S. Love letter - August 25, 1862

Tupelo Miss.
Aug. the 25th 1862

Miss Tea Love

Dear Sister
Johnnie Plesants has been discharged and I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know that we are all well yet and in fine Spirits because we are in hope of getting our horses Soon. There is but little prospect of us leaving this place very soon for they have sent all our wagons off to the Southern part of the State for the purpose of pasturing the mules. It is reported that 30000 Fed. troops have landed at the junction of the Yazoo will the Mss. River twelve miles above Vicksburg for the purpose of taking that place and if it is true -- the next move we make from here will be in that direction. It ia also reported that Gen. Bragg is moving from Chattanooga in the direction of Nashvill though it is not confirmed yet -- Gen. Morgan has Gone back in to Tenn. and took Gallatin (a large town in the State) burnt 40 cars took Several hundred improved Springfield rifles also great quantities of Ammunition and medical Stores. I have not heard the particulars yet -- it is repored that they took all without a fight though they had,nt been gone more than four hours before 1200 Feds. entered the town but they were too late. Cy is with Gen. M. I guess. I know of no other news to write. Tea I want you and mother to make and send me several Shirts 3 or 4 socks one or two pr drawers &.. C.. and I want you to tell others to do the same for it is going to be impossible for us to ge Souch things here but worse than all do I want Father to Send me a pr. of Boots for it is impossible for us to get them even now. Capt. Ross got back from Mobile day before -- yesterday. He bought a pr.Shoes (just such as I have bought for $5. and $6) and had to give $18.00 for them So that a good pr. of Boots at the same ratio would cost $35 or $40, and the most common brogans ar Selling from $8 to $10 the reason of the high prices is the scarsity of leather and the great demand there are thousands in the army that are barefooted and cannot get Shoes and the reason that I write to you is because the demand is not so great at home and I will need a pr. of Boots this winter if I Should not get a furlough for it is likely that we will have a good deal of Scouting to do if we Should be so fortunate as to get our horses which is very probble.When Speaking of myself I have not included John but he will need as much as me. I hope the citizens will do what they can to get clothing for their friends and relations in the army. The people here are willing to do all they can but they have got so many in the field that they cannot do much for the Texians. So we will have to depend upon the citizens of Texas. If they should start with clothing I would say this.. that the bes and safest rout would be to come to Sims Port on Bayou Atchafalaya and there they will be likely to find Steamboats they could put a wagon on there and land it on this bank of the Mss River with less danger than any other I think and then bring it out to the Rail Road and Ship it to us directly. It is getting late and I will have to close. This leaves us all well and God grant that it may find you all enjoying the same blessing. Give my love to all the family and to all enquiring friends and to yourself the Same. Tell all the Friend and relations to write to me. I am in haste your brother..

Sam.

N.B. Tell Ellen Fannie and Bettie that they might write to me once in awhile. Tea I must tell you one thing that is a little Strang it is this there are a great many pretty girls in this country and not one of the boys seem to pay the least attention to them notwithstanding there are some great ladies men here men that you would think would pay attention to them on every possible occasion but it is not the case they seem to have become perfectly indiferent to the charms of beauty but I think it is not likely they will continue so long after they get back home All the Donaldson prisoners have been exchanged for and we have been looking for Greggs Regt here for several days ..

Sam.

Love Family Correspondence. Special Collections, Burnett Library, Texas Christian University. Fort Worth, TX. (TCU Box 298400)