BARR-MILLER LETTER - PONTOTOC COUNTY, MS Transcription of a letter written by Mrs. Mary T. Barr, 15 March 1863 widow of James Barr, to Miss Susan Miller telling of kinsman Unon General Hugh Reid being in Oxford, Mississippi Original transcriber unknown; letter given to me, Sandra Lake (Newton) Lassen, by Harriet Venable Miller in the 1970's in Leesburg, Florida. Harriet, called "Hattie," was an avid amateur genealogist, my mentor, and the aunt of my first husband Charles Groff Miller. The letter had been handed down in the Miller family since the Civil War. Persons involved: The letter's recipient, "Cousin Susan," is Susan Miller, born 14 March 1808, SC (prob. Abbeville), daughter of Ebenezer Miller and Margery Reid of Abbeville, SC, who removed to Pontotoc, Mississippi. Susan never married. Ironically, this slave-holding family of staunch Southerners was closely related to Brig. General Hugh Reid of Iowa, "a Yankee" and a firm abolitionist. The family kinship is mentioned in the letter. A prime example of the Civil War mixed loyalties and divided families. The letter's author, Mrs. Mary T. Barr, was the widow of James Barr. This letter should be valuable to all persons, white or African-American, relating in any way to this line through blood or through slave ownership, as it is a rare example of family slaves being named in the letter. For more information, see more of my added notes at the end of the transcription. I would very much like to exchange information with others on the Reid/Barr/Miller lines of Pontotoc, Missippi and Abbeville, South Carolina, as I am preparing a family tree for my two sons. Compiler: Sandra Lake Lassen 1499 Lakeside Drive West Jefferson, NC 28694 on line as: slassen@infoave.net Note: I have placed names in capital letters below for ease in reading. _____________ Oxford, Miss. March the 15th 1863 Dear Cousin SUSAN: It has been a long, long time since I received a letter from you. Why have you not written? Since the blessed (cussed) Yanks deserted us, it seems that all our friends and the rest of manking followed their example. We have been living a very isolated life of late - cut off from everybody and everything, get nothing to eat and nothing to wear, see no one but ourselves - and precious seldom get the mail. We will realize a change either for the better or worse, soon I think. Two thousand cavelry Yankess passed LAMAR yesterday coming in this direction. They will either open the way I suppose for the better or for worse. I don't care much which, so we whip finally. The vile wretches cannot serve me much worse than they have. Five of my negroes went off with them - SUSAN, GEORGE, ANNA, EDY, SUSA, and BEN. WASH died a short time before the Yankees came, so you see I am broken up almost entirely. We managed to get along very peacibly with the "Blue retches" - CORNELIA LOBDELE stayed with us and WILLIE was at home. We slept in our dresses three weeks, not knowing at what time my house would be broken open or burned. FLORENCE took down their vile Flag which was hoisted on ALEC BARR'S gate, and they made threats about what they were going to do. They did not like to see WILLIE either, in his gray suit, with brass buttons - one went so far as to tell him he had a great mind to take it off him. WILLIE told him he had better come and try it. Your cousin, HUGH REID, from Iowa was talking to WILLIE at the time. He rode up to my gate and asked for ALEC B. and told WILLIE to tell his grandma that his father was still living, and to tell em if he could be of any service at all, he would render it with a deal of pleasure. But the next day they retreated - he was only in town one day. WILLIE said he was the image of Cousin Hugh. He is a Brigadier-General. How would you like to see him? ALEC says he is an out and out abolitionist and he did not want to see him. ALEC has gone to Panole - is in Chalmer's staff, I believe. EMILY is coming home in April with WILLIAM, if he goes to S.C. Their lot and house was very much damaged by the Yankees - It seemed that the whole of Grant's Army camped in this end of Town - My yard and kitchen were filled with them all the tme. I tell you it was a perfect reign of Terror!! We are expecting them again, but have made up our minds to stand like Southern woman should do, firmly at our post, and let them see what we are willing to suffer and endure, and what our sentiments are towards them. But I know you are tired of this, but I have very little else to write you. WILLIE will not return to Va. till August. He is a grown man and very good looking. FLORENCE is taking music lessons, with a view to teach, when the war is over. LIZZIE BELCHER married a gentleman from Memphis - MISS STOCKARD has come to Memphis with MRS. TAGGART to try and get some of her surplus negroes. They haven't one. The TAGGARTS are doing nothing here, barely living! Their father sends them money occasionally. He is in COUSIN HUGH'S Regiment. DR. ISOM is in Jackson - in the hospital. He lost 3 negroes by the Yankess, and had 4 young negro girls to die when they were here - It is thought they were poisoned. A good many negroes died on two farms thought to be poisoned. We have not heard anything from MARGARET CATER lately. She was doing her own work when I heard from her last. Are you ever coming to see us again - We would like to go to Pontotoc while WILLIE is here, but that is entirely out of the question, it is with difficulty we can get a horse to plough or go to Milen. Give my love to CLEMENTINE, to COUSIN BOB and his wife. Write by JENY(?), send your letter to MRS. JOHN H. MILLER in town. Affectionately yours, M.T. BARR ________________________ Added notes: 1850 Mississippi, Pontotoc Co., Slave Schedules from microfilm [Note: Patriarch Ebenezer Miller had just died in 1848, two years prior to this record. The slave owners below are his sons and widow. The total number of slaves is large, but nowhere near the largest number in the area. Probate records for Ebenezer would probably show that many of these slaves listed below had been "inherited" upon his death, but I have not yet checked for probate records.] Hugh Reid Miller 6 slaves (5 black, 1 mulatto): 1 40 yr. old male 1 28 yr. old male 1 25 yr. old female 1 16 yr. old female 1 5 yr. old female 1 2 yr. old female Robert Alexander Miller 16 slaves (all black): 1 60 yr. old male 1 (50? 60?) yr. old female 1 20 yr. old male 1 20 yr. old male 1 40 yr. old male 1 22 yr. old female 1 19 yr. old male 1 12 yr. old male 1 7 yr. old male 1 2 yr. old male 1 60 yr. old female 1 14 yr. old male 1 9 yr. old male 1 5 yr. old male 1 1 yr. old male 1 23 yr. old male Ebenezer Erskine Miller 26 slaves Margery Miller (widow of Ebenezer Miller) 16 slaves Andrew Miller 15 slaves ___________________________ In 1870, two young black men, probably former slaves of the Miller family, were living next to Martha/Margery Miller, widow of Ebenezer Miller: Frank Cairo, 14, male Virgil Cairo, 8, male both listed as farm laborers ====================================================================      USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing          free information on the Internet, data may be used by          non-commercial entities, as long as this message          remains on all copied material. 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