ignominy of cavalrymen separa- rated from their mounts and forced to proceed afoot, as infantry. However, Rose declares in his history of the brigade that "Notwithstanding the fact that we regarded this order as a breach of faith, totally at variance with our contract, yet the men being impressed with a correct idea of the critical condition in which recent reverses had placed 1T Rose, op. cit., p. 64. 11 the Confederacy, yielded their own inclinations, with pa- triotic zeal and devotion to the cause, and complied." 18 In Mississippi the Texans joined an army which itself had been beaten all too recently at Shiloh, and, further to add to their woes, fully half the troopers promptly came down with "camp dysentry." Upon Beauregard's evacuation of Corinth, the army retired to Tupelo on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, shortly to be transferred, less a portion of the cavalry, to Ten- nessee for service under General Bragg. The detached elements remained at Tupelo for several months, including the Sixth, with the dull monotony of what amounted almost to garrison duty broken only by daily guard mount and close order drill. 19 Soldiers have a way of smelling their future employment, and Garrett concluded in his letter of July 1 that his regiment's stay at Tupelo might be a long one because of the "the preparations that we are making in digging wells and erecting Bake Ovens." He pointed out also that the regiment was still where it had been camped when his friend Akard left sometime earlier for Texas. At the Sixth's reorganization election in May, Sul Ross had been elected colonel replacing the unpopular Stone, of whom Garrett had reported the regiment's dis- favor as early as the previous December. The election of the popular Ross was a recognition not only of his talent for leadership, which had been demonstrated so early in his elevation to field grade back in Texas, but also of an exploit prior to Elkhorn Tavern which won him the plaudits of the army and its commanding general. In that action, Ross had commanded a raiding party composed of selected companies of the Third and Sixth regiments 'ibid., p. 64. "Ibid., p. 69. 12 in a harrassing attack against the Union rear. Ross suc- ceeded in reaching the rear of the main body, and, at Keitsville, captured a number of prisoners, horses and mules and burned a wagon train containing a large amount of military stores, bringing the whole thing off without losing a single trooper. 1 '" When General Bragg began his advance into Tennes- see, the old warrior Price, now commanding the detached cavalry, removed his camp to Saltillo, 15 miles north of Tupelo. Undoubtedly Garrett and the others looked back with regret on the wells and ovens they thus were aban- doning. From Saltillo Price attacked Iuka in a rapid march, surprising General Rosecrans and driving him out of the town before he could destroy any of the immense stores in that place. For a week the lean Confederates gorged on Yankee rations. Garrett missed this outing, having been away from the regiment on a horse shoeing mission when the brigade saddled up. In his letter of December 20 he reported that he would have given almost anything to be along, no doubt thinking of those Yankee rations. However, when the inevitable counter blow fell, the Iuka garrison was surprised from the south, having taken position three miles out of town on the Corinth road, and was badly mauled. Price withdrew his troops toward Baldwin, Mississippi, leaving his wounded to become pris- oners of the Union forces. While at Tupelo, orders had been issued detailing parties from each of the regiments to return to Texas for the horses which had been taken from the troopers before their departure from Arkansas. 21 Surprisingly, this did not generate in Garrett the excitement which might have been expected, and which was true of most "Ibid., p. 55. "Ibid., p. 78. 13 of his comrades. In his letter of August 9 he noted some- what enigmatically that a man was leaving the company: "Today we will start a man from each company tomor- row to Texas to bring our horses to us," adding later, "I have concluded that 1 had as soon be afoot, as cavalry." That others in the brigade did not feel as he did was evi- denced by the regiments' misbehavior at Lumpkin's Mills when word arrived that the horse herd was only a few miles distant. Under movement orders at the time, the brigade refused to march without their mounts, despite the pleas of senior officers. Further misbehavior was averted when Colonel Griffith, then commanding the Sixth, formed his regiment and appealed to their honor and the honor of Texas." Historian Rose credits Griffith's speech to the Sixth with leading the other regiments into the path of proper conduct : "Heretofore, he had led them to victory over their enemies; he had, in this instance, led them to triumph over their baser passions; and the moralist would not hesitate to say that the latter was the most splendid victory of the two. Happily, the old brigade was never afterwards per- vaded by so mean a spirit." - " An exploit in which veterans of the Sixth and the other regiments of the brigade never ceased to delight, as long as they lived, was the raid on Holly Springs, Mis- sissippi, in December of 1862. Under command of Colonel Griffith, leading a brigade composed of the First Texas Legion Cavalry and the Ninth, Third and Sixth regiments, the latter now commanded by Captain Jack Wharton, the Texans set out from Grenada along with two other brigades, all under the command of General Van Dorn. The column marched all the first night and all the next 'Ibid., p. 80. Ibid., p. 80. 14 day, halting finally the afternoon of December 21, having by-passed Holly Springs and thus convinced Federal scouts hanging on the rear of the column that the objective of the raid was in Tennessee — and not the tremendous depots accumulated by General Grant for his Vicksburg aperations at that point." 4 With darkness Van Dorn countermarched his com- mand and fell upon the sleeping town just before dawn. Saber drawn, Griffith led the Sixth and Ninth in a column }f fours at the gallop, charging through the outskirts into :he town square. Federal soldiers emerged sleepy-eyed from their tents to find themselves prisoners, and resi- ients of the town turned out in their night dress to wel- come the Johnny Rebs. Griffith posted the Legion to guard :he prisoners on the square, and himself set about direct- ing a search of the town for senior officers. Mrs. U. S. Grant, wife of the Union general, was iving in a house occupied by several of Grant's staff. On arrival of a party of 10 men under the personal command )f Colonel Boggess of the Legion, Mrs. Grant and two )ther women refused to allow a search of the house, ac- ?using Boggess of making war on women. Boggess sum- moned Griffith, who addressed Mrs. Grant and the sol- iiers, as quoted by the brigade historian, in this fashion : 'Men, offer no rudeness to the ladies; if they will not illow you to pass through the gate, tear off a picket from ;he fence, and flank them if you are denied admittance at ;he door, go around them, and find ingress through a win- low. You must search the house for concealed prisoners, Dut do not touch the hem of the garment of one of these aclies." With this Mrs. Grant relented and politely in- cited them to enter through the gate, at the same time ■'Ibid., pp. 84-88. 15 protesting that there were no men in the house. Rose said one officer was taken from it.'"' The temptation of the quartermaster stores and sut- lers' supplies was too much for the Missourians in the command (Rose is careful to fix the blame elsewhere than on the Texans ) . and soon the entire formation was engaged in what can only be described as rampant pillaging. Be- fore the heads of whisky barrels could be stove in, the half-starved troopers were toasting themselves generously, sampling foods the likes of which they hadn't seen in months, firing up cigars with abandon, and dressing them- selves in plumed hats and patent leather cavalry boots. It was a great party while it lasted. Rose describes immense quantities of bacon, pork, flour, hard bread and coffee stacked in piles as high as a man's head and in rows a quarter of a mile long, at the depot. All this, along with a courthouse jammed with mu- nitions, was fired as the column left the city. The explod- ing munitions sounded "as if a battle was in progress." Rose declares that between 2,800 and 3,000 prisoners were paroled and left behind as the command continued north across the Tennessee line. 1 '' On this point Grant disagrees sharply in his Memoirs. He puts the number of prisoners at 1,500 and calls the capture of the town and its stores "a disgraceful one to the officer commanding but not to the troops under him."-' 7 The officer whom Grant thus castigated was a Colonel Murphy of the Eighth Wisconsin. Garrett and his comrades in the Sixth must have taken particular pleas- ure that this officer also had been commanding at Iuka -Ibid., p. 87 "Ibid., p. 91. "U. S. Grant, Personal Memoirs <>i V . S. Grant, (New York, 1885), Vol. I, p. 482. L6 when the Texas cavalry descended on that supply point earlier. At the same time Van Dorn was attacking Holly Springs, Gen. N. B. Forrest was ripping into the Union- held rail line between Jackson, Tennessee, and Columbus, Kentucky, doing a great deal of damage to it. Grant is authority for the statement that the two raids cut him off from all communication with the north for more than a week, and it was more than two weeks before rations and forage could be issued from stores obtained in the regular way.-* The general's Memoirs are silent about his wife's confrontation by Confederate raiders. From Holly Springs to Bolivar, Van Dorn's men tore up railroad track and cut telegraph wires with enthu- siasm. Then having completed its mission, the column turned about and began its return march, skirmishing with pursuing Federal forces frequently and riding hard. The last exchange of fire occurred at Ripley, Mississippi. The Sixth, along with the other regiments in the brigade, spent the early part of 1863 in scouting expedi- tions in and about Water Valley and in listening to rumors about an imminent transfer to Tennessee, where General Bragg was camped at Tullahoma and Shelbyville, facing the Federal general Granger at Franklin. Van Dorn's forces saddled up in the third week of February and made what was described as a march "wearisome in the ex- treme," crossing a pontoon bridge at Columbia and pro- ceeding to the pike connecting Columbia and Franklin. 1 '" In this vicinity the Texans engaged Granger's outposts and cavalry patrols in several skirmishes. On March 5, they soundly thrashed a force of infantry estimated to "Ibid., p 433. '"Rose, op. cit„ p. 92. 17 number 8,000, plus a battery of artillery and 500 cavalry sent against them at Thompson's Station, near Spring Hill. At a cost of more casualties than could be afforded at that stage of the war, the Texans captured a great many Federal infantry and added another name to the long list of clanging battles written beside their name.'"' The Texans were engaged for a number of days in arduous picket duty and foraging almost under the guns of the enemy, finally withdrawing to the vicinity of Frank- lin. It was during this time that Van Dorn was killed by an incensed husband. With his death, General Forrest was transferred to another command in Tennessee, and the Texas brigade and two others were organized into a division under the command of Brig. Gen. W. H. Jackson and ordered to assist in the defense of Vicksburg.'" His- torian Rose records that for several days before the column reached the vicinity of the city, "the terrible artillery duel, that was progressing dav and night, could be distinctly heard."" With Vicksburg closely invested, the requirement for cavalry was in front of the relief force being organized at Jackson under Gen. J. E. Johnston. It was the plan for Johnston to advance from Jackson to Vicksburg, where the beleaguered garrison would join in a two-front assault on the Union army. Breckenridge's Division was on the bank of the Big Black River, preparing to float its pon- toon bridges, when news of the fall of the city came to Johnston's formations. The infantry were ordered back, and it fell to the cavalry to dispute the advance of Gen- eral Sherman's columns toward Jackson. The Texans operated as rear guard during the entire three days of "Ibid., \>. 93. I In, I., p. L02. /., p. 102. 18 Sherman's advance, forcing the Federal general to de- ploy frequently. The brigade was under fire almost con- tinuously during the entire operation. 33 During the remainder of the summer and fall, the Texas Brigade, less the Sixth Texas, remained in the vicinity of Vicksburg, having an occasional skirmish to break the full monotony of camp life. It was during this time that Ross was named commander of the Texas Brigade and promoted to brigadier general, a recognition of his leadership abilities which gratified the men of the Sixth, from whose ranks the new commander had come. Late in September the Sixth drew an exciting assign- ment under its favorite officer. On the 26th it left Rich- land, Mississippi, in the company of the First Mississippi Cavalry and Willis's Battalion of Texas Cavalry for what it was told was to be a raid on Memphis in cooperation with General Forrest. 34 However, Forrest appears to have changed his mind about the Memphis adventure, and at Grenada, Ross was ordered to report with his brigade to Gen. S. D. Lee at Pontotoc, Mississippi. Along with an- other brigade and some companies of artillery, the Sixth Texas and First Mississippi were absorbed into a division which was reviewed at Pontotoc by General Johnston him- self. Here, also, the men from Van Zandt County wit- nessed the hanging of a Federal spy who had been captured in Confederate uniform, believed to be a member of the Fourth Illinois Infantry. 