I. D. Affleck Letter to Parents

Camp near Fairfield
March 5th 1863

Dear Mother & Father:

I wrote you a few lines the other day by one of the Rangers who was going home, but it was so short that I have determined to day to write a long letter and try and give you a full account of what is going on here in this department, but I will first tell you about myself.

I told you in my last letter that I had been very sick with the Yellow-Jaundice but I think I am getting well again, but it will be more than a week before I will be able for duty again. I am staying with Dr. Gulick so that I can take medacine, but I think I have taken my share of medacine for this time, ti is the first sickness of any consequence I have had since I lift home, and hope it will be the last. Henry has got entirely well of his sickness and is able to wait on me at last—he is riding one of Dr. Gulicks horses, but dont know how long he will be able to keep him. I wont write home for another horse untill I hear from Gen Hibert. if I can get a position on his staff as I hope to do I will write home for an outfit in that line or maybe come myself; butso far I have not heard from him, it may be that he can not send for me, if he does not it will be a sore disapointment to me after haveing looked for it so long, to be disapointed it will be hard.

. . . plenty to eat is what we nead more than any thing else now if we get that we can keep the yankeys back a while longer. It was reported four or five days ago that our army was falling back from Shelbyville, but it was a false report. I think that we will make a stand here and if the Yankeys advance we will give them the worst shiping they have had in some time, it will be a bloody battle, wose than the last. Van Dorn took Franklin two or three days with three thousand prisoners and a large amount of store, he had a force of about ten thousand cavelry. We have now in this army over thirty thousand cavelry and how they are to stay in Tenn. much longer I dont see, we have eaten out the country where we have been, and to day Col. Harrison went out with the intention of getting ofrage out side of our lines. he took three regiments with him, and sayed that he intended to have a fight before he got back, they took very near all the wagons belonging to the Brigade with them.

I am not anxious to git into any more fights before this war is over, which I think will end about the first of July. Whole Yankey regemints are deserting nearly every day. A Citazen told us that a Kentucky Brigade at Murfreesboro refiused to fight any longer, they were fired upon, they stood and fought for two or three hours but wire over powered at last. I have heard of several instances of the same kind when they have turned on one another. I whish the war would end so that we could all go home, if any body is tired of this war I am.

I had my pistol from the tend the other night, if I can ever lay my eyes on it again I will know it. it was worth a hundred dollars and I could have gotten it when ever I wanted it. I have $90 and $95. for it two or three times. I am in hopes that I will get it yet. Dr. Gulick bought a nice little poney the other day for $175. but she is entirely to smal for the survice, she reminds me of my little mare at home. I wish she was larger and I had her hear.

I have just sent Henry out in the country after something to eat, but dont expect he will be able to get any thing, the country is so nearly eaten out. Chickens sell for $1. eggs .50cts butter .75cts. turkeys $2.50 and every thing else in proportion. we draw corn meal and bacon in camp and you see what we have to give in the country for extras, but we have to buy them or our camp fair will make us sick. When I get home again I think I will be able to put up with home fair especealy in the eating line. I would rather sit down at the table at home to night to supper, than receive $100. in gold at this minute, but it cant be so I will say no more about it.

There is to be a large ball at War Trace to night, Genl Wharton and Staff were invited, and are going, it is given to some Gen. up there and none but officers are invited I would like to, but cant. I think I can stand it through this war, then my turn will come I think for good Liveing. I understand that some one is makeing six-shooters in Tex. at sixty dollars a piece I wish you would get me a pair, and send on to me as I am without one now, and pistols have risen since we moved up here and I dont think I shall buy another one soon. the pistol I had only cost me forty-five dollars, and I dont think I could get another like it for less than a hundred.

[I. D. Affleck]

Affleck, Isaac D., "With Terry's Texas Rangers: The Letters of Dunbar Affleck," ed. by Robert W. Williams and Ralph A. Wooster, Civil War History, Vol. 9, Sept. 1963, pp. 299-319.

 

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