David Gaston and Mary "Polley" Toomey/Gaston
These are the Civil War era letters of the Gaston family
including letters written by Mr. David Gaston born 1821 and resided in Monroe County, Tennessee. He was in the 59th Tennessee Mounted Infantry, "G" Company organized in Madisonville, TN. He enlisted in March 1862 & died at Cooper's Well, Hinds County, Mississippi on August 22, 1863. You will be able to see movements of the company within these letters.
*Two letters are from Mary Toomey/Gaston to her husband David.
*Two are from David Shields to David Gaston...David Shields being the son of Margaret Gaston and Joseph Shields.
*One letter is from friend of the family Mr. George Washington Vincent.
*The last letter is from Mr. M.E. Jackson of Byrum, Mississippi informing Mary of the circumstances of David Gaston's death.
(These letters are the property of the Gaston family and cannot be used without express written permission of the owner of these documents. For permission click here.)
The first letter is from David Shields. David was the nephew of David Gaston and was residing in Illinois with his family. He enlisted there and was serving in Obion County, Tennessee.
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July 22, 1861
Union City
Obion County,
West Tennessee
Dear Cousin,
It is with pleasure I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines which if comes to hand will let you know that I am well at this time and have been ever since I came to Tennessee. David, I left Illinois on the 2nd of May with 43 Illinois boys and came to this place where I now am. When I left Illinois I concluded to come immediately out there but being scarce of means I concluded to stay and try camp life awhile and see if I could get fattened up a little, I had been having the ague for two years and was worn out. I done nothing during the two years except make one boy and I have not heard from him since I left ElleBell in Joline (Illinois). David, I have gained 12 lbs since I came here and am still improving. I am at least one third stouter than I was wehen I left home. When I left I left my business all in I.W. Williams hand. I left right smart plunder and $100.00 and 50 cents worth of notes and act and told him if he would send my family out there I would give him all of it. I know that he could bring her to the river and put her on a boat and she could come and I can't hear a word from her since I left, don't know where they are. David I am coming over some time in August and your house is the second place I am coming to and I want you to have some more of that good medicine and we will have a hell of a time, sure, for a finer day as I can't see.
David you know old Abe had 2000 minie muskets and 12 pieces of cannon stationed over in Kentucky 24 miles from here and you know that on the night of 19 this just,100 men of our regiment went over to see the big guns and by the by we taken a liken to them and brought them home with us. We hauled them 25 or wagons and then loaded them on the cars and run them home by hand from the cars. Boys say thay will have them back but if they do they will have a happy time. We all had guns plenty and now we have plenty for our neighbors and our neighbors children. Dock, write to me and tell me all about old dad and all the boys and gals. Give news in full.
Tell me how many of your girls is married and how many children Polly has made since I left there. I would ask you but I know you don’t know a darned thing about it.
Doc, after you read this letter, set right down and write to me. Direct your letter to Union City, Obion County to Mr. David Shields.
To Doctor D. Gaston
Tell all of the girls to write and you may also tell some of the boys my mess mate is S. Blankenship.
Yours,
Mr. D. Shields
(write, B. S.*)
*(B.S. =Back Soon)
The second letter is dated April 18, 1862 and is from Mary Gaston to David Gaston. She mentions "Elizabeth's children". Elizabeth was her daughter who had married Jacob Rhyne. She had passed away. We don't know if Jacob had left this area by this time but Jacob and his family eventually removed to Oregon where some of their descendents remain today.
Dear Husband:
I seat myself to write you a few lines to tell you that we are all well at present. I hope that when these few lines come to your hand they may find you are doing well. Tom has got his fence done and is planting corn. I received your letter and was glad to hear from you and to find that you are well satisfied. Jo said that “he would like to see you….he’s well and he wants you to come home once more and you to bring him that knife for he is going to expect it like a *fro head”.
Elizabeth’s children is on the mind.
You said that you was coming home. I hope that you will come home. I want you to bring me some coffey corn home as soon as you can.
Jake Sheets has got home. Jake Sheets said that you wanted a pair of pants. I will try and have them when you come home. Uncle Joe Shields is sick but is on the mend. I will bring my few lines to a close. Write soon.
Miss Polly Gaston
To Mister David Gaston
*The reference to a ‘fro head’ referred to the condition of the knife blade
The third letter is dated May 18, 1862 from David Gaston to his wife, Mary, and family. It is written from camp at Powell's River in northeastern Tennessee. (Between present day Knoxville and the Cumberland Gap on the Kentucky - Tennessee border.)
