Letter, Alex Spence to his father
Object number1998.044.25
DateAugust 16, 1861
Mediumpaper and ink
DimensionsOverall: 7 3/4 x 12 1/2 in. (19.7 x 31.8 cm)
Credit LineOld State House Museum Collection
Terms
Born in 1838 in Alabama, Alexander Spence served in Co. B of the 1 Arkansas Infantry (Colquitt's). Company B was known as the Clark County Volunteers. He enlisted in the Confederate Army in Little Rock on May 8, 1861. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in April 1, 1862. Five days later he was wounded at Shiloh. He was promoted twice more, to 1st Lieutenant and then rising to the rank of Captain. Alex was killed at the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864. He is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Arkadelphia next to his brother, Tom, who also served and was killed during the war.
Camp McGregor, Va.
Friday Night, August 16, 1861
Dear Pa,
This will be handed to you by Mr. Ewing who leaves in the morning for Arkansas, he will give you all the news. I wrote to you some time ago about sending me some money. I have got the money from Mr. Ewing and give him an order on Barkman Kingsbury & Co. I want you if you please to see that the money is paid to him. The money I get from Tom is money Dave Meadour has won and is sending back to his wife. If it happens that you have sent the money assist B.K. & Co. or Ewing in raising the money and I will pay Ewing back when he comes here. The money I get this time I think will do me through the war.
I wrote to Tommy to pay Davis Ewings overseer Five Dollars for Randle if he has never done it please pay him yourself. I have written in this to Sallie about sending me some clothes. By Liza's letter I received today I expect you have already sent them by Dr. Ward. Send me the winter clothes. I enclose in the within list anyway, as most of the clothes I wrote for was for Summer, tho cotton under shirts and cotton drawers I will not need, the pants I reckon you have sent. In addition to the list of clothes I have given, please tell Mother to have one Fatigue Jacket made and sent, have it made out of grey or black [ca?], you all can guess at the size. There has been so many soldiers in Arkadelphia I reckon you all know how they are made. If you do not Mr. Ewing will tell you all how it is made. I could buy these things here but would have to pay too much for them. I am glad to hear you are having a knife made for me. From the [missing] making here I think we will have [missing] ere long. Cannons were firing all day along the Creek, the [missing] will open before long with us I expect. I am not particularly anxious to be in a fight, but I think I shall do my part when we do get in an engagment.
Pa, I want you if you please to be sure and not let Mr. Ewing be disappointed in that money, and please ahve the clothes sent. The money I ge this time I think will last me the balance of the war. We have to have something to eat and that is about the way most of our money has gone. I shan't be quite as extravagant hereafter as I have been. Tell Mother I did not get to see Lincoln's carriage at Manassas. Have you ever got your fine carriage or not?
What in the world is the reason you all don't write me oftener [sic]. Liza's letter today is the only one I have received for about two weeks. It does seem you might wright often. I wrote you not long since. Tell Mr. Kingsbury we all would be very glad to have come on to see us.
I will close this. Mr. Ewing will give you all the news. I expect he will be asked a thousand and one questions. Do you all ever hear from Tom. I would write him if I knew where to direct my letters.
I will write you all ever few days. Did Dr. Ward get any recruits in Arkadelphia for our Regiment? Be sure and write and give all the news by Mr. Ewing, and please attend to the things I have written about in this, (the money and clothes.
I hope I will hear from you all very soon.
My love to all,
Yours,
Alex E. Spence
Status
Not on view
November 7, 1861
October 30, 1863
February 4, 1862
March 21, 1864