Tyler Reporter (of Tyler, Smith Co., Texas) - March 31, 1864 - Page 4
"Confiscated Lands for Sale
in the Counties of Dallas, Ellis, Navarro, Limestone, Freestone, Kaufman, Smith, Van Zandt, Wood, Upshur and Hunt
Schedule of all the tracts of land in the above named
counties, which have been confiscated, will be left in the Clerk's Office of
each county for inspection by those wishing to purchase, and in all cases in
which a satisfactory minimum price is bid for a tract, I will obtain a decree to
offer such tract or tracts for sale to the highest bidder, for cash at the Court
House door of the County, on the regular sale day in each month, the biddings to
open at the minimum price so bid.
Until the war is over and our citizens shall return from the army, said lands
will only be sold in this manner, and bids are invited. This course, it is hoped, may have effect of accommodating such of our
citizens at home as need these lands for use, and at the same time allow our
brave soldiers to purchase such tracts as they need, and prevent the lands
passing into the hand of speculators at nominal price.
M. A. Long, Receiver C. States
Tyler, June 20, 1863.—33."
The Tri-weekly Telegraph (of Houston, Texas) - January 20, 1864 - Page: 2
List of Deserters from the 20th Regiment T. D. C.
Company K -
T. J. Eggar, 23 years, 5 feet 10 inches, black eyes, dark hair, dark
complexion, farmer, Freestone co;
corporals W. T. Fry, 25 years, 5 feet 7 inches, dark eyes, light hair, dark
complexion, farmer, do [ditto] co; McIntson, 33 years, dark eyes, dark hair,
dark complexion, farmer, Freestone co;
privates S. M. Jones, 30 years, 5 feet 8 inches, dark eyes, dark hair, fair complexion,
farmer, Freestone co;
... J. M. Lee, 33 years, 5 feet 8 inches, hazel eyes, dark hair, fair
complexion, farmer, Freestone co;
... J. Whitfield, private, 46 years, 5 feet 7 inches, hazel eyes, dark hair, dark
complexion, farmer, Freestone co.
J. R. JOHNSON, Major
Commanding, 20th Regiment, T.D.C.
Jan 20th, twl - wlt
The Tri-weekly Telegraph (of Houston, Texas) - January 29, 1864 - Page: 2
We learn that small pox is prevailing in Brenham, Chappell Hill, Fairfield and other towns in the interior. New cases continue to occur in this city, but it attracts little or no attention. We hear of few deaths.
The Houston Daily Telegraph (of Houston, Texas) - March 8, 1864 - Page: 2
From the Fairfield Pioneer
A disease,
said to be hog cholera, has appeared among the hogs in this county, and is
proving fatal to an alarming extent.
If any of our friends can furnish us with
a recipe for its cure, we will gladly publish it.
The Houston Daily Telegraph (of Houston, Texas) - July 15, 1864 - Page: 2
Madisonville, July 5th, 1864
Ed. Tel. - Our
scouts have just got in; they got two of the me that robbed Mr. A. J. Sload, of company A,
Pyron's regiment Texas Cavalry, and you will please make it known in the columns
of your paper, for I have got Mr. Sloan's money, and not knowing where he is
this will cause him to make enquiries [inquiries]. I want the young man to get his money. They were caught some 60 miles above here, in
Freestone county;
they have done a good deal of development through the county.
Yours,
&c, JOHN A. WALLIS, 4th Tx.
The Houston Daily Telegraph (of Houston, Texas) - August 3, 1864 - Page: 1
List of Patients and Attendants in Texas Hospital
at
Auburn, Ala,
July 5th, 1864
W. L. Taylor, Lieut. company D, 10th Texas infantry. Freestone
The Dallas Herald (of Dallas, Texas) - September 24, 1864 - Front page
[On the left side on the original first few letters failed to print.]
We have
received a pamphlet of 50 pages of very ??print, entitled, "Kingdom
of Israel: from inception under Joshua,
its First President, in year of the World, 2353, to the Second Advent of Christ.
Dedicated to the Rev. S. D. Baldwin, author of Armageddon," &c, if living, and
to his memory, ??? by J. P Philpott," published at the Pioneer office,
Fairfield,
Texas. The author says:
We purpose
placing our pamphlet upon the table of every Publisher that we can leave access to, thorough ???? malls. Will they reciprocate, by sending us their publications for a shot time? at least such numbers
may contain any notice that they, or any one else, think proper to give us, pro or
con."
We have had
time only to glance over a few chapters hastily.
Austin State Gazette (of Austin, Texas) - October 5, 1864 - Page 1
"We see by the San Antonio papers that the Government tannery, established at that place, is to be removed, the Herald says, to Freestone county, and the News, to Limestone county. The Government shoe factory and tailor's shop has also been closed, and the News says there are rumors afloat that the arsenal and other establishments will be removed. San Antonio must be getting out of favor with "the powers that be." "
Galveston Weekly News (of Galveston, Texas) - October 26, 1864 - Page 2
A letter from Fairfield says: "I am pleased to inform you that there are now Soldiers' Homes established in this county (Freestone) at three different points: One at Fairfield, one at Cotton Gin, and one at Butler—there are two separate houses at Butler at which soldiers can stop, one owned by H. Manning, Esq., and the other by Mr. Wm. M. McDaniel. All of the Homes are well supplied by the good citizens of the immediate vicinity of each of said Homes."
