Comments for A window into a soldier of the civil war.

A window into a soldier of the civil war.

2007-07-17T11:22:25Z

A letter from one of my ancestors, Captain Winston Meriwether, to his wife, Sallie. Spelling per the original. Captain Meriwether, along with his wife and many others of my family, are buried in Linwood Cemetery, Paragould, Arkansas. Wint served on the losing side of the War of Southern Succession, and is probably aghast to know there is a bluebelly Regular amongst his line. My only defense, Wint, is that I came by it honestly, via my Father, and regret it not one bit.

Senatobia, Mississippi, 16 July 1862.
My Darling Wife,

I have written to you every few days but don't expect you have seed but a few of them. I would come over and see you but fear the Yankeys may catch me as I hear Curtis is at Hellany(1) if I hear of their leaving and can get a leave of absence I will come and see my darling Wife. Oh I wish to see you and the family so bad. I have not head a word from you since I saw you. Jeff Thompson (2) is here in command said I am Crazy about you, for the Lords sake if you can get me a Letter to Grenada Miss I am purchasing Commissary stores and have been Ever since I left you. David (3) is with us and well. Bob (4) is in Mobile have a jolly time writes for me to come down but I have so much to do, I keep well am in fine health, but My God if I could see you I would feel a good deal better our Army is in good Condition and will start North shortly as soon is it Rains. havent heard from the Bend (5), I wish I had time to write you a long letter give my love to the family I hope to see you all I hope you all have good health, we haven't got any Whiskey here, but we are all Drunk off of the news from Richmond (6) I hope the war will soon close and we can get home.

I have to write in such a hurry I cant tell you half I want to but I hope I can get to see you before long and talk over Old Acquaintance Sallie keep in good Spirits, dont be uneasy about me, and you know your situation (7) and dont get low spirited. You know what to name the little fellow and raise him to hate and fight the Yankeys It is very hard to be seperated from one that I love above all others, I hope the Yanks may never come to that Country if they do get along the best you can I am compeled to close for for the man is waiting. Send for him he can tell you all the news he lives in the neighbourhood.

Your husband, Wint M.

Notes:

1. Union General Samuel A. Curtis (victor at Pea Ridge) whose troops occupied Helena in early July, 1862.

2. A former Mayor of St. Joseph, Missouri, M. Jeff Thompson had become commander of the pro-secession Missouri State Guard forces in the "Bootheel" region of southeast Missouri in 1861. Later known as the "Swamp Fox," Thompson was captured by Federal troops at Pocahontas, Arkansas, in 1863.

3. James David Meriwether, a younger brother, who died during the war.

4. Robert Miller Meriwether, another younger brother.

5. "The Bend" was evidently the name used to identify the homeplace near Tiptonville. Other sources refer to a bend in the Mississippi River south of Tiptonville as "Meriwether Bend."

6. Probably referring to the "Seven Days" battles of June 26-July 1 when Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, at great cost, checked the Federal advance on Richmond.

7. Sallie was five months pregnant. Robert Winston Meriwether would be born November 17, 1862, near Marianna. The baby was probably name for his Uncle Robert (see note 4), who late named on of his sons... "Winston."

Given that this is the time of year Wint wrote the letter, and I'm feeling all historical thus far this week... I thought all y'all might enjoy a peek into the Civil War, uncivil as it was in these parts.

The family owes a great debt of gratitude to cousin Bobby, Professor Emeritus of History at Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas, Justice of the Peace, and bit-player (as a Fed, no less) in a Burt Reynolds movie... (and I can't remember which one, dangit!) for his preservation of family treasures and history such as this.

I'm the keeper of the family firearms, natch.

Comment from kat-missouri on 2007-07-17

2007-07-17T18:23:03Z

Smokey and the Bandit with Sallie Fields Smokey has to make a run for it. Has Jerry Reed. Burt drives a black transam? that is the only movie I am aware of where Burt Reynolds goes through Arkansas.

Comment from Barb on 2007-07-17

2007-07-17T15:44:48Z

John - that's a kewl letter, and especially so because it is part of your family history. I had to chuckle when he apologized for not writing a long letter, when his 'short note' is more than most of us write (without a computer) these days!

Comment from AFSister on 2007-07-17

2007-07-17T11:38:18Z

WOW! That's DAMN KEWL, John. DAMN KEWL. The only family Civil War story I have is word-of-mouth, but I heard it directly from my Great-Grandfather, (Papa) Monroe Nelson, back in the early 90's. Papa is from a little town called Opp, Alabama. The Nelson family has a rich United States history, including two signatures on the Declaration of Independence, so I knew our family was around during the Civil War. My boyfriend and I were picking Papa up and taking him to the site of the family reunion. We passed a field, when Papa started relating a story to us: I remember my gran-daddy tellin' me about bein a boy, and too young to join the Army. So, when the soldiers marched through town, he went out in the field right there, found a hollowed out log, stretched a skin across it, and kept beat for the soldiers as they marched. My boyfriend replied, "COOL! You know, my grandfather was in the last Army Cavalry unit on horses!" He was, and should have been, very proud of his grandfather's military service, so he was quite shocked when Papa asked.... "What side was he on?" Boyfried, flustered, and not sure where this was going, sputtered out "American?" I.ABOUT.DIED.. because I knew Papa was talking about the North vs. the South... so I had to break the news to him that Bryan's grandfather was "A Northerner, Papa". He "HARUMMPED", crossed his arms, and just stared out the window, silent. I, on the other hand, was having a TERRIBLE time controlling my laughter and enjoying the hell out of seeing my boyfriend's "WHAT DID I SAY?????" silent hell in the backseat. Priceless, I tell you.... priceless.

Comment from Justthisguy on 2007-07-17

2007-07-17T09:23:53Z

No worries, Sir! Think of Harry Truman's being refused admission to his own Grandmother's house, because he was wearing a blue uniform. "Hate and fight the Yankeys"; yep, that's prolly why all four of my Great-Granddaddies joined up. I don't think they bothered much about States' Rights or Negro Slavery, just wanted to kill them some annoying earnest Massachusetts fun-killers. They seemed to turn into Baptist and Methodist fun-killers themselves, later, at least on the Georgia side of the family... Sigh

Comment from Cricket on 2007-07-16

2007-07-17T04:29:48Z

Awww. That was really sweet and a wicked kewl letter. Teaching the little fellow to hate and fight the Yankees. I betcha he and Sallie and yer mom are having a grand old time. That was a treat. Thanks.