Excerpts from Letters by Confederate Soldiers

By: Mary Arnold

This article is a series of excerpts from letters written by
four brothers who served in the Civil War for the Confederacy.
Jennifer Mansfield uses the letters to offer insight into the
personal experiences and feelings of four Texas soldiers. The
brothers, Cyrus, Sam, John, and James, represent a range of
human emotions: optimism, courage, weariness, patience, and
resignation during their tour of duty.

Twenty-nine year old Cyrus Love was the eldest son of a
Limestone County farmer; he was working as a schoolteacher at
the start of the Civil War. He volunteered in the Confederate
army in August 1861, and he joined the Seventh Texas Infantry,
Company G. The other three brothers, twenty-three year old Sam,
nineteen year old John, and twenty-four year old James, enlisted
in the Sixth Texas Cavalry in September 1861, but they would
become separated later.

In late 1861, the brothers' letters reported hardships, but
remained optimistic and dedicated to the Southern cause. In his
letter of December 1, 1861, Cyrus reiterates his determination
to remain in the army as long as he is needed. The winter of
1861-62 was very difficult for the soldiers, since they lacked
adequate clothing, food, and medical care. Cyrus' company lost
twenty-three men to illness alone. In a letter from James, his
repeated requests for food from home shows how the soldiers were
underfed.

Sam's first experience in battle, which was with a force of Creek
Indians, shows the common opinion of Indians at that time.
Sam compares them to animals, such as a dog, a wolf, and a
turkey. Cyrus' first battle was at Fort Donelson on February 15,
1862. He was wounded early in the battle, and this saved him
from being taken prisoner with most of his regiment when the
Confederates at the fort surrendered to Union troops. Cyrus'
letter of June 14, 1862 demonstrates his commitment to the
Confederacy and his faith in God. In Sam's letter of October 14,
he paints a grim picture of the Battle of Corinth, Mississippi
on October 3-4, 1862.

The brothers' letters reflect many changes that the Confederate
Army went through, such as the enactment of the Conscription Act
and the increasing concern over desertion which led to execution
of the deserters. Not all the letters were depressing though. In
the winter of 1863, Sam describes the warm welcome the ladies of
Tennessee gave to his regiment. He expresses his hopes that soon
Union soldiers would be driven back north, and the South could
live in peace. This same winter, James wrote the two letters
that comprised his entire war correspondence. In his letters, he
is very pessimistic and weary of the war. He states he has not
been in battle and does not wish to be. James also requests that
he be replaced with a substitute. On June 12, 1863, Cyrus wrote
to tell his family of James' death, but no mention is made of
his cause of death. In June 1863, Sam wrote to counsel the
youngest brother Robert to stay at home and not enlist in the
army, as Robert was anxious to do. However, Robert did join the
army sometime in 1864. Cyrus was killed in action in October
1863.

Mansfield concludes the article by briefly describing the
brothers' lives after the war. Robert Love held a variety of
public offices, such as deputy sheriff, sheriff, United States
marshal, and state comptroller. He was assassinated by an
ex-employee on June 30, 1903. John Love survived the war to
become sheriff of Limestone County, with brother Robert his
deputy. John was killed by escaped prisoners as he was
transporting them from Shreveport to Limestone. Sam was the only
brother to live a full life; he passed away at the age of
seventy-four in Fort Worth, Texas.

Article Source: https://www.collectibles-articles.com

Mary Arnold graduated from University of Houston-Clear Lake with a B.A. in literature and history. She is an author on www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.

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