Dallas Herald (of Dallas, Texas) - October 29, 1864 - Page 2, column 2
"Soldier's homes are being established in every section of the State, and we note the fact again, to stimulate our people in Dallas to further efforts to get one up here. It is really a stigma upon our community that they are so far behind other sections of the State. We notice that Freestone County has three in full operation—one at Cotton Gin, another at Fairfield, and a third at Butler. Cannot our people start the ball at his place?"
The Houston Daily
Telegraph (of Houston, Texas)
October 14 & Nov 3rd, 1864 - Page: 2
AGENTS OF THE TELEGRAPH
Fairfield, Freestone........ G. K. Anderson
Tri-Weekly Telegraph (of Houston, Texas) - November 16, 1864 - Page 1
Soldiers' Wayside Homes.
Greenwood, Nov. 5, 1864.
Editor Telegraph:--After a long and dangerous illness (bilious fever) and after bringing upon myself three relapses by resuming my work too soon, I am once more able to write you and recommence with caution the good work of establishing "soldiers' homes." Minden, Homer and Pleasant Hill, in Louisiana, have been established and are in full operation.
I am happy to learn that the good people in Goliad, Hillsboro, (Hill county) Butler and Fairfield have moved of their own accord and established homes for our wayfaring troops. All honor to such patriotic devotion! Perhaps other places have done the same.
The principal object of this communication is to give you and the public information of General Smith's plans to aid this enterprise.
In answer to my application he has ordered the following letter:
Rev. Thomas Castleton:
Sir—The General Commanding directs me to say in response to your application to purchase subsistence stores, that after the "homes" shall have been established and their location approved by him, he will direct the Commissary Department to sell to the superintendent of the several homes a quantity equal to that which appear upon the Superintendent's affidavit to have been used by soldiers during the previous month." (A true copy.)
Thus it will appear—1. That General Smith takes the responsibility of aiding us in the only serious embarrassment we have to suffer; that is, the difficulty of obtaining the food needed in some places. Government depots are everywhere, and can supply where the community cannot. This is very opportune. In some places we need no help; in others we are unable without it to supply our home.
2. That while generous and liberal, the General Commanding is cautious, and limits his pledged supply to approved locations. By this he means to guard against too numerous establishments. Homes must not be located too near each other.
On this point I will say for general information and as a suggestion to General Smith, that the number of miles apart cannot in all cases decide the propriety of a location. It often happens that "cross lines of travel" intersect direct lines, and what is actually upon the direct line too near other homes, is absolutely needed on the cross lines, and at a proper distance from the other homes upon that cross line.
Thus, when running a direct line at proper distances, I am obliged to make that a convenience to establish one to meet a cross line at its point of intersection with the direct line. Gen. Smith's good sense will doubtless decide that each community will be able to judge correctly as to the location of homes.
Of course the homes which draw rations for each soldier as he passes, will not apply for subsistence by "purchase." Many homes will not apply at all. Others must.
The second object in writing is to urge affectionately and earnestly the citizens of all important points upon the main lines of travel from Louisiana and Arkansas through Texas, to go at once to the work and establish homes every where. It is time, high time to act. Much precious time is almost lost. Hundreds of soldiers have already passed to their abodes and back to their command, bitter with the memories of repulses and refusals at the hands of many; and will tell their wrongs and impart their bitterness to the army; while others wounded and way-worn, have gone home to die, with the bitter thought corroding their brave bosoms that after three and a half years of battle and camp services they were refused food and lodging by those for whom they have fought and suffered. How long shall this continue? Till I can visit every town and run every line in the State? Years will be too short a time for that. Up, then, my noble fellow citizens, and do the work. Follow the example recently set by Goliad, Cotton Gin, Fairfield, Butler, Pleasant Hill, &c. You can—you only need to determine upon success. Let no obstacle hinder you, make it succeed, and a hearty will is success made sure.
Gen. Smith has also promised to sell cooking utensils from the Q. M. Department wherever needed for a home. Do the best you can, and better afterwards; but do it, and do it at once.
Respectfully,
Thos. Castleton.
P.S.—The following suggestions are respectfully made to all
our homes:
1. Look well to it, that the person to whom the soldier is
sent to obtain a ticket to the home for admission, be so chosen as to be easily
accessible. In my travels I have met a number of soldiers who said of certain
homes, "it took me so long to find the ticket for admission that I was obliged
to leave a good meal untasted," "the whistle blew," or "the stage started and I
was sent off hungry." This ought not to be. It must not be.
