COFFEE COUNTY, TN - MISC - Civil War Letters between Marquis Lafayette Bryan and his wife Selina Katharine Wagner Bryan ==================================================================== 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. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Kathleen Bryan Kathleenb7712@attbi.com ==================================================================== Contributor's Note: This letter was written by my 2nd great grandfather, Marquis Lafayette Bryan. He joined the 84th TN infantry regiment with his two nephews (John Morgan and James Lafayette) on 15 Nov 1862. This regiment later became the 28th TN consolidated infantry regiment. They were in the battles of Murfreesboro, and Chicamuga. After Chicamuga, the regiment went into winter quarters, and in the spring Marquis sent his wife the last letter she received from him. Nov 1864 found him with his regiment in Franklin, TN where he was wounded and died there on 1 Jan 1865. I have scanned images of these old letters. Anyone desiring a copy may contact me. Kathleen Tennessee 30th May 1862 Dear Companion I now have the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am tolerable well at present except my mouth is very soar yet so soar that I can scearsly eat any thing such as we have here to eat thoush we have tolerable plenty we have corn bread and bacon and beef and some peas flour about once a week; I received your letter dated the twenty eighth and was glad to hear that you was all well and doing as well as you are john M Bryan got to camps last evening John tells me that Spears says you will make two hundred bushels of wheat I am very glad to hear it if ou can save it and get to keep it you want to know why I did not come home I thout it was useless to try to come unless I come with a waggon and I have not had any chance for that yet I have not was William Willson since you was down here I sent for him to come to camps and we would see if we could get to come home and he has not come in yet but if he comes shortly and we can get the chance we will come I have not much to write to you There is about twent or twenty five belongs to this brigade under guard some for running away some for one thing and some and another Some has to wae a ball weighing twenty five pounds chained to their leg for ten days, and some for twenty some has to wear barrel shirts four hours each day for ten days You wrote to know something about my prospect for a better land I feel about the same as I did before I left home I want you to pray for me when it goes well with you So no more on this peace Again a little more William m Wilson came in today we can not get to come home this time he will another trip down to cornersville and when he comes back likely we may come home and we may not I can not tell you can look for us when you see us. I will send ? A ring if she except it and if she will not you can have it so I must come to a close no more at present by remain yours until death M L Bryan to Catherine Bryan write soon ___________________________________________ This letter was written by my 2nd Great Grand Mother Selina Katharine Wagner Bryan to her husband, Marquis Lafayette Bryan State of Tennessee Coffee County January the 14th 1863 Dear husbun I now take the opportunity of riten you a few lines to let you no that we ar all well at present and hope these few lines ma find you injoying the same blessing I have nothing of importing to rite to you William Wilson said that you was well I was glad to hear from you I want to see you very bad budy sead he will hug pa when he comes home the children look for you moste every night I want you to try mity hard to get a furlow and come home and if you cant rite to me how you want us to do do you want george to clear out the ground where he has ben choping to tend this spring or not we have not kill our hogs yet I intend to have four of the largest kill when it turns coald we got one bushel of salt besides wat we had we got the corn shuck out William Martain thinks we will have a plenty to do us if the solders don't take no more I got some what from papy and finished sowing the day before Christmas it has come up thick a plenty I got some of the shoes made but I had to get Spears to make som of them I must bring my letter to a close it is most ten oclock all of them is a sleep but myself and rhoda you must do the best you can it is raining to night and is bad on the soldiers I wood frely shedd tears if that wood do any good I wosh you was at home with me to night don't for get that you have got a god to but still try to get to a better world then this let us try to live in this life so when we come to dye that we can have a home in the glory land I pray daily that you ma get religon so if we never meet any more in this word is we can meet in heaven rite to me as soon as you can rite how you are getting a long also rite how you like your hunting shirt so no more at present but remain you affection wife untill death from Katharine and family to M L Bryan Translation: State of Tennessee Coffee County January the 14th 1863 Dear Husband, I now take the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that we are all well at present and hope these few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. I have nothing of importance to write to you. William Wilson said that you was well, I was glad to hear from you. I want to see you very bad. Buddy said he will hug pa when he comes home. The children look for you most every night. I want you to try mighty hard to get a furlough and come home and if you can't write to me how you want us to do. Do you want George to clear out the