I was digging through some papers, and I found this letter, written by my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather (an interesting side note, he was the one to start the tradition of naming girls Rebel) He is writing home to his wife during the midst of the War of Yankee Aggression, or the Civil War as yankees like to call it.
Columbus Ky., Jany 18th 1862
(Thursday)
My Dear wife,
Your letter of the 11th (written Saturday night and received Tuesday morning after I had just finished one to send by Isaac Parker) was read with a great deal of pleasure by me. I read and reread it and every time could not restrain a laugh at the manner you ridiculed my culinary skill. You want me to send you a bite of my molasses custards so that you can enjoy a hearty guffaw at my expense and even hint by way of irony that you women, after the war, will surrender your prerogative in the kitchen to us men. In other words that you will secede and have us duly installed as "chief cooks and bottle washers," while you sit back in your easy chairs and with your native dignity and grace, pronounce our dainty meals to your company, as not fit to eat, when you know it is better than they are used to at home. This you will do to extort their encomiums, and then you will glide into the kitchen to tell us how this lady and that one praised our custards and how Mrs. ______, whom all the men admire, said, "They were the nicest she ever ate." With this kind of finesse, (soft solder), you expect to secure our continued services as your cooks, for you well know that if a woman's smile will make us fools, her compliments will make us slaves forever. But, my Dear, there is one serious obstacle in our being cooks after the war. We know how expert you ladies' are with the broom-handle and will dread its power upon our craniums. Have I again slandered your sex? If so, assemble a jury of the prettiest you can find, to try my case. I shall object to any sour, vinegar-faced Old Maid, who has lived just long enough in disappointment to despise the men. Read your charges of slander to such a fair Jury as this, and read, if you wish, this very intelligible letter to them, (for my admiration of one of their number has caused me to take much pains in its preparation,) and whatever their verdict may be, I will cheerfully submit to it. Perhaps, you would not be willing to risk me in the hands of such a Jury, but would prefer trying me yourself. In that event, I know that your partialities and affection will favor me, and that I will come off fully acquitted. Thus assured, I feel impatient to hear the sentence that you as my pretty little Judge, will pronounce against me. Let me hear it.
(Friday) Just here, I have had two interruptions to my letter writing, the last of which has changed my facetiousness into something more serious that I fear I cannot get into the strain again. I was busy preparing the above yesterday, intending it to contain my defense against your charge of slander, when "Company came in." This was the case last night, (Thursday night) as my visitors stayed all night. An old gentleman by the name of Chrisman was my bedfellow, and a very restless one at that. He was taken sick in the night, and rolled and turned about so much on my narrow bed, that he allowed me but very little room for sleeping. In addition to this, (I will say more of Chrisman after awhile.), I was aroused at 4 o'clock with orders to have the company ready at 8 in the morning with one day's (24 hours) rations for a march, which order was for the whole regiment. Of course it occasioned much surmise in the whole Reg't as to what route we would take and the general opinion prevailed that we were to be sent after a body of yankeys who were reported to be in our vicinity and that we would certainly have a brush with them today. No time to sit down then, to write a hurried note and inform you of what was going on or even to bid you any advice, but commending you and my precious family to God's protecting care, preparations were busily made for our mysterious and sudden march. I am truly glad now that the time was not afforded me to finish my letter, as it would have caused you very much uneasiness and anxiety about me, and besides I have just returned from our long and weary tramp through the snow, mud and slush, and in the same letter give you all the particulars of what we saw and did, and also that I am neither killed, wounded nor missing, but sitting safe and sound, by my cozy little fire, engaged in writing to my sweet wife and children, the pleasantness of the task more than counter-balancing the fatigue I have endured and now feel from a 12 mile walk. Captain White was sick and the command of the company devolved on me, and C,,A, being on picket duty, ours being not in order had to lead off at the head of our column. Our departure attracted much attention and gave rise to the prediction that the yanks would cut out (vamose) when the 4th Reg't is sent after them and there would be no fighting. This has usually been the case and was fully verified at Belmont and again today.
