This is the deciphered text of a 4 page letter written to my GGGgrandfather, Dr. "Doc" Madison Brantley Morris, in Oregon from his brother Riley Morris, and his wife Martha P. Morris. My notes and unintelligible words will be in red ink (spelled to the best of my reading.) Some of the spelling I have left original, other places I have edited it for easier reading. Riley did not use any punctuation in the original letter, so I have added punctuation for easier reading. I came into possession of my copy of the facsimile letter from my Great Grandmother, Isabel Morris Conner.

~Shawn M. J. Mann

Page 1

1866

April the 22nd

Arks. Ouachila Cty.

(I figure this to mean Ouachita county, Arkansas.)

Dear Brothers, Mother, & sisters,

Once more in life I have an opportunity of writing to you in order to inform you that I am yet in the land of the living and me and family are all well. Your kind favor and long looked for letter come to hand a few weeks since which gave me much satisfaction and also grief to hear that our Dear Brother Nathan had left the walks of men, when I read your cirnd (?) letter I opened it in the office and looked over it as soon as I could when my eyes struck the sad news of the death of Dear Nathan, my cup was so full I could not read any further for some time tho he had bin absent from me a long time he felt near and dear to me as a brother ever did to a brother. He is gone and we must give him up. I hope his spirit is with those that are justified and are redeemed with the blood of Christ. I hope our loss is his gane. No tongue can express how proud I was to hear that our dear Mother was well. Mother, remember that Riley is your child and you feel like a mother to me yet I hope the good Lord will be with you in all the troubles of this life and receive you to him self in the paradise of the living God after death is my sincere Prayer.

Madison, your name, your name sounds pleasant to me yet tho it has bin a long time since I could carol your name so you could hear it. You wanted to know whether I had anything against you or not. Madison, I can say this morning before him who know the secrets of all hearts that I have not ?aught it gainst you and I love you as good as a brother ever could. A brother in this life and so that I could see you this morning I tell you I mircy more mainhc (This was typed in the bottom corner of the first page, very cramped.)

(Page 2)

Madison, I will try to tell you some of my travels since I saw you, especially since the war that has just past a way. I spent nearly three years of my life in the war and it has ever been a mystery to me how I ever got out alive and not hurt. I have bin in forty nine days in the time I was out. I was in the grate battle of Vicksburge, where we fought forty seven days and nights on one forth rations. At last we had to eat mules and horses before we was surrendered to the Federals. We went in to Vicksburg with Twenty Seven thousand mend. We were surrounded by One Hundred and seventy five thousand. We fought forty seven days and nights and a great deal of our time in ten feet of each other. We and the Federals I have bin where the balls flew as thick it appeared as ever hail fell and men a fowling (falling) on my right and left my nearest and best friends shot down at my side. I have often though O Riley how do you stand.

Mother I have often thought of you while marching in to the battle and think O if my Dear Mother new where I was how she would sorrow for me, but it is well you did not know; The Lord knew where I was and preserved my life and O what is it for.. I know it is not for anything good I have ever done. Madison their is not more than one third of the men alive now that was a livin before the war between the ages of ateteen (eighteen) and forty five, I will try and tell you of some of the men that was lost in the war.

Jepthia Yarbrough died in the war.

Elijah Yarbrough is dead, also John Bachas (This surname may be BACHUS) and Wm & Robert Bachas, all sons of Asa Bachas. They was killed in the war. John Bachas was married to Ann Yarbrough.

Page 3

William Pace lost two sons in the war. Thomas & Edward. Jesse is a Doctor in Camden (Barnden, Lamden, Larnden, Carnden???). John L Eustes was killed in the war in a battle fought near Mansfield Louisiana. He was a Lieutenant. Isac Wilson, a son in law of Uncle Baris Estes died in the war and a great many more too lengthy to mention. I will now say something about the Death of the old people of our connection. Uncle Sims (Lims, Tims??) & Aunt Lidia Yarbrough are both dead. Uncle Sims has been dead about two years and Aunt Lidia about one. Uncle Buris Estes has been dead some seven years ago. Wilson Hildreth and Polly Hildreth are both dead. They they died since the war commenced. William Smith, Martha brother was woundedin the war and died. Elizabeth Smith as youst to be Martha sister & lost her husband in the war. I will say something about our children. We have four children. One son and three daughters. William Lemuel, he is a good boy, nearly as tawl as his mother. Mary E. H S Missouri Ann & Nancy. Lilley is the girls mares. Wm L & Mary & Missori are going to school. William L. & Mary are boath reading and writing & Siphering. Our youngest child is four years old the 13 of February, & last our children are all smart and pretty. When William L. & Mary gits so they can wright wel enough tha (they) will write to you. They talk a heepe about you all and aske a heepe a question about my brothers and sisters & say they would like to see you very much.

Page 4

Madison, I will try and tel you something about how I am a giting along in this life when the war commenced. I was a giting a long very well. I owned a good stock of all kinds an thra Negroes. I was owing some for the negroes and I am still owing for them and the Feds has freed them. The war nearly broke me up if I had not of had the smartest Wife in the world, I would have bin broke up. She was all that saved. Madison, if I could see you & could talk a solid week and have something new. All the times hard hear a keep a widows and few men and everything grew corn one dollar and a half per bushel, Bacon 40 cents per pound and everything else in proportion. Free Negroes more plenty than anything else. Madison, you must write to me as soon as you get this letter and write all the particulary about all the children. Brother John & the girls and where they all are and tell them all to write to me. I heard from sister Ann Mongomry once since the war. They was married. I must come to a close. Martha and the children sents their best Love and respects to you all and wishes to be rememberd by yo all. O may the Lord remember you all in time and save you in eternity is my prayer.

So no more at present good by

Riley Morris - your brother

Martha P. Morris