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Glenlonely, May 19, 1861
My dearest Addie,
When I received your letter I was in the midst of a long one to you, but I will not send it now. I wish I could step in this morning and see what you are all up to. You are not going to Church I know for the day is too inclement. I guess you all or most of you are asleep. Yes, once more I am at home and would be very happy if it was not for Brother leaving so soon. The Company from here have gone to Tuscumbia to be drilled for several days, they are going to form a Regiment there. Polk Walker does not want to take them unless they are willing to stay for five years, and most of them are not willing to go for so long a while. All the Ladies are very busy making the Uniform for them, it is the same as the Maury Grey, I think it very prettie. There will be a flag presented to them in a few days. We gave 150$ for it. It is beautiful, it will be a much handsomer one than the one that was presented in Columbia and it will be borne onward with courage amid the storms of battle, for the Ensign carries the flag of as brave a company as ever faced the foe, though it may come to us torn and tattered by the conflicts which it is destined to encounter, and the stars on its blue surface be clouded by the smoke of battle, it will come with honor and it will be appreciated by us the more, for our friends have fought under it. Lincoln thinks when one by one he sees our Soldiers fall, that he has vanquished all, but not so, for a true Southern Daughter will never bow to such a yoke as he has imposed. There will be more than one Southern daughter take up arms in defense of her Country. Lincoln has given up the idea of invading Memphis, he had as well talk of drinking the Mississippi dry. He is going to Columbus, Geo. that is, if he can get there. Not long since, Ship with one hundred thousand rifles were landed in New Orleans from Belgium. There was a Regiment of Indians passed up the road a few days ago going to Virginia to fight. If Lincoln should get a sight of them, it would frighten him so bad he would never show his face again. I wish you were here. I have so much fun. I ride every evening. Yesterday there were several girls spending a few days with us, and we wanted to ride so I had to give up my saddle and take a man's. All the gentlemen had gone, one was behind a tree watching me crawl up. He teased me a great deal about it.I think of you all everytime I eat strawberrys and cake. I tell Sister some times I have a great mind to send you some. I have had plenty of onions to eat now. We had some for dinner and strawberrys too! Won't Nellie, Sister, and yourself come and partake of them? You must excuse my writing and don't let anyone see this. Write soon to your friend,
Ruth
Dearest Addie, Looking through my desk just now I found your letter that I thought you had a week ago. I hope it will be appreciated if it does come late. Write soon to your friend,
Ruth