35 From Pontotoc the brigade passed through Tupelo, the scene of the Sixth's extended encampment of the pre- vious summer, and marched to Tuscumbia, Alabama, on the Tennessee River, where the Fifteenth Union Army "Ibid., p. 10.3. "Ibid., p. 110. ""Ibid., p. 111. 19 Corps was operating. There followed a series of daily man- euvers and skirmishes, ending with a rapid dash on Mos- cow, where the brigade engaged the enemy in what was described as "a very spirited fight." 88 From Moscow the brigade swung back through Holly Springs and Grenada, and thence to Canton, where the other regiments of Texas cavalry were camped. The campaign for Atlanta put the Sixth to the test as it never had been tested before. With a talent for riding to the hardest fighting, General Ross and his Texans found themselves caught up in the series of delaying actions which led ultimately and inevitably to the loss of the vital Georgia city, resulting in the relief of Gen- eral Johnston and the assignment of the crippled Hood to command of the Army of Tennessee. Rose records that in all these rapid movements, the brigade "bore its ban- ner with honor, and signalized its prowess on twenty of the bloodiest fields of the tragic drama." In each of the delaying actions, the Sixth found itself covering the rear of the retreating Confederate army. 37 That Rose was not exaggerating the trials of the Texas Brigade is evidenced by the statement of the noted Civil War historian Allan C. Ashcraft that "While striving to delay United States advances against Atlanta, the brigade averaged a fight a day for over three months. " :1S With the loss of Atlanta and Sherman's subsequent "march to the sea," Hood undertook a winter campaign into Tennessee in preference to dogging Sherman's heels. Again the Texans found themselves operating between the two armies, this time as the advance guard of an "Ibid., p. 122. Ibid., p. 114. "Allan C. Ashcraft, Texas in the Civil War: A Resurrn History (Austin, 1962), p. 26. 20 GuH ol AVxiec> 21 advancing force. From its crossing of the Tennessee River, Ross's brigade found itself almost continuously in action. Even night brought little respite to the men and horses. It is recorded that Ross led the advance into Tennessee, "literally cutting a pathway through the multi- tudinous enemy for the march of Hood's army."'"' At Pulaski, Ross flanked the Federal covering force out of its position and followed hard on the heels of the retreating foe, capturing many prisoners and wagons, in a running fight that carried almost to Columbia. There General Hood directed Ross to cross the Duck River some miles above the city and to circle to the Federal rear, a movement he executed with dispatch, taking position on the pike between Spring Hill and Franklin. He promptly dismounted his troopers and attacked the defending Federal force while Gen. S. D. Lee attacked it in front. Lee drove the enemy into town, and the Union general Schofield then launched a series of hammer blows against Ross, blocking his exit from an encirclement. Throughout the day Ross's Texans repulsed attack after attack, their commander, "sword in hand, his face blackened with the smoke of battle," meeting each attack with a counter-attack.'" The series of attacks continued into the night, the combatants mixed in inextricable con- fusion, unable to distinguish friend from foe. Morning found Ross and his decimated brigade still holding the pike, but the outcome was never in doubt. Bringing all his guns to bear, Schofield finally drove the Texans from the road and poured through the gap. A few brief hours of rest, and the survivors of the brigade found themselves once again in the saddle, harry- "Rose, o]). rit.. p. 1 15. "Ibid., p. 116. 22 ing the Federal column on its retreat toward Franklin and capturing additional prisoners and wagons. Closing on Franklin, Hood made immediate plans to attack the city, in preparation for which he ordered Ross's Brigade to the right and up Big Harpeth River. The Tex- ans here encountered Brownlow's celebrated "Gray Horse" cavalry. In the engagement which followed, the lines of cavalry passed through each other, 41 an incident with few parallels in modern history. Many hand-to-hand fights ensued, and several of Ross's men afterward bestrode gray horses captured in the action. Hood's threatening posture before Franklin prompted another Federal with- drawal, with Hood's advance guard following to the out- skirts of Nashville. While Hood was investing Nashville, the Texans were ordered to screen toward Murfreesboro against the ad- vance of General Thomas, an assignment which they accomplished with the capture of still more prisoners and a large train of commissary supplies. While Ross was thus engaged, Hood made a final, fatal cast of the dice with a bloody attack on Nashville and was repulsed. In the disaster of this defeat, Hood's concern became one for the survival of his riddled formations on their retreat from the field, with the Texans again given the assign- ment of guarding the rear of the army. The sullen enemy had become an eagerly-pursuing, vengeful foe, and veterans of the Sixth spoke of the next few days as their most difficult fighting of the war. 42 Even for late December the weather was bitterly cold, the men were thinly clad, and above all they were dis- heartened and dejected. The record shows, however, that "Ibid., p. 118. "Ibid., p. 119 23 they never flagged in their duty, guarding the army's rear until it had successfully crossed the Tennessee River to safety. In the actions of late November and December, Ross lost over one hundred men, but in fighting his regiments he captured more than five hundred prisoners and nine Federal colors, in addition to destroying two fully loaded railway supply trains, almost fifty supply wagons and a great amount of other material. 41 Hood's daring campaign, and the savage rear guard actions which followed the disaster at Nashville, virtually ended the services of Ross's Texas Brigade, in which Garrett and his comrades from Cedar Grove earned en- during fame. Ahead were a few more months of patrol actions — and a long, long road home to Texas! "Ashcraft, op. cit., p. 24 The Civil War Letters of David R. Garrett Sept 17th 1861 Dallas, Dallas Co Texas Dear Mollie, these few lines leaves me well, the health of our company is very good, we have only one or two that are sick, and they are only chilling, the health of the whole Regiment is good. We left Camp Bartow yesterday, and we are now on our march to Missouri. I expect we will meet the other boys before a great while. I am getting anxious to see them, and I know they will be proud to see us. From what I can learn we will make our home at Fort Smith or at Little Rock this winter, if such is the case we will not suffer much from the cold weather, which I am glad of. Mollie this is the third letter I have written to you, you may expect a letter from me every week if I can get the chance to write. I will be certain to write when I can and I want you to do the same. I know you will write if you know where to write to. There is nothing that affords me more pleasure than to get a letter from you. I sent the last letter I wrote in a letter I wrote to Ellen, if you have any particular persons that you had rather that I would send the letters by, you will let me know, the reason why I do this is, I can mail two letters for on[ly] five cents, where I would have to pay ten cents if I sent them separate. I must be saving with my money or it will give out before the twelve months runs out. Mollie, I send you a watch guard, I want you to get the watch fixed and put the guard on and take of[f] the chain, and I want you to 25 wear it when you are not at work. I want you to wear it & think off me when you have it on. Mollie, there is only one thing I wish for, and that is your likeness, if I only had that I could look at you then whenever I wanted too, but the lock of hair that you gave me & the picture gives me a great pleasure, be assured Mollie I look at them often. I kiss the picture every time I look at it & think of the . . . gave it to me. It ... to tell you that I love the giver. I have told you that often, but I did not know that I loved you so much until I was cut off from your company. Mollie, you may expect me back so soon as my time is out, and those vows I made you I expect to fulfill, as I told you before there will be but one of two things that will keep me from it, and that is you will have to back out from your promise which I know you will not do, and the other thing is that will keep me is death, and if I should die I want too meet you in heaven. Mollie I do not want you to grieve after me for I verily believe that I will meet you again at Cedar Grove. Mollie I would have come back to see you all, but I hated to tell you all good bye again, it was a bitter price to tell you all good bye when I left you all, good bye my dear Mollie. D. R. Garrett 26 Sept 26 1861 Wm Gibbard Esq. Boggy Depot, I. Nation Dear friend, these few lines leaves me in good health, the health of our company is good, we have only one man that is sick, & he is chilling, the health of our Regiment is good. We have all got along finely since taking up the line of march. We have had quite a dry & dusty time of it, we has suffered considerably for water. We are making about twenty miles per day. We have ninety privates in our company, we have about nine hundred men in our Regiment. It said by every one that we have the best company in all the Regiment, & that they keep the best order of any company in all the Regiment. I think since we have started we have met fifty moving wagons coming from Mo. they all tell us we will have plenty of work to do when we get there, they are leaving all their property unsold they tell us that the Lincoln men are burning & destroying the property of all who are not for them. I have taken a fancy to the Nation, I mean the country and not the citizens. I think it is the best country I have seened in a great while. I must close this imperfect scroll, and I will write you more lengthy when we get to St. Louis, as I expect that will be the place of our winter quarters if we should be so successful as to get in possession of. Ben McCulloch says he will winter in St. L. or heaven or somewhere else, & if he does I expect to be not far off. I would like very much to hear from you. My respects to all of your family, & my friends in and around the Grove. I expect to meet you all again twelve months from today. I remain yours truly & C Respectfully yours & CS D. R. Garrett 27 I*. S. Tell Frank I want him to be certain to settle with Simpson if he will let him have Brick, have the Brick piled up at my place. Yours truly D. R. Garrett Capt Jack and all the boys send their respects to you & all the citizens around the Grove D.R.G. 28 Oct 14th 1861 Wm Gibbard Esq Maysville Cherokee Nation My Esteemed friend, as we called a halt very early today, I thought I would trouble you with a few lines. I am pleased to say to you that I am in very good health, & the whole of our Regiment. We all got along finely. We had no serious accident on all the trip. We thought we would have a little fight one day, but all in vain. We lost only one man on the trip, & I do not know for certain that he is gone, but all believe he is gone. When he left he took all his Blankets & clothing with him. His name is Jo Ellis a son of Brother George Ellis. I do not want this to be known until we know for certain that he is gone. I think the cause of his leaving was that he was found asleep on his post. He left us at Teleco. We are now in five miles of Gen McCullock's camp. I learn from several of his men that came into our camp, that a great many of his men are sick, & dying with the measles & mumps. Col Greer's Regiment is camped about six miles above here at Carthage. I learn that about 350 of his men are sick, with the same complaint. I did not learn whether anv of our boys was sick. It is said that we will start in a few days for their camp, & we will all get together & be ready to meet Fremont who it is said is coming on to meet us & give us a fight. McCullock has about 8000 Troops. Our boys are all anxious for a fight. On our trip out we faired sumptiously on Beef & Bread, but for the last few days the diet has been changed, it is now cold water Bread & Fresh Beef. I am worned out on Beef for the first time. I do not care now if I never saw Beef again, but I do not grumble, and will not so long as I keep my health, & continue to fatten as I am at this time, but I assure you there is not much fun in a campaign of this kind. I will close this imperfect scroll by sending the respects 29 of all the boys at their request to you all. My respects to all of my friends about the Grove & its vicinity. I will let you all hear how we are getting along when I have the opportunity. It is a bad chance to get a letter to Texas from this place, they can go only by express or by some one moving from Mo to Texas, which a great many is doing. My best wishes and respects to all the family. I remain as ever the same your true friend. Yours respectfully & CS D. R. Garrett 30 Maysville, Sept 14th 1861* Miss M. E. Gibbard Dear Mollie, as this may be the last chance that I will have of sending you a letter I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know that I am in good health, my health has been good ever since I left Dallas, the health of our company is good. We are now in five miles of McCulloch's Camps, but we are not allowed to visit their camp, as the measles is among them. I was told that six men died there yesterday, but I do not know that it is so. Col. Greer's Regiment is camp[ed] at Carthage. They are about sixty miles from us, all of our Cedar Grove boys is there. I do not know when I shall see them. I was told that there was three hundred fifty was sick in Greer's Regiment. I did not learn that any of our boys was sick, or that any of them had died. I learned that the measles was among them, & the mumps. I do not know where we will go from here, there is some talk of us going to Kansas, if we go there I do not know what I will have the chance to write to you again soon, but if I have any chance to send you a letter I will be certain to write to you, but if I do not write you must not think it strange, or think that I do not care for you, or that I have ceased to love you, for such is not the case, for I think of you often, & my love for you is greater now than it ever was before at any (A page — or more — is missing at this point. However, the author found it necessary to return to the top of the sheet from which the above is quoted, reversing the sheet, for his final comments.) ""Undoubtedly the author wrote this date inadvertently, intending to make it October instead of September. 