ALEXANDRIA, April
24, 1861.
MY DEAR SIR: I am in
receipt of your very welcome letter announcing your determination to settle in
St. Louis.
How much I hope that
you will be able to come to the conclusion that your adopted state is right in
opposing herself to the mad career of the Union Splitter and his fanatical
crew. How delighted we all should be to hear that in the coming contest we
might boast of the possession of your fine talents and high military qualities.
How freely we would furnish you with the means and the men to do anything
possible in the line of your profession.
Our state will
furnish without an effort the requisition made upon her of ten thousand
men. A large
force for her population. John Kelso left in command of one hundred muster men
this morning, containing my nephew together with Robertson's two sons and
nephew.
Manning, myself and
others similarly situated have joined another which will be ready in a few
days.
Caddo Parish has
already sent forward two large companies, one of which is already in Pensacola.
. .
I see the Northern
States are coming forward with equal unanimity upon their side, so we may
calculate upon a gigantic and horrible war waged by brother against brother.
Is it not a pity
that some foreign power could [not] have been selected against which to direct
the forces now about to be applied to the purposes of self-destruction.
The Seminary boys
after all the exertions we were able to make are all bolting. I went out
yesterday and I made them a speech and appealed to them in the interest of the
public and their own interest and also urged their obligation to perform
military duty. It had little or no effect. Finally I took young Stafford out
and as the friend of his father begged him not to act foolish. He promised me
to remain. To-day he is a volunteer in the same company with myself.
The Seminary will
evidently be soon abandoned for a time at least. Lieut. Col. Lay was chosen as
your successor and I am just in receipt of his resignation. Smith has also
given notice of his intention to resign, so you see we are in a sad plight.
I am just now
offering your former place to Capt. W. R. Boggs, whom Bragg insisted upon our
choosing in the first instance, recommending him by saying that he was the only
person who in his opinion could fill the place of Sherman or could stand in his
shoes.
I should be obliged
if you could find time to write occasionally. . .
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