Letter, Tom Spence to his sister

 
Skip to main content
Collections Menu
Collections Categories Exhibitions Bibliography Favorites About
Letter, Tom Spence to his sister - Spence Family Collection
Letter, Tom Spence to his sister
Letter, Tom Spence to his sister - Spence Family Collection
Letter, Tom Spence to his sister - Spence Family Collection

Letter, Tom Spence to his sister

Object number1998.044.19
DateDecember 24, 1862
Mediumpaper and ink
DimensionsOverall: 7 15/16 x 10 in. (20.1 x 25.4 cm)
Credit LineOld State House Museum Collection
Terms
    DescriptionLetter from Tom Spence to his sister. Single sheet of lined paper. Tom writes that it is a lonesome time for him, his sister should write him more than once a year, they should be marching soon, all the men are drunk tonight and they have a poor set of field officers. Written in Readyville, Tenn.

    Born on October 20, 1835, Thomas F. Spence enlisted with the Confederate Army on July 27, 1861 at Camp McRae, Arkansas. He served with Co. E. of the Arkansas 2nd Mounted Rifles. On December 31, 1862, Tom was killed during the Battle of Stone's River (Murfreesboro, TN). He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Arkadelphia next to his brother, Alex, who died in 1864 at the Battle of Franklin.

    Readyville Tenn
    December 24th, 1862

    Sallie

    This is a loansome [sic] time with me. I have concluded to write to you once more. I think that you could spare time enough to write me one letter a year. We have orders to keep two days of cooked rations on hand. From this I think that we will be on the line of march in a short time. It is thought that we will go to Lebinon [sic]. Our cavalry reports 15 or 20,000 federals at that place. I guess you all have a fine time. Of the members of this Regiment all are drunk to night, Col. Staff, and all. I assure you that ve have a very poor set of field officers. To tell the truth, we have no commanders. I would give anything in the world to have Col. Flanagan or an other like him. Our Col. likes a little of what I like a great deal of, that is sence [sic], hard horse sence [sic]. If he had justice, he would be in an assilum [sic].

    Write all the news,

    Your Brother,
    T.F. Spence

    [punctuation added for clarity]

    Status
    Not on view
    Collections