Outpost duty near Shelbyville, Tenn.
May 28th 1863
My own Sweet darling wife,
Your letter written on the 4th inst is
the last I have received from you and I am exceedingly sorry
there has been any interruption in the mails, for I Know you
are as anxious to hear from me as I am from you. I had
I had several letters on the road at the time the Yankees took possession
of Jackson, which I fear you will never receive and I have
my doubts about this getting to Oxford, but I feel as though
I wanted to write you and I shall keep writing until I
know definitely that there is no mail communication."
Times look to me rather gloomy in Mississippi, yet I hope
Genl Johnson will get reinforcements sufficient to drive Grant
back to his gunboats. It looks to me as though the fate of
the Confederacy depended on our holding our position at
Vicksburgh. One thing is certain, if they get possession of that
point, it is going to prolong this war and to great disadvantage
on our side. I eagerly watch for the news in every paper and
am satisfied that Johnson is being reinforced and trust we
shall yet be able to gain a complete victory over them."
I fear the Yankee army must have been in close
proximity to your pa’s place and am afraid he has suffered
from their depredations. It is astonishing what little time
it takes them to remain in a place, to do an immense
amount of damage – Jackson and Yazoo City for example –
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Citation
Charles Roberts Collection, Special Collections, University of Mississippi Libraries
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