May the 18, 1862
Dear wife and children:
I, this, evening, seat myself for the purpose of addressing you with a few lines which if comes to hand will inform you that I am well at this time and I do hope when these few comes to hand they will find you enjoying the same blessing. I have nothing of importance to write. We are still on Powell's River yet. I don’t know how long we will stay here. I think we will be ordered to the Gap (Cumberland) in a few days for they were expecting a big fight there every day. There was a company of artillery stayed all night with us last night going to the Gap. They had some of the finest cannon that I ever saw. They was from Alabama. Forces is going by hundreds nearly everyday. I do wish they would get to fighting and fight it out and be done with it for I tell you a soldiers life is a hard one. Sure we have plenty to eat, such as it is but the devil can’t eat it. Meat and wheat bread, wheat bread and meat. We don’t draw anything else. Sometimes we buy a little corn meal. Our mess bought one pound of butter the other day. We give 50 cents for it. Buttermilk only sells for one dollar per gallon and all but a fight who will get it.
I enjoy myself very well considering that I want to see you mighty bad. Sure, the Captain is coming home next week and I think I will get to come with him and if I don’t get to come with him, I expect we will draw our money before he come and I will send you 30 or 40 dollars. If I don’t get to come, Polley, I want you to write how you are getting along about something to live on. You will have to do the best you can until I come home and that I am in hopes won’t be long. You don’t know what I would give to get to see you all. Tell little Jo I would like to sleep with him if he could sleep on the ground. I haven’t slept on but one bed, one night, since I left home. I was sent off to be gone two days, impressing wagons and teams and stayed all night and I will tell you that I did not sleep half the night.
The reason I don’t come home is they won’t let furlows be given hardly to the sick.
Write whether my bees has swarmed or not. Tom you and Jim and Jo must tell me how you are getting along with your work. Tell Frank Moser’s wife that he is complaining a little but he is going about. Polley, write what is going on in the country. Give my respects to Uncle Jo Shields for I can tell how he lived a portion of his life. Tell him to write to me for he can tell me what is going on. Tell Uncle Henry Sheets and his family howdy for me and all the rest of the connections. I think some of them might write to me for I haven’t drank one drop in 5 weeks. I will come sometime. I help take 4 prisoners the other night. We took them to the Gap. It is very common in our country, wishing people in hell but out here and if they get mad at anybody they wish them at the Cumberland Gap. We have good company. We have prayer every night when we call the roll, before we break lines. Polley, you must write as soon as you get this letter for this is two and haven’t received nary one. They may be one on the way. Our letters comes by hand from Morristown which takes 3 days to go and 3 to come.
So I must come to a close.
So nothing more at present, only remains your loving husband until death, so fare well.
To Polley Gaston and family.
Jo, I will bring your knife when I come.
POWELL’S RIVER
JUNE THE 1st, 1862
Dear Wife and children:
I again seat myself for the purpose of addressing you with a few lines which, if comes to hand will inform you that I am well at this present time and hope when this few comes to hand they will find you enjoying the same blessing. I received your kind letter last night and was glad to hear that you was all well with the exception of you complaining with your head and was very sorry to hear that you never expected to be satisfied in this world. Polly, you must not get out of heart. This war is not going to last long and I think I will get to stay at home with you for if it wasn’t for you and my children I would not be here. You live a happy life to what I do so keep in good heart (that) I will get to come home sometime.
I was glad to hear you got your money for I was uneasy until I heard from you and also for that chew tobacco. It was my night to tend to the yards. I set up until midnight and kept it in my mouth nearly all the time, although I have plenty.
Well, I will give you a little history of what is going on. We are waiting every minute expecting a fight. They are fighting now some ten miles below here. There was some twelve thousand Yankees come three nights before last. Our folks is after them. I think today or tomorrow we will secure them all. We are getting them surrounded between Wilson’s Gap where they come there and the Cumberland Gap. We have six thousand coming from Morristown today. We have got some prisoners already. We have got them in our haversack a waiting for the word. We don’t know what minute our pickets fired at some of the enemy night before last but we failed to get any one of them. We are all in good heart and seems anxious to get into the fight. Though there is several of our men sick and several detailed on in other duty, there was a bad incident happened the night before last. One of our pickets shot two of our men at one time. He thought it was the enemy. He killed them both dead.
I tell you, these mountains is in an uproar for sure. I never thought I could see such a time.
