Letter, to Sallie Spence - Spence Family Collection
Object number1998.044.10
DateApril 20, 1864
OriginCamp 9 miles east of Camden, Ouchita Co., Arkansas
Mediumpaper and pencil
DimensionsOverall: 16 3/4 x 10 3/4 in. (42.5 x 27.3 cm)
Credit LineOld State House Museum Collection
Terms
Camp 9 miles E of Camden
Ouachita Co. April 20th
Dear Sallie-
Its now night and have just learned that a Mr. Moore would start home in the morning so I write by the fire light. We have been annoying the Feds ever since leaving Arkadelphia. The day after I wrote you last we were ([?]our co) marched up in the ? to support a battery no one in the co hurt: one man killed and few wounded near us some fifty yards off. The cannon balls would strike the ground in front of us and bounce over The company could see them for a hundred yds before they struck the ground. The Feds the night after moved in direction of Camden and now occupy the place with a large force the number I have had no reliable means of accounting but they have reinforced since they came through Arkadelphia. On monday last the 18th we had a fight at the Poison springs on the Camden and Washington road 15 miles from Camden a ? party variously estimated from 2 to 4 thousand more attacked at 12 oclock by cannonading and then by small arms which lasted for three hours in the enemy was completed ? capturing 221 waggons and about 1250 mules and killed from 4 to 6 hundred and captured about 100 ?-? it was running fight they were chased by the ? that we were with about ? miles on foot and then cavalry took them in hand and don't know how far they marched, I have said ?? of deepest ? negroes think there were 10 negroes kiled to one white? - just as I had said before the made the negroes go in front and if the negro was wounded our men would shoot him dead as they were ? and what negroes that were captured have from the best information I can obtain have since been shot. I have seen enough myself to know it is correct our men is determined not to take negro prisoners and if all of the negroes could have seen what occurred that day they would stay at home.What I have seen reminds me of the talk I gave Henry and John They may have been there as I have no information as yet from home - if so they are convinced by this time (I can't believe that either werent among the killed was ??? and ?? and also Edward's boy was captured I have ? how they were disposed of - From the best information we lost about one hundred & sixty killed and wounded a small portion killed among them was George ?, all the one that I knew none of our company hurt. ..we were in the fight all the time and boys done well. Some few of them sick some dangerous none that I know except ? Hitchcock nothing curious with him. We have been reinforced by infantry estimates at from 10 to 12 thousand They are now in attacking distance and then will be a move soon ? to ? ? Three days rations ordered to be cooked this is done at the waggons and sent us would not supprised we ? by daylight in the morning? I only have to judge from extreme circumstances. Although I am almost certain the will make no attack in Camden owing to fortifications made by our own men last winter and hear it is said to be wll fortified and of cannon. There will be no attack around works. Read this to Henry and John and it will remind them of what I told them. This leaves me in fine health amd quite anxious to hear from you to learn all the news about Arkadelphia take it for granted ????? of ? as she had feather bed and al..the comforts about ones house in their wagons clothing.....now is the time... The rest of page is torn and stained.
Status
Not on view
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