These two letters were written to friends and family back home by James T. Pruitt and Elijah B. Hughes—members of Co. F, 31st Mississippi Infantry while encamped at Snyder’s Bluff overlooking the Yazoo River in 1 March 1863. The 31st Mississippi was organized a year earlier using the 6th Mississippi Infantry as its nucleus.

James T. Pruitt (1840-1918) was born in Lawrence county, Alabama, but was living in Pontotoc county, Mississippi when he enlisted in the 31st Mississippi. He married Frances J. Cypert (1841-1907) in 1865. Elijah B. Hughes (b. 1845) was the son of John Hughes (1799-Aft1860) and Mary Parker (1800-1845) of Cambellton, Itawamba county, Mississippi.

This letter is a good example of two soldiers from the same company sharing a sheet of stationery during a time when it was scarce in the Confederacy.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Snyder’s Bluff
March 1, 1863

Dear old friend,

I seat myself to drop you a few lines to inform you I [am] well, hoping when these few lines come to hand they may find you enjoying the same blessing. John, I han’t got anything of importance to write to you. We have been running about a good deal since I saw you. It looks like we have to do all the running about. I don’t think we will get in any fight here soon. We are 15 miles above Vicksburg on the Yazoo river. They are preparing for the enemy. We are ready for them any time they come. There was a Yankee came across the river today and they said they are leaving Vicksburg.

John, I got a letter from a young lady today. It was the first time in my life I wrote her one. She wrote the answer the same day she got mine. I have got letters from 16 different women. Their names are too tedious to mention this evening. I will give you their names the next time I write to you.

John, the boys send their best wishes to you and says they want you to write to them. The girls all say they want to marry if they can get the chance. I guess they ain’t much worse off than the boys. I will close for this time. Write to me soon. Your true friend, — J. T. Pruitt

March 1st 1863

Dear brother,

I seat myself this evening to pen you a few lines to let you know that I am getting along. I am well and doing as well as could be expected under the present circumstances that are around me at this time. I have just got well. I have had the chills and fever. We had to march from Jackson here in the mud and water and it made me sick. But I think that I am about straight now.

I received your kind letter yesterday and it gave me great satisfaction to hear from you and to hear that you was well. B. F. H. is well. He is on guard now at this time. He has been sick also but is improving as fast as could be expected. I received a letter from home about three weeks ago. They wrote to me that sister Elizabeth was very sick. I have not heard from home since that time but I have wrote home since that time. I sent my letters by Redden Stephens ¹ while I was at Jackson, Miss. We stayed there about two weeks, I believe. Direct your letters to Vicksburg when you write to me—if you ever write any while I stay here at this place. Give my best respects to all the boys. Tell D. C. and Samuel Stephens that if they don’t write to me, that I will treat them with the same respect. My time is up and so is my paper. John, please answer this.

Your brother until death, — E[lijah] B. Hughes

to J. B. Hughes

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¹ Redden Byrd Stephens (1826-1891) was a farmer in Itawamba, Mississippi, who had probably visited the encampment of the 31st Mississippi while at Jackson.