James Speed to Landaff Watson Andrews, Esq., September 17, 1861

Louisville, September 17, 1861.

L. W. Andrews, Esq.,
        Flemingsburg, Ky.

Dear Sir:

Your letter of the fifteenth is just at hand; like you, I have been annoyed beyond measure at the swindling I see going along. It is really distressing to see how many men I see in our midst who are trying to make money out of our great trouble. Such a crisis as this gives to us a clear and deep insight into human nature and poor humanity suffers from the view.

I assure you, sir, that I had hardly finished reading your letter before I was beset by three men desiring me to indorse their papers that they might get contracts, and have been several times stopped to hold talks about getting contracts. I am bothered beyond description in such matters. Now, if I am so pestered, how must it be with the quartermaster? Indeed I pity him. He has a hard place to fill and should be a keen, rough, shrewd man. With all the vigilance that he can use he must be now and then cheated. I will do what I can to guard him. The business of the department is hard to keep up and give satisfaction.

As to news here. We are greatly in doubt about the strength of Buckner's army. Some say that it is large and well organized, others that it is small and badly organized and ill-armed. They may be well informed in military circles. It is also doubted whether the railroad bridge over Green River has been destroyed. To-day the impression is that it has not. It seems to be well understood that the Rebels are fortifying Bowling Green. They have been also busy destroying the fords over Green River. This, some say, is a mere blind, an effort to conceal a purpose to advance, others that it is done to keep our forces from advancing against them. We have also contradictory reports as to the conduct of the Rebels below Green River. At first they behaved pretty well. Lately they have been committing many outrages.

Enlisting in our army is improving here. Those amongst us can sympathize that the traitors are silenced. It seems to me that with silence on their part the bitterness of feeling is somewhat subsided. Let me hear from you whenever you have any matter of interest.

I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

JAMES SPEED.

SOURCE: James Speed (grandson of the subject), James Speed: A Personality, p. 45-6