2. Let constant arrangements be made to furnish "cooked
rations" for one, two, or three days, as the case may demand, so that "the
haversack" may supply the lack of homes until they can be established
everywhere. These cooked rations should be entered upon "the register" as if
eaten in the "home."
Galveston News,
Caddo Gazette and Washington Telegraph,
&c., please copy.
The Houston Tri-weekly Telegraph (of Houston, Texas) - November 18, 1864 - Page: 2
Texas Conference
APPOINTMENTS OF
THE PREACHERS FOR 1864-1865
Fairfield - D. B. Wright
The Houston Tri-weekly
Telegraph (of Houston, Texas)
Nov. 30 and Dec. 2nd, 1864 - Page: 2
AGENTS OF THE TELEGRAPH
Fairfield, Freestone........ J. M. Henderson
The Houston Tri-weekly Telegraph (of Houston, Texas) - December 2, 1864 - Page: 3
Crocket, Nov. 25, 1864
[Description
of travel from Waxhachie [sic] to Corsicana then onto
Fairfield]
Leaving this town [Corsicana], we pass over a
thinly settled region of country, mostly rolling prairie until we come to
Fairfield, the county seat of
Freestone county.
This place shows that it has seen better days; it contains a tastily
built court-house, and many stores and other buildings, the stores are mostly
closed, and very few citizens are to be seen, the most of them are in the army.
The town is in a pretty location, built upon rising ground, and
surrounded by timbered land, it is a pretty place and destined to be of some
importance at some future day.
After leaving Fairfield, and proceeding in the direction of Palestine, the face of the county changes. We now pass over hills and find ourselves in post-oak timbered land, the land is of a sandy quality, and in some places very rich. We find a few well cultivated farms. When we get to the Trinity river bottom we find large plantations, here the land is of the richest quality, and the largest kind of crops are raised. As we cross the river, and after leaving the bottom, the land is hilly and heavily timbered, the soil is of a redish sandy loam, and resembles the Red River lands....
Tri-Weekly Telegraph (of Houston, Texas) - December 2, 1864 - Page 2
Crockett, Nov 25, 1864
Editor Telegraph.—After a hard ride of 140 miles from
Waxhachie [sic] I find myself in this once famous town.
I find the climate is not as cold as in that latitude.
Of all the disagreeable things of this life, is a ride on horse back over
Texas prairies, the wind whistling through your hair and penetrating every pore
of your body. The route after
leaving Waxhachie [sic] passes along Waxhachie [sic] Creek; finely cultivated
farms are to be met with at short distances, for several miles down as we
proceed in the direction of Corsicana.
All kinds of crops are raised
here; the land is of the richest quality.
I saw several large fields of healthy wheat.
Wheat and other small grains seem to thrive well in Ellis county.
After leaving the valley of this [illegible] we pass over rolling
prairies, very [illegible] settled, until we come to Corsicana, the county seat
of Navarro county.
[illegible] of the town is in a beautiful [illegible] the town has a good
Court house [illegible] al stores; it looks otherwise shab[illegible] houses are
going to decay. The [illegible] so
many of the male population [illegible] army will account for this.
The [illegible] Corsicana are a
very clever and [illegible] of people.
They have [illegible] Soldier's Home, and the tired soldier is kindly
treated during his stay in town. The
people are very intelligent, and schools are well sustained.
Leaving this town, we pass over a thinly settled region of country, mostly rolling prairie until we come to Fairfield, the county seat of Freestone county. This place shows that it has seen better days; it contains a tastily built court house, and many stores and other buildings, the stores are mostly closed, and very few citizens are to be seen, the most of them are in the army. The town is in a pretty location, built upon rising ground, and surrounded by timbered land, it is a pretty place and distined [sic] to be of some importance at some future day.
After leaving Fairfield, and proceeding in the direction of Palestine, the face of the country changes. We now pass over hills and find ourselves in post oak timbered land, the land is of a sandy quality, and in some places very rich. We find a few well cultivated farms. When we get to the Trinity river bottom we find large plantations, here the land is of the richest quality, and the largest kind of crops are raised. As we cross the river, and after leaving the bottom, the land is hilly and heavily timbered, the soil is of a redish [sic] sandy loam, and resembles the Red River lands. But few well cultivated plantations are to be met with until we reach the vicinity of Palestine, here we find the farms more numerous and better cultivated. We soon come to Palestine, the county seat of Anderson county. This town has formerly been a place of considerable importance, and is surrounded by a thickly settled region of county, large plantations are to be met everywhere. Many Louisiana refugees have bought or rented plantations in the vicinity. The town has a beautiful court-house and square, and a score or two of stores, etc.; there are many tastily built residences. The town is surrounded by timbered land and built upon a hill, it is destined to be a place of note in the future.
