.MzU2.NTA4
ALS
ALS
Ewell Papers 9 April 18634p
39.1 4 May 18634p
EW3 Ewell [Benjamin S.],Tullahoma,
Folder 3 Tenn., to his daughter,
Elizabeth S. Ewell
9 April People and land of eastTennessee,
Lousianna Volunteers, Mutual friends;
Mr. Garner, Bird,Irving(related to Har-
rison ofBrandon.) Confederates will win
if not greatly outnumbered. Uncle Dick
should come, needed by Army.
4 May. Glad Uncle Dick didn’t come. Yan-
kees grow bolder, stealing horses. Hopes
Yankees will not be hard onWilliamsburg,
in consequence of new attacks. IfFortMag-
ruder had been where it ought,Williamsburg
could have been saved. If it’s destruction
truly important to success, Ewell wold let
it go without a murmur. Mutual friends,
Gen Mc Laws didn’t gain credit last
year.
[P. 2]
[SEE PAGE 6 – DUPLICATE]
[P. 3]
Tullahoma– April 9th 1863
Dear Lizzy
Several
of your letters are on hand, and
unanswered though I have
written since they were
received. I wrote
of my coming here as soon
as I arrived – So far I have
seen nothing in Middle Tennessee
to justify the inhabitants in
depreciatingEast Tennessee[nor?]
much in either to boast
about. The land is good
but as for the people there
are too many of them to
make it prudent to talk or
to write plainly on the subject
& so I’ll not dwell on it.
The [cream?] of the state has
not been reached yet, this
is what the people declare,
& I dare say it is [true?]
[P. 4]
within a short time I [have?]
met some [men?] [here?]
of the L.a. Battalion, & felt
really glad to see them –
among them Mr Garner – who
told me he knew you - and
[ ? ] [ ? ] he now is
in a Cavalry Company, as
a private, I think, but
is about to be promoted.
There are several I have
not yet met attached
to this Army – and some
of the Lousiana. I saw
today Mr. Irving related to
theHarrisonsofBrandon
& who was or is [a?] [?]
of M P BelleHarrison. He’s
a very southern [ ], and
spoke too as if he was
acquainted with you. There
are comparatively few troops
here from [Lousianna?] or officers
either – most of them being
[P. 5]
Western. & Southern. The army’s
in a fine state of discipline &
unless much out numbered
will do well – probably – I do
not suppose you have
received the letters yet I have
written from this place as
in yours there is no mention
of them. [?] [?] [turns?] with
rumors of the Yankee’s advancing
in some quarter – what they are
going to do no one seems
to know – I am in hopes
that your Uncle Dick, will
be sent toEast Tennessee. In
many respects it would suit
admirably, & if he [really?] had
such a staff officer as I can
[m...tian?]. Tis not my forte either. [&?]
was willing to [?] the
general and [.....ation?] [is?] [?] [see?]
a way to let him follow any course
& do what he thought best
without being hampered. It
[P. 6]
is my opp opinion matters
would go [on?] smoothly, &
swimmingly - & he would cut a
[un...derable?] figure - thought he was
trading on borrowed capital. I’m
doubtful though if the authorities
inRichmondwill send him there
& he is so queer, it is doubtful
if he will like it – Between
the Bush whiskers on one side,
& the Yankees on the other there
would be no reason for want
of excitement. – The enclosed
major [?] J Smith of the old Army is
is sent to amuse the people
the Major alluded to
generally – As it happened, it
was better than as it is
told. – I was sold to adopt
a slang phrase, completely
Give my love to all. [Mr Majors?] is
well & very useful. [?]
is [.....dine?] Remember me to her – She is
getting along I hope. She was very
kind, while I was inRichmond. I feel
much obliged to her Having written
enough for this time I remain
Yours affectionately
Benj S Ewell
[ ?] [Benj S Ewell?]
[P. 7]
TullahomaMay 11th 1863
Dear Lizzy
Since
writing to you, a letter brought
by M.r. Van [Epp...?] that came
by mail have been received.
As yet, I have heard nothing
of Ben Weems indeed cannot find
the Reg to which he belongs –
[nor?] of his Brother. Nor
have any attempts in relation
to Mr. Nelson been [very?]
successful – Let Mr. Brown know
this – As to your Uncle Dick being
[provoked?] about not going to
East Tennesseeit is, I think,
fortunate for him he does
not. If matters here were
in the same state of quiet
they were several months ago
it would do very well
but with such a command,
[P. 8]
& such probability if not
absolute certainty of a [?]
[?] [?] in a [comp....?]
wild, & mountainous country
in my opinion he would not
quit. – In short I think
that Mr. Davis showed
great wisdom in [?] [went?]
in his decision. This opinion
tell your Uncle Dick, he can
[bring?] to Mr. Davis in
some quiet way as a proof
of my appreciation of his talents,
and ability to govern states
as well as armies. Things
in this quarter, and also
in Miss are becoming
quite interesting – Yankees are
making bold [?] bolder
than they ever before
attempted – Taking [hersy?] to
[ ?] their infantry, &
[P. 9]
then escape detection or rather
capture – It appears to be
getting quite as lively
inVirginia– The Yankees will
not, I hope, be harder on
the citizens ofWilliamsburgin
consequence of their renewed
attacks on it by [our?] forces - What
good is [?] result [prevent ?] them it
is impossible to tell. The
probable [?] is apparent
IfFortMagruderhad been
where it ought the force in
possession of it would [neassarily?]
have heldWilliamsburg– and as
far as the welfare of the town
is concerned it would be decidedly
better off. If the utter, & absolute
destruction ofWilliamsburg, and
the wholePeninsulawas
important to our success as
a citizen of the town my feeling is,
& would be, to let it go without
a [murmur?] but [fuengiving....?] to
[P. 10]
be done without any benefit
to any body I can see no [propriety?]
in it. Mr. Garner was the
name of one of theL.a.Batt. I do
not now recollect the others –
of the [?] Batt, Lt Laure is here
Has Genl McLaws been inRichmond
lately? He did not gain much
[ order last fall ?]
as a general – [Needed?] [be?] [balance?]
well to Genl Magruder from
what I have heard. He has
good points. very much
[?] up with [measures?] &
pretty strong ones too. – Enclosed
are two autographs. I send
those of Genl [?] as he is
a [great?] [?]
Tell Mary [Nose?] I will write
when I feel [?] enough
to do myself justice. In
conscience of deficiency in
this respect I have not replied
to Mrs. [Nose?] , nor to [?] with
love to the whole concern
Very affectionately
Benj S Ewell
[ ?] S Ewell
