The following letter was written by James Stevenson Sterrett (1821-1908), the son of Robert Trimble Sterrett (1791-1868) and Mary Woods Stewart (1791-1865). In the 1860 US Census, James was enumerated in the household of Bill & Mary Ann (Sterrett) Truesdale [Truesdail] of Elkhorn, Warren county, Missouri. Bill Truesdail was a notorious character who took advantage of his position in the Union army during the Civil War to rob and harass citizens in Mississippi and Tennessee (see newspaper obituary below entitled, “Death of a Notorious Detective“).

Sterrett’s letter mentions the three or four fires in Texas towns that were alleged to have been set by Northerners in July 1860. Newspapers referred to them as “Abolition emissaries,” sent to the northern frontier of Texas to encourage negroes to run away from their masters and molest slaveholders. “If the Northerners are determined to cut our throats, or not to let us live in peace, the sooner they elect ‘Old Abe’ the better, for we shall look on such an event as an open declaration of war, ” wrote a San Antonio correspondent.

Transcription

Warrenton [Warren county, Missouri]
August 17, 1860

Dear Brother,

I received yours of July 18 in due time, but was busy at making hay & neglected answering, but now I have got through my hurry, I have no excuse and here it goes. I am again on my own place. Mrs. Truesdail came to the house to stay on the first of this month and I left the same day & left her to her own way. Truesdail came home last Saturday and I have settled with him peaceably and that was more than I expected to do. There was a balance my due of 724 and he has paid me 100 cash & I took a span of mares, wagon, and harness and colt at 275, leaving a balance of 349 yet to come. I want to get his note for the remainder. He is very anxious for me to go back but I have got enough to commence farming with on my own hook & I think that he will not induce me to try it on again. I am certain he will not without an article of agreement, and in that will be a stipulation that Mrs. & Miss Truesdail shall not be allowed on the farm or in the neighborhood thereof signed by him and here too. These is my terms and I am not anxious at that.

The weather has been very warm and dry but it is getting more comfortable the past week but no rain. Corn is suffering from drouth. Also potato & pasture. I have not heard from home for some time. They was all well then. Money is close yet and business dull.

There was considerable excitement at the State Election. The Democratic State ticket was elected but in this district the Union Candidate, James [S.] Rollins is elected and you can put Missouri down for Bell & Everett. The contest is between [John] Bell and Brack [John C. Breckinridge]. ¹

I am very sorry to learn of the destructive fires in Texas. Also that men from the North should be suspected. I have a better opinion of Northerners but if they are concerned in anything of the kind, they ought to be served as Old John Brown was (i.e.) prove them guilty and then hang them.

Write soon. Yours, &c. — J. S. Sterrett

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¹ In the 1860 Presidential Election, the Democratic candidate Stephen A. Douglas actually carried Missouri by a very narrow margin, winning 35.52% of the vote and the Constitutional Union candidate John Bell winning 35.26%. Breckinridge was a distant 3rd at 18.94% and Lincoln only 10.28%.