Polly, you must not think hard of me for not coming home. I will come as soon as ever I can. I am not all that can’t get to go home. No soldier gets to go nor won’t until this strategy is over. I think that will be in a few days. I want to see you as bad as you can want to see me.
Tell Tom (Thomas L.) to get a gun and then get two men and have Worthey’s cow valued and then shoot her down if he (Mr. Worthey) don’t keep her out of his corn and I will pay for her. Don’t want you to have your corn eat up. I would like to be there afterwards.
Well Jody, have you got my train in yet? You said you wanted to sleep with me. I sleep with your little bunch of hair every night. Tom, I hardly know what to tell you to do with that old bee gum without you go and get Mister Sheets and drive them into another gum as he understands the business. Get him to help you and pay him for it.
I think we will leave here in a few days. I think Knoxville or Chattanooga as soon as this fight is over and then I think I will get to come home. Polly, you said you was going to send me some clothes. Don’t send them for a few days until we know where we are going. I can make out awhile. I bought me a pair of pants and slips.
Give my love to all the children as old Jim thought hard of me for not writing. I wrote him a letter last Monday. Tell old Jody Shields I think he might write me a letter. You will have to pay for this one for I can’t get any change.
I must come to a close so nothing more at present. Only remaining your loving husband until death.
David Gaston
To Mrs. Polly Gaston and children. Write as soon as you get this letter for I like to hear from you all.
This letter is dated approximately four months later and is from neighbor and friend George W. Vincent. We aren't sure if George had deserted or was truly unable to travel. George survived the Civil War and is interred in Monroe County, TN.
Strawberry Plains
September the 15th, 1862
Mr. David Gaston:
As I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am tolerable well. I have got a very sore
foot and I never been well since I left the Company. I hope when these few lines come to hand they
will find you all well and doing well.
I would guess they began to think the time long to see me (a) coming. I don’t know when I will start. I can’t walk until my foot gets well. I want you to write to me and let me know whether you have drawn any money or not and if you have not got it I want you to draw it for me and send it any way that will be safe. And if you can’t send safe don’t send it at all, David, I want you to write to me and let me know how you is are getting along.
David, I want you to write to me and let me know something about what will be done with me about me (a) staying away from the Company. I want you to get all the information that you can and write to me all about it as near as you can. I have heard a great deal said about my case. I don’t like to have judgment passed on me before I am told. I would come back home if I had been well though Captain Wright don’t believe it.
David, I don’t want you to let any body see this letter. I don’t want to insult any man.
So nothing more at present.
Respectfully yours truly
G.W. Vinsant
To David Gaston
The sixth letter is from the Holston River area which feeds south and east of the Powell River spoken of before. The Powell, Holston and other rivers feed together to form the Tennessee River. This letter is particularly important because it tells much about the movements of the troops
Holston River
June 24th, 1862
Dear Wife:
I seat myself this morning for the purpose of addressing you with a few lines which if comes to hand will inform you that I am well at this time and hope when this few comes to hand they will find you and the children all well. I have nothing of importance, only we have left Powell’s River and moved back about thirty miles towards Morristown on the Holston River. We are guarding a ferry. I don’t know how long we will stay here. We have been looking for a fight for some time. Our picket had a right smart of skirmishing last Sunday at Taswell about 14 miles from here. We could hear the cannon very plain . I suppose you have heard we evacuated Cumberland Gap. That was done the 17th day of this (month). We left in the night unbeknownst to the Yankees. It was a sight to see our troops wading Powell’s River. They commenst (began) crossing about 10 o’clock, one regiment after the other until daylight. I never saw anything before (like that).
Giving up the (Cumberland) Gap was one of the best moves that ever has been made in Tennessee for it was an awful experience hauling over those mountains, and we never would have got a fight there, and I think I (that) was uncertain. Now they come to Taswell and now they have fallen back. There was some cavalry here this morning and told us that the Yankees came to their camp yesterday with a flag of truce and two generals and sent for our general. We haven’t heard what it was for. They say that they are starving to death. Our men is stationed on Clinch Mountain about 7 miles from here. There is several companies here and (a) right smart of artillery so we are ready for them anywhere. We have about 12 thousand troops. The worst encounter we had to (deal) with we had to throw away all of our clothing with the exception of one blanket, two shirts, one pair of pants, two pair of slips. Our tent was all taken away from us, though not by Yankees. We burned them up. We just have the heavens for our shelter. Throwing away our things was an order from our General.