31 . . . for this time. My respects to all . . . remain your true and devoted . . . (there follows a line drawing of two clasped hands), my dearest Mary. 32 Oct 27th 1861 Wm Gibbard Esq Camp Davis, Arkansas My Dear Friend. I write you a few lines to let you [know] that we are still among the living, & at this enjoying a reasonable share of health. We have been at this place for the last four days. Our orders are, that we are to leave here on the 29th inst, we will march toward Springfield, & from there we may go to Jefferson City, & on to Kansas, that is we will go that trip if our officers think it will pay, if not we will come to Ft Smith & take up our winter quarters, as I learn that is the place selected by McCullock. He (McCullock) have made arrangements to have stables & Shanties put up for us. We came up with Greer's Regiment on the 20th at Carthage, but we did not stay but a few hours before an express came into camp that Freemont was in thirty miles of us with 60,000 men, & as our force was not exceeding 5000, we was ordered to leave, & we left about 12 o'clock at night & came back to the town of Neosho, & from thence to this place, but the report about Freemont was false. I do not think that he will ever come this low down to fight us Texas boys. I learned today that he had turned back. He came as far down as the Osage River, & must of heard of our coming, & he thought it best for him to steer his bark in some other direction. McCullock sent a scouting party out towards Springfield a few days ago to spy around to see if they could find out anything. I heard today that they had a little fight at Springfield, but did not [learn] the particulars. I did not learn whether the fight was with our scouts or not. I learned that about 300 hundred (sic) of the Union men was killed. I find a goodly number of union men up here, when we find one of that kind we show him little mercy, we think we have the right to retaliate. When we came up with Greer's 33 Regiment we found a good many of the boys sick, none dangerous except H. T. Beck, he is quite low, & I think very doubtful about his recovering. T. T. Rogers is just getting over the measles. E. Sullivan's eyes are quite sore, but are improving now. No one out the Regiment have died or got killed. They were the proudest boys I ever saw when we came up with them. You could see the tears beginning to trickle down some of their cheeks as they was giving us the hand of welcome. All of the boys have a long tale to tell about the fight. They say they do not care about seeing the Elephant anymore. Our Regiment is all over a fire for a chance, they are all afraid they will have to go into winter quarters without a fight. All the boys send their respects to you & their friends. I must close this im- perfect scroll by requesting you to remember me to all of my friends, my respects to Mrs. Gibbard & all the family, tell all my friends I would like to hear from them if they will direct their letters to Ft Smith, & I will be certain it to get it as we have an express from that place every week. I remain your friend & . . . Yours truly & CS D. R. Garrett D. R. Garrett Stone Regiment 6th Texas Cavalry Company E 34 Oct 28th 1861 Miss M. E. Gibbard Camp Davis, Arkansas Miss Mollie, as this may be the last opportunity that I will have for sometime, I thought I would write you a few lines to let you [know] where I was and how I was getting along. Mollie, it affords me much pleasure to say to you that I have been improving ever since I left Dallas, and I am at this time in almost a perfect state of health. I think if I should be so fortunate as to escape the hands of the enemy I will return home ... I have gained several pounds since I left home, I pray God that he will spare my life & that I may meet with you all again at Cedar Grove, but if God in his great mercy should see proper to call me from earth, my prayer is that we may meet in that world where there is no wars that will cause friends to part. Mary, your kind letter was perused with much pleasure but while reading it, it cause [d] many a serious & solemn thought to cross my mind, & it was with some difficulty that I suppressed my feelings, & prevented a tear to fall from my eyes. It was the first, & last letter that I have received from home. I answered your letter the same day that I received it, I send it back in a letter I wrote to A. T. Sullivan, when it comes he will hand it to you. I want you to write to me again at Ft Smith, and have it backed as you did the other one, tell all of my friends I would like to get a few strokes of a pen from them. I was with Greer's Regiment a few days ago, & some of the boys are here with us today, I found several of them sick, none of them is dangerous but Ab Beck, E. Sullivan's eyes are very sore, but they are getting better now he says, all the boys was the proudest boys I ever saw when we met with them. None of our boys have been much sick since we left. Ike McCowan is a little sick this morning. Mollie if you do not hear from 35 me again you need not think that I have forgotten or ceased to love you, never will I cease to love you as long as these now active limbs of mine shall do their bidding. We are ordered to leave here in the morning for Spring- field, & we may have a fight before we return. I do not know as we will have a fight, we was ordered to send all of our clothes back to Bentonville to remain there until we re- turned. I sent all my clothes back except what I have on. I put on the Pants you sent me, & I put the lock of hair you gave me in my pocket, & if I should fall in the defense of my country, before I return, I want that precious lock to go with me, for I esteem it above all other things that I brought with me, but Mollie I feel like that I will return again, but if I should fall, do not let my death trouble or grieve you, but take it easy as you well know that I fell in a good cause, & in defense of your rights, & the rights of all southern people. I am in the hands of God, & if I should fall, do not grieve at any of his doing, as the Calafornian said in his song, He doeth all things well. I want you & Ellen to sing the Calafornia song, & think of Davie away out here in Missouri. Iwould like for Ellen to write to me, I want to know how her & Andy is getting along. Tell all to write to me, I must now close my letter, by requesting you to present my best respects to your Pa and Ma & all the children, tell them all howdy for Davie. I want you to write to me as soon as you can. I would be pleased to hear from you all at any time. I must now say farewell to one I truly love, I remain yours in true love and friendship. Yours very respectfully & CS D. R. Garrett Good bye (here again appears a line drawing of clasped hands) Mollie for a short time I trust and hope 36 Dec 14th 1861 Wm Gibbard Esq Camp Washington My Dear friend, Your favor of the 16th Nov is at hand. I was pleased to learn from it that you & family, & the citizens of the Grove were in good health. You wanted to know what you must do with those notes & . . . of T. W. Johnson's, all I can say to you, is keep them until Jasper comes over, or sends an order for them. Nothing of interest have transpired since I wrote you last, only our fall campaign was closed without having a fight, we are now camp[ed] near our quarters, we are building cabins & Stables, we have quite a healthy location, we are some two miles from the Arkansas River, 12 miles below Ft Smith. The health of our Regiment is bad, a great many of the boys are sick, their sickness is the measles mumps & Fever, some 12 or more men have passed from off the stage of action who once belong [ed] to our Regiment, but only one of that number was from our company, none of the boys from the Grove are sick, except McNorton, I think he has a complication of diseases, but the one that seems to be making the greatest havoc upon his person is the Blue or Homesickness. He is the most old maidish man I ever had anything to do with in all my life, nothing goes right with him since he found out there is no chance for him to get a furlough. Four privates from our company have got furloughs, & have gone home, none of the boys from the Grove will get a furlough, in fact none wants any except McNorton, we all would like to come back & see you all, but a thirty days furlough would not pay us to ride back, & so we will try & fight out our full time. 0, yes, we acted brave before we came to our winter quarters, after we found out, that all the Dutch had left Springfield, we went splunging up there, making the citizens believe that we were bound to have a fight 37 & would have one if we could find the Yankees, after we got into Springfield, we went to the P. 0. & broke it open, & took out a thousand & one letters, Papers & magazines in large quantities. I never saw the like of Dutch love letters in all my life. I want to try & preserve one or two as a sample, after robbing the P. 0. next we went into the Saloons & took a few whiffs at the essence of corn & Rye. Our Capt made quite a conspicuous character that part of the game, & our Col, also. In speaking of the Col, I think if cursing a man will kill him, there is but little hopes for our Warren B. Stone ever living to get back to Texas, for I verily believe that three fourths of our Regiment are against him, & it is all for his trying to make them act the part of a soldier, as to myself, I am well pleased with him. He is not afraid to speak to a man w r hen he deviates from the proper tract, for without orders he can do nothing, & our col says he [will] have order, or he will play Hell with the Regiment. And by his having strict discipline enforce [d], we have got the name of being the most civil, & best Regiment in McCulock's command, & a better Captain no eight ever had than Jack Wharton. I class him as one of the boys — boys, that will see that his men have their rights. Old Capt was much pleased to hear that you was watching over his business. I received a letter from Malone who said you was attending to his business, & stated that the place looked $500 better than when he left, which pleased old Capt much, for D. Richardson when he came said that his stock was badly scattered. T. P. Thomas from Greer's Regiment is here, & says that all the boys are well except T. T. Rogers, who is complaining of his Breast. I must say I never enjoyed better health in my life than I have since I left Dallas. I am heavier now than I have been since I came to Texas. Give my respects to Mrs. Gibbard & all the family & remember me to all of my friends. I would be pleased to hear from you at any time. I remain most respectfully 38 your friend in deed & truth Respectfully yours, D. R. Garrett 39 Dallas Texas Dec 21st 1861 Wm Gibbard Esq Cedar Grove Dear Sir I suppose you would be glad to hear from the gallant soldiers of your Country now under my command, and I have to say of them they were generally well when I left camp ten days since and further say they are a noble set of boys, under a most gallant and chivalrous Captain. I cannot speak too highly of Captain Jack Wharton who is ever ready to attend the wants of his friends and his company, and ever ready as an officer to discharge his high duties at whatever point called. This company will do its duty in the field wherever we meet a foe. God bless the Confederacy. I am very Respectfully Your obt Servt B Warren Stone 40 Jany 8th 1861* Wm Gibbard Esq Camp Washington, Ark. My dear Sir, I write you a few lines as I have the chance to send a letter directly to Kaufman by the polite- ness of Mr. Peters. Since I wrote to you our boys have had a fight they found the Indians about eighty miles above Fort Gibson, the boys that was there said some ten or twelve of our men got killed in all, & about three hundred Indians, only one got hurt in our Company. Wm Spencer got pretty badly wounded in the breast, the ball entered just below the right breast & grazed the bone clean across his breast & came out above the nipple of the left breast. He suffered considerable with it, but it is getting better now, all say that old Capt Jack was a conspicuous person- age on that occasion, they say he led his little squad of soldiers, & fought the enemy with great success, this Regiment had the honor of doing the best fighting on that day. Not many of of the boys from the Grove was there, from the fact a good many of them was sick, & others were detailed to remain & take care of them. I was detailed to stay, & I did not get to see the Elephant, but I think the prospect is fair for me to see him ere I return to the Grove. I believe the most of our boys are getting up, a majority of the Company have had the measles, we lost only two of our boys from sickness. I think if they all can stay in quarters until Spring they will all get well & about again & no doubt will do their part of fighting if any is to be done. I will now close for this time. My respects to Mrs. Gibbard & all the family, remember me to all of my friends. Permit me to subscribe 41 myself your friend & CS. write to me soon. Yours very Respectfully & CS D. R. Garrett D. R. Garrett Jany 9th/ 