Confederate Letters

Courtesy of Jean Herrin Clinkscales

Submitted by Gloria B. Mayfield, Rusk Co. Coordinator

January the first 1863

Camp near litle Rock

Ark

Dear sister I have taken my pensil in hand to Rite you a few lines to let you no that I am well there is a good Deal of sickness in hour co Guss Wall is in the horse pittle I have not seen him for several days since we moved from up the river to little Rock ....(Portion of letter torn away).... both come out to hour camp he says that guss is very sick with the fever we got orders to go to fort smith again the order is Counter

manded I believe that we will stay here some where about little Rock this winter there is severil of hour Redgement that Deserted a few days back they are deserting in other Redgment every few days We are getting plenty to eat now such as we

have beef and bred but we dont get enough salt to salt it we buy some pork pork is worth 15 cents a pound we have not had very much cold wether yet I got a fine comb that other day from little rock to send home I recken they are Scars I will

have to bring my letter to a close I want you all to rite as often as possible

(NOTE: The signature portion of this letter also torn away,

so it is uncertain whether the author was Henry or his

brother John "Jack" Watson but is believed to have been written

by Henry)