The following letters were written by Joseph “Freeman” Williams (1846-1908) of the 31st Mississippi Infantry. The regiment was organized in March 1862 and was initially part of the garrison at Vicksburg. They then fought at Baton Rouge and Jackson.

Letter 1

Tupelo Post, Mississippi
June 12th 1862

Dear Father,

I will drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well. The health of the company is excellent. We are encamped on the Chesterville road half mile from the old Colbert place north. I know no news to write to you. I have heard that the enemy has been to Saltillo and had a fight. Also that they had been to Camp Creek Church. I think the army will station here. They are making every preparation to do so. We have drawed our full number of tents and cooking vessels. We have an elegant place to camp. I think we can get water from 12 to 15 feet deep.

If any of the men wants to come to see us, the best way is to come to Tupelo and out by [ ] Hill’s, out to Mrs. Walker’s. Take the right hand [road] at end of the lane [and] come up towards Parson More’s. You might come by Chesterville but the small pox I expect is there. Mr. Braley’s and Mr. Brandon’s family has it. The cases are getting better except one of Braley’s negro women, they think, will die. I have seen Mrs. Walker and Tom and Joe. They are all well.

I saw Tom Freeman. He invited me to come someday and take dinner with him. I will slide around someday when I get milk hungry. Fount is Provost Marshall in Tupelo. I saw a paper dated the 9th which stated that Stonewall Jackson had cut Fremont all to pieces. It is said that Jackson has the most able army that belongs to the South. Write soon to Freeman Williams

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Letter 2

When this letter was penned in late July 1862, Freeman was with a handful of others from his regiment too sick to march so they were left behind at Camp Moore near Kentwood, Louisiana, and ordered to make their way to the hospital at Jackson, Mississippi. After finishing his letter, it appears that Freeman has written a short letter for his comrade Jasper Payne.

Camp Moore, Louisiana
July 30th 1862

I will write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am not very well at this time. We started from Vicksburg on the 27th and arrived here on the 29th and today the company taken up and march it is not known where to but it is supposed to go to Baton Rouge which is 50 or 60 miles from here.

There are several of our company on the [sick] list. I think what caused it is as soon as we landed here, it rained very hard and got us all wet. And all that was not able to go with the company was ordered to Jackson Hospital. If I had felt as well as I do now, I would have gone with the company. I think that it was only the wetting that made us feel so bad.

We will start to Jackson in the morning. We have a house to stay in tonight. Jasper Payne, Jim Wilson, and Tom Ward, John Parker, George [W.] Bishop, Judge Philips, L. Robbins and myself are all in the crowd. Lieut. [Willoughby] Bolen has got a furlough and will take this letter. None of us are dangerous. We are all able to walk about. You need not write to me only when Lieut. Bolens comes back. My jaw and teeth have got entirely well. The reason you need not write is we will not be stationed long at any place. I will write when we get stationed. It is the general supposition as will not stay here long. It is thought we will go to Tennessee.

— Freeman Williams

Dear Mother, I will say to you that I am not very well. I had a chill today but feel better now. We will start to Jackson in the morning. Jim and Marion was left at Vicksburg with the other sick. They are mending very fast when we left. Marion has been very bad off. We got a letter from you of 11th of this month. I think the reason of my having the chill was getting wet. Tell Jim if he don’t write to me he had better. Jasper Payne.