62 *The author obviously erred out of habit in writing 1861 ins'.ead of 1862. (This letter was folded so as to form its own envelope, on which the author wrote this return: D. R. Garrett, Stone's Regiment 6th Texas Cavalrv, Com- pany E.) 42 Jany 29th 1862 Wm Gibbard Esq Sir, I send by my friend S. M. Harrison One Hundred & Twenty Dollars, which I wish you to take & use as your own. I have no use for it here, & if you will take it, you will oblige your friend. If we draw again soon I will want to send some more back to you, if you have no objection, & I would like to hear from you. I remain yours with respect & . . . D. R. Garrett 43 Jany 26th 1862 Win Gibbard Esq Cantonment Washington My Dear friend, as some time has elapsed since I re- ceived a letter from you I thought I would trouble you with the perusal of a few lines, as it is now raining & I cannot get out of my quarters, but I fear I shall not be able to give you anything of interest at this time, from the fact some of our boys have been among you & no doubt they gave you a full detail of our journeying from Camp Bartow up to this point, & a rehearsal would be as extra duty taxed on your good nature, & superfluous in me to say anything about, as I wrote a copy from the Col's report of our fight for Capt Jack, & he said he would send it to you, which I suppose he did so, if I knew he had not, I would send you the report, but if you have not seened it yet, I can tell you, it is quite a weak effort from the pen of our Col, but we need not judge the Col from the reports, for I dare say there is not a more brave man in the whole army than Lieut Griffith, who led the little squad of men from the 6th Texas Cavalry on the 26th of Dec & be assured Esq that that little squad did as good fighting on that day as ever was done by any set of men, but it fell to my lot to be absent. Capt Jack detailed me to remain at camp & take care of the sick that was in my mess, at that time three of them was down, McNorton, McDougal and McCowan, but they are now able for duty, all say our Capt did good fighting on that day he lost his hat & Blankets in the fight, but he was smart enough to get some old warriors hat before he left the field. Our Capt is gaining popularity fast, he is looked on as being by far the smartest man in the Regiment, & I believe is. I would not exchange him for no one, doubtless you recollect before we left the Grove, it was the opinion of many that old Jack would not do, for a captain, all thought he would get 44 drunk, & pay no attention to his men, & would be very crabby to them. I was a little of that opinion, but I am agreeably disappointed. I dare say no company have been better treated by their captains than ours, & it is said by all of our Field Officers that our company keeps the best order than any other in the command, not a single man in our company have been courtmartialed as yet, & but a few have ever been put on extra duty, which is evidence that we have not only a good Captain, but an orderly set of men. The Camp talk is now that we will be ordered to Springfield in a few days, some say they expect we will have a fight, but from what little information I can gather around I do not think we will fight. If we are ordered at all, it will be only for us to go to Springfield, & remain there, as Price is going to leave that Point, & go higher up in the state, & we will be left as guard at that point, but things may change, & we may meet the enemy at that point & have a fight. I understand that we had a fight at Bolingreen Ky a few clays ago, & I am sorry to hear that we were whipt out, our loss was considerable, 300 killed, & some of our most prominent as well as gallant Officers. I hope the report is incorrect, if they have whipt us there, it is the first time, & I trust it will be the last. Our Col W. B. Sone has returned & has assumed command of the regiment, on taking his place He delivered quite an ex- cellent address. He told us that the 6th Texas Cavalry should never be disgraced by their Col. He said if he ever faltered in the discharge of his duty, he wanted his men to cut him down & let his name sink deep in the oblivion of forgetfulness. Well Esq we twelve months men now have the chance of enlisting for two years longer, we have from now until Oct to study about the matter. I am undecided as to what I shall do, but my notion at this time is, I will not reenlist unless I see there 45 is work to do & my assistance will be needed. I would rather rest a spell, but if my country say they want me I am ready to answer her call, but I think the bulk of the fighting will be over by Oct. Esq, I have some money on hand, & I want to send it back to you, & if I do I want you to use it as your own. I have no use for it here. If I can see a chance to send it I will do so. The Confederacy has fed & clothed me well up to this date, & I think she will ever be able to pay her soldiers. Capt Jack gave me a Tomahawk & Pike connected in one, & told me to send it back to you I saw an opportunity of doing so, it was picked up on the battlefield at the late fight. The Capt told me to tell you also, that on the 8th inst that he got on a little tight to commemorate the last 8th as you & him was on a tight on that day. I hope you will excuse me for troubling you with a letter of such length, as I might have said all I have said on just half the paper, but as I said in the onset it was raining & I could [not] get out of Quarters. Now I will close, all the boys & Captain joins in with me & sends their respects to you all, I will close by subscribing myself your friend & well wisher & write soon. Respectfully yours & CS D. R. Garrett D. R. Garrett Stone's Regiment 6th Texas Cavalry Company E 46 Feb 26th 1862 Wm Gibbard Esq Camp Lee Creek Arks My Dear friend, I drop you a few lines to let you know of our whereabouts, & what we are doing. We are out in the field again, we left Quarters on the 17th inst for Cassville, where we expected to have a fight, but on our way met Gen. Price falling back, as the Feds were too strong for us, we have returned to this point Twenty miles above Vanburen, Arks & it is old Ben's & Price's notion to give them a little fight at this point, the Feds are in Twenty miles of us coming on, they were in Fayettesville on Sunday, they sent us word to get all the men we could for they were going to whip us & they would give us time to prepare for them. The Feds are about Fifty Thousand strong, & our strength about Twenty Five, but our forces are increasing every day. Notwithstanding their forces are far superior to ours in number, all of our boys appear to be in good spirits & they think victory will be ours & I am of the same notion. If I am so fortunate as to come through safe, I will write you the results of the fight. The Feds has taken one of our men as prisoner. He was out as a spy & the feds caught him a napping, & took him in out of the cold & have him now housed up in the Court House in Fayettesville. His name is Martin from Collin Co. I have been made Orderly Sergeant of our company, & I have plenty of work to do, & I have but little time to write, & I hope you will excuse this imperfect scroll in all of its parts, my respects to all of my friends. yes, Esq I want you to tell all the men that feels like fighting to come up, & they can get into our Regiment for Two years, or for the remainder of our time which is six months yet, tell them to hurry on for the Regiment is filling up fast, I would like to have all the boys along that I can get. I will close by sending my respects to Mrs. 47 Gibbard & family & by subscribing myself your friend & CS. write to me soon. Yours truly & CS D. R. Garrett D. R. Garrett Stone's Regiment 6th Texas Cavalry Company E 48 March 20th, 1862 Cantonment Washington Wm Gibbard My Dear Friend, Your very kind missive of the 15th of February was politely handed me by E. Sullivan who reached here a few clays ago. I was pleased to learn from its contents that you & family were all well. I was out of Quarters & expecting a fight at the time yours came to hand, & sure enough was my expectations was realized, for on the 7th & 8th inst. we came up with the enemy. We did some hard fighting. Our Regiment was the first to make the charge of the Indians, we made a noble charge, we routed the enemy, took their Battery consisting of six pieces of Cannon, we lost some six or seven men in the charge, we killed quite a number of the Feds & took several Prisoners. I tell you Esq I never heard the popping of guns before & the whizzing of Grape & Ball. I no doubt you have heard many tales about the fight, & doubtless a correct one. I have been waiting to get a correct account of the fight so I could write, I am not satisfied that I have it yet. From the best information I can get, our loss was about 125, & that of the Feds, 600 killed, 400 mortally wounded, & about 600 disabled, making about 1600 in all. The Feds think it strange that they killed so few of our men, they say we hawled our men off the field as fast as they were killed, but we did no such thing. We were whipping the Feds very nicely until McCullock & Mcintosh fell, & no sooner did they fall, & their whole command stampeded & scattered all over the mountains. I understand that the Feds claim the victory, but they say God dam such vic- tories. I know they were willing to quit for they never pursued us when we retreated. I understand they have gone north again to say the ... of the fight, both sides 49 were whipped. I do not think that Greer's Regiment is to do without eating, for four days we had nothing to eat but a little fat pork, we travelled night & day, all of our men were worned out, a great many of them have taken sick since the fight, the flu is the general disease, & colds. I have been very unwell for a few days ago, but I think I will wear my bad feelings off as I have a great deal to do, as I am acting sargeant of the company. Well Esq we have received orders to go on the Mississippi River near Pocahuntas, we will start in a few days. You said you had settled off a note that S. McCorcle held against, which I had forgotten about, & I am very glad you took the note in. I will close for this time, remember me to all of my friends, & tell them to write. I would like to hear from W. C. Malone, as he is slow to write. I wish you would jog his memory, & that of all around there. I would like to hear from them all. My best respects, & wishes, to Wm Gibbard and family. I remain your friend, & well wisher. Write me Soon. Respectfully yours & CS D. R. Garrett D. R. Garrett Stone's Regiment 6th Texas Cavalary Company E 50 Camp Maury Miss June 14th 1862 Wm Gibbard Esq My Dear Sir, as my friend Akard will leave for Texas tomorrow, I though I would write you a line, not thinking I could give you more information than the bearer of this. You no doubt ere this comes to hand heard of our evacuating Corinth. I think it was all well enough, still it looks hard that we are to give up place after place to the feds. Our evacuating Corinth was done in order to draw the enemy out on dry land, as we are all satisfied that we can do nothing with them on water, if they come down to see us here I think that we will give them what Paddy gave the drum. Well Esq we hear divers of reports in camp, we can hear a great deal talk of peace in camp, but I fear it is all wind work. I hope that peace may soon be made, I assume a great many of the boys are getting worn out with the war question. Well . . . would like to know your opinion about the war. I would give a great deal if I could only be at your house to get a cup of good milk, for I am worn out on Beef & Bread, friend Akard can tell you how we live out here, in fact he can tell you all about our company. I want you to be certain to write. I have not heard from you all in a good while, write to me, as soon as this come to hand & let me hear from you all. My respects to Mrs. Gibbard & family & remember me to all of my friends, tell Dr. Craft I would be pleased to hear from him. Respectfully yours & P D. R. Garrett By the urbanity of Wm Akard 51 (The following is an undated fragment, apparently the second sheet of a letter which is signed on the reverse side. From the internal evidence it would seem to have been written the latter part of June or the early part of July, 1862.) The health of our command has improved very much since we left Corinth though the mortality in my company has been very great since I came to Corinth. When I came to Corinth I had only lost four men. Now after a lapse of two months my muster roll [shows] in all a loss of eleven — none just from about Cedar Grove except poor John Childress, he was a very good boy, & I truly grieved at loosing him. I suppose by this time Bill Akard & the other boys have got home. Give my love to them. They can tell you more news in an hour than I could in . . . hours. Bill Spencer, Issac Mc . . . & Mr. Martin have all been quite sick but are better now. Billy Hill has not yet returned from the hospital neither has Jack Bridges though I am looking for them daily. The balance . . . boys are doing fine. The men that have died lately are John Childress, John T. Winn, Alex McGrigsby, John Lewis, McElhaney & . . . Harrison & I fear . . . though of the last I am not certain. My own health has as usual been excellent. I have been sick but little since I came into the service. We have pretty rough fare & nothing at all to drink & very hot weather. Water is getting very scarce. I fear we will suffer a good deal when we come to march. I can't for the life of me make the boys take care of their 52 canteens. Half of them are without them now. The conscript act kicked up a fuss for a while, but since they shot abt twenty-five men for mutiny & whipped & shaved the heads of as many more for the same offense everything has got quiet & goes on as usual. The court martial here is in session most all the time & they think no more of shooting a man than we used to do of taking