From the Matagorda County History & Genealogy page
EDITOR’S NOTE: As the above story indicates, John Matthews is known for the letters he wrote to his family.
These letters were written in Baltimore, Maryland and later in Texas. The originals are in the Texas State Archives and copies are in the Matagorda County Museum. Mary Belle Ingram submitted them for publication in the Matagorda County Genealogical Society quarterly, Oak Leaves, Volume 5, Nos. 3 & 4; Volume 6, Nos. 1, 2, & 3.
Caney, Texas Oct. 14, 1861
Dear Mother
I received your letter of Sept. 9th on last Friday and was glad to hear from you again. It found us both very well though for several weeks before I had been about half the time sick with fevers. I have now had none for nearly two weeks, and as the weather is getting cooler hope I shall have no more sickness for some time to come; a few days last week was quite cool here and fire was very comfortable both morning and evening, while now it is just cool enough to be pleasant without any fire.
I am glad to hear that Rodney has not yet been called away, and hope he may not be, as also to hear that Dot is still well and so far safe though exposed to so much danger; I hope he may not have the luck of getting into another Battle, but if he should, that he may escape as well as he did before – every mail day we are expecting to hear of another big fight at Washington and while I am anxious to hear of the success of our army again,
I almost dread hearing the news, for fear that Dot or some of our friends may be among the killed or wounded. Jess had a letter from Mr. Evans the same day I received yours in which he says that camp life seems to agree with the Hillsboro boys and that Dot has fattened up very much on it.
We are living tolerably well for war times such as these but would consider it pretty hard if times were good as they used to be.
Have plenty of cornbread and beef with some sweet potatoes and butter and occasionally a chicken which is all we ever get and am thankful for it. As to coffee we have had none for months past and drink in the place of it a stuff made of sweet potatoes cut up in slices dried, and parched and made up like coffee – but it is mighty mean. One morning while sick I drank a cup of it that had liked to vomiked me to death.
We have now a greater excitement here about the War than we have had at any time – since the commencement of it last Spring, everybody is expecting our coast to be attacked and large quantities of troops are being stationed in Galveston and all along the coast.
Jess (John’s brother - Ed. note) is a member of a company that is expecting to start to the coast in the week from now, to be stationed on the main land at the west end of Galveston Island, to keep any of the Lincolnites from landing there; when that company is gone men will be very scarce in this section; everybody that can leave home are going even to our Parson who is a member of an artillery company; I however do not think there is much danger of their coming away round here to attack us as I think they will have their hands full nearer home than Texas.
Still it is well enough to be prepared for them if they should come.
As to business for the last month or so it has been fully as good with us as ever it is at this season of the year notwithstanding we have not half as many goods as we generally have at this season, but we get no money at all for anything we sell, and cannot get any until the Blockade is done away with, so that the people can sell off some of their cotton and how soon this may be, is more than any of us can tell.
I am afraid I will not be able to send you your usual supply this Christmas unless I should see some one going to Virginia from here which I think is very doubtful.
So if you do not get some funds as soon as you may need them you will have to strain your credit untill I can see a chance to send you some, and you may feel sure of getting it the first chance I may have to send it to you.
I would have sent you some by Mr. Evans had I have had any idea that matters were going to turn out as bad as they have been doing since. But still I hope I may be able to get you some yet in time to do you good.
I have had to stop some half dozen times since beginning to write this letter and will now try and finish it before the mail gets here though it is almost time for it now. I hope I may receive Dot’s letter by it today as you said he had written to me, but have not received it yet. I shall also look for one from Kate in a short time and wish she would write oftener and let us know how Dot is getting along in the army and all the news as we feel more anxious than ever to hear from home during the war but get fewer letters than ever before.
Tell her I am glad to hear that her boy is still safe and hope he may remain so during his term of service in the army. Our house is still vacant and used by nothing but the cattle and horses as a rubbing place to ease their mosquito bites.
I am afraid there is a poor chance of having it occupied unless I get a housekeeper and go to living in it and this I dont like to do untill the war is over, and fear before that time the stock will have fences and everything else torn to pieces – So I hardly know what to do with it.
But I must close as it is mail time. I have written in a big hurry and hope you may be able to make it out by spelling and guessing – give my love to Kate and Rodney and Dot when you see him, also to Mr. Evans and all our friends – Write again soon and tell Kate to write to us oftener.
Your affectionate Son
John Matthews