I can’t say to you when I will be a home. Though I want to come very bad, there is no chance for furlows now at all. George Vinsant expects to come home in next month and I will come with him. Tell Jody he must save my whiskey for I got a dram yesterday and that put me in the notion for more. I want to see you all might bad but I will have to wait awhile until times become more pleasable. I don’t want our people to get out of heart about giving up Tennessee. That will never be done. Some think by giving up the Gap that Tennessee would be given up, but not so. It ought to have been done long ago for it took thousands of men and no advantage. All we want is to get them out.
Polly, I haven’t received a letter from you in two weeks. I want to hear from you. I want you to write. I think you could write to me once a week for it does me a heap of good to hear from you all for we are worn out here. I want you to let me know what has become of Uncle Jo and the Sheet’s for I can’t get no news from them. I think they might write and let me know something about what they are doing and I want you to let me know how you are getting along about provisions, whether you have plenty or not. Tell Tom and Jim they must go ahead with their work for I want to see when I come home what a fine crop they have made. I want to know whether Jody has got a batch of corn or not this year. Let me know how my bees is doing and whether you got much honey . Give my best respects to all of my friends. I received a letter from Jefferson Cary the other day. He wanted to know where his things was left. They was left at Morristown at the commissary. You can give him word. Tell George Vinsant’s wife he is well. Frank Moser is complaining with a bad cold, not able to do much.
I will bring my few lines to a close. So nothing more at present, only remains your loving husband until death. Give my best respects to Uncle Henry Sheets and family and tell him to write to me.
David Gaston
Jody, I would like to see you mighty well.
This next letter is dated almost 6 months later. It speaks graphically of his trip down thru Dalton, Georgia. It is dated January 1, 1863.
Vicksburg, Mississippi
January the 1st, 1863
Dear Wife and children:
I seat myself this New Year’s morning for the purpose of addressing you with a few lines which if comes to hand will inform you that I am as I think well, with the exception of a little cold. Hoping when these few lines comes to hand that they will find you all well. I could tell you a great deal but it would take me a week to write what I have seen. We had very good luck in our trip. We landed here last Monday. We only laid up one day. That was at Dalton (Georgia). We traveled 115 miles by water, which was beautiful traveling. We are now on the bank of the Mississippi River. This morning (we are) expecting an attack every minute. They have been everyday for nearly a week. We run them in to their gunboats on Sunday, killing a great many and taken 500 prisoners. Our loss was small. Amongst the loss was Captain Girley. They never finished burying their dead until yesterday. Many had to die, surely. It is thought that this will be the deciding fight and let me tell you it is going to be a big one. Sure, there is large forces here. We have the prettiest place to fight in the world. I think it is impossible to whip us here.
I haven’t had time to tell you all, this time. I thought I saw a great deal in Kentucky but I saw nothing. We have faired tolerable well considering we took Christmas in West Point. We took a great many barrels of brandy and it was free liquor. Such a day I never saw. We never stayed one hour in Jackson. We are a great many miles below that place. I think this is a healthy country at this time. I don’t know how it will be in the spring. I have improved in health fast. I have been well taken care of since I left home.
Polly, I don’t want you to be uneasy about me for I am proud that I came when I did for it, let me tell you, it is a long road to travel. I am with a great many of the Monroe (County) boys. You can tell Frank Moser that John is well, also that I saw David . He is well, only his leg. Tell Lois Stephens that I saw John. He is well. Jacob Shields is well and all the boys from our country, as far as I know.
Well, Polly, you may think a little hard of me for slipping off from you. I could not get to stay. It was sad that we was only ordered to Dalton. That was all a flash. It all but got my good eye to start from home, surely, but I hope I will get to come home one time more a free man and stay with you and my children. I want you to take good care of yourselves and try to keep well and I will do the same. Polly, you know that I would like to see you. I miss my good bed. We take it the old way. If I only could get some of Mrs. Worthey’s buttermilk! Give her my best respects and tell her to churn until I come home. I want you to write as soon as you get this letter and I want you to write every week if you can so that I can hear from you and I will write every chance. I can’t write often from here but I will every chance and direct your letter to Vicksburg, Mississippi in care of Captain J.I. Wright, Company G, Colonel J.B. Cook’s Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers, General Reynolds Brigade.
So, nothing more at the present, only remains your loving husband until death
David Gaston
To Polly Gaston
A few lines to little Jo Jody, be a good boy and keep them all straight. You must not play too much with little niger.
