Death and Burial of a Texas Soldier
Information Wanted of his Friends

Galveston Daily News
Fri, July 28, 1876, p2, c.6

Columbia, Tenn., July 22, 1876

During the first part of the late war a young man named, Daniel Payne, a private in the Eighth Texas Cavalry, (Terry's Regiment), died at the home of my grandfather in Edgefield, Tenn., and was interred in our family burying ground, in the Nashville Cemetery. As the fall of Fort Donelson occurred about this time, and all communication with Texas being cut-off, we could not inform Mr. Payne's father or fiends, of his death, and so far as I know his fate remains a mystery to them.

In 1863, my grandfather died, and shortly after his death his papers were either lost or destroyed, and among them was the address of Mr. Payne's father, and all of our efforts to ascertain his or any member of his family's whereabouts have proven futile. As he expressed a desire that his remains should be sent back to Texas, I have determined to make further efforts and see if I can find out what company he belonged to, and where he was mustered in. With this in view, I have concluded to write and beg your assistance, as you have better facilities for getting information than most anyone I could apply to in your State. Will you be kind enough to write to Col. Terry's son, and ascertain from him where the records of the Eight Texas Cavalry can be found, and also ask him if he has any recollection of Daniel Payne, or what county he was from?

Being very young at the time, my memory does not serve me sufficiently to give a description of the gallant young ranger. He was however, about 6-feet high, and wore a coonskin cap, a peculiarity that gave use to much merriment among the junior members of my grandfather's family. There were with him at our house five or six of his comrades, all sick, all of whose names I have forgotten. As they were from his neighborhood, I am forced to believe that some of them survived the war. By assisting me in this matter you will confer a great favor, and if success should crown your efforts, rest assured of my lasting gratitude and that of any member of my poor cousin's family who may be living.

Very respectfully,
Mrs. Belle Payne,

care of Mr. W. L. Hudspeth,
Columbia, Tenn.