Letters Written by Madison Freeman Price to his wife Jane 1862-1863 - Smith Co, TX Submitted by Rick Featherston 17 January 2004 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ********************************************************************* Madison Freeman Price joined, as a private, the 22nd Texas Infantry of the 1st Brigade (Brig. Gen. James M. Hawes had replaced Col. Young), Walker's Division, Company I (Hubbards). These letters were written to his wife Jane between 20 September 1862 and 13 December 1863. No letters have been found after that date so it is assumed that he died sometime after that. The dates listed in between the letters are letters that will be published in the Summer Quarterly, 2004, of the East Texas Family Records, published by the East Texas Genealogical Society --------------------------------------------------------------------- Gilmer - Upsher County, Texas September 20, (1862) Dear wife - I have taken the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you no that I am well and I hope that you and our little children injoying the same blessing. I have got a long very well so far. I have ben well as I ever was in my life. I am writing you a few lines to let you no that I drowed mine and John's bounty money and sent it to Rasbury and I want you to tell Hugh and John to try to get me a pare of shoes and send them by John when he comes. Pay John twenty dollars of that money. I want you to write me a letter and direct it to Fulton on Red River. I want to no whether Lorenzah has got well or not. My prayers has bin decending up dyly for the welfare of you and our little children - remaining your tru husband until death. May the lord bless you all with helth and peace. I have nothing of importance to write any more then I have written. M.F. Price to his Dear Wife --------------------------------------------------------- Home of Mr. McMichael's October 25, 1862 Davis County, Texas Dear and beloved wife - I have taken the present opportunity of writing a few lines to let you no that I am well at present hoping that when these few lines comes to hand that they will find you in injoying the same blessing. I am at Mr. McMikels today. I left the regiment yesterday at Dangerfield. I will go back to the regiment tomorrow eavening. It is very cold here today. It is a sleeting rite smartly ritenow. Jane, I had my profile taken at Gilmer and left it at the Old Man Andersons for Mr. Rice Niels to carry it to the post office and it was very high but that don't make any deforance. I have nothing more of importance to write to you only I want to live for God and nothing elce. I expect to pray for you and our little children to enjoy the blessings of God. My prayers is dayly for my return to you and my little children. I will come to a close by saying I remain your true husband until death. M.F. Price to his dear Wife _____________________________________________ Davis County, Texas October 25, 1862 Dear wife and little children - I this day take my seat to let you know where I am and what I am doing. I am verry feeble. I don't think that I can keep up one week longer. I am at Mr. McMichals(sp) today about one hundred miles from home and will remain here til tomorrow. I have no news to wright to you. Take good care of our little children. See nothing more at present but remaining yours truly until death. J.M. Price Please excuse my short letter - embrace my little ones. Dyrect your letters to Little Rock Arkansas, Hubbard's Regiment, Sharp's Company ---------------------------------------------------------- Hempstead County, AR November 1, (1862) Dear wife - I have taken the preasant opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you no that I am in tolerable good health at preasant hoping that you may be enjoying the same good blessing. I have been in tolerable bad health some five or six days but was a bad cold. I am well at this time. The regiment is in very bad health. They, every one, have had bad coalds. We are in ten miles of Washington (Arkansas). I am a going to go on to Uncle Benjamin Price's tomorrow. The regiment is agoing to tary there about three days and I have nothing of importance to write to you about the war. I don't know any more then you do about it. I want to see you verry bad and talk with you and our little children. I would like to no how you are getting along this eavening. I have ben verry mutch greaved on the account of our departure. I have not seen any satisfaction since I left you and our dear little children eccept when I was in the service of my god. I feel like if it was not for the (grace) of my god I wood get along very bad in this world. I am trying to put my trust in him that is able to save the sole and body. Jane, you no not the prayers that I have offerd up to our god for my return home in health and peace to live with you and our little children and to rase them up in that way and maner that I want them raised in. I want you to write to me when you get this letter. Direct your l etters to Little Rock. Jane, live humble; live at