a drink. I believe I have now told you all of interest connected with our Regt. except that we drill a great deal & that our company is now one of the largest & best companies in the Regiment. It is decidedly the best drilled & dis- ciplined. I have never yet had a single man tried by a General Court Martial. I can't give you any special directions about my affairs at home, just do what you think best & you will please me. Please accept my thanks for what you have done & may do. I would like you can that you keep the Mexican & rent the place to the best man you can find & at the best terms you can, having an eye to the welfare of the stock, For I really care nothing about the farm except so far as it may be made useful to the stock. Make the man who rents the place agree to feed the Ducks well and allow us to pasture the wheat with the stock etc. If the Mexican is gone or intends to go try & get a stock man & make it his duty to attend to the stock. There was a man formerly of Hardin's Company who went home with their horses by the name of I. W. Dunford. They called him "Comanche," he used to work for John Moore & lived at McCarty's. I expect he has married Dick Jones' daughter. I think he has been discharged. If you could get him he would be the very man. But of course I can't 53 anticipate what may have or may in the future happen & I must ask you to proceed as you think wisest & best thereby confer upon me new obligations to you. Any money you many require let me know & I will send it to you. I see no early prospect of my ever getting back until the war is over or . . . home for from present prospect we will go north when we start up. Give my kindest regards to Dr. Craft & his family . . . & family. The Richardsons, Mrs. Hill & family, your own family, the Martin family, the Sullivans, Mr. Wills & family, Lou ... & Mrs. Morgan, Caroll Malone & indeed everybody old & young, male & female in & about good old Cedar Grove. I can't tell how much I would give to see you all once more. Please write to me whenever you get a chance & tell me everything about everybody. I have received in the last Three months, two or three letters from friends about Cedar Grove, but none from you. I write to some of you whenever I get a chance but I don't often get the opportunity. I must now stop. Your friend truly Jack Wharton 54 July 1st 1862 Wra Gibbard Esq Camp Maury Mississippi Dear Sir. Your favor of June 2nd is now before me for reply & I hasten to give you in as brief a manner as my abilities will admit the general news that is afloat in camp, & is generally believed by all to be correct. The latest news that we are in possession of is a Telegram of the 28th of June, which is as follows, (to wit) Genl Lee has routed McClellan and his army from their strong holds at Beaver Dam. He (Lee) had pursued the enemy for two days & expected to renew the attack on the next day. We had taken 3600 prisoners & quite a number of Officers, Three Generals. Stonewall Jackson was in their rear waiting for them to come in sight, when he will greet them with Buck & Ball, & a few Minnie. The whole camp is on tiptoe to hear the result of the fight on the 29th & which is talked by many will be and end to the war, if our cause should prove successful. Our loss on the 27th and 28th was said to be heavy, but that of the enemies much heavier. We took some forty pieces of can- nons, & some very heavy siege guns. Esq, since this news came to camp, everything has chang[d] its appearance, the men all appear lively, & when ordered to fall into line, quicker than thought all is there waiting to receive the command, forward move. So far as to what has become of the Federal army here, I know not, but from the best information that I can gather, they are journeying to a more congenial clime. It is thought a part of them has left for Memphis, a large portion of their cavalry is still looking around. We are taking some of them prisoners eveiy day. I do not think that it is the intention of them to fight us at this point. I think we will have to go to Vicksburg before we ever get a chance to fight the in- vaders. The news is also in camp that we have been fight- 55 ing a little at Vicksburg, & that we had sunk two of their Gun Boats, but I cannot say that it so. You have a better, or as good opportunity of knowing about their fighting at that point as I do, as there is nothing to obstruct the mails between that point & where you are. You stated in your letter that you wanted me to write you all about the fight at Memphis. We passed through without a fight & came to Corinth Miss at which point we expected to meet the enemy. We remained there some four weeks expecting a fight daily, but nay, Genl Halleck of the Federal army did not feel disposed to fight. After we lay there for four weeks, bantering the enemy almost every week, to draw them out to fight, but instead meet- ing us, they would run back to their Gun Boats & take shelter, as w r e could not induce them to fight on fair grounds, we thought it best to evacuate that point, think- ing perhaps we might get them to pursue us, so we might get them out from their Boats. We left in good order, not leaving anything that the enemy could claim to have taken, but I find that in their report, that they took 1500 prisoners, 1000 stands of arms, and a large amount of commissary stores and ammunition, which is false, & as plain a violation of the truth as can be. My friend Wm Akard, who ere this reaches you will be among you, can testify that their report is all false. They burned two or three loads of ammunition & guns, which we had sent down the Rail Road, & a squad of the enemy slipt around & set on fire, but I do not consider that in the retreat. My friend Akard will relate in full all the particulars of our stay in Corinth. We are still at the point that we were when Akard left us. I do not know how long we will remain here, sometime I suppose from the preparations that we are making in digging wells and erecting Bake Ovens. The confederacy is becoming more kind to us, it now furnishes Bread ready for use. I have only one objection to its kindness, the supply it 56 furnishes is too scant, & not only of Bread, but of every- thing. Our fare now is Beef & Baker's Bread, with a small ration of Bacon, hardly enough to grease good, but there is no danger of us suffering so long as we get this, & I shall not complain so long as I retain my health, & continue to fatten. Esqr, since we crossed to the East side of the Mississippi, we have had a great deal of sick- ness not only among the Regt but in our company. Since we crossed the River, we have lost seven men, from our company. I will give you a list of their names as I know my friend Akard would like to know who has died since he left, a Mr. Grigsby, T. T. Winn, T. P. Damron, McElhany & . . . Vanhouser & John Scales & I fear one or two more is dead. I fear Dr. Bridges is dead & also T. W. Bell. McNorton & . . . has just returned from Hospital, they look quite bad, quite a number of our boys is sick, but none seriously so. Since writing the above the news has come in from Richmond that we are still pursuing the enemy. We have taken some 10,000 prisoners, also four Brigadier Genl & one Maj General. McClellan has burnt all his stores, blowed up his breastwork & . . . We have taken a large number of arms & artillery. I hope that we will route the enemy entirely. If so, Old Abe will have to start anew if he is disposed to carry on the war. Esq I want you to write me if my horses reached Texas. We have not heard from only a few getting home safe. If mine got there I wish you to tell F. A. Stone to let them run with his horses & tell him to use them as he sees proper. I wrote to him about them but I do not know as the letter reached him, as I have not heard from him. I would like for you to write me where F. E. Garrett is & what he is doing. I cannot hear from him in no way. Capt. Jack has been unwell for a few days, but he is improving at this time. He sends his best respects to you. As far as my health is concerned, I have enjoyed almost a perfect state of health, for which I feel very grateful 57 & hope that it may continue so until my time shall end in this campaign. I must now close this imperfect scroll, asking you to excuse me for troubling you with so lengthy a letter. Present my respects Dr. Craft & say to him that I would be pleased to hear from him. My best respects to Mrs. Gibbard & family, and permit me to subscribe myself as usual your friend and most Obt. Svt & C. You will please & write me immediately on reception of this. Direct your letters to Tupolo Mississippi, Col Ross' Regt 6th Texas Cavalry Co (E). Yours very Respectfully & C David R. Garrett Col Ross's Regt 6th Texas Cavalry 58 August 9th 1862 Wm Gibbard Esq Camp Frank Armstrong My Dear Sir, as I have an opportunity of sending you a letter by hand, I have but little news to write you. We are doing nothing as usual, we have been at this point ever since the 9th of June, I do not know how long we will remain here, but not long since there is some talk of our moving soon up toward Tennessee. Today we will start a man from each company tomorrow to Texas to bring our horses to us. They are in the notion of mounting us again, but they say they propose having our horses brought to us. I object as I prefer that mine remain in Texas, if my horse is at F. A. Stone I wish you to tell him to keep him unless he can sell him for $125 to do so, if he cannot sell him for that, sell him for $100. If my saddle & bridle is at your house I want you to keep it until I return, if at F. A. Stone I wish you to tell him to care of it for me. Wm Spencer said if his saddle reaches your house, he wished you to keep it for him. I have concluded that I had as soon be afoot, as cavalry. Esq our day appears to be brightening & success is in our favor, from the late papers we are routing the enemy from every point. I will send you a paper of the 8th inst. which will give you all the news. I will close this letter. L. G. Woodhouse sends his best respects to you & family. Capt Jack is fat & the company is all fattening up since roasting ears has come in & peaches & apples & our great success has enlivened all the boys up & they feel & look like new men. My respects to all inquiring friends & to Mrs. Gibbard & family & permit me to subscribe myself you friend & Obt Svt & Yours Respectfully D. R. Garrett " D. R. Garrett Col Ross' Regt 6th Texas Cavly Company (E) 59 Cedar Grove Kaufman Mr. David Garrett Dear friend I take the opportunity of riting you a few lines to inform you that we are all well. I hope these few lines may find you well. I received your kind letter a few days ago. I was sorry to hear that you sick and Tom Woodhouse. I heard since your letter was written that you and Tom W. was in the hospital. I am sorry to hear it. Well David I not much to write only times are hard and I fear worse coming. (The above letter was obviously written by William Gibbard, though unsigned, for on the reverse side, in a different hand, was the following note:) P. S. we received a letter from Jack Wharton to day and he wrote about the money he sent by Spencer Ford he wrote that he brought you some money from Maj Wharton he did not come through this portion of the state he wants you to address him at Austin Travis Co it was wrote on July 21st Elizabeth Gibbard 60 August 29th 1862 Wm Gibbard Esq Camp Armstrong My Dear Sir, as John 0. Collier reached camp last night, & in- formed me that quite a number of boys was coming out with Col Griffith to assist in bringing the horses I con- cluded to send for mine, & I wish you would send him, & all my rigging & tell them to be particular with the rigging, the Spurs especially for they are worth $25.00 here. If they have started with the horses when this reaches you, I wish you or Mr. Stone would sell my horse for $125 if you can get it, or for $100 & no less. We all was glad to see our old Lieut, he felt like home folks, & the best of all we all received letters from home which was a big treat for we had not heard from home in three months, Old Capt. Jack was very proud to hear from his affairs, & that they were in such fine condition, he wished for a gallon of old Rye to take a Bender on the strength of it. We are still guarding the R. Road at this point. I do not know how long we will stay here, not long, I think we will move up toward Memphis in a few days, & thence to Nashville & thence to . . . get our horses. I think we will meet our horses on the west of the River. Our boys are in better spirits now than they have been since we left home & in better fighting condition & none of us want to come home until we run the last fed from our soil. You need not look for me until our little confederacy comes out in flying colors. I know I could not stay if I was there, & I am contented to remain in the army until ... let that come when it will. I must close, my respects to all inquiring friends, 61 & my kindest regards to Mrs. Gibbard & family & permit me to subscribe myself your friend & well wisher. Write soon. Respectfully yours & CS D. R. Garrett 6th Tex Cvly Company ( E ) 62 Sept 4th 1862 Miss M. E. Gibbard Camp Armstrong, Miss Miss M, Your very kindly and welcome letter came to hand a few days ago. I was truly glad to hear from you again, for it has been some two months since I heard from you. I kept writing believing I would hear from you soon. Your letter found me in good health. I have not been laid up in bed one day with sickness since I left home. The health of all our boys are improving, & I think all of them will soon be able to do good fighting if it becomes necessary, but I hope the war will close without fighting any more, but I fear we will have to fight a great deal yet before we satisfy the feds that our side is the one of justice and right. I as firmly believe that we will come out successful as I ever did anything in my life. When I wrote you last, I thought