This letter of 21 March 1863 is the first that indicates an injury to his leg. We don't know exactly what caused the injury but it is reasonably safe to assume he was shot in the leg which was quite common during this war.
March the 21st, 1863
Camp Near Vicksburg
Dear Wife and Children,
I seat myself for the purpose of writing to you a few lines to let you know I am tolerable well. I hope when these few lines comes to hand they will find you and the children in good health. I have nothing of import to write you at this time. There is no much prospect for a fight at this time. Our folks is a-bombarding the Yankees today but I don’t think there is much hope for a fight at this time.
Polly, I have nothing, I think, to write about. I will say to you that I have been sick but am getting well. I had the fever and it fell into my leg and foot but it is getting a great
_________(this section illegible)__________________________
It is a great deal better. Polly the fever fell in my leg and I can’t walk but don’t be uneasy about it.
I will inform you that I sent thirty five dollars to you by Frank Moser but I expect you have got it before this time. I want you to push and hurry up the boys and make as much corn as they can for it is a-going to be hard times.
I would like to see you all very much but I’m almost to far off at this time but we think we’ll be ordered back to Tennessee in a short time again. I want to hear from you all right. As soon as you get this letter direct your letter to Vicksburg in care of Captain I. J. Wright, Company “G”, Cooks Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers.
Nothing more at present but remaining your loving husband until death.
David Gaston
To Polley Gaston
April 13, 1863 is the date of this letter. It describes his injury and health.
April the 13th, 1863
Dear Wife and Children
I, this, morning, seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along.
I am tolerably well as to health but I hope when these few lines come to hand that they will find you all well. Polley, I have nothing of interest to write only I have received your kind letter the other day and was glad to hear that you were all well.
Well I suppose you want to hear something about my leg. Well it is getting better. I can begin to walk (a) right smart with my crutch. Polley, I have had a hard time. Sure you never saw such a leg in your life. It was swollen from my toes to my body as tight as the skin would hold. They banded it to my body. I took the awfulest chill that you ever saw anybody have in your life. The doctors told me since it is getting well they allowed they would have to cut it off though it turned out different and is getting well. So, Polley, don’t be uneasy about me until I see you.
John Sheets was over to see me the other day and we talked over you, I’m well pleased.
Now, boys, I want you to act. I want to see what you can do until I come home for I think my chance is good to get to come as soon as I can travel on my leg and I think that will be in the course of a week or two. I can begin to walk right smart on it now and it is mending right fast.
Well, Jody, we will have a right time taking honey but I expect we will have no whiskey. Give Mrs. Worthey and George my best respects. Tell her that I only have to give 50 cents a quart for milk here.
So, Polley, (I have) nothing more to write only I want you to write as soon as you get this letter. I would have written sooner only John Sheets said he was going to write. It was my right leg that is sore and I am so nervous that I could not write. This is the first and it is badly done but it is the best that I can do. So nothing more at present.
Only remains yours until death.
David Gaston to Polley Gaston and Children
Jacob Sheilds is well
State of Tennessee, Monroe County
This is the last letter that we have from David.
May the 7th, 1863
Dear Wife and Children,
I, this evening, seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am tolerable well and I do hope when these few lines comes to hand that they will find you all well . I have nothing of interest to write only I received your kind letter yesterday and was glad to hear that you was all well. Well, Polly, I expect you have looked for me home before this time. Well, I expected to be there but so it is I ain’t there yet. I think I will start in a few days. Our army is in such a confusion that they haven’t had a chance to fix my papers. Our Regiment has moved since I wrote last. I haven’t been with it in two weeks. I am still at the old camp and will remain there until I start home. Captain Wright told me this morning that I would start as soon as they could get cleared of doctors.
Well, I suppose you want to hear something about my leg. It is getting well tolerably fast. I can walk a hundred years without getting down and I am perfectly well as in health even though they reduced me to skeleton to keep the infection down and I am tolerable thin yet though I am walking all about the camp and feel as well as ever I did in my life. You can tell Nancy when I get home it will take it all for me to eat. I buy a quart of milk everyday and it costs me 50 cents. I am obliged to have it although we get plenty to eat. Here I thought I would have got off with Captian Wright but I couldn’t get ready.