After leaving Palestine and passing in the direction of Crockett, the land looks much the same as that passed the other side of Palestine, although in some portions of the route the land is more hilly and sandy. We soon came to Crockett, but how changed the town looks. Since my last visit, some eight months ago, nearly two-thirds of the town has been laid in ashes. I could not recognize the town when it came in view, so changed is it. The Courthouse and one hotel yet remain, as well as a few of the residences and stores. Rough buildings have been constructed on some of the roads. It is a melancholy sight to view the scene of devastation. The "Quid Nunc" is still in full blast here. It is a spicy paper and well conducted. I find it very popular throughout Eastern Texas. I shall proceed homewards as fast as horseflesh can carry me.
Souix
Tri-Weekly Telegraph (of Houston, Texas) - December 19, 1864 - Page 1
Soldiers' Homes—Circular Letter
Galveston, Dec. 10, 1864
Ed. Te.—I notice with great pleasure a communication from Austin signed "Recipio," in your issue of the 6th inst., which announces the good news that the patriotic and generous people of that city have organized a Soldiers' Home on a most liberal plan. Upon my return from Louisiana, I found a letter from Warrick Tunstall, Esq., of San Antonio, informing me that a Home had been established in that city (in August last) befitting a chivalrous and patriotic people, to aid in which, he says, a concert acquired $500 in specie. I learned from Capt. Lillie that a second concert, gotten up by the "little girls" afterwards, raised for the same object $800.
Also a letter from Dr. Brandth, of New Braunfels, giving the gratifying intelligence that the good people of that city had opened a "Home" for our brave defenders; adding to the ordinary accommodations for the sick soldier, under the care of the "S. S.," of whose encampment he is Captain.
I have also received information informally, of Homes established in many other places, which I trust is reliable. Fairfield and Butler in Freestone county, Springfield in Limestone county, (which I doubt) and Palestine, (which is now officially published.) Col. Hicks in this place, I was informed four months ago, had subscribed $1000 in cash, 1000 bushels of corn, 500 bbls. flour, 100 or 200 lbs. (I forgot which) of bacon, &c., &c. I mention this good example to stimulate others, and to encourage our friends everywhere to move in the good work. Also Hillsboro, Corsicana, and Cotton Gin, Dallas, &c., and some in the adjacent counties.
I have also ascertained that a new and efficient co-laborer has voluntarily entered this field in Western Texas, Rev. Wm. Cook, from whose successful efforts, a number of Homes have arizen [sic] into being. But I prefer to wait for his own report before publishing what I have heard. I rejoice to know that I am not alone in this work in Texas.
It must fill the hearts of all patriots with joy, to see these Homes rising up all over this proud State, to welcome with generous hospitality the men upon whom our whole country depends, under God, for our protection; and who have so successfully defended as heretofore. Let the work go on! Let every place open its wide welcome. Let all act at once! Now is the time. Indeed, did all know what I could tell them, if I deemed it prudent to publish, and what will publish itself in due time—alas! too soon, I fear, all would think quite late, if not too late, for some places to act.
It is enough to say, that the instincts of true patriotism will always indicate the path of safety. To follow it, is sure of hopeful results, and will defend from unseen dangers, while covetousness, selfishness, and cold heartedness must end in the loss of present benefits, and go blindly on to a logical result—fate! I hope Texan planters will take heed in time, and not only keep open doors of hospitable welcome to all soldiers, but aid the Homes whenever within their reach. This is no time for families living in luxury, and growing rich amid their country's disasters, because the Providence of God has kept the foemen from their doors; to turn from those doors the men who, for two, three, and some three and a half years have stood with their lives in their hands, and bared their noble bosoms to the foeman's steel and bullet. They have stood in the dread crises with "death-[illegible] falling fast" about them. Brothers and fathers and bosom friends have fallen by their sides. They come from the graves of the brave and the true—from fields of blood and glory, where they bore away the dead forms of some they loved most, and flow back to offer upon their country's holy altar all that was left them on earth. Must they come back to the doors and firesides of a great State, whose peaceful abundance is the purchase of their valor, and of the blood of their slain brothers, and be rejected at those doors—forbidden a nearer sight of those hearths, than the smoke curling in mockery from the chimney stacks?
Can any man tell me what difference (under these circumstances) it can make to at least half our soldiers (only so that they can gain their own independence) whether the picture just drawn remain on those chimney stacks, to stand gloomy sentinels over ashes alone, pointing out the foeman's desolating march? We cannot afford to break the bonds of amity and reciprocity between our people at home and the troops in the field. Nay, more, does any man think that our troops will long brook the treatment they are too often called upon to endure for the want of home, by these too often rejections at planter's doors?
It has now become the rule of our soldier to begin to beg a place to stay early in the afternoon, in terror of the too common fate of "lying out," unfed and unsheltered, all night. Many will deem this a rhetorical flourish. It is veritable fact. I know it to be true. Many have spent whole nights at the root of a tree, with their horses tied to one of its branches! ! ! in pelting storms. They have done this hundreds of times in the long march; in the face of the foe; on the battle field. They never complained. They will do it again cheerfully a hundred times, if the God of battle protects their lives. For there, they thought of happy homes, their own, and their neighbors; of the State, whose "Lone Star" symbol proudly waved over them, and whose prosperous homes, if defended, would make them forget all their forms of sorrows in the hearty cheer and cordial welcome and grateful appreciation which awaited their return.
