Military Records,Letter Concening E C Smith Pension Application,
Ouachita, LA 
"Submitted for the USGenWeb Archives by DeAnne Norred-Forrest, 
03/07/2004"
Source: March 21, 1868
        Los ______, Hays Co., Texas

 
 


**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 

March 21, 1868
Los ______, Hays Co., Texas

My Dear Madame:

To address a lady; with whom I have no acquaintance and _______ a
subject very melancholly to ____ self and family, more so to
_______ is very embarassing indeed.  And should an apology be
necessary, the following facts I desire to communicate relative to
the death of and personal effects of your lamented husband and my
________  ________ friend is all that could be desired.  I have
long desired to write you in regards to this solemn matter but have
been profoundly ignorant of your address.  _____ was til yesterday
evening when I met with Capt. Spangler, a mutual friend of myself
and Wm. Smith and Wm. Peary, once a pastuer of Mr. Smith's in St.
Louis, Mo. who gave me your address.  I now write you at the
earliest possible moment.

On the 16th of May 1864, I was engaged in a battle of much
stubborness with a detachment of Kansas Federals about 18 miles
east of Clarksville, Ark. and in which Wm. Smith was mortally
wounded while bravely doing his duty, the ball entering immediately
over one eye and passing directly through the head.  He lived, I
believe, until the 9th day after receiving the wound and believed
by those in attendance to be getting well, but suddenly began to
bleed and strangled to death.  My physician was a good one and did
all in his power to save him.  His chief nurse, Wm. Colbert of
Pettis Co., Mo. was an excellent man of near fifty years of age and
selected by Mr. Smith on account of personal friendship.  He died
near _________ Willoon's (?) about 12 miles east of Clarksville on
a creek called Ring's.  There are two creeks of that name, not more
than 4 miles apart and known as big and little _______.  I forget
which of the two he died on.  I was informed by Mr. Colbert that he
was as decently buried as could be under the circumstances having a
plain coffin.

Below is a correct account of his entire effects as administrated
upon by Capt. Pulliam and Capt. Marshbank of my command and Capt.
Dorsey of Shelby's Old Brigade who was reporting to me at the time:

In Confederate money......................................$2,780.00
"  Missouri Bonds, known as Jackson money....................144.00
"  Defense  "  "          "      "       ".................. 100.00
"  Gold     "  "          "      "       " "...............  
40.00 "  Silver    
"  "          "      "       " "..............................    
7.50 "  Postage stamps,
U.S......................................................       .20
One horse sold at public sale and bought by Capt. Pullian (?)
at............................................................  
600.00 One pistol sold at public sale and bought by Ben. Ashton of
Calloway Co., MO for...................................   335.00
One revolving gun sold at public sale and bought by James Bowling
of Pattie (?) Co., Mo. for............... 155.00

He had no papers or even a minute book, so far as I was advised.
Mrs. Smith had visited with Capt. PUlliam to remit a __________ and
had it almost complete but Pulliam, being the Commander, took
charge of all the effects and retained them until Gen'l Price
started into Mo. in the fall when he informed me that had turned
over everything into the hands of Maj. Bougham, my Inspector Gen'l,
preparatory to _________ to Mo. with my Bro. and Col. Searey of
Boone Co., in advance of the Army.  After the return of the Army to
Red River, Maj. Bougham delivered to me, as he informed me, all the
money turned over to him by Pulliam, Pulliam having been captured
and murdered on his way into Mo.  As he had no coin, I inquired,
especially about that, when he assured me he had never received any
from Pulliam. I had supposed it was lost but am gratified to learn
through Mr. Peary that you had received through someone, about
fifty or sixty dollars in coin. Surely that man deserves great
credit for his honesty in a time of so much dishonesty.  I had the
money but a few days when Col. Dorsey (having now been promoted)
presented an order from under your hand for the delivery of
everything into his hand.  I did so, and took Dorsey's receipt for
the same.

Should I have omitted anything of which you desire to ________, it
will be cheerfully given, if in my power, upon notification of the
fact.  I would be gratified indeed to learn that his letter had
been received.  Will you please do me this favor to acknowledge?

I am , my ________ Madame, very respectfully your obt servant,

Sidney D. Jackman