Letters during the Civil War, DeSoto Parish, Louisiana Submitted by: Jane Sanford Keppler Source: DeSoto Parish GenWeb --------------------------------- ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ---------------------------------------------------- Letter From Dallas, 1864 Including an account of the Battle of Mansfield/Pleasant Hill, and the Red River Campaign The following transcribed letter was written from Dallas County in the summer of 1864 from Fannie Patience (Floyd) Crutchfield (Mrs. James O.), who was staying at her parents' home, to her sister, Susan Anna (Floyd) Good, (Mrs. John J.), who was living at the home of her father-in-law, George Good, Moscow, Marion County, AL. Both of their husbands were in Confederate service, a s was their younger brother, Tommie. Their older brother, Nathaniel Stanley Floyd, had recently died in a POW camp. The transcript is verbatim, taken from photocopies done approximately 40 years ago. Dallas County Texas Aug. 1st,/64 Dear Sister Annie Gen Darnell expects to start to his command East of the Miss in a few days & has kindly offered to carry letters for me. I gladly embrace the opportunity of sending letters to you and Tomie. We regret to learn that none of our letters had reached you except one from Pa though we have writted every opportunity. Pa has received a good many from the Gen. [Col. Good's militia title] but none from you. we have heard of the delicate state of your health and protracted illness after the birth of your babe. It has been a hard trial for Ma and all of us to be seperated from you in your afflictions. We have spent many hours of painful anxiety about you and the children, though we were confident you were with kind friends who were very diligent in attention to you during your husbands absence. Pa received a letter from the Gen. yesterday date[d] 30th of May, in which he seemed buoyed up with the hope of your speedy convalescence. I hope that ere now you are able to nurse and fondle that black-eyed little girl which I almost envy. Sister Bettie is very proud of her namesake. We are all very anxious to see the babe. I am sure Johny is proud of his lettle sister. Mollie is very desirous to see Sis Nan's little girl. Dear Annie I am at a loss to commence to tell you the news, as I do not know if you have received any of my letters. If I should recapitulate you must excuse. I must tell the best first. Mr. C ______ is at home has a leave of absence from his command for sixty days. He is fleshier than you ever saw him -- hard service agrees with him finely. My health is good the chyildren have just got over hooping cough, didn't hurt any of them but Charlie he was quite sick with it. Georgie is nearly as fleshy as when you saw him last, talks very plainly. Pa and Ma's health is verry good. Pa weighs nearly 200 & fattens every day, he is so fleshy that it fatigues him verry much to get about this warm weather. Ma is quite active yet. She had a loom made, has learned Louisa and Julia [Floyd family servants] to weave, but still gets in the loom and plays old hundred occasionally. I have also been cloth making & have learned to weave, but haven't made any Confederate dresses yet --- think I shall this winter --- homespun dresses are much worn here Even those wear them who can afford to buy the imported goods at high prices. Calico sells at 1$ in specia or 40 in Confederate money -- goods are haul(ed) here from Mexico -- but sell at enormous prices. Crops have been fine here since you left. Jim says I make an excellent farmer. This is his second visit home since he entered the service. I am so delighted at having him home. At times I almost forget the war is going on. We are all in fine spirits since Banks defeat in Lou. The yanks thought they would have an easy job to whip us on this side -- but they found themselves sadly mistaken. They came up Red River in Transpos. & gunboats -- landed their forces at Alexandria -- marched westward, -- our army met them near Mansfield on the 7th of April -- where a terrible battle was fought -- nest day our army fought them at Mansfield where many a gallant Texan fell -- our men fought desperately against superior force & charged them so furiously that they had to retreat back to Alexandria[.] so rapid was their flight that our army captured all their trains -- ambulanches waggons & captured several thousand prisoners -- Red River fell very rapidly -- they could not get their boats below the falls, our artillery destroyed most of their boats -- when they found they had to make their exit by land the(y) made a break in the direction of Limsport -- our army persued them 46 days in which we fought 42 battles. Jim wnet through it all and escaped with only a slight wond in the side -- merely a scratch[.] our loss was light in comparison to theirs. I have written more on this subject than I had intended. We are all so elated at our success on this side. We have so much good news from the east. We are sanguine the war will close soon. God grant that it may be true. Dallas is greatly changed since you left. There is a great number of refugees here from other states. I believe Texas prairies is the safest place in the Southern Confederacy. We have not been molested here in the least. We are so remote from navigation that I do not think we will be disturbed. I hope things will get quiet so you can come home this fall. We all miss you so much -- & Tomie I do not expect we would recognise if he were to step in I hear he has grown so large. He wrote to us he visited you lasst winter. I was glad he got to see you -- poor Boy it was the least of his expectations to have staid from home so long. He went into it as a frolic, little expecting what a gigantic war we were to have. Ma and Pa would visit you if it were possible for them to do so. Tell Jonnie Oscar & Mollie are learning to write. I think they will be able to write him a letter soon. Mollie went to school in Dallas last scession. Oscar and Charle went from home. Now for a surprise -- Cousin Mattie Wicklif and William Carooth were married about two weeks ago. He you know was looked upon as a confirmed old batchelor. Wat and Annie are not married yet. Annie says she wont marry while the war lasts. There has been verry few marriages amongst our acquaintenances since you left. Bro. John D. is in the service of Ganoes Brigade - Indian Department -- he is at home on threshing detail at present -- his health is verry good. John B is stationed at Dallas for a while -- until needed in the field. Camp life agrees with him much better than I expected. Sister Bettie is keeping house yet. Please excuse this desultory letter -- have nothing of interest to communicate and will close. J. O. C. sends his best respects to Mrs. Good & all thie little goodies -- The Children wish to be remembered to Johnie & Ben and say kiss the baby for them. Accept of my love and tender my kindest regards to the Gen. Your affectionate Sister Fannie P. Crutchfield P. S. I like to have forgotten to tell you about sister Betties baby. She has a little girl calls her Nannie is as proud as an old hen with one chicken. John B. is the proudest man you ever saw. They pet it a great deal. She has black eyes and dark hair and is a very pretty child. I must not keep you in suspense any longer -- Mrs. Slack requested before her death that Sister Bettie should raise her baby. The Dr. has given it to them. Bro. John D. has not been in the army yet -- been detailed to thresh wheat -- Dallas is a military depot -- more officers than any thing strutting around. May this cruel bloody war close speedily -- you and family be permitted to return soon is my earnest desire -- from your devoted sister Sister Fannie P. Crutchfield P.S. Dear Annie I came up to Ma's this morning. The Gentleman is not ready to start. Ma sugest that I should tell you how we are getting along cloth making. Ma has had over 200 yds. made Julia and Louisa have learned to be excellent spinners. I have had near 70 yds manufactured -- made my husband a suit of grey -- which he is very proud of. I wove it myself -- cut and made the suit. He says when asked where he got his nice suit his proud reply is a My wife made it. Goods of all kinds are enormously high here Calico sell at 10 to 14 cents per yard. Corn 5 to 6 cents -- everything else high. Ma has bought 2 dress patterns form you . Pa has about 800$ in all collected for you a portion of it is money from Bro. estate -- none but the loose property is sold -- Pa divided it equaly amongst the children -- would be glad to send yours to you -- Ma and Pa send love and kisses to you and the children -- Black Mammy and all the negrows all -- all wish Miss Annie to come home. Your Sister Fannie