the feet of Chryst. Pray for me that I may live humble in he site of god and that I may return home safe to my family. If I no my heart I am willing to live humble in the site of god the balance of my days and I prey god to be with you and bless you with health and strength and an humble and prearful heart. Pray god in my behalf that I may return home in health and strength and you in the same. The lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trabbles and now is the time of trowbble. My paper is about to give out and so will come to a close by saying to you - love for god and no one else. M.F. Price to C.J. Price his Dear wife - Write every two weeks. ---------------------------------------------------------- Sabean County, AR November 11, 1862 Dear wife - I take the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you no that I am in good health hoping that they may find you injoying the same blessing of god. I am in twenty miles of Little Rock. I expect to get a letter from you then if I do it will be a great satisfaction to me to hear from you for I haven't heard from you since I left there. I must tell you what I here about the war up here. We have got the news here that there is an armistus for four months stopping all fighting for that span of time. I no not whether to beleave it or not for I here so mutch that I don't know whether to beleave it or not. I would be glad if I could be there to nite for it is a verry bad looking eavening. It is wraning every once and a while. We have had the prittyest time to travel that I ever saw in my life. We have had sixteen large frosts without missing any knight. I herd from Little Rock. The man left there yesterday. He said that there was a heep of sickness there. The people here is offering to bet that there is peace made in from two to four months but that don't make it so. I think myself that this war can last long for a man can't hardly get a meal victuals along the road there now unless he gives about fore or six bits at a private house at that. I have nothing more of importance to rite to you only I must say to you don't forget to prey, for prayer is the life of the Chrystian. Jasper Clary says tell his wife he is well. I want you to not to forget to write to me for it would be a pleasure to me now to hear from you and Madison and Alcisty (his son and daughter). I will come to a close by saying prey for me and I will for you. Write to me whether my hogs is a mending any or not for there is no corn nor meet here of any account. Jane, I don't want you to sell any more corn for a while yet for all the people is moving to Texas from this County. Don't sell any more till Spring for they are halling it from Texas to Little Rock now. So fare you well till I write the next letter. M.F. Price to his Dear Wife (Two, Five Cent Confederate Stamps for postage on this letter!) ---------------------------------------------------------- November 16, (1862) ---------------------------------------------------------- November 22, 1862 ---------------------------------------------------------- Smith County, Texas November 26, 1862 (Evidently was sent to Smith County from Prairie County, Arkansas) Dear wife -- It is with pleasure that I take this opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you no that I am in fine health hoping that when these few lines comes to hand that they may find you all injoying the same blessing of god. I am just as fat as a bare. I had mutch rather be there and tell you the news than to have to write you what little I no about what is agoing on. We are on what is called the Byomeeter (Bayou Meto) Creek about 25 miles from Little Rock in Perary (Prairie) County. We have not been marched but two days from Camp Nelson. I no not what the movement is for but I think that it is to improve the helth of the people and to be closer to porridge and provision. I get aplenty of beef and bred and a little molasses and a little sugar once and a while. Jane, I sent twenty dollars to John by George Bates. I drew nineteen dollars of his wages and the other dollar I borrowed from him while we was together. If John is gone when this letter gets there I told Bates to give it to Hugh. I want you to write all about the cattle and hogs - whether they are getting fat or not. There is a great talk about peace but you no just as mutch as I do about the movements of the officers. They won't let us no nothing about whether they is agoing to get into a fight or not. I am in hopes that there is a verry good prospect of peace from what I can learn. I am agoing to write to you again to continue your prayers for my return home. I will come to a close - remaining yours until death. M.F. Price to Mrs. C.J. Price ---------------------------------------------------------- December 1, (1862) ---------------------------------------------------------- December 6, 1862 ---------------------------------------------------------- Little Rock, Arkansas December 20, 1862 Dear Wife -- It is with pleasure that I rite you these few lines to let you know that I am in the