Memphis, Ten.  April 10th, 1861

Dear Levi
   Mr. McReynolds leaves for home this morning. I concluded to drop you a few 
lines by him. He says you had commenced a letter to me when he left. I have 
been looking anxiously for it, but as yet have not rec'd it. I am very ancious 
to see you & feel glad that the ----(?) is in running order. We can make the 
trip from here to Clarksville in quick time. But it will cost money. I must 
not urge on you coming to see us as hard up as I am . I intend to urge your 
mother to go up sometime this summer. Millie & Gus are ancious to go & I should 
be very glad to accommodate them. My rents are all paid up to the first of the 
month and gas bill I am in debt some yet. I owe about two hundred dollars on 
the furniture. I keep paying little by little upon it. I have plenty due me 
to pay out if I could only collect it some. I never will get. I have instructed 
a lawyer to attach a piece of land in Humphries County to make my money off the 
man. I bought the Arkansas land. I notified him that it was no trade but I can 
hear from him. I have some fear that I will be troubled. There are eight hundred 
acres in Humphries County but I am troubled to find out its value. Still I hope 
I can make money out of it. Mr. McReynolds says Woodson has bought property at 
the Depot & is or intends to prepare to feed the people. I think Whitemore will 
let me off next Christmas. I intend to get it in writing if I can. I am greatly 
in the notion of Ark. I have persons from different parts of the state in my house 
nearly every day & I make a great many inquiries. I find that there is a large 
country there that I am induced to think must be healthy & good land & the beauty 
of it is the land is cheap. I can buy land in the edge of prairie with plenty timber. 
The prairie now is green as a wheat field, grass rises to 10 inches high.
   The war news here throws everything in commotion. I dred this summer still I 
may be able to get along.  I done better the month of March & so far in this month 
than I expected. This month is usually the dullest month in the year. The Mississippi 
people say that they will have to turn their trade to some other point unless 
Tennessee secedes. I fear it is too true & if old Abe under takes to collect the 
revenue south the war will commence. Then I am for uniting with the south, our 
interest is with the south & with the south we ought to go. There is no use sticking 
to the north when they will not allow the south even handed justice. As for Emerson
Etheridge, I have no use for him. Your GrandMa is quite unwell at present she thinks 
her time in this life is short. I sometimes fear she is getting weaker & may drop off
unexpected. Millie is in quite good health now she looks very well. Your Ma is in fine
health. Gus is also. Let me hear from you often. The time is close for McReynolds to
start so I must close.
 						Your father
						L. Eddings

   I sent Monroe note in Henry letter. Get it if you can. I owe Pickering & Ely a 
little bill, if you get pay the bill.


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A copy of this letter contributed by Mary Louise Gossum