perhaps I could have the pleasure of visiting you all about the first of Dec, but now I see but little prospect of coming, & so I have contented myself to remain here until we whipt the feds or peace is made. If I was there I know I could not be satisfied to remain, & so you need not look for me until you see me, but you may expect to hear from me as often as I can make it convenient to write, while I remain in the army. It would afford me the greatest pleasure if I could be with you all at Christmas & dine with you, the Capt says it would be a happy day if he could be there with me, but as he cannot be there he says you must eat for me and him, & we will feel ourselves under as many thanks to you all as if we were there to partake of the Shanghai. Mollie as I want to write several more letters I must close this, by asking you to write as often as you can, & tell all to write to me. I would be pleased to hear from you every week, you must do as I do, keep writing. Tom Woodhouse is sitting before me 63 writing at the same table & keeps his over all the paper so that I cannot see what the contents are, but I suppose he is writing love to some girl up in Misery. Old Tom says tell ... he is all right, except he has a little attact of Rheumatics, but I am thinking if she was to step up, He would get around in double quick. He sends his best respects to Mr. Stone & family & his undivided love to Miss C. A. & also Tom's in with me & sends his best respects to your Pa & Ma & all the family & the citizens around the Grove. I will conclude this imperfect scroll, fail not to write on the reception of this. I remain your true friend, & lover until further notice or until death. Good Bye Miss M D. R. Garrett Wm Spencer will give you all the news in camp & every thing that you want to know, D. R. Garrett P. S. Tom Woodhouse says he will pay anybody Two dollars and a half if they will write him a letter & he gets the letter. Yours & C D. R. Garrett 64 Sept 28th, 1862 Tupulo, Mississippi Wm Gibbard Esq My Dear friend. Your favor dated the 18th of August is now before me for response. I was pleased to learn that all was well. I can say in reply that all of our boys are in retreating order, for I can assure you we have been making it in double quick time on a retreat from Iuka about fifty miles from this place. We marched up to Iuka in double quick & made about 2000 Feds skedadle from there & we captured about half a million of Stores. When we thought we were in the enjoyment of ease & plenty good things the Feds came down from Corinth in force of forty thousand & then you ought to have seen about 12000 Confederates skedadling clown south, but be- fore we left the 3d Texas, 3d Louisiana, two Arkansas Regi- ment gave them a little fight. The loss was heavy on either side, our loss was near 500 killed & wounded, that of the Feds three times our loss, the fight lasted one hour. None of our Grove boys was hurt or missing except Ab Beck, he has not been seen or heard of since the fight. We lost only a few men on the retreat. Woodhouse & Tom Woods is yet behind. Tom Wood just got tired & said he would not travel any further, the Fed he said could take him & go to hell w r ith him & that is the last we had of him. Woodhouse has the rheumatism very bad & could not keep up, but I think he will come up all right in a few days, some of our men fell behind & was taken prisoners & was paroled & when they came into camp their Col gave them two minutes to get out of camp, if not they would pull hemp. A good many of our boys think that if they fall behind & be taken prisoners & then paroled they will get to go home, but they find there is no honor in 65 being paroled & I think that is right that there should be no honor in it. I was sent to the hospital today. I was taken sick the day we started on the retreat from Iuka. I objected to coming to the hospital. I wanted them to hawl me a day or two & then I could keep up with the trains, but the sugeons would no let me go & so I am at the hospital, but unless I relapse I will leave here in a few days. I am lost when away from my command & I shall join it as soon as I can get to it. Capt Jack came on to the hospital as I did, he has been quite sick, but he is improving very fast & I think he will be able to return to his command in a few days. The whole Army left Baldwin this morning on their way to Tennessee, but I do not know to what point. I understand they will form a junction with Van Dorn & Breckenridge at Bolivar, Tennessee, if so they will advance in the direction of Nashville. I hope we will soon have all the Fed out of the Confederacy. I am anxious to get up about Nashville, I want to see how many of my old acquaintances has turned traitors Andy Johnson like, if I had any of that class, I shall tell them to leave the Confederacy & I shall drive them as I would any other Fed, but I hope I will find them all right. I must close as I feel quite bad, I would be pleased to hear from you all at any time. Direct your letters to Tupola, Missi. If you did not start my horse, I want you to sell him, you or F. A. Stone, as he will be of no service to me for sometime, for I have but little idea that I will see Texas until the war is closed. Tell all to write. My respects to all inquiring friends. My kindest regards to your lady & all the family. I remain as usual your friend. D. R. Garrett 66 Wm Gibbard Esq Paris Texas, Oct 8th 1862 Dear Sir, I have been thinking of writing to you for sometime, but nothing of particular interest has come under my observation, so I have been waiting in vain, and finally will have to give you dose, that will neither kill or cure, but merely put you in the notion of going up to Carroll's for a drink, and by the holy, you must drink a little for me, for I tell you, the boys in these parts don't think of selling or giving a soldier a drink. Well, I suppose the question has arisen in your mind what has become of me? to the foregoing query I will state that I was mus- tered into service on . . . last April, having been in camps all the time, with the exception of 13 days furlough. I was in camps awhile in Texas, and then in Ark, then again in Texas, I first belong [ed] to Burns Battalion, but have attached said Battalion to Lane's Regiment, and are now on marching orders for Ft. Arbucle, I passed through your old Co yesterday, and I cannot see what ever induced you to leave Red River Co, for I think the best country I ever saw is in said county, I consider it far superior to Kaufman. I passed through Hopkin's plantation, l 1 ^ mile from town, and it is hard turn it down in any country, I did not fancy the town of Clarks- ville much, the town of Paris is a very neat little place, and right smart of business done for the times, I saw Sy. & Lige & Allen yesterday, they were all well and getting along finely. Nothing new in our Regmt. Health is generally good, lost one man, men & horses looking fine, our field officers are Lane, Crump, & Burns & Powell Adj, Burns commands this Battalion, Camp life agrees with me finely so far, I have heard nothing from Dave lately, I had the misfortune to [lose] my little boy Thomas, He died on 26th June of diptheria. It was a heavy blow upon Bettie and myself, but we have both tried to be resigned to God's dispensation. 67 Tell Ellen & Mary that they must not marry before I get back, as I want to be at their wedding, tell Ann, Robert, William & Jack I will be back before long to teach school again, tell Mrs. Gibbard that I would be pleased to receive a jug of buttermilk from her. Tell Andy I will write to him soon if the Yankees don't. Give my respects to him & family, Tell Malone & family, Dr. Craft & family & the balance of the Cedar Grove squadron the same thing. Bettie told me, when I wrote to you, to take the privilege of sending her best respects to her acquaintances in the Grove & its vicinity. She was well when last I heard from her, Now Esq I want you to be certain to write me, mail your letter to Ft. Arbucle, Col Lane's 1st Texas Part. Rangers, Comp A. My best wishes to all the family and tell them to write, I have only written 4 letters to-day. I must close. Give me all the news when you write. farewell, F. E. Garrett' F. E. Garrett Col Lane's 1st Texas Part-Rangers Co A *F. E. Garrett was a brother of D. R. Garrett, who came to Texas with him in the 1840's, along with another brother, Calvin, who after the war entered the banking business in Marshall. 68 Oct 21st 62 Wm Gibbard Esq Holly Springs Miss My Dear Sir, Wm Loggin has just returned from Cumby's Regiment & got a letter from you written to Sam, but as Sam was not there he brought the letter over to me and wishes me to write to you, as it is supposed Sam is killed. He has not been seen or heard from since the fight. If he was not killed he was wounded, & was not able to get away. All the men that was taken prisoners have been Paroled & have returned to camp & thus it is why we think that Sam is killed or badly wounded. Bill says he will wait a few days until he learns for certain where Sam is, & then He wants you & his father to do what you think best about Sam Horse in Ark. I have no news to write more than all the boys are well, Capt Jack is still at Jackson. I do not know when he will be up. Some of our Horses has got in. Capt Jack horse died before he got here. My horse & Saddle came, but I did not get my spurs nor bridle. I would like to know if you started my bridle. Write soon. My respects to your family & permit me to subscribe myself your friend & well wisher. Respectfully yours & CS D. R. Garrett 69 Dec 20th 1862 Win Gibbard Esq Grenada Mississippi My Dear Sir, Your kind missive of the 18th of Nov reached camp a week or more ago but as I was with my command on a scout I did not get it until very recently. I was pleased to learn from its contents that you & family & citizens generally were in good health. I was also proud to hear that there was 30,000 Texians yet, yes 30,000 whose locks had seen the frost of many winters, but notwithstanding they are ready to take musket in hand in defense of the rights of their country, & as you truly said, will give a good account of themselves at the day of reckoning. Should victory ever be ours, our little Lone Star State will be one of the most brilliant lights in the constellation of our little confederacy. Texas has done & is doing her duty. She has put more men in the field than any other state south of Mason's & Dixon's Line in proportion to population. Yea, I might say more, before our state should prove direlect in duty the ladies would turn out in mass & show Old Abe & his Blood Hound that there is still some of the same blood in their veins that circulated in those who passed away from off the stage of action & handed down to us & them that liberty & freedome of speech for which we are so nobly defending. If the Feds should come upon you all, I hope you will not act as we have done (retreat) but rather let us hear of the retreat of the enemy. Our army here have just made another retreat from Abbeville to this point. I do not know how long we will remain here. I understand that Jeff Davis says that retreating is done with & we will have to hold this point at all hazards. If that be so, you may listen for some thrilling news from this quarter ere long, for we have 70 the boys that can do the fighting when they are told do so. President Davis in person made his advent in the city of Jackson on the 16th ult. I do not know his mission. I suppose it is to redeem his native State. I stated in the onset of my letter that we had been on a scout, we were out some fifteen days, we had a little fight at Oakland, we captured two pieces of artillery. Our loss in the Bri- gade was none killed & five slightly wounded, the loss of the enemy was ten killed, a few wounded & a few prisoners. Col Griffith was in command of the Brigade. Ex Senator C. C. Washburn of Ills was in command of the Federal forces. I have just returned from the Shop. Ten men was detailed from each Company to have horses shod. I was one of the ten from our company, we had to go twenty miles to get it done. When I came to camp the whole Brigade had left & gone on a scout. I would have given almost any thing to have been with them. They took fifteen days rations of Salt alone, one hundred rounds of ammunition with them, 2 axes to the company, matches & all the turpentine they could get, & one Pack mule to the company. They were going to Iuka, thence to Bolivar, & round by Memphis & thence back to camp. You may look for some stirring news. Van Dorn is at the head of the command, he has about 5000 cavalry with him. I started to the command & was ordered back to the Trains, for I was told that they were about ninety miles ahead of me, & they were marching day & night & I could never overtake them. I shall get my horse in good order & be ready for the next scout. My horse is looking well & I am feeling very well. I have been eating Pork & sweet potatoes & I have got fat. We have less sickness in camp at this time than we have since we came to Miss. Capt Jack is well, & is acting major of the Regt. in the absence of Maj White who is in Texas with sixty days leave of absence. I must close 71 all the boys join with me & send their best respects to you & family & the citizens generally. Direct your letter to Grenada Miss. I remain your friend & well wisher as usual. Yours & CS D. R. Garrett 72 Feb 14th 1863 Camp Near Florence Alabama My Dear Sir, As I have an opportunity of sending a letter to Texas, I have concluded to trouble your patince with the perusal of a few lines, while the command has halted to feed. The last letter you mailed me, Lieut Simp- son lost the letter before I returned to camp. This leaves me and all the boys in good health & fine spirits & ready for a fight. We are on a scout, we started the 8th of Feb, we are going up into Tennessee & fall in the rear of Rosencrantz & force him to fall back, as we will cut off his supplies in