This letter was written by 17 year-old Mary Sackett (1847-1890), the daughter of Emanuel Sackett (1811-1875) and his wife Mary (1815-1857) of Cornersville, Drew county, Arkansas. Drew county is located in southeast Arkansas, not far from the Mississippi river.She was married in 1881 to Pierce Tindall in Sebastion county, Arkansas.
Mary wrote the letters to her cousin, Mary Brummett (1842-1874), the daughter of George Washington Brummett, Sr. (1809-18xx) and Malinda Cage (1809-1861) of White Sulfur Spring, Jefferson county, Arkansas.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Drew County, Arkansas
November 9th 1864
Dear Cousin,
I seat myself this evening to write you a few lines in answer to yours of the 18th October which came to hand the 2nd instant. We were all much gratified to hear from you and to hear that you were all well. Your letter found us all well and this leaves us so and we sincerely hope that these few lines may reach you in due time and find you enjoying the same blessing. Your relations here are all well so far as I know. Your Aunt Jenny and family were all well about four weeks ago. Hunter is in the Federal lines and I expect will stay there.
Your cousin Frany has married a Confederate prisoner in Pine Bluff. He is a widower with one child. His name is Daniels. He was taken and paroled and remains at the Bluff. We have never heard anything from Washington since he was captured. His wife and child were both well the last account we had from them. Jack Gentry has lost his wife. The rest of your relations were all well so far as your Aunt could tell us. We have not heard from John since the 15th June. He was well then and at Little Rock but where he is gone to is more than we can find out.
William 1 has gone to Missouri with Price’s cavalry. We have not heard from him since he left here. We hear that Price is near Jefferson City, doing well, recruiting rapidly, and supplying his men with everything needful. We have [had] Feds and Confeds here alternately until we are very near fed out of anything to feed upon. I have nothing more of importance to write.
[Brother] Monte says he has not forgotten you yet and says he wants to see you very much. Martha and Sarah send their love and respects to you, William, and Pleasant. Give my love to all my relations. Tell them I would be glad to see them all if I could but I see no prospect or probability of doing so. Write as often as you can and let us know how you are getting along. So nothing more at present but remain your affectionate cousin. — Mary Sackett
To Miss Mary Brummett
1 William Sackett (1844-1927) was Mary’s older brother who served in Co. C, Wright’s Arkansas Cavalry.
