The following letter was written by a Confederate soldier named “Don” or Dan” who I believe served in the 12th (usually called the Eighth) Texas Infantry. He wrote the letter to his cousin, J. Polk Pierson (b. 1846), the son of William Howell Pierson (1816-1869) and Malinda Sharp (1820-1894) of New Salem, Rusk county, Texas. Polk’s brother, Marshall Samuel Pierson (1838-1909) served in Co. C, 17th Texas Cavalry (Moore’s). The 17th Texas Cavalry was dismounted and consolidated with other Texas regiments at the Battle of Arkansas Post (Fort Hindman) in mid-January 1863 where many of them were taken prisoner. Marshall Pierson escaped, however, and made his way back to Confederate lines.

The letter describes the last minute attempt to reinforce Arkansas Post before it was attacked by Union forces under the command of John McClernand. Trans-Mississippi Confederate Commander Theophilus Holmes was blamed for inadequately supplying troops to defend the Post though it was a virtually indefensible position to begin with.

Transcription

Camp near Pine Bluff, Arkansas
March 20th 1863

Mr. Polk Pierson,

Dear cousin, yours of February 25th was gladly received yesterday. I was so glad to hear from you & that you were well though sorry to hear that Uncle William had been sick. Hope this may find him entirely recovered. Very glad to hear from Marshall for I was uneasy & concluded he had gone up the “spout.”

You remember when I last wrote I was in the convalescent camp at Little Rock. Well, I went aboard the boat (Chester Ashley) in half an hour after I wrote & we caught up with our command within twenty-five miles of the Post (which was on a force march). When it fell, we heard the bombarding plainly. Oh! that we could have reached it in time. It might have been saved. Instead of saved, it was lost and with it we lost our best troops. But Mr. Theodore [Theophilus] Holmes couldn’t make it. Thank God he is superseded by Kirby Smith. Price is on his way here to take command of our division. So you see this army has yet a chance of playing a hand. This entire army hate Old Holmes for his conduct towards the boys at the Post. As I have said, we were [with]in twenty miles of the post & heard of its fall. We right abouted & come five miles back and stopped. Report was that the Feds were coming on up the river & we went to fortifying & got fixed so as we could have whipped them so easy but they didn’t come. I reckon Marshall will be on his way here ere this reaches you. If not, tell him to consider this to him too.

I have not been well for a week past. Nothing serious. The health of our regiment is better now that it has been in a long time. We have nothing new. We have many rumors, none of which are worth relating.

We received the sad intelligence of Ellen’s death the first of this month. In her death we lost an affectionate sister which loss is irreparable. But “Our loss is her eternal gain.” We received letters from home yesterday. All well and getting along as usual.

Last Friday two men were executed by musketry for desertion. We were all marched down & witnessed it. It was a solemn scene. I was about twenty steps from them. They took it calmly—never shed a tear. The old priest was with them & he had humbugged the poor fellows till they thought he would take them right to Heaven. Another one is to be shot tomorrow & seven next Friday the 27th—all for desertion. They are all Dutch & Irish belonging to the artillery companies. We will all go.

Ras ¹ in very good health. Col. [Overton] Young is superseded by Brig. General [James Morrison] Hawes (who formerly commanded the cavalry). It causes some dissatisfaction in the brigade. We are living some better than we used to. We get one-third of a pound of pork to the man per day. Same old corn bread. I never wanted to see a biscuit as bad in life. Farmers are planting corn. This is a good corn & cotton country but children here 15 years old who never saw a biscuit. If I had a bushel of biscuits, I could toll this entire army off.

As for peace, I don’t see much chance yet. It is rumored here that Abe has called for 600,000 more troops. Don’t believe it, Polk. I have a slight fever which makes me nervous as you see & I will close this uninteresting letter. My warmest love to all. Ras send love to all. I shall anxiously look for Marshall. Write soon to me, my dear cousin, & I will do the same.

I am, my dear cousin, yours as ever, — Don [Dan?]

P. S. A fire broke out in Pine Bluff a night or two ago and burned several houses. Polk, I have no postage stamps & I will send this without this time, but in the future I will pay on my letters. I have sent to Little Rock for five dollars worth of stamps that will be here tomorrow or next day. Adieu.

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¹ Believed to be Erastus Smith, Captain of Co. C, 12th Texas Infantry.