his rear. If we should be suc- cessful in whipping the enemy we will break up the Fed- eral army down in this country. I expect we will have a hard scout of it. Cool bad weather & rain in abundance. It has been raining for six weeks every day, & the roads are very bad. Forage is quite scarce & our horses has suffered much for want of forage. My horse still looks very well, but I fear he will not make it through on this trip, if he does I shall keep him & bring him back home with me & keep him as long as he lives, him & only two other horses in the company have stood the trip, but all have died & been left along the road. I have the best horse in the company. I heard from F. E. Garrett a few days ago, he was up about Cane Hill, Ark. He said that he was well & had plenty of scouting to do, & but little to eat & but little for his horse, from what he said I expect they have had a fight ere this. If you hear from him write & let me know if he made it through safe. You may expect to hear of some fighting ere many days. All I wish is that we may be successful & come out safe. The public opinion is that the fighting is about all over. I hope so, but that has become & old song & I shall not say there 73 is any prospect for the fighting to close. We are living quite scant at this time, but I hear on the other side of the Tennessee River we will get plenty to eat. I am now nearer out of clothing at this time than I have been since I left home. If I could get a chance to grab at the Fed's Commissaries I would get a supply. I must close as I will start in a short time. My respects to all the citizens in the Grove & vicinity thereof. My best respects to Mrs. Gibbard & family & permit me to subscribe myself your true friend & well wisher. Write soon & as often as you can. Yours Respectfully & P D. R. Garrett 6th Texas Direct to Shelbyville Tennessee 6th Texas Cavly 2nd Brigade 2d Division CO (E) 74 May 6th 63 Jonesville, Texas Miss Mary E. Gibbard Dear Friend, Perhaps I have acted remiss in not writing you before now but to a variety of circumstances I have deferred doing so until now, and will trust to your good sense, and disposition to forgive me for it. I have been anxious to hear from you and it would afford me great pleasure to see you. I wish I could see you all, and if I was situated so as to visit you, I would certainly do so. But Mary, Times now are strange, as well as life, and truth. Oh how often does the question arise to me, when will this war cease, and peace restored, and remains as often unanswered. Mind loses itself in thought, and wearies with the losing. But Mollie, how do you come on? How does Ellen and Ann, your Pa and Ma, and the children do? Let me tell you something, I have received a letter from Dave since I wrote to you. I answered his letter, but poor felloiv, I don't expect that he ever got it, as he then had been ordered to Franklin, Tenn. We haven't any of us heard from him since the fight. I hope that you have, if so please let us know, as I would like to hear from him very much. Frank has been home once on detail since I wrote to you. He left last Monday for Alexandria. I deeply sympathize with Mrs. Stone in the loss of her son. How does she and Conny come on? How does everybody down there do? Maiy write and tell all the news. Ellen what are you doing? fixing to be off to the war? if so come by, and I'll go with you. Do you have any weddings down there now? I was at one the other night but the Groom looked like a lost sheep, only a little worse. There 75 was about 75 or a 100 ladies, and about a half dozen men. Who is your circuit preacher? and do you like him? we have preaching occasionally. Mary How does my old home look? Do you ever see Nannie? Is Mrs. Craft and Lu still living? if so tell them howdy. I would l'ke to see your Ma and aunt Zilly. Well, Well, How I do go on writing to you, asking so many questions. What would I do, if I could get to talk to you, all, but excuse this, and write me a long letter, and tell everything about everybody, not exactly that either, but you understand me. Mary I get so lonely, sometimes, that life seems a burden. But Mary remember me in your prayers. I hope that there is a better day dawning for us all, and I hope that Dave may be permitted to come back soon, and that you both may be happy, here and here after. Give my love to all enquiring friends. Tell Ellen that I think she might write to me. Give my love to all, and accept a portion for yourself. Yours truly Mary E. Garrett* *Calvin's wife, sister-in-law of D. R. and F. E. Garrett 76 Brownsville, Miss. June 21st Esqr. Gibbard Dear Sir I write you a line as I have a leisure moment thinking that you would be pleased to hear from the company if you would not appreciate a line from me individually. I have no special news to write, only while I write I hear the booming of the artillery in the direction of Vicksburg and have heard it every day for the last eight days, it seems that the devilish Yanks are going to try us ... at this point but nevertheless they can't get the Old Bluff City yet— the "Butter nuts" are too hard for the devils I think Esqr that this fight will tell something of the fate of our beloved country. We can, we must, we will whip the Thiefs here. Maj Wharton is in good health and good spirits, sends his respects to you & family, all the boys are fat and are very anxious to get at the Yankees again. I think they will "Make the Wool fly" when they do get a chance at the Outlaws again. We are making large calculations about what we intend doing when we get home. Some say they will get married & others say they have a "big drunk" and here they go, all the talk is Texas. I hope have soon we may have the exquisit pleasure of returning and seeing our old friends once more. Give my respects to your family and Mr. Richardson & Dr. Craft's family & Mrs. Cain if she is still with you. Tom Woodhouse joins me in respect to all also Ruben. You will very much oblige me by writing soon and all news of whatever caracter it may be. With my best wishes, I assign myself A A S McDougal 77 S. Direct to Gen Jackson's Division Cavalry Esq I have no Stamps nor can I get any, please excuse me and just let me owe you a dime.* Goodbye Alex A. A. S. McDougal June 1st 1863 ""Esquire" Gibbard was postmaster of Cedar Grove. Postage was paid on receipt of mail. 78 July 28th 1863 Miss M. E. Gibbard Telehatchie Station, Miss Miss Mollie, as you are aware that the mails are stopped crossing the River I have not written to you in sometime on the account of not being able to get letters to you but I think none the less of you, for I can assure you it ever affords me pleasure when I can have the chance to write to you, & as Lieut Simpson will start to Texas in a few days I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know that I still remembered you although we had not seen each other for some time, but I have a hope of seeing you before a great while. I think that I will stand as good a chance when we draw for Furloughs again as any one. I think as soon as the men get back that are on Furlough now, others will get one, & as we have to draw for them, I believe I am as lucky a dog as any of the other boys, and I may accidentally get it & if so you may look for me at the Grove as soon as I can get there. Mollie as I have but little time to write & a good many letters to write I will have to close & wait until I can see you & then tell you all the news. I have been sick for three weeks but I am getting better. Woodhouse is sick at this time but not dangerous. I want you to write me a long letter you & Ellen & Ann. I would like to write to all of you if I had time, but you must not think hard of me not writing to all. My respects to your Grand Pa & Ma, & family, & to Uncle Bobby White & family & to Aunt Zilla, & my love & best respects to your Pa & Ma & all the family, & permit me to subscribe myself your true & devoted lover, Respectfully yours & C D. R. Garrett 79 (The following is an undated fragment. It probably was written to one of the Gibbard family, as it was preserved with the collection of letters from D. R. Garrett.) want of proper men, — yet, I am clearly convinced that our all is at stake, and anyone else must come to the Same conclusion, if they will but visit the countries the enemy has gone through. If your people had of suffered like many in this state they might crack and be Unionists, but here a great many bear up under their loss like true patriots and Christians — We are now in camp and wait- ing orders, a great many think we will go on to Missis- sippi, and in the Lafourch country, and I think it very probable, — our Brigade has made application to return to Texas for ninety days to recruit our Stock, and gather our Straggling men. If we do not cross the Atchafalaya I think the petition will be granted, (and that just to). We are now furlough ing one out [of] every ten men, We have no corn, but our Stock are living up [on] cane and a little grass. If our Brigade should return to Texas, I expect to pay you a visit, if no prevent providence. Lieut Sullivan is well and hearty. I saw Henry Fuller & Arthur Huff a few days ago, they were well, and all the boys from about the Grove. I. Richardson is well. Mont Ellis has got in all right. Our army is generally healthy, we have plenty of Beef & Bread, and only need forage for our Stock. I heard from Davy not long ago, he was well, and in the Ordnance department. Tell Tellington he must come back, and hear the Cannon and musketry war again — I have not time or paper to write to all my friends at the Grove, so you can give them the contents of this. Give my respects to Mary, Ellen, Ann, Robert & William & Jack, and the old lady in particular — My respects to Andy & family, Mr. Sullivan & family, Dr. Craft & family, Mrs. Malone & family — Richardson & family — Crisswell & family, Uncle Bob White & wife, Dr. Hen- 80 son & family, Grisham & family, and the remainder of my patrons and acquaintances. Tell Mary and Ellen they must not marry before I get back, as I would like to be at the wedding. Well Squire I want you to write me a letter, mail to Co. A, Lane's Regmt P Rangers, Major's Brigade, Alexandria, La. As for my health, it has been generally good since I left the Grove. Bettie was well when I heard from her — If anything happens worth relating I will write again. Accept the best wishes of your true friend, Yours truly F. E. Garrett 81 May 27, 1864 Wm. Gibbard Esq. Dear Friend, I have wrote you several times since I bid you adieu, but have Reed no response, but as I have leisure today, I will while away a portion of time in writing you. On the 6th of April our Cavalry under Gen Green fought the enemy between Pleasant Hill and Mans- field with a loss of about 40 in our Regmt. On the 7th Gen Taylor with the cavalry brought into action Mouton's & Walker's Division of infantry and one of the hardest fights on record was fought according to the number engaged, and the result was a complete victory to our arms, and a complete panic to the enemy. We lost heavily in field officers and men, but the enemy much greater — we drove them eight miles, capturing 2000 prisoners, kill- ing and wounding about 3000, took 30 pieces of artillery, 250 wagons with a large amount of ammunition and com- missaries. On the 8th the army reinforced with Churchill's Division from Arkansas. So in the evening another bloody battle was fought with about the same success, only our commanding officer's became intoxicated, which prevented our cavalry from pursuing the flying enemy. Our loss in killed and wounded in both fights was about 3000 — while the enemy's loss is between 8 & 10,000. After this Gen Walker & Churchill was sent to reinforce Gen Price, and again victory has been proclaimed from the battlefields of Arkansas. Our cavahy now went to work on Banks again, We got below the enemy, and took position at Monett's Ferry on Cane River 40 miles below Grand Ecore, which cut of[f] their supplies, and forced them to leave, and at the Ferry the enemy was badly injured, and if we had of had Green, their loss would have been much greater, but Bee fell back, thereby giving the enemy a free way to Alexandria, (Bee is now under arrest) But S2 we continued to harrass the enemy into Alexandria, after which we again got below them on Red River and cut off their Supplies, which forced them to evacuate Alex- andria on the 13th of May. Gen Wharton complimented his cavalry on few days ago, and Stated that we had killed and captured 4000 of the enemy, Two Gun Boats & five Transports since the enemy left Grand Ecore, with a loss of 400 to us, I do not know what Gen Polignac done with his infantry, only I know he captured Two Trans- ports, and caused the enemy to blow up the Gun Boat Eastport, one of the finest boats belonging to Commodore Porter's fleet. I had the pleasure of help taking the Gun- boats Signal and Covington, (without a loss of a man to us,) we got of [f] the Signal 8 very fine guns. — I have not got time to give you a detail account of our fighting, but I assure you our boys acted with the chivalry of Texians, — though in many hot places, yet we had some jolly times eating Bank's commissaries — The enemy burnt every Sugar House, Cotton Gin, Mill, Corn and Cotton that they could, and the business portion of Alexandria. We have official news here of Gen Lee gaining a complete victory over Grant, it is reported that Grant's loss is 60 or 70 thousand, with a good deal of artillery. — and that our loss is heavy also. — The New Orleans Times of the 18th of May says the pickets have been run in at Vicks- burg, and that the Rebs run into Port Hudson, and burnt the Yankee Mill, Spiked Some guns, and captured a good many negroes, So we have cause for thanking the Almighty for such a brilliant campaign on both sides of the river for the year 1864, and I believe if our men will stop their croaking, and Shoulder their guns or put their Shoulder to the wheel in Some way, that