horsepittle at Little Rock. Jane, I know you didn't want me to come here but if you node what sort of fix I was in before I come here you would of sed come two. I had come in about a quarter of a mile of here with a good many more of the boys and camped on a ball flint rock hill where nobody could lay down in the fix I was in. I can say to you that I am not verry sick here. I have a flu fever. I come here and got on a good bunk and got in a warm house and got men to wate on me and I hope when these few lines comes to hand they may find you all in good helth. I received your letter that was dated the 8th of November. I received it on the 11th. I was glad to here that you all was well and harty. I was verry sorrow to here that Hugh was just as bad as he was when I left. I am sorrow that I rote to you to not sell any more corn on the account of Hugh's not getting as much as he wanted. Hugh, if you can't get corn with that, you can get some of mine. I shall say nothing more, for you no as much about the war as I do. We made the movement that I told you that we would when we came to Little Rock. I have nothing more only I remain your husband until death. Pray to God that we may meet again in this world and the time may not be long. M.F. Price to C.J. Price ---------------------------------------------------------- January 7, 1863 ---------------------------------------------------------- January 17, 1863 ---------------------------------------------------------- Camp near Pine Bluff, Arkansas January 30, 1863 Dear Jane - I seize this opportunity of informing you that I have left the hospital since writing you last. My health is very near the same now that it was then. The weather is very fine now and I hope to get stout soon. There is some sickness in camp but none fatal recently. I have not heard from George, Frank, or Pal and if you know anything of them let me know. You have heard of the spirit of mutiny existing in our army. Many have deserted and gone home and the Feds are playing the same game. They are coming to us by great numbers in order to be paroled that they may go home. They say they will not fight any more since Lincoln has issued his Proclamation. They seem to think that we will have an early peace. This idea meets a warm response from us all, as we all want to go home very badly. I think we will stay here till spring unless something serious transpires to demand our attention elsewhere. Tell Hugh that if I have any corn to spair, to sell it whenever he thinks it necessary. There has nothing strange transpired since I wrote you last. Write to me often - direct to Little Rock. Do the best you can till I come for I am looking forward with sweet anticipation to the day when I can return home to my happy fireside once more and to be delighted with the society of her who is the topick of my daily thoughts and with whom I have to live with both in this world and in eternity. Kiss my sweet children for the satisfaction. M.F. Price ("Pal" is the nickname for Madison's younger brother Marquis de Lafayette Price) ----------------------------------------------------------- Pine Bluff, Arkansas February 9, 1863 Dear Wife - This morning I take the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you no where I am and how I am. I am in verry bad health. I have not been able for duty in about ten weeks. I have been very low but I think I have taken a starte to git better but I can't tell anything about if for I am up one day and down the next. I hope these few lines will find you in good health. Jane, I got your letters that you sent by Rasbury and was verry glad to hear that you was in good health. I got my socks that you sent me. I did not have mutch use for them. I have two pare of them I fetch with me that haven't got narry a brake in them. My other clothing is all good but my drawers they are about dun. Don't you try to make me any clothing of any sort for I can get clothing here when I need it and if I can't I will then let you no and then you can have time to make them. Jane, I have got letters regular now for about two months in all. I have got seven or eight letters from you. Jane, I will send you some money the first chance I get and I want you to by anything you want if you can get it. I want you to by you a barrel of molasses if you can get them - let them cost what they will! Jane, don't feed our hogs - only just a nuff to keep them alive. Be as saving of your corn as possible. I have nothing more of importance to rit, only I don't want you to forget to prey. Take good care of yourself and our little babes. Tell Madison I am coming home someday. Tell Mrs. Clary that Solomon (her son) is in the gun shop at Little Rock. He was well the last time I seen him. I come to a close by saying I'm your true and effectionate husband until death. From M.F. Price to C.J. Price (The Prices and Clarys were neighbors in Smith County) ---------------------------------------------------------- Camps Pine Bluff, Arkansas February (18), 1863 (Letter damaged and can not read part of it; thus _________; and ( ) are used to fill in probable words) Dear companion - It is with pleasure that I write you a few lines to let you (no where) I am and how I am. I am only (tolerable) well. I have never got able __________ I come out of the hospitle on Wednesday and come down the river and Saturday I tuck the mumps on Sundy and I (took a) coaled with them and they hurt very bad. I have not got over them yet. I do hope these few lines will find you in good health for I've been sick till I don't think I no what good health is. I haven't drilled narry time since I come up here. I have had a hard time since I lefte home. I expect to come home this spring. If I can't get to come (home) one way I will come another. The (soldiers) is all getting mitely out of (hand). They say they will all come home (on) furlow or not. I no nothing more of importance to rite for (now). __________ is botherd so that I can't (rite any) thing that I want to. We (have) bin a living on bred for a (about) fore days. The beef is so pore __________ eyes looks like they had they ___________ it is thought by the _________ that it is the beef that is ___________ the pore solders so fast there ____. More people got the yellow jaunders (worse than I) ever heard of before. There has ben one forth of our company had them in the last month. We have quit eating it and if they don't give us pork for bacon we will come home where we can get pork. Jane, I will come to a close by saying to you live humbly and in obedience to god. I'm your beloved husband -- M.F. Price to C.J. Price Give my respects to all my inquiring friends for I can't rite to all. Hugh, rite to me for I love to reade a letter that comes from friends in Texas. (Hugh is Madison's brother-in-law, Hugh Venable) --------------------------------------------------------- Camp near Pine Bluff, Arkansas February 26, 1863 Dear companion - I, again, take the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you no my condition of health. I am a little better then I have bin in three months. I hope these few lines will find you in good health for health is a blessing. I have not got narry a letter since Rasbury come up here. I would like to see you verry mity well for I think of nothing else hardly but you and our little children. You and them is my all in this sinful world for my interest is with you and them. It is a misery to me to live in any such a way. Jane, I don't think this war will laste long for I believe that the men will come home anyhow for they say if they don't get a furlow they will take one when there twelve months is out. Jane, I want you to write to me every week and I will do the same thing for I don't see any satisfaction only when I get a letter from you. When I think of you and our little children it don't appear to me like I can bare to live in this condition but mity little longer. I have nothing to fight for here and you need not be aferde of my ever going in to a battle. We are just a lying here in camp and it is raining about half the time. The water is up so that I don't think we can get away from here unless we tote our knapsacks and blankets and provisions too and then the buoys will come to Texas more then they have ever before. Jane, I want you and all the inquiring friends to pray for me for I feel the need of prayers. I will come to a close - I'm your loving companion, M.F. Price to C.J. Price ---------------------------------------------------------- March 4, 1863 ---------------------------------------------------------- (No Location Given) March 5, 1863 Dear Father - I with pleasure take the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you no where I am and how I am. I am in tolerable good health only I have been sick a long time but I am about well I think. I hope these few lines will find you all well for I have found out what good health is worth since I left home. I haven't been able for duty but about three weeks since I got to Little Rock. I had a long spell of the typhoid fever and I have not been any account since. Until lately I am agetting mity home sick. I want to see you all mity bad. You no I never was gone from my folks a week at a time before and I think the time is very long. I neglected to write to you but I have not forgotten you, yet I study about you all and wonder if I will see you all in this unfriendly world again or not. I want you all to prey that I may live to return home to my family. There has been a heep of sickness in camps but it is getting better than it has been. I stade all knight with Uncle Wash Price's folks last week. I found them all well. I would like to be there to get something to eat. We live about half our time on bred. The armey is getting mity contrary. They have commenced to furlowing the men today. They furlowed three men today. I no nothing about the war - how it is agoing and for that reason I will write nothing about it. Pap, I want you and mamma to go to see Jane for I no that she sees a lonesome time. Nancy, go to see them to. Pap, rite to me as soon as you get my letter and tell me the news generally. I