Near Corinth – 1862

You ask about clothes in your last letter + I dont know what to tell you.  I have plenty + more than I want now, let that matter take care of itself.  I have $45.00 in money + can buy if necessary.  I will soon want a lighter coat + pants but may be able to buy here cheaper than you could make + send them.  We ought to have a regular uniform in colour at least.  our men fired on one another several times in the late battle by mistake.1  If we start on long marches we will loose most of our clothes.  I cant carry many clothes on my back  Dont be uneasy about clothes we can take care of ourselves.  The weather will soon be so warm we wont want many clothes. 

My clothes dont trouble me much.  I drive round + feel as comfortable in a hickory shirt as if I was dressed for a party.

I am sorry I lost my fine double blankets, some Yankee has them I reckon “bad luck to them” If we stay near Corinth till warm weather + dont leave too suddenly we will box up our winter duds + send them home.  My clothes dont trouble me much.  I drive round + feel as comfortable in a hickory shirt as if I was dressed for a party.  Let me get home sound in wind + limb + I am willing to go in my shirt tail.  When I see so many better men killed + wounded I am thankful to get off even in common clothes.  It is said that if the yankees dont attack us here soon we will take after them + then every man will want the least possible amount of weight to carry.  + you know the size of my midlings- Peter is grieving about falling off so.  I have lost 20 or 30 lbs myself.  I only weigh about 180 or 190.  If my health only continues good though it will be a great advantage to me.  I am afraid you will be short of provision.  If you only had a small share of what is wasted here.  I sent you $20.00 from Memphis I would like to hear you had received it.  Try to make out the best you can  Tell me all about the crop in your next letter.  Till we meet your Alex.2

 The Letter:

Click on images to enlarge.

  1. The Orleans Guard Battalion went into the battle of Shiloh wearing their dark blue dress uniforms and, mistaken for Union troops, took friendly fire–which they returned.  The next day they wore their uniforms inside out, showing the white silk lining of their jackets.
  2. This undated letter was written “near Corinth,” Mississippi, probably after Shiloh and almost certainly prior to the Siege of Corinth, April 29 – May 30, 1862.