Buce Calibourn said that you wanted some money to pay your tax. We will draw our money in a day or two but it took all the money that I kept to do me since I have been sick and I had to borrow some ten dollars so if you need any until I come home call on Captain Wright and he will let you have it until I come home. I have had a hard time here to get along. There was three doctors tended on me. Doctor Henley and Doctor Tomison and Doctor Stradley and they kept me on a straight. I have one of the best nurses in the world. It is Rice C. Speer from Madisonville. He has been working on me for two months. He stays right with me and don’t do a thing else, thought I don’t need much waiting on… Only cooking and keep him busy at that. Tell Jody that I think I will be at home against the bees swarming. Tell him if there is any whiskey in Monroe County he must have me a quart. Send Camels (Campbell’s?) word that William Teeter is dead. He died a day or two ago with the dropsy. In the best, Bud is well. The Holloway boys is well and all the rest of the boys from Monroe as far as I know. So I will close for want of room.
Yours until death.
You need not write for awhile until you see whether I get home or not.
David Gaston to Polly Gaston and children
These letter is from Mary to David and is undated. The original of this letter was impossible to transcribe so it has ommissions.
Monroe County
Dear Husband,
I once again embrace the opportunity of dropping you a few lines to let you know that we are all well at the present and I hope through the kind blessing when these few lines comes to hand they will find you enjoying the same and also to let you know that I received your kind letter which was written May 25th and also with the greatest of pleasure was glad to hear that you are well.
I have nothing of importance right at the present only to let you know that Uncle Henry and Aunt Teresa and several of the neighbors were here last Sunday to see you. _______ said that you would be at home. John Sheets lent us some money to get some salt and coffee with. James Wright was here last Monday and told us that he had just come from out there and told you he saw you all. He told me that none of the soldiers wives should suffer if he could help it and he paid out five dollars and fifty cents _____ _____ and I bought me a sack of flour with it, something we about the _____. The old _____ _____ the other day and went back.
Tommy says to tell you his corn looks mighty well and he is going over it this evening time. Tommy says to tell you he has been speculating a little. He sold his old horse to Joe H. Gaston for 17.00 and fifty cents. He says he has got boys of his own and his horse can’t _____ mine _____ _____. He gave hime 20.00 for it here and would rather have _____ as the horse we had. _____ Colonel Vaughn’s _____ and IG McReynolds was election third _____ him _____ lacks confirming him.
Uncle Henry Sheets says he wants you to write to him. Me and Jody have been looking for you every Saturday for a month.
So nothing more at present but remaining yours until death.
The initial portion of this letter is missing. It is from David Shields to David Gaston. It was probably written sometime in 1861 or early 1862 as David Shields died in 1862.
which I don’t fear. Dave, I would rather you and pap would not get your foot in until I come out because this is a thing where you get in, you can’t do you darned please. I want to have a big spree with you and him and all the balance. Dave, I am now a candidate for second lieutenant to fill the vacancy of H.L. Hayes of Illinois which will come off in a (fight).
David, I have two competitors but it is generally supposed I will lick them. The Captain is in my favor and, I think, all the men and if that be the case you bet I am the man. If you and pap gets up a company and I am elected Lieutenant, I will resign and join you and then we will have a hell of a time sure enough.
Dave, I write so much to you fellows out there, I think I certainly worry your patience but it is a great satisfaction to me. Also it does me a whole heap of good to hear from you all so I will keep the thing up. We have a fight here every day or two with the gun boats but we can’t get them in less than a mile. We send boats up after them but can’t get them told (to hold) down.
Write soon.
Your cousin until he dies.
David Shields, Esquire
To D. Gaston
This letter from Mr. Jackson is probably the most dramatic of them all.
Cooper’s Wells
September 12, 1863
Dear Madam,
Hard as it may be for me to turn these few lines to you it is best you should know, in relation to your husband, he is of this world no more but let it be a comfort to you to know that he died believing in his God. He prayed to God that he might see his wife and children before he died. He said he was happy and ready to go. He was a paroled prisoner from Vicksburg and was on his way home but being too ill to travel he stayed at my house in Byrum. He was with us a week when he died, on the 22nd of August at 6:00 P.M. We buried him in Byrum about 10 miles below Jackson, Miss. It may be gratifying to you to know that his last wishes were attended to and everything was done to prolong his life but of no avail. Some letters and papers which he had and a piece of his hair I cut and if I ever have a chance I will send to you. It is a sad office I have had to perform but when you reflect and how much better off he died than many a poor soldier in the battle field with no one to give them a little water, I know you will be comforted.
Hoping, madam, that you will receive this I am yours respectfully,
Mr. M.E. Jackson
Should you feel disposed to write me a few lines direct to the care of
Mr. T. Williams, Coopers Well, Hinds County, Miss.
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