must come to a close. My paper is give out. From M.F. Price to his father and mother. Lezah, you go to see Jane to give my respects to all inquiring friends. (Probable persons mentioned in this letter:) "Nancy" - Nancy Wellsley Price - sister born 1833 "Lezah" - Elizah E. Price - sister born 1842 "Uncle Wash" - unsure ---------------------------------------------------------- Camps near Pine Bluff, Arkansas March 28, (1863) Dear Companion - I with pleasure this eavening write you a few lines to let you no that I am in tolerable bad health yet I mist my chill last knight. I am mending some, all though I have the chills every other day for awhile and then I miss them awhile. Jane, I received your letter this eavning and I was verry glad to here that you was all well and pleased nearly to death to here from you. Jane, the letter I got this eavning was dated March the 5th. All that you have written from the 25th of January up to that time is absent yet. Jane, I have nothing of importance to write to you. We are living verry bad now. We have been living on bred several days. My mess has ben sick till we could not eat anything mutch till we have got some lard. I have just eaten a bite of mush. We made it and put some lard in it. Was verry good and you no I did not like milk and mush mutch and that is far better than mush strate. I have visited Uncle Wash Price's wife. She has treated me mighty well. I never go but what she gives me as mutch as I am willing to toat back. Jane, you wrote to me that you had bought a mare. If she is young anuff and you can ride her without her throwing you down, you had better keep her. Grass will be up by the time you get this letter and if the mare will run out on the grass you had better keep her. Jane, I have herd from brother George. They was all taken prisoners, so I here, and carried to Chargo (Chicago). George died some time in March so we hear published in the Little Rock paper. It is so, I recon, for it said George J. Price of Taylor's Regiment - Marsh's Company. I will come to a close for it is getting dark and Rasbury is wanting the letter now to put away in his pack of letters. May god bless you all is my prayer. I'm your affectionate husband until death. M.F. Price to C.J. Price Give my respects to all inquiring friends. It is to dark to rite any more. I can't see the rules. (Both of Madison's brothers, George J. and Benjamin F. Price died at Camp Douglas, the Union POW Camp, in Chicago after being captured at Arkansas Post, Jan. 1863) ---------------------------------------------------------- Camp near Pine Bluff, AR April 1, 1863 Dear wife - I again rite you a few lines to let you no that I am tolerable well at present and at the same time hoping that these few lines will find you all well. I have nothing much of importance to write to you only I received your letter you rote the 15th of March. It pleased me very much to here you was still all well. I received it yestedy. I will start this one day after tomorrow. Jane, I have made two applications for a furlow. The first one was in February. The regimental doctor was not there. He was sick and the other doctor's doctor was aferde he would do something rong. The next time I wated till our regimental doctor was present. He give me a sertificate sertifying that I would not be able for duty under sixty days and old Hubbard would not approve it. He said there was too many gone from his regiment all reddy. He don't care no more for a sick man then I do for a sick dog. I am getting well I think. Jane, I was sorry to here that Frank's cow and calf was ded but I would be willing for all the cows and everything else to dy if I could get home but that won't do any good then. Jane, I want to see you and our little children mity bad. I recon you no how bad you want to see me. I no nothing about the war - how it is going on. We are going to move tomorrow about 8 miles down below Pine Bluff. I have spent a heep of money for eatables. I have got about sixty dollars in money, I think. We will draw again before long. They say they will pay us our compensation. If they pay that up to this time, I will send it to you. It will mity near take my wages to keep me plenty to eat for sometimes I can't eat what we draw and then again we don't draw anything but bred. Jane, I prey god's blessing on you. May god grant that we may live more humble in order that our prayers may be herd and god grant that we may all live to see one another in good health again. My heart felt like I could not stay away mutch longer but the time will come some day when we will meet again in this world, I think, and then we will injoy each others presents again. Jane kiss our sweet little children for me for it has been a long time since I have. Tell Martha Armstrong I was glad to receive her prayers and to continue her prayers for me. From M.F. Price to C.J. Price ---------------------------------------------------------- Camps Near Pine Bluff, Arkansas April 15, (1863) Dear companion - I, this morning, write you a few lines to let you no that I am tolerable