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Ellis Family Papers, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collection, Special Collections,
Louisiana State University Library
1st Sergeant Stephen D. Ellis, Company A, 18th Louisiana Cavalry Battalion, to Brother,
from Camp at Columbus, Miss., April 9, 1865:
"Camp in Columbus, Miss. April 9, 1865
"My Dear Brother-Your two kind and more than welcome letters of the 7th and 9th ult.
were received & I should have received them before now but we have been so
constantly on the march that I have not had time to write or do anything
else. I wrote to sister Liz from West Point. The day after writing to her
we started on the march to Columbus. We got there that night about 10 or 11 o'clock.
"Next morning we drew guns & ammunition & went out to Pickensville, Ala on
the Bigbee River (illegible) & next morning started out after a Yankee raid,
which was there in Pickens County (the county were in). After double
quicking for 10 or 12 miles our advance came up into their rear &
pitched into them & they run like good fellows. We followed on after
them, & our advance and their rear guard were skirmishing for some
15 or 20 miles until night put a close on the fight. It rained nearly
all day on us, & worse roads you never saw, I reckon. There was some
7 or 8 men killed on our side & 15 or 20 wounded. The Yankee loss in
killed and wounded was about the same, & we capured some 35 or 40 Yanks
& about 50 or 60 Negroes & some horses, mules, ambulances, etc.
"While we were after the Yanks, while double-quicking along the road,
we came to a house, where an old gentleman & 3 or 4 young ladies were
standing out at the gate, the old gentleman had his hands in his
pockets & looked the picture of sadness. Says he, "they've got
all my mules." Says one of our boys, "never mind, we'll get them
all back for you." The girls clapped their hands & said, "that's
right, boys, go on & capture the last one of them." After going
about half a mile from them we came to where the scoundrels had burnt
a flour mill, which was still in flames. I let you know, it made me
feel like fighting to see that mill in flames & I believe if we had
met up with them then, and they would have fought, we would have
whipped them, in no time. If Gen. Adams (who was in command) had
done as he ought to have done, I believe we would have captured the
last one of them. There was only about 1400 Yankees & there was about
2000 of us, Adams' brigade and ours (Scott's Louisiana Cav). Adams'
Brigade was in front & done all the fighting. They could have been
sent around & got in their front & our Brigade attacked them in the
rear & we would have captured them all. If Col Scott had been there
& had command we would have got them. Ogden was commanding our
Brigade & has been since we left Macon. Scott is still at Meridian.
"The next morning after the fight we came back about 15 miles &
camped & got orders that evening to be ready to move next morning
at 7 o'clock. Next morning about two o'clock the bugle sounded for
'saddle up.' We saddled up and they double-quicked us to this place,
a distance of 45 miles. A good many horses gave out on the way.
I stopped to have my gun unloaded & took my time for it & got here
about sundown yesterday evening. The command got here about
1 o'clock. They cannot do much more marching like this, for the
horses of our Brigade can't stand it. We are here now, waiting for
the Yankee (so rumor says, how long we will stay I haven't the least idea.
"Columbus is a beautiful town, with a great many fine houses. It is
about a thousand or half large as Baton Rouge. It looks more like a
town than anything I've seen since I left N.C. It has breast works
around it. The Tombigby (sic) River runs by it. It is navigable
this far up, & there is a railroad-the Mobile and Ohio road from it.
"Dr. Moore's father has a store here. I have not seen him yet,
Charlie Enge saw him yesterday evening. The people are very kind
to us here. They cook our rations for us, our wagons have been
sent to Demopolis, Ala (so rumor says). Consequently we have no
cooking utensils with us. If this rumor is true, we will go to
Demopolis, but it is only rumor & you know how camp rumors will circulate.
"We are not consolidated yet & I don't know whether we will be or
not. If we are we will have just enough men in our Battln. for a
company. Some say we will be consolidated & others say we won't.
Those who think we won't be consolidated, think that Col Scott will
fix it up with Gen. Taylor, but nobody knows & time will only tell to us.
"The election for Judge was a week ago tomorrow & I have not heard
a word from it. I would give almost anything to know the result.
Capt Randolph & Luther Borrman have got here. I expected to get
letters from home by them but my hopes were disappointed. I have
not received a letter from home since that of yours & Liz's together.
It may be on account of our moving about so much, I can't help believe,
but that you have all written to me, I reckon they will reach me
some of these days & they will be just as dear to me when I do get
them, as if they were of late dates.
"I hear again that all of the Johnson Island prisoners have been
exchanged, don't grant that it may be so & that our dear brother,
who has been absent so long, may ere coming be restored to the
loved ones at home although I cannot be there, still I can imagine
the meeting & see the folks at home (in my imagination) gathered
around the fire & almost hear their voices.
"Quite dark & I must bring this to a close. Our friends here
are all well except home sickness, I reckon they will get over
this some of these days. Give my warmest love to all & accept
for yourself the best love of your Brothere.
(kiss Sallie for me)
"Direct your letters to this place until you hear from me again.
S.D.E."
on the upper edge of the first page, written upside down was the
following:
"April 10: Our wagons will be up to our camp, rumor says. Col.
Scott is still at Meridian & must be whether (illegible) orders
(illegible) King's (illegible)."
Scott's Brigade consisted of the 1st and 3rd (Wingfield's)
Louisiana Cavalry regiments, Ogden's Louisiana Cavalry
Regiment, and the 18th Louisiana Cavalry Battalion.
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