1862 October 12 Jackson, Miss

                    Jackson Miss Oct the 12th

My dear Father
                        You are doubtless under
the impression that I am now in Ky with
my chief but my luck "very bad" would
not permit that I should accompany
the army on the most beautiful campaign
of the War, And let us hope the most
successful, for I have every confidence in
the troops as well as the Genl commanding
though you are aware I am not as
sanguine as I would like to be strange
as it may appear in view of the above
I have every confidence that we shall
have peace before Christmas And that too
through intervention.  I know you will laugh
at this. We have had a desperate battle
in our front.  And met a heavy reverse though
not as bad as at first reported.  Our loss will
not exceed 4000. and one or two pieces of Art'y
with little or no baggage or stores.  The army
is not safe at Holly Springs where we are
preparing to receive the Enemy, which event
I trust we shall retrieve of  losses And
send the enemy headlong across the Tenn.----

[page 2]
I received a letter from Chap Slaughter
the other day--he informed me that Unkle
Thomas has lost everything except Negroes and land.
this is much better than I expected, for I
thought the Scoundrels would'nt have left
a Negro.  I have heard nothing in regard
to yourself.  I supposed, however, that you lost
your crop, cattle, horses, &c.  I have been
imprudently expecting a letter from you in
but as I have neglected writing myself of
course I have chastized.  Now my dear Father
you must e in need of money, for even
with that it is hard to live and without
it I know not what you would do.  Write
me therefore and let me know our
condition as well as Aunt Eliza's and Unkle
Jack's direct your letter to Chattanooga Tenn
As soon as I can get through the business
here "reorganizing the returned prisoners"
I shall I think go to Richmond and see
if I can be ordered to the Rio Grande, I
don't think my health will stand another
winter in this climate. Should I go to Richmond
I will try and pay you a visit Isaac Patton
is a QuarterMaster and stationed at

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Vicksburg.  All the family are well
I have heard through him from Cousin Patton
and family.  It was rumored that Cousin
Jack Pendleton had be[en] murdered what of
it?  I suppose the Yankees made no distinction
between original Secessionist and others.
Give my love to your wife and kiss the children
poor little things theirs has been a hard
fate, thank God I am not married!
I had a presentiment some thing terrible would
happen to reduce me to poverty.  Poor Thom
Farish  you know committed suiside in
New Orleans last Summer blowing his
brains out with a pistol.  He had been
endeavouring to leave the city.  Alas!
a more generous, honorable, high toned
gentleman never lived.
        I am my dear Father in haste
                      Your Son
                                      Edwin
Daniel F. Slaughter
     Michels Station
            Culpeper County
                Virginia



Edwin Slaughter, 4th Regiment Tennessee Infantry (Neely's)

MSS  14911