well at present. I am better then I have ben in a long time. I recieved your letter dated March the 15th. I was glad to here you was all well and I hope these lines find you injoying the same blessing, yet. The captain got a letter from John yesterdy. He rote you was all well. His letter was dated March the 31st. He sent a cirtificate but they would not receive it. They said they had to have a sirtificate from the post surgeon or letter from some regular practicing doctor and it has to be sertifyed by the county cluk that he is regular practicing doctor and put his seal on it. John, you had better be careful how you send your surtificates for they are getting verry purticular about these things. I have not got any thing of importance to write to you. The furlowed men is mity cearlice about comeing back to camps and the officers says they will not furlow any more men tell them come back that has gon home on furlow. They will draw furlows when they get back. I think the chance is verry bad for a furlow but I don't think there is any prospect of a fight here but there is no telling by what we here for the truth is hard to here. We can here a thousand things but that don't make it so. Jane, I want to see you all verry bad and I prey god that the time ma be made short tell we meet in this world. Jane, I recon you no something about my feelings, for you have a good chance to no you ar not by your self but I am here without any connection but I have got friends aplenty, but not withstanding, I had rather be where my connection is. I am verry well satisfied with my captan. The other officers, I like them tolerable well. Jane, I want you to rite to me about the stock and write to me whether your mare has got fat or not and how you payed for her -whether payed all mony or not and whether she will work or not. She gets to scinny. Let Hugh plow her a little once and awhile and that will fetch her wright. Jane, I will come to a close by saying I prey gods blessings on you all. May he forgive all your sins and love you freely for jesus sake. I want you all to prey for me for I am surrounded with a bad class of men but I prey for them. May the lord bless you all. I prey gods blessings on the world of mankind. I expect to prey for the men in this war and their famleys to -- From M.F. Price to C.J. Price his Dear wife at home. ---------------------------------------------------------- Camp Near Pine Bluff, AR April 23, 1863 Dear wife - I with pleasure take the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you no that I am well as could be expected. I have been mending for some time. I am getting sound again. I have been on duty about two weeks. Jane, I hope when these few lines come to hand they will find you all in good health. Jane, I rote you a letter a few days ago and sent it to you by John McKinley and I sent you fifty dollars by him. I will write a few lines to let you no that we're agoing to start to move to Munroe, Louisiana. We will start next Sunday. This is Thursday. Jane, I wish I was there to help you eat milk and butter for we get nothing but meat and bred and just about half anuff of that. Eggs is one dollar and fifty cents. A dussan chickens is worth $1.50 apeace. I have nothing more of importance to write to you. I think the object for moving is to get provisions for we have eaten everything up here that is in reach of us. Jane I want to see you all mity bad. I think there is a chance for me some time before long. They say they will furlow every eighth man. If they do, I will stand as good a chance as anybody. I will come to a close by saying I want you to live humble and continue your prayers for me and I will for you. Give my respects to all inquiring friends. From M.F. Price to C.J. Price ---------------------------------------------------------- May 5, 1863 ---------------------------------------------------------- Camp on the road 25 miles due west of Monroe, LA May 13, 1863 Dear wife - It is with pleasure that I take the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you no how I am getting along. I am tolerable well at preasant with the exception of a coaled. I have had a bad coaled ever since we started on this march from Pine Bluff. We come to Washita City on the Washita River then we come down the river by water to Munrow then we stade there two knights and a day then we started down the river on the boat to the mouth of little river then they calculated to go up to Elixandre but we got about 75 miles then they herde of the gun boat in the river and they all turned back. There was a (levee lock) on the river and you better believe they got away from there as fast as possible till they got back to Munrow. We stayed there till knight then marched till midknight then we have come two days travel. We are lying up today. I don't know what there is agoing to be done. The officers think they will be in a fight before long but I don't know. Jane, I want to see you and our little children mity bad. You can joudg by your own fealings. Jane, I have tride to prey that we might all live