After marching 6 miles, nearly to Elliott's Mills, we were informed by those living on the road that the yanks had left a few hours before, apparently very much frightened, and stealing their horses and mules to ride; and taking some of the citizens back with them as prisoners. Our calvary (4 companies) were sent 4 miles further on and ascertained that the enemy had made it in double quick to Blandville, 20 miles from here, where they had several thousand men and 12 cannon. Our force comprised only one Reg't and Col. Mark's (LA) Battalion-14 companies- together with the four cavalry Cos and no artillery. In all, scarcely 1200 men, and besides we only had rations for today and positive orders from Polk to return in 24 hours, whereas it would have taken at least another day to have gone to Blandville, whipped them out, and return to Columbus. I say confidently, whipped them out, because they were so much alarmed, that, not knowing our real strength, could easily have been stampeded. But under all these circumstances we took up the line of march back to camp, where I now have the pleasure of being comfortably quartered instead of spending the night in the rain upon the wet ground, as we expected to do. Many of the men gave out and stopped on the wayside to rest, but my indomitable perseverance and will bore me up without flagging in the least, though tonight I have been troubled with an acute pain on my left shoulder, caused by loss of sleep last night, and standing on the snow and the mud today waiting for the cavalry to reconsider. This was the most disagreeable part of our trip, for we were much heated by the walk, packing our arms, overcoats, blankets, provisions and etc. And, with wet feet, we soon became chilled when we stopped. But since I have been writing, the pain of which I complained has entirely left me. The warm fire has dried my feet, and but for the loss of sleep last night and fatigue today I would finish my letter tonight. But it is now late, all asleep but myself, and I must beg your kind indulgence until tomorrow (Saturday) when I may think of something fresh to day. My letter will bear date tomorrow but you must understand that it was commenced Thursday and my tramp was on Friday, which I fear you may hear something about before getting this. Hence my anxiety to be ready for next mail. But good night it is now past 10 o'clock.
(Saturday morning)
Rained hard all night and pouring down this morning. Kitchen leaked badly, the stove pipe and stove full of water. Like most housekeepers wake up in a fret (no slander intended) at the poor prospect for breakfast. Did not scold, because I could not do the subject justice. John Nelson coughed, groaned, hawked and spit all night disturbing my slumber. No provisions to cook - all out - no fire to cook - the stove wet - and to add insult to injury the rain spattering on my paper while sitting by the window trying to write this particular sort of letter, which I wished to make plain enough for all to read, besides that Jury of fair ladies who are to try my case for slander before you as Judge.
Mr. Chrisman was an old acquaintance of Pa's and knew all his relations - his brothers and nephews and etc. Did you get the letter I sent by Mrs. Elder- If so, did you give Allen's passport to him and what has become of him. If you have not sent by Bradshaw yet for sugar and molasses, do not do so, as I will write to Wash to buy them for you. Bradshaw will want commission for his trouble or will charge some profit. Let me hear immediately so I can write to Wash or you write yourself inclosing $25 to him and ask him to send you bill. I received a letter from him and will and must answer it soon. Collect the notes on Love, Richardson, and Simmons and keep the money for further instructions. The Paymaster is to pay us Monday next, when I will send you four hundred dollars more to keep for me. I want to pay off some debts with this money but will not do so at present for a special reason. It may be necessary at sometime to remove you all to some place of greater security, should the enemy ever succeed in passing us, and I wish to be provided against every contingency. I am in that such a contingency may never arise - will sacrifice my life to prevent it - and if it never does, the money will be subject to my debts. But my family's safety is my first consideration, and all that I make - all that I do shall be sacredly devoted to that object. Remember your own safety and that of our children may someday depend upon it. You may all be fugitives for God only knows when and how the war may end, and the greater the means you have the less difficulty in your fight. No Yankee hireling must invade the sanctity of my home and my family subject to their mercy - for mercy they have none and neither do they respect age nor sex.
Adieu my dear wife, may God's blessing ever attend you and my beloved children. You have at all times my warmest affection and prayers.
Your Affectionate Husband,
A.S. Currey
Saturday, January 16, 2010
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