But it is in sight of one, two, or three of those homes, that the suffering soldier lies. Their window lights gleam through the pelting storm, that is now his only greeting amid the homes he offered up his life to save. He has been at these homes and is rejected. He entreated until his manhood shrank from its own degradation. He can die. But he can endure no more self inflicted shame. Hark! a sound of revelry. Forms flit and whirl behind the window panes. Merrily the dance goes on. "Oh! Yes. They did not wish to be disturbed in their delights by a poor ragged soldier, and the others were too busy preparing. I only asked for food, and to sleep in an out house. Even that was denied me. Oh! me, I once was merry too, when poor dear Mary lived whose grave I go home to see. Two summers and three winters have gleamed and swept over. She sobbed only one parting word as I left, and it was, "Win or die." If you live to return, come back free, and God bring us to his throne to meet again on earth. "Yes! Mary," there, not here, we meet again, and even there I will meet thee free, and untarnished, by the coward or the traitor slain." Just then, is it surprising if hard thoughts arise against the man who had rejected his plea for shelter and especially when the only visible difference between the shivering, sufferer and the hard hearted planter, in sight of whose luxurious and frolicking house he lay, was, that the one flew at his country's call, a volunteer, to face the cruel foe and the other was content to enjoy his ease and increase his wealth at home, and that the one is only forty-four years old, but the other is 51. Hard thoughts have a thousand forms, and in different minds take different paths. Let us not strain the yielding brow to breaking.
Dark days may yet come to a people whose long exemption from the ravages of war has made us so forgetful of those,
"Who are our country's stay
In day and hour of danger."
In those days we cannot afford to have bitter memories of neglect and cruelty rankling in the soldiers' bosom, for in those days the flinching of one man in a company may spread panic through the regiment. Panic in the regiment may easily demoralize the brigade, and from division to corps, the army may become disordered, and the day be lost. With the loss of one battle, a whole zone may be overrun, and thousands of homes which refused the need of grateful kindness to the soldier, shall find that in begrudging the trouble and expense of caring for the way-worn soldier, they have the trouble of seeking a refuge among strangers, and in penniless poverty to expiate the crime of hard hearted cruelty against those who had the highest claim upon their gratitude and beneficence.
I am possession of many important facts under this head, occurring in a sister State, full of startling suggestions to our people; but delicacy and sympathy with the parties, now refugees, forbid. I have traveled over long miles, in gloomy sadness among chimney stacks and ashes, where many a weary soldier had dragged his suffering form and ridden his jaded animal from house to house of luxury and pride, refused the scanty pittance of a meal, and floor to lie on. And I have ridden among those lines with men who had no tears for the woes of those who as they expressed it, "had more feeling for a dog than a soldier." No one supposes that in any desolated or other region, the whole people ever did or ever could treat the soldier with neglect. But when it is the rule, with only exceptions, let our people be assured that the soldier will not forget the facts, and that a just providence will remember them in the day of retribution; and if an intervening and a more dreaded evil shall be averted by the self-sacrificing devotion and liberality of the few, and by "soldiers' Homes," sustained by a few, as they always are, yet by the growing disaffection of our troops in camp, arising from either extortionate charges with some or to a refusal of hospitality by others, let us not forget that we are jeopardizing all that is left us.
I am not unaware that much can be said of the faults of some soldiers, who, while enjoying the hospitality of planters and others, have stolen spoons, sheets, blankets, quilts, &c., &c., from their benefactors. This is inexcusable; for it there is no apology; the few are guilty, but shall the many suffer?
Many excuses can also be made for planters living upon the crowded lines of military travel. Some of them are literally "eaten out." They cannot sustain the burden. I know of some who have been obliged to leave their homes from this cause. some who have fed the soldiers gratis till all their food was exhausted, and their neighbors refusing to aid them, and even to sell for Confederate money, no other course was left them but to remove.
Planters in some cases are very inconsiderate on this subject. They know that houses of entertainment on the road are exhausting their resources by necessitated hospitality awarded to penniless soldiers, and yet will neither give nor sell to help them. Out of danger themselves by living off the road, they are alike regardless of the suffering soldier, and the "inn keeper" is thus the victim of what ought to be a mutual burden. How they can keep themselves in unashamed tranquility, I cannot imagine.
Some encouraging exceptions have come to my knowledge. "Sergent's Hotel," near Calhoun's Ferry, on the Trinity river, has never refused the penniless soldier his full supplies. Col. Alston and his son-in-law and some neighbors have "for the war," aided Colonel S., and now that this hotel, always the very best in the country, has become a Soldier's Home, the same parties sustain it nobly. This is an example to all planters in our whole country. Will they note it?
