A Letter from the Big Black River, Mississippi
Title
A Letter from the Big Black River, Mississippi
Subject
William complains that he he owes money to his father-in-law; if he were to desert he would be unable to pay his debt.
Creator
William Standard
Source
William M. Standard Papers
Publisher
Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, Ga.
Date
September 15, 1863
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Digitized Manuscript
Identifier
September 15, 1863 letter from Big Black River, Mississippi
Coverage
American Civil War, 1861-1865
Text
Camp Sherman Black River Mississippi September 15th 1863
Dear Jane
I have the blues badly since I left home this time. The first leaving was nothing compared to the second. We had the good, or bad, luck to get stuck on every sandbar on the Mississippi River.
Nothing will ever erase from my mind the sad time upon parting from you and the children on that morning of the 2nd of September 1863.
Dear Jane I am glad that I succeeded in securing to you and the children a homestead on which you can live without being molested by anyone. My great desire is to pay off your pap and to get rid of that big debt. I don’t see how we can pay him unless we sell the farm for the money. But dear wife you must use your own judgment in what you think best in the matter. If there is any chance to sell the place I think it would be best to do so soon before there is much interest due on the note that I gave your pap. I think you are a far better manager than I am and I am willing to be governed by your judgment.
Jane sometimes I think you thought I wanted to come back here in the place of remaining with my family but you know that there was no possible way to remain at home without being arrested and after your pap was so kind in helping me secure you a homestead I would sooner die than to have him in a condition to pay that debt by my desertion. But if that debt was satisfied I would soon have a ticket for California and you and the children could join me somewhere on the road and that is the reason why I am so anxious to have the matter settled.
I am really heartsick of this ungodly war. My mind is made up not to stay here very long. You must not think very strange of what I say. I tell you that I can’t stay here with a clear conscience. I think it is a crime of the deepest dye to be engaged in the shedding of the blood of our fellow men and I am bound not to do it if it is possible not to do it and I can.
Dear Jane
I have the blues badly since I left home this time. The first leaving was nothing compared to the second. We had the good, or bad, luck to get stuck on every sandbar on the Mississippi River.
Nothing will ever erase from my mind the sad time upon parting from you and the children on that morning of the 2nd of September 1863.
Dear Jane I am glad that I succeeded in securing to you and the children a homestead on which you can live without being molested by anyone. My great desire is to pay off your pap and to get rid of that big debt. I don’t see how we can pay him unless we sell the farm for the money. But dear wife you must use your own judgment in what you think best in the matter. If there is any chance to sell the place I think it would be best to do so soon before there is much interest due on the note that I gave your pap. I think you are a far better manager than I am and I am willing to be governed by your judgment.
Jane sometimes I think you thought I wanted to come back here in the place of remaining with my family but you know that there was no possible way to remain at home without being arrested and after your pap was so kind in helping me secure you a homestead I would sooner die than to have him in a condition to pay that debt by my desertion. But if that debt was satisfied I would soon have a ticket for California and you and the children could join me somewhere on the road and that is the reason why I am so anxious to have the matter settled.
I am really heartsick of this ungodly war. My mind is made up not to stay here very long. You must not think very strange of what I say. I tell you that I can’t stay here with a clear conscience. I think it is a crime of the deepest dye to be engaged in the shedding of the blood of our fellow men and I am bound not to do it if it is possible not to do it and I can.
Original Format
Paper
Files
Collection
Citation
William Standard, “A Letter from the Big Black River, Mississippi,” A Yankee Soldier's Struggle With The Union Cause , accessed May 18, 2024, https://timroberts.org/civwarletters/items/show/3.