Letter from Thomas Taylor to his sister, Miss Matilda Taylor, from Manassas Junction, 
Oct. 31, 1861, Autauga, Alabama

http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/autauga/history/letters/tstaylor12.txt
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June 2003


Manassas Junction 
Oct. 31st, 1861

Dear Sister Matilda: 
	I have been so busily engaged for several days & felt so bad from a cold that I have that I 
have not written to you in answer to your kind & interesting letter which came to hand a few 
days ago.  I wrote to Sister Mattie though & thought that perhaps one letter every 2 or 3 days 
would do for me as you all seem to think & once a month is sufficient for you to write.  You are 
great hands to complain of me & Brother Billie for not writing when you never write to us.  But I 
will not grumble any more.  Our health has not been as good for 3 or 4 days as it has been before 
this time, but we have only been sick with colds.  We have had some cold weather in Virginia, 
but I expect you have had some also.  I begin to feel the need of another blanket, & think I could 
sleep better on a feather bed than on straw.  But this is only what I expected when I left home. I 
did not expect to find it as comfortable sleeping in a cloth tent with nothing, but a blanket to 
cover with as I did at home on a good bed, but one thing I will say that is this, I think I will know 
how to appreciate the comforts of my piney woods home as humble as it was, when I get back. 
	No War news at all.  Sometimes I think we will soon have a fight but at other times I 
think in all probability we will not fight here this winter.  But we will undoubtedly suffer from 
cold.  Dear Sister I often think of home & the dear loved ones that are there.  Oh how I would 
like to see them, but it will be six or 7 months yet before I will have the pleasure of seeing those 
dear ones.  I hope you will cheer my devoted companion while I am away from her.  I hope to be 
able to repay you all for the kindness you may do to her.  I hope you will all remember your two 
brothers when you pray to God for mercies that we may again be spared again see those dear 
loved ones at home.  My love to all especially Mother & little Bud.  Kiss my two little darlings 
for me & also my loved companion. 
My respects to all my friends & tell them to write often.  I close by sending my love to 
you all.
Your affectionate Brother,
T. S. Taylor
Miss Matilda Taylor.