to see each other again in this world and I expect to prey as long as I live and when I dy I want to dy a preying. Jane, direct your letters to Shreveport. We will be somewhere there shortly. I will come to a close by saying I want you to prey for me for I have some mity harde things to contend with. I am afeared there is but a few Christians in this god forgetting world. There is but verry little dependance to be put in man in this day and time. Jane, write more then you have been writing for I don't averedg more then one letter a month. I want you to kiss little Siscy for me. Write soon and give my respects to all inquiring frinds. I remain your true husband until death from M.F. Price to his dear wife C.J. Price. ---------------------------------------------------------- Camped 60 miles from Alexandria, LA on the Red River May 27, 1863 My dear wife - I this evening write you a few lines to let you no where I am and how I am. I am well and harty once more and I hope these few lines will find you all well as you have written you was before. Jane, we are camped sixty miles below Elexandre on red river. We have been fifteen miles from the river but we have come back to the river to get on the boat again but I don't know where we are going. They say we are going up the river. You no just as mutch about it as I do. The feds have ben in this country and taken a great many negros and mules. We got here two or three days too late to have a fight to see who should have the negros and mules. They taken them and got away from here. We found out they was gone and we turned back. Jane, I would be glad to see you and our little children verry bad. I will come home as quick as I can. Jane, I have not got nothing more of importance to write to you. I received your letter you sent by Mr. Wood and then this evening I received another one you rote the 28th of May. I was verry glad to here that you was all well and doing well. Jane, you rote me to no what to do with your mare. I had rather you would keep her till Fall any how for it will not cost mutch to keep her till then and I would rather you would keep her till then any how and tell Hugh not to sell Mack and Bully unless he can get a good price for them. If he can get a verry big price for them sell them and put the money to the best use he can for me. Right soon and direct your letters to Shreveport - Walker's division, Hawses Brigade, Company I, Hubbard's regiment and then they (the letters) will come to me anywhere we go to. I will come to a close by saying continue your prayers for me as long as you and I lives. Give my respects to all inquiring friends. I'm your affectionate husband until death from M.F. Price to C.J. Price his wife. ---------------------------------------------------------- June 9, (1863) ---------------------------------------------------------- Camp near Shelby, LA June 21, 1863 Between Monroe and the Mississippi River Dear (Chad) - I with pleasure this Sabbath morning after fast returning from preaching write you a few lines to let you no I am well as common. I do hope the few lines will find you in good health. Jane, I received your letter that you sent by John Price. He sent them to me from Elexandre on the Red River. Some of our wagons is there and some of our buoys to. We have been in two little scermishes. Nerry one got hurt only by over heat. There was a great many men fainted. The first battle we was in I never fiard the first gun and I hope I never will at a man. Jane, tell Hugh if he can sell my property to sell it and pay my dets - that is my steers or my mare - if he can get a good price for them. Hugh, you can find out the most I owe by inquiring. John Williams between 35 and 40 dollars. Pay that and the Widdow Curby det and Steven Reaves has got a note for eight or ten dollars. Rasbury eighty or ninety dollars. Pay part of that and pay Doctor Dearing for the part of what I owe him. I believe that is all. I want Jane to keep money to buy corn. Hugh, if you make any corn to spare you let Jane have it and she will not have to pay for it. Hugh, take the best care of my home you can and you shall never loose anything by it. Hugh, if you think you can, sell my mare for what you rote you could. I say sell her and pay all my dets. I have said nothing about the gal yet be ashamed you pup you. Hugh, I did not think that of you and Sarah - a gal - well, well I declair, I wish I was there to lafe. I will come to a close by saying good luck to you all. Don't forget to prey for me and every other poor soldier. Give my respects to all inquiring friends. Tell mother and sisters I would like to see them all as well as you. Peace and good will to you all. Jane, don't grieve about my absence no more than you can help. I think I will be home some day. M.F. Price to C.J. Price (Sarah Price is Hugh's future wife - 13 years his junior! Hugh Venable is C.J. Price's brother and Sarah Price is M.F. Price's sister!) ---------------------------------------------------------- December 13, 1863 ----------------------------------------------------------