Letter, C.J. Webster to his siblings
Object number1998.055.19.2
DateMay 24, 1863
Mediumpaper and ink
Dimensions15 x 11 3/4 in. (38.1 x 29.8 cm)
Credit LineOld State House Museum collection
Terms
The Webster family was from Elm Spring, Washington Co., Arkansas.
Little Rock Ark.
May 24th 1863
Dear Brother & Sister
I have just received your letter of the 9th containing the gratifying intelligence that you were all well on that date, also the equally pleasing information that Andrew has made it home but if the Feds should return & catch him they will most assuredly kill him so he had better not be there. But he has no business in the Army for Government has called for what it wants & Father can {?} get along without him. We are all well and our fair is or has been good but our own money has made it so we have not been in the habit of eating anything that is drawn & cooked for us except bread. We have furnished our own {?} & milk & butter which is a pretty heavy tax on details at 40 cents per day. Our expenses since we came here have been between 350 & 400 dollars. On tomorrow morning we commence boarding out at 40 dollars per mouth each. The need which has been principly [sic] for beef is not half cooked or seasoned & taken us out of about a peck of water & not infrequently the bread made up with the slop in which the beef was boiled. Invariably having the scraps over which the Negroes have called at supper for our breakfasts the next morning. In complyance [sic] with your request concerning fair, I have given you this faint description of it. You to imagine the rest.
We have written 9 or 10 letters to Julius(?) since the first of January but without any answer as yet but have not despaired. We learned a few days since from a letter from John's Barnett & M(?) which was written on the 3rd of this month that his is the 16th Ark. Regiment commanded by Col. Province. It is at Port Hudson, LA. Jasper Holcomb told John Revis(?) that Julius(?) had charge of a lot of condemned mules which confirms me in the opinion that he is the Quartermaster's first clerk. I regret to state that if you get not {?} until some of us come up to bring it, I fear you will not get it in '63 as the prevailing opinion here is that this division will go to LA and the Ordinance Department to Shrevesport. I do not & will not believe it until we start.
I wish if you please you would sit down & study us up a long letter next time. As short letters are gladly & thankfully received & long ones in proportion for we are very anxious to learn all about how everything is going on up there but don't become discouraged & not write at all. John & Jimmie Simpson are well. I saw John today. The company to which Julius belongs has dwindled down to 30 or 35 men. The Regiment to 3 to 400 & I hope that in my next letter I will be able to give you some account of Julius. I wrote two letters to him last week directing one to Vicksburg and the other to Port Hudson and don't intende to cease until I learn something definite from him. The jeneral [sic] health of the Army here is tolerably good. I have writen [sic] to you folks in Washington so often that I am now at a loss what more to say that would interest you. I have received 2 letters from what used to be Cousin Jane Anderson, now Atchley, a big mouth Methodist Preacher's wife. He is a very good steady sort of fellow & discharged his first years duty as a minister on Lehigh Circuit in '59 & preached within about 2 1/2 miles from Uncle Isaac. Jane has a daughter some 2 months old, they live in Savier [sic] County where his work is. She was at Uncle Isaac's when she wrote but expected soon to return to Savier, they were all well. Bob & Jake were at home & Bob expected to start soon to join his command on the other side of the Mississippi. Jake is exempt(?)
Send this home as soon as you can. No more but the kindest regards of your brothers {?} {?} C.J. Webster
p.s. Don't forget to write every opportunity. C.J.W.
p.s. No. 2 Direct your letters to Little Rock Ordinance Department Arsenal
C.J. Webster
Status
Not on view
April 21, 1863
March 8, 1863
November 7, 1861
October 30, 1863