How different this from "Red Top" Prairie P[illegible] Post-office, where the excellent proprietor, Col. Bookman, has alone borne the burden during the war; and since his house has become a home has received no help from his neighbors. When I established that "home," I called upon Mr. S. Stewart XE "Stewart" , a gentleman of high standing, and also upon an eminent physician, to whom I had been specially recommended as benevolent, and enterprising, and patriotic. The former promised to help and call on others to do the same; but the result is, Col. B. says he has received no aid at all from any one. Why is this? These persons may have reasons. If so, the public would like to hear them. I can think of none.
As it is, I have to pay the bill from our "State Committee for S. H." in Houston, as I pledged Col. B and as I have been obliged to pledge many others. I am sorry that no response in money has come from the country in all of this work. Do our friends in the country intend deliberately to give us the "cold shoulder" in this work" If so, I must pass by many places which need homes, and the soldier must pass on unfed and unsheltered, where I could otherwise have made his heart glad. I have already pledged more than is in the treasury, besides incidental expenses, which I feel unable to bear. Five hundred dollars, new issue, will not cover the cost of paper, envelopes and stamps, &c., which I have already purchased for the immense correspondence through which so much has been done for the cause; and by which, when unable to leave my room, I was able to reach hundreds of places in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.
All I ask now is, are our people willingly and deliberately giving us these signs of their disapproval of the enterprise, or of their want of confidence in us? In either case, they must not be surprised to see the work stop; and homes already established, become defunct. I beg to assure our planting and city friends, that it is neither for my interest nor health, nor pleasure, to be both asking aid of them for the salvation of their own all, by elevating and saving from demoralization their noble defenders, instead of receiving what is daily offered me to my interest, and making my home in my ambulance, through days of storm and nights of frost instead of the bosom of my family.
I can only say, the task is too much to be performed alone; and when I have said this, the responsibility will no longer press upon me. I admit I have no claim in this line. I make none. All know the country, and the armies have no claim upon me, only as I have volunteered to meet this great want. The public can easily tell me by silence and withholding their needed help, that they neither appreciate my work nor desire my services.
Our State Committee, of which Mrs. Col. riley is President, and A. J. Burke, Esq., Treasurer; and without whose unanimous vote and "order" not a dollar will be disbursed, are security to the public that their donations will find the proper channel, and our city editors will gladly receive for them and acknowledge in their papers whatever may be sent through them.
Two or three weeks will find me employed in attention to homes near by and some necessary "outfit." Let me know before that time what is the public voice. Speak quick.
I have to acknowledge the unbounded kindness afforded me in my four months tour, and the unanimous and universal sympathy and cordial co-operation and aid rendered me from General K. Kirby Smith down to the no less noble common soldier; from the lordly mansion to the no less honorable log hut. I know my work is appreciated; but I cannot "make bricks without straw." In my sickness, friends, like sisters and brothers, have sprung up everywhere, and I thus return my thanks. I am more than satisfied. I need go no further if ambition inspired me, but I must have a full central treasury. Homes that I must pledge to support or rather foot the "balance due" will not always need it, for the neighbors will generally foot the bill; but in order to establish them and make the parties safe, I must be able to pledge, I did so to a number in my recent tour, that are now the best self-sustaining homes on our list.
I thank your correspondent "Recipio" for his suggestion as to Hotel Homes; and invite suggestions from all. By referring to my second circular, Recipio will find that plan, as one of many suggested, and recommended in most places of sparse travel. Also I organized five on the same plan four months ago. I hope Recipio will find the people able and willing to continue the expense of full hotel charges. I have always succeeded in arranging at half price.
Finally (although I have much more to say) let me speak to householders in places where the common complaint is, that no place can be found—no house, no rooms, and nobody willing to take the trouble of entertaining the soldiers. Do any family think themselves above the "low work" of giving comfort to our heroes of a hundred battles? for such will come. I consider it the most honorable position any man or woman or family can take. Why is it not so prized?
If General Lee should pass through a town, what family would not eagerly press forward to win the honor of entertaining him? Gen. Lee thinks his soldiers have won for him, under God, all the honor he has gained, and now enjoys; and that they are as deserving of honor as himself. Every brave soldier of my country's armies is to me a Lee, I think "there be six Richmonds in the field"! So the despairing coward gasped out his horror as he fled from Bosworth field.
So again and again have the routed cohorts of our invaders cried, "We think there be a hundred thousand Lees after us." To me, when I look over fields of glory, won by our dauntless armies over half a continent, and for there and a half years of unequal strife, I think they be three hundred thousand Lees in the field. Now and then, two, five, ten and twenty of them come through our lines, to see their loved ones, or to recruit their exhausted ranks, or other business for the army; and they are all LEES to me. For them I labor and suffer and labor is rest and pain is sweet for them. For them I mean to labor and to suffer, till the war shall end, and they come home to enjoy the well-earned fame, and the love and honor of a grateful people, and the independence they have won. And then, what days God may allot me on earth, I intend to devote to the work and enterprise of STATE EDUCATION for their children, and making of them and of their disabled brothers, educators for the State.