ground where he has been chopping to tend this spring or not? We have not killed our hogs yet. I intend to have four of the largest killed when it turns cold. We got one bushel of salt besides what we had. We got the corn shucked out. William Martin thinks we will have plenty to do us if the solders don't take no more. I got some wheat from papy and finished sowing the day before Christmas, it has come up thick a planty. I got some of the shoes made but I had to get Spears to make some of them. I must bring my letter to a close, it is most ten o'clock, all of them is asleep, but myself and Rhoda. You must do the best you can. It is raining tonight and is bad on the soldiers. I would freely shed tears if that would do any good. I wish you were at home with me tonight. Don't forget that you have got a God too, but still try to get to a better world than this. Let us try to live in this life so when we come to die that we can have a home in the glory land. I pray daily that you may get religion, so if we never meet any more in this world we can meet in Heaven. Write to me as soon as you can. Write how you are getting along, also write how you like your hunting shirt. So no more at present but remain your affectionate wife until death. From Katharine and family to M. L. Bryan ___________________________________________ Shelbyville Feb 17, 1863 Dear Katharine I now have the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present except bad cold. I have got the worst cold I nearly ever had. I got in camps on Wednesday morning after I left home and found the boys our mess all up not very well they was very glad to se me. I had to go foreging the next morning after I got in camps and was gone three days and have made two such trips since. I have not bin in camps but one hole day since I have bin here. The Colonel talked of putting me on entry duty but I have dodged it so far and it may be that I will still dodge it. William Willson says for you to tell Martha to shuck out corn enough for her bread and put it away and you must try to take care of yours. William Wilson is well except cold he has a very bad cold he is getting better. I have nothing importon to write to you we have a great deal of rain and mud I will tell you we made a heavy draw the other day we drawed sixteen Dollars and fifty cents a peace I want you to do the very best you can. I would like to see you and children very well there is some talk of us going to Tulahoma. I don't know how it will be so no more at present but remain yours until death M L Bryan Translation: Dear Katharine, I now have the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present except bad cold. I have got the worst cold I nearly ever had. I got in camps on Wednesday morning after I left home and found the boys are messed all up. Not very well. They was very glad to see me. I had to go foraging the next morning after I got in camps and was gone three days and have made two such trips since. I have not been in camps but one hole day since I have been here. The Colonel talked of putting me on entry duty but I have dodged it so far and it may be that I will still dodge it. William Wilson says for you to tell Martha to shuck out corn enough for her bread and put it away and you must try to take care of yours. William Wilson is well except a cold, he has a very bad cold he is getting better. I have nothing important to write to you. We have a great deal of rain and mud. I will tell you we made a heavy draw the other day we drawed sixteen Dollars and fifty cents a piece I want you to do the very best you can. I would like to see you and children very well. There is some talk of us going to Tulahoma. I don't know how it will be so no more at present but remain yours until death M L Bryan ___________________________________________ Dalton, GA Apr 16, 1864 Dear Wife! I embrace the present opportunity of sending you a few lines. I am well, and have been, with slight exceptions. John Bryant, James Bryant, and Joseph Martin are well and with their commands. I am extremely anxious to see you, and our dear ones. How hard and ruthless is the fate that separates us. Two, whose affections are knit together, by cords stronger than death, who if permitted to follow their destiny, would walk the journey of life with the same evenness and unvarying step with which two twin stars promenade the blue pavement of the skies, to be thus separated, not only denied the sweet privilege, of commingling in conversations and participating in those sweet caresses so felicitous to those whose hearts beat in perfect unison, as if to the same pulsation, but to be so separated as not to be able to even hear from each other. But let us trust that he who directs all things well, will yet so decree that we may be together, and live as nature intended. Time and distance but strengthens my affections for you and my children. You will answer this as soon as you can and send me all the news as to yourself and family and the neighbors, which is not contraband. Tell the friends of James and John Bryant and Joseph Martin to write to them. You will please send me if you can procure them a few United States Postage stamps, as it is with great difficulty I can get them here. I do not know what your condition is. You will do the best you can, and bear with your hard lot with patience, hoping the speedy arrival of the time when peace will be restored and all things set right. Remember that though far away I think of you often, and will remain your devoted and affectionate husband until death. signed Marquis L Bryan **Note The original of this letter is at the Carter House Museum in Franklin, Tennessee.