Mclennan County Texas Archives Military Records.....Jones, Daniel 1864 Civilwar - Letters ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Virginia Crilley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000642 November 2, 2007, 12:15 pm 8th letter Sabbath evening Galveston City January 3rd, 1864 My dear wife: I again seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well. Hoping that this will reach you and the children and all the friends well. I have just returned from church we had an excellent sermon from those words no man liveth to himself. Where will be preaching and baptising at 2 o'clock and preaching at candle lighting and will continue from day to day indefinitely. I just returned home the first day of this month from a ten days scout on the Island. We have to ride each one 24 miles every other night. We have had some of the coldest weather that I reckon has been experienced here for a long time. I know it was very cold to get up and start out on a ride of 24 miles yesterday was cold and wet and we was out for three or four hours on general review by Gen McGruder. Today is more pleasant and but little rain. May I recieved two letters from you a few days ago I got them both at once they bore date one 9 the other 14th of December. It is not necessary for me to say that it afforded me great pleasure to hear from you all once more an to hear that you was wel.. I was sorry to hear that Aunt Susan and Buster was not well. Mary when I heard that you was there alone and without wood and it so cold I could hardly keep from starting home. It is astonishing to me to think that people has no more regard for their fellow beings I will say no more now on this subject. I want you to provide for yours and the childrens comforts if you can with money or any property we have. It is well known that I was called off unexpectedly and could not provide for you as I otherwise would. I hope one day to be at home and then tell Brother John and Jeff that I know not how to express my gratitude for their kindness. I hope that you will manage to keep a supply of wood and it cut let it cost what it will. Mary I can't yet say whether I will come home in February or not I think according to the acts of the last Legislature one half will come home and the other half will remain three months longer at which time the first half will be sent back the remaining third that is now at home will be called in when our six months is out. The boys all say that they are coming home when their time is up. I don't know what they will do. You stated that you had heard that some of our Company had been taken prisoners; there is nothing to it. You wanted me to advise you about selling corn if you need anything that you can't buy with money, I would sell corn, if not I would not. Corn is better than money but I want you to exercise your own judgement in these matters. I would pay someone a good price if they would get my wheat and have it ground. I am sorry you have to live on cornbread and beef have you no cows up if not try to get some one to pen you some and about the boy I want you to do just as you please you have a better idea whether you need him and whether he would make your burdens lighter than I have. I hope my Dear you will manage as you think best and not wait to consult me. You know that I always relied on your judgement and why ask me what to do if I was there I could consult with you. You wanted to know how I had got to Company K, I will tell you. When we started from McCulock we was a battalion composed of three companys ours was the letter since we got here we have been joined to the 19th and 27th Battallion and formed into a regiment consequently each company drew for their letter and we drew K so we are no more a battalion but a Regiment. I started you a letter Christmas day by --- which I hope you have received before now I told you that I thought then I would. Capt Woods had as good as promised me that I should and I knew I had greater claims on him than anyone else but you know that with some folks a small bribe and a little b--- goes a long ways which two articles I never use so my dear be contented I think I will see you in February and if not if I lieve to see I shall see you in May. We hear various rumors here sometimes there comes word that the Yankeys is landing on the lower end of the Island and we are aroused from our beds and held in rediness for a fight. The Yankeys is in Brownsville in considerable force but I don't think they will be able with their present force to penetrate our State to any extent. We have now here and between here and there a sufficient number to repell a much larger force than I think they have there. They have been passing up and down the coast between here and there shelling every place I suppose with the hope of affecting a landing. I don't much believe there will be any fighting this winter in fact I think both parties is getting tired of it. Mary, I want you to try to favor yourself as much as possible. You can do without making cloth to sell, and I know that you have enough to attend to with the out door work and in clothing yourself and the children. I hope you will take my advice and take as good care of yourself as possible. Mary, I always thought that I displayed too much weakness when I was with you, but I think if I was there now it would make a well person sick to see my weakness. I just read your letters over and over and over again and cry every time. I never let anybody see me open a letter I always go to myself so I can give vent to my feelings. Don't let anyone see this part of my letter. Two boats has run the blockade lately and it is rumored that our fleet will attack the blockage in a few days. We have Harriet Lane and some three or four small boats lying in the harbor ready for the attack. If we attack them it will be by surprise at night. It is still cool and raining the frost has injured the gardens very much and killed a great many flies which was numerous as you ever saw gnats on a cloudy day. Daniel Calvin I want you to be a good boy and mind your mother and be good to sissy and I will love you a heap when I come home. Mary you must love Danny and not fight him and you may kiss Pa when he comes. God bless the children. Mary I hope you will bear your afflictions patiently remembering that Christ has said that all tings shall work together for good to them that love the Lord. May God bless grant you his blessing is my silent prayer. I would write more but I have to go on detail duty. I want you to write oftner. I have the pleasure of subscribing myself your affectionate husband till death. Daniel Jones. Copy of original letter written to Mrs. Mary Ann Jones by her husband Daniel Jones and filed in this office Nov 25, 1925. Mary Ann Grimes was the daughter of F.M. and Elmira Susan Farley Grimes. She married Daniel Jones against their wishes and they were estranged for life though lived in the same area. The children mentioned: Daniel Calvin born May 26, 1860 Mary Elizabeth born March 2nd, 1862 Martha Idella born Jan 2nd 1865, almost one year to the day that this letter was written. Additional Comments: Home in Moody, TX McLennan County Record: Age 49 Enlisted March 17, 1864 for 6 months at Camp McCulloch Capt J.F. Davis Company E. 1st Reg 2nd Brig TST This letter indicates they become Co K. At Camp Marrah 4-6-64 Furloughed for 3 months from April 3, 1864 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/mclennan/military/civilwar/letters/jones58gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/txfiles/ File size: 7.8 Kb