The time I trust, will soon come for developing plans. Meanwhile let every house open a hearty welcome to the passing soldier—let homes be sustained everywhere at distances of 20 to 40 miles apart; and let every soldier remember that ill conduct amid scenes of hospitality is a stain upon the reputation of the army, a stab near the heart of our enterprise, and must necessarily shut up many hearts against his wayworn brother.
Trusting in God let every man do his duty; repent of his sins, and the day of deliverance will soon burst upon our suffering nation.
Respectfully,
Thos. Castleton.
Will other papers please copy
Galveston Weekly News (of Galveston, Texas) - March 22, 1865 – Page: 3
Charging Soldiers
Fairfield, Freestone Co.,
Texas,
March 10, 1865.
Ed. News:--On or about the 18th of February, 1865, my son,
William P. Henderson, who is a soldier in the 7th Texas regiment of infantry, (and has
been ever since the 24th of September, 1861,) got a furlough to leave his
command for 90 [?] days; he crossed the Mississippi River, and walked the most
of the way to get home, when becoming wearied, he thought he would get on the
stage at Henderson, Texas, a distance of about 37 miles, for which he paid one
hundred dollars to the mail contractor on the route alluded to. The contractor
demanded of him the money, and he paid it in new issue. I am responsible for the
above.
James M. Henderson.
[Background - The Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, produced various cloth materials. The Texas Prison was probably the most important factory Texas had in the Civil War as the factory made over a million yards of cotton goods between the end of 1861 to the end of 1863. The soldier uniforms from Huntsville were referred to as being from the "Houston Depot" or "Penitentiary Jackets".]
Galveston Weekly News (of Galveston, Texas) - January 11, 1865 - Page 2
Penitentiary Cloth Given to the Several Counties of the State.
From a circular just issued by the financial agent of the Penitentiary, we find the State has been laid off into six districts, for convenience of appropriating the quota of cloth to the respective counties, as follows:
1st District.—Chambers, Liberty, Jefferson, Orange, Hardin, Newton, Jasper, Tyler, Polk, Trinity, Angelina, San Augustine, Sabine, Houston, Anderson, Cherokee, Nacogdoches, Shelby, Henderson.
2nd District.—Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Blanco, Bosque, Brown, Stephens, Burnett, Cameron, Clay, Comal, Comanche, El Paso, Erath, Gillespie, Hamilton, Hildalgo, Jack, Kendall, Kerr, Lampasas, Live Oak, Llano, Mason, Medina, Montague, McCulloch, McMullen, Nueces, Palo Pinto, Parker, San Saba, Starr, Uvalde, Webb, Wise, Wilson, Young, Zapata
3rd District.—Limestone, McClellan, Falls, Milan, Robertson, Madison, Leon, Brazos, Burleson, Washington, Grimes, Walker, Montgomery, Harris, Austin, Galveston
4th District.—Smith, Rusk, Panola, Harrison, Upshur, Wood, Van Zandt, Marion, Davis, Titus, Hopkins, Bowie, Red River, Lamar
5th District.—Fayette, Lavaca, Colorado, Fort Bend, Wharton, Jackson, Victoria, Calhoun, Matagorda, Brazoria, San Patricio, Rufugio, Goliad, Bee, Karnes, DeWitt, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Caldwell, Bastrop, Hays, Travis, Williamson, Bell, Coryell
6th District.—Fannin, Grayson, Cooke, Denton, Collin, Hunt, Kaufman, Dallas, Tarrant, Johnson, Ellis, Navarro, Hill, Freestone
The agent says, "adopting, under advice of the Comptroller, as a basis, the indigent lists heretofore furnished to the Comptroller's office by the Chief Justices of the several counties, I have divided the State into six districts, and will proceed to furnish said cloth as follows:
1st District, 20th February, 1865.
4th District, 20th May, 1865
2nd "
20th March,
"
5th
"
20th June, "
3rd "
20th April,
"
6th "
20th July, "
"I would respectfully call your attention [that of the
various county chief justices] to the duties imposed on the several county
courts by this act, in connexion [connection] with procuring these goods from
the Penitentiary, and particularly to the 4th section of said act, which makes
it the duty of "the county courts to procure promptly from the Financial Agent
of the Penitentiary the quantity and quality of cloth and thread to which they
are entitled, and to provide transportation for the same to their respective
county seats. This is the more
important, as the Penitentiary has but limited storage room for goods. Under regulations heretofore adopted at this office, many of the
counties made application for cloth, and paid for it on delivery; while others
failed to do so, or to indicate in any way their desire for the cloth, and
consequently received none. An act
approved November 15th, 1864, requires the financial agent to set aside for
these counties the amount of cloth to which they would have been entitled had
they made application as did the others. The price to be paid by these counties in C. S. Treasury notes, new issue, is the same paid by the counties already supplied—osnaburgs $2.80, cotton
jeans $3 per yard. State treasury warrants will be received in payment at their
relative value. This distribution will be made out of the first cloth
manufactured after the several counties are furnished under the act first
referred to in this circular.Chief
justices, however, if they wish their counties to receive the benefit of this
act, are required to give notice to this office to that effect, within 90 days
from the 15th November last. I shall
attempt to execute faithfully the provisions of the law on this subject; but
cannot forbear saying that in my opinion these goods should have been furnished
to the army. Our destitute and
suffering soldiery certainly have claims paramount to all others."