the close of the year or the dawn of 1865 would herald forth to the world the Independence of the Confederacy, — I know a great many things are suffering at home, and that the young minds are standing in the need of tuition at home, for the 83 (From the handwriting and the internal evidence, this is undoubtedly from F. E. Garrett, although the final page, or pages, of the letter remains undiscovered. ) 84 Camp in the Wilderness 8 Miles North of Washington May the 29th 1864 Dear Miss Mary it is with the greatest of plaiser that I have the opportunity of Droping you a few lines in return to yours as you have never written letters from you and Elin it appears to mee that I received a letter from you and Elen a about 8 months ago, and non Since, So it gratifies me verry much to know that you all think so much of mee as to write to mee every six or 8 months, now I think if I was you I wouldant write a tall as paper is tolerably Scars. May you must not get mad at mee for Coming down on you so but I will declar that you have treated me badly for I havant Received a Crach of a pin from you Since I left home, now I want you to write to mee and let mee know how you are all getting along and epesley my little ... is doing any how. Mary I have no new[s] to write to you I have sent all the news to Father & brother Andy you can Read them letters and get the news, so I will not write any, for I havent but little time to write. Mary you must tell all the Girls to write to mee if they feal like it & if they dont feal like it tell them that I say for them to write any how & you must write and give mee all the news too, I am as well as ... & I hope when theas few lines come to hand they will find you all well. Mary you must write to J. S. Huff for he is taking on a but you . . . thinking, So let me bring impurfect & importionat letter to a Close by Subscribing myself as follows as your affectionate . . . Lut. E. Sullivan* give respects to your mother and father and all the family and all inquiring friends if thai* be any ♦Lieutenant Sullivan was a brother of Mrs. William Gibbard, and there- fore an uncle of Miss Mary Gibbard 85 so dark has the day ben as though it was Shaded by night Although it has been dark and gloomy but Oh it has now become bright Wee have driven the Enimy from your Country as yo doo see And our Country has been Clensed of Yankees & has once more become free Wee was in line of battle every day and every night Alooking for the Yankey to Come and Give us fight And when they Come they thought it wouldant bee no fight as they could see But Oh when they Come we Routed them Compleately & they had for to flee Miss Mary Gibbard Cedar Grove Kaufman Co Texas 86 Wm Gibbard Esq Benton Miss July 23rd 1864 My Dear Friend. Sometime has elapsed since I wrote, or since I heard from you, & as an opportunity has quite unexpectedly presented itself I have thought to write you such ideas as may suggest themselves to my mind. I have no apology to make, neither shall I ask one of you for not writing as we are both aware of the cause of our long silence (mail failures). I wrote you a letter a few days previous to the starting of Capt Simpson to Texas. I do not know whether my missive reached its port in due season or not. I anticipated a reply by the return of Capt S, but as he has failed to make his appearance up to date I think it quite possible that he has been taken in out of the cold by the enemy, & I must say I can sympa- thize but little in his behalf, as I am forced to the con- clusion that he did not act the part of a good soldier when he failed to return at the expiration of sixty days, as that was the time specified when he should return to camp. I have no sympathy for any man who fails to return to his command at proper time as specified unless he can give some very plausible ifs & ands which Capt S has failed to do up to date, but I hope he will have some plausible story to relate when he shall return that will excuse him for his long absence, for I assure you I esteem Capt S very highly as a gentleman and as a soldier up to the time of his absence from the command. Nothing new or special has occurred in camp since the Capt left. We have marched a great deal since he left. We have traveled over a large portion of Ala, W. Tennessee & and the South part of this state. We took up the line of march in a few days after Capt S left for Ala. We met with the enemy about 10,000 strong near Tuscumbia, & we skirmished with them six days, & finally they fell back [&] crossed the Tennessee River at Eastport. We lost some fifty men during the six days. We lost only 87 one from our company, & that was Taylor Cone, the man that came back with our horses, he was shot through the thigh & bled to death. We then came back to Oklona, & remained two days, & then took up the line of march for west Tennessee. We first met with the enemy at Sauls- bury on the R. Road. We drove them out, & captured a train of cars loaded with cotton & other articles for Memphis. We was engaged that night in tearing up the R. Road, from thence we went to Moscow & found the enemy again & we had a hot time for thirty minutes, the heaviest firing I ever heard for the number engaged, we drove the enemy back across Wolf River & I can assure you when they turned to cross the Bridge we put it to them heavy, they fell off on both sides of the Bridge & they jumped into the River & a great many was drowned, they acknowledge a loss of 400 men killed & captured, a great many of their horses. Our loss was twenty killed & fifty wounded, & that night we was tearing up the R. Road, we tore up the road up to within three miles of Memphis. We then returned to Jackson Miss & rested a few days & we were ordered to go up on the Miss River and get some arms across, which we did do, about 4000 stands. I can assure you it was a bitter cold time, several of the boys was frostbit on the trip, & they could have no fire. We have all got back to this point without the loss of a man. We will remain here & try to recruit our horses & men. I have the same little horse that I first started out on. Since Capt S left our old Capt Jack has been pro- moted to Lt Col & I think in a short time he will step in the Boots of Col. The boys are in good health & spirits. Now then we have a case of desertion. I need not tell you what my thoughts are about a man that deserts. You may be sure I can have no kind thoughts for such an one & still more I think we commit a grievous sin when we permit such to remain among us. Citizens should not countenance them but deal out to them disgrace, dishonor 88 & all that pertains to that class of being that resembles a man in form but not in acts . . . our cause sometimes looks gloomy, but I do not think we need fear, for verily, I say unto [you] our cause will rise, although it may be sometime but when we have truth, justice, honesty on our side we need only persevere & the day will be ours. We will ride triumphantly over every other opposition. I will have to close. My respects & best wishes to you & family. Respectfully & CS D. R. Garrett 89 Miss M. E. Gibbard Canton Miss Mar 14th 65* Miss M, as I have one other opportunity of sending letters across to Texas I thought I would write you a short one, as it may be sometime before I can cross. I would have sent some letters by Woodhouse but at the time he left I thought I would go, but I got disappointed in get- ting a horse, & I thought it was too great a walk from here to Texas, but if no bad mishap befalls me, I shall try & be ready by the return of the boys that [are] on furlough now, which will be about June. I never was in such a fix in my life when I found I could not get off. I wanted to go very bad, but I hope I will have a better time when I do start. I am anxious to see Texas & all her people again. Since the boys left we have done nothing but lye up in camp, the water has been so high we could do nothing only go to Barbecues & parties that the good people of Yazoo Co has been giving the Brigade. We re- ceived orders to leave for East Louisiana yesterday, & I am now on my way there with a lot of Ordnance & Stores, I shall leave here tomorrow. I do not know what the idea is of sending us away down there in the Pine flats. Since Tom left I have had the chills. I had one yester- day, but I hope I will soon get over them. General Ross started for Texas yesterday on a ninety days leave of absence. I would like the best in the world to be in Kauf- man with old Tom, I know we could have a good time, I would like to be with him today & hear him tell some of his big tales. You must tell Tom not to court all the girls, but confine himself to one, & let the others alone for some of the rest of the boys. I would not be surprised to hear of his marrying some nice lady before he returns, but I did not hear him express himself before he left, as I was ♦This letter was written only a few weeks before the surrender of the Confederate troops in Mississippi and closes the wartime Garrett-Gibbard correspondence. 90 but a little time in his company for the last ten months. Capt Simpson will deliver this letter to you, he will start in a few days for Texas, & he will give you a full account of things on this side of the River. I will now close, tell you Pa I would like [to] receive a letter from him, as I shall not find him at home when I come. I would like to see him very much, but I expect he will have to leave for his command. I would like to hear him tell of the he has . . . through in this war. My best respects & wishes to him & your Ma & all the family, & all inquiring friends, & permit me to subscribe myself as usual your true friend. Good Bye. Respectfully yours & C David R. Garrett Tell Ellen to look sharp, if she don't some of our furloughed boys will take her off, the most of them is in for marrying on the trip, if they can find a lady that will have them, most of the boys have concluded that this is the last time they will get to go [to] Texas, & they will marry, which I think is a bad conclusion, & my notion is to wait until the war closes & then marry, for a man sees enough trouble without having a wife to study about a thousand miles off almost. Yours & C D. R. Garrett 91 The Molly Gibbard of these letters, pictured many years afterward but still a woman of striking appearance. The headstone of David R. Garrett in the old Cedar Grove Cemetery. Nearby, in the same cemetery, is the grave of William Gibbard. ' ■">, r.\ • - Calvin Garrett, a brother of David R. Garrett, entered the banking business in Marshall after the war, as a part- ner in the private bank of Garrett & Key, one of the earliest in Texas. The Garrett family burial plot in White Rose Cemetery. >♦ A field of waving grass is all that re- mains of Cedar Grove, the object of so many nostalgic comments in this correspondence. .^— iJ\ % Mrs. Wylie Garrett of Wills Point, through whose kind- ness much of the material in this volume is available and to whom the work is dedicated. WAR TAX RECEIPT. i ...%.&&. ., ..... S/ '(■///> 14 tn .-VJieew, ana / 100 / 'J.tmt - 'vi>fe4, fiema tne Attf ameitnl of Jrai <3/a& out />i/ fomtot me y " -- /--.• / ColMor District No.-^y^ <& Axo tdSA^d £Ul*t OtKc^-, ST Jty, / A~ 7 / 'S i fat, 6 »4r6>r ^^ r bJO T3 « c3 (1h •*— ' C ?H o> > CTS H £ o3 fH _ O • — i r£ «M ^ «M W o e*H a O t« ■ l-H a> 4-> Oh +-> 03 OS M tn ♦i— i O) rG X -(-> X5 <1) o > o> G o o O) fH -M ft -t-> 0J -(-) o a> o O UJ -1-3 CQ « -i-J i»H T) 0j • i— 1 > P! a . c « >> >. r 1 * * >. lu 3 >> |i 1 43 3 )4 -«-» 99 4= 43 +-> +-> -*-* u >. c 3 no 3 X! ifan ary Ibei r. 42 o "a cd •=S< C W O 09 w _ 3 00 I .-3 C ed ~z . £ > | (^ -^ s 1 T — 09 H £ +» O) d 3 c 3 1-8 B T: si > c3 £ O - 5 43 £ S « a S c O W § "3 3 s >» S rt 3 c >> £ c h in c a cd -c o ' o >>.:r H (N W 'f lO I (J 09 TJ . *-l tH O «H Sh 0) "3 43_ 43 CO - >> 3 >» - a 1 * cd fed s fed pq 33 c cd >. 3 J -3 . 4) -^ r3 O S^ 3 a> 3 S 3 o P w « O — o 3 K J rt 09 H o a ,2 OS Q * O 0) . it ■ 0) O _: 09 3 X . O) U ^ 43 QJ in •- 3 = cd f! £ £f= 3 oj •? • S > 3 ^3 £ 02 OS 00 c _r = — 4= ^ o 2 s £ 3 J: H ■3 _ 3 01 rt > 43 o 43 - go ~ >> % > £ a"§ p So 2 £ w ej 0) o o O) «J a o >. CI 4) M a T5 0) U O) 3 Q Appendix II Buried at White Rose Cemetery, Wills Point, Texas, are Mary Elizabeth Garrett (wife of David Garrett), and her children Lovie Garrett and Wylie Garrett. Also here are the Haydens, Aunt Lillie Garrett's grandparents and their children — early Texas pioneers, H. B. Hayden wife and C. A. Hayden, husband. The markers are upright slabs of marble with gothic arch at top, a hand points to the sky and the words 'There is no dying there" are inscribed. The grandfather (born 1817 died 1905) was bom near Boston, Mass., came down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers on a raft to Memphis, thence by the Natchez Trace to Benton County, Alabama, near present day Anniston, Alabama. Here he met and married Hanna Belzora Hollingsworth, moving two years later to Cedar Grove. The Pate family, Aunt Lillie's Mother and Father are here also. James A. Pate (1855-1932) and his wife Aran C. Pate and some children lie near the Haydens. James A. Pate was an early day mail carrier. His route was from Sulphur Springs to Canton. The round trip took four days. William Wester — descendant of the Rev. William Wester (of Isle of Wright, England) who came to Vir- ginia in 1650 and brought a colony to Isle of Wright County W. Virginia in 1654 is Aunt Lillie's Great Grandfather. He and his wife Lucy Sims are buried here at White Rose. They are the mother and father of J. A. Pate and came 104 to Texas from Kentucky. The dates on Lucy Sims Wester's gravestone are 1808, 1889. Wester's stone has fallen over but is said to read 1797 as a birth date. I have included these collateral relations of the Gar- retts since they show the origin of a fair sample of the early Texans. It may be remarked as well, that this sample shows the comparatively early settlement of this part of Texas by Anglo-Saxon people. 105