We also gather from the circular that the factory will be
in running trim about the 15th inst., and of course the resurrection of
Huntsville will be a simultaneous event.—Item.
Galveston Weekly News (of Galveston, Texas) - February 1, 1865 - Page 1
Fairfield, January 21st, 1865.
Ed. News:--I occasionally get a glimpse of your valuable paper, and notice something concerning soldiers' homes. I bet to inform the public, through your columns, that the County Court of this (Freestone) County has succeeded in establishing the following soldiers' homes, to wit:
Fairfield, by Judge D. H.
Love; on the Palestine road, 6 miles, by Wm. Blythe;
on the Palestine road,
11 miles, by G. G. Cole; [near Butler] on the Palestine road, 14 miles, by W. M. McDaniel; on the Palestine road, at
Burton
[Butler], by H. Man[n]ing; on the Palestine road, 17 miles, by Thomas P. Whitt; on the Palestine road,
21 miles, by Mrs. M. W. Struty; on the Pine Bluff road, 6 miles, by R. H. Gordon; on the
Pine Bluff road, 8 miles, by F. C.
Olivers; on the Corsicana road, 6 miles, by J. B.
Johnson; on the Corsicana road, 8 miles, by F. M. Bradley; on the Tahuacana
Hill, 6 miles, by N. L. Womack; on the Tahuacana road, 8 miles, by Oliver Carter; on the Springfield road, 9 miles, by W. W. Groover; on the Springfield road, 11 miles, by Sterling
Sims; on the Springfield
road, 12 miles, by Joseph Lynn; on the Springfield road, at
Cotton Gin, by J. J. Robinson; on the
Springfield road, at
Cotton Gin, by James S. Wills; on the Springfield road, 15 miles, by Charles
Stricklin; on the Houston road,
12 miles, by Andrew Batey; on the Centreville road, 3 miles, by W. R. Dais; on
the Centreville road, 8 miles, by J. H. Blain; on the Centreville road, 12 miles, by R. F.
Chandler; on the North-west road, 14 miles, by Thomas Lamb.
The keepers of these homes are required to register their houses as such at the Clerk's office, keep proper registers, examine passes, papers, &c., of each visitor, present his register with his account quarterly to the County Court for payment, which accounts are audited and paid by the County Treasurer. No soldier is allowed to remain longer than one night at any one of these homes unless sick or disabled. No drunkenness or gambling is allowed.
I, of course, do not expect you to publish the one-half that I have wrote—a mere notice is all that is desired. I have not heard of any County having more than seventy-five soldiers' homes, but believe each ought to have at least that number.
I am, most respectfully, your obd't serv't,
J. C. Yarbro, C. J.
The Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph - May 3, 1865 - Page: 1
Fairfield, Texas, April 17th, 1865
Ed. Tel.-- The following statement was made this day at
this place, by John Burleson and W[illia]m. H[emphill]
McCrary, of Freestone County,
Texas. That is to say:
They state that they are soldiers in the army of the
Confederate States of America, and were captured by the Yankees about two years
ago, at Yazoo City, Miss. After they were
captured, they were carried to Camp Morton,
near Indianapolis, Indiana, where they have been confined as prisoners of war
for the last twenty months. They are
now just out on parole, until the 24th of June, 1865. During their confinement in prison, they suffered most severely from the
inhuman, uncivilized, and brutal treatment of the Yankee authorities. Their
ratings, per day, was 10 oz. of bread and 1-4 pound of beef, with a pint, of
something like gruel. They were all
the time kept at hard labor around the prison, and building turnpike roads. Their rations were so scant and insufficient, that not less than 2000 out
of 4500 died of actual starvation or disease. They say that one or two actions from the bowels per week, was as much as
nature could demand, and that many have gone as long as from twenty to twenty
seven days. At intervals the rations
consisted alone of corn mush, scanty at that.
There were even men shot in prison without any known
provocation. Five other prisoners
were on detailed labor, when a Yankee notified them in general terms that his
relative had been killed at Fort Pillow, and that he (the Yankee) intended to
kill two rebels by way of revenge; whereupon he ordered the detailed prisoners
into line and in cold blood shot and murdered two of them, they being in a
defenseless condition, and guarded.
They further state that the Yankee authorities
appointed two men, one a Dutchman, the other a Yankee, whose duty it was to
visit the prison every day; and when they came into the prison they would knock
and beat the prisoners with large clubs, (shillelaghs,) away from their cooking
places, from the fire, and for leaning even against the barracks, bruising the
prisoners shockingly, and sometimes breaking their arms.As many as three prisoners had their arms broken in this wicked, cruel
and unmerciful manner.