(“A”)
Pierce, Callaway Co Mo
November 16th 1864

Beloved Husband,

I received yours of Monday Eve, I am very glad to know you are taking care of yourself, and that your health is improving. How I wish that we were allowed to remain together, so that I could fix things cozy for you, for you well know I would love to do that, but that is not allowable for me. I must remain here alone, with the exceptions of our dear little ones, they are all well thank God. Surely I do feel thankful for such blessings. I try to make all feel happy as possible, but you well know our surroundings, therefore I will not say more, but stop. I have to say we were visited by the glorious A.J. Smith’s forces, they came Saturday, an hour by sun, you can imagine how we all did feel to know we were once more surrounded by our dear and noble soldiers. Oh, God! I never shall forget how I felt, when I asked my friends whose force is this, and they replied Gene Smith’s. The Col Commanding is in your house and taken your farm for a camp for a few days. This occurred at our gate on my returning from Fulton having gone to attend to our affairs, &c. but accomplished nothing as the parties were absent whom I wished to see.

When I arrived at the door, who came forward to welcome me but Col Moore. I need not say he was welcome, but thrice welcome. --- were soon made, and all soon silent, and our little ones as happy as could be without their own dear father with them, - “which can’t be”, so the rebels say.

I tried to make the officers as comfortable as possible, but could not do much as I’m not allowed to keep help, and have lost so much by the rebels, but however I have done all I could and the officer seems to feel quite an interest for us. Orders were given not to injure anything. Guards were sent to every part of the place that I wished. This I know was so, but the Colonel’s orders were not obeyed, his orders did not do much good, and the noble Col and Officers disapproved and fret much mortified, as the men, and said all should be paid for and I feel it will, for I do believe them to be good and honest men. The noblest work of God,-they all seemed so mortified when they found their men had acted so badly. The dear and noble Col told me every thing I found missing, he would see I was paid for, and so I feel content, but never-the-less it will put me to more trouble than I wish, but however I’ll not complain, “but will wait and see my own Solicitation “as the Babtist (sic) says. I think Col Moore one of the finest men I have ever met with since the war broke out, he is carrying the mark that this wicked war is setting many with, yes many, many. As our little ones often say, mother don’t you feel so sorry for that good Colonel, that has one leg? Sam almost cries when she speaks of those mean men to shoot such a good man, but I think such men know best how to treat rebels. One of Mr. Joseph Floods neighbors was along with the officers, he told me they would call on you, I hope they may. I know you will be pleased with them. I want you to tell them what sort of men they sent back to harass me. I will give you their names. Mr. Greg Beanham, James Craig, George Craig, William Guy, and many others, M. King and others they all went unharmed. I hope all will work for the best, but as the Dutchman says “I don’t see how”, before the Colonel had gone one mile, up comes the Rebels for Horses, Bridles, Saddles, Cow-Hides, One wanted to barrel corn, some that was left scattered. You don’t know how they acted. I told them that orders were given to Mr. John P. Sallee, Porter, and Mr. Moore that not one thing was to be taken from this place and if it was done I would notify the Military Authority. And so they had to back down. I was sickened to look at our place the next day.

Dear husband do not feel angry when I tell you what is missing, and killed. I will write down so that you can copy it, and show it to the Col. Commanding, which was Col Moore.

I have three (3) hogs left out of forty four (44), and you know I had made arrangements to send them to New Orleans. They were killed, for we found their entrails. 3 head made their appearance, two (2) fat cows, for I found their hides, and out of fifty (50) little shoats I have ten (10) left.

Son James says we have lost fifty (50) barrel of corn, but the worst is my white corn is gone as well as yellow. The Quarter Master told me he would pay me for Sixty (60) barrels, five dollars per barrel. The Col acknowledged the Voucher for that, but they were not properly filled out, and he said he would leave them with you. As for the hay I can not say much, but I had our long barns full and but little remains. We find the entrails of eight (8) sheep they killed near Mr. Porter’s east of our house, where the fence runs by the old Guy house. We could not find the hides, perhaps Mr. Porter has them. Our turnips are all gone with the exception of eight (8) bushel, and they were buried in the ground so that we were compelled to pry them out with our knives. I have been two day getting them in, finished this evening. Our rails are the worst of all we have not enough to secure our corn, without. I can get hands to gather it soon, the string running in the woods and out west was two thirds burned, it was burned where the Col could not see it from the road, the men round here say the “Pickets” burned the west string, and the men in Camp burned the south string, they did not only take what would do but left piles burning. The string from our door yard gate, Mr. Adkeson says has lost four thousand (4000) rails. I have managed to fix up the Orchard fence by taking the string that runs to Uncle Jacks old shop. Our old meadow is left out as common fields. I found one hundred (100) head of stock in our corn field east and they stayed until twelve Sunday. Mr. Adkeson, Grant, Judge, Caroles, Brown, Boon, Lagrand, and James, Jones, Ross, Dick Bowlen, worked Sunday to save our barn, and their hands on Monday. I do not know what I shall do for fencing. I will wait until you have had an interview with the Commander. Our dear little crippled Jims saddle that we prised (sic) so much was taken with the others. I had here an old piece of bridle, our brothers wagon tire, every halter rope and every thing of the kind were taken, he had five sets of double plow lines, all gone, all gone. One bed blanket that hung on the fence that I had washed the day before, three (3) axes, Joseph’s Box he keeps his tools in broken open and emptied but one saw left. I know Col Moore will feel hurt when he knows how they have done, after they thought he had gone. They came up to our door demanding ropes, bridles and halters. I had to threaten to send for him or some other officers. This I say nothing about as the “rebs” would crow over it. Our Tobacco barn was broken open and not less than six hundred (600) pounds of our nicest tobacco taken. The whole place is just strewn with what they wasted, not what they needed.

All that came about the house while the Colonel was here conducted themselves like Gentlemen. Now my dear husband, I know this will give you pain and trouble, but I feel it – to let you know how I am left, and upon the honor of a lady this is so. (or of your wife J.E.M.)

Our nice ground between our Stable and Cornfield is cleared out. When you meet Col Moore give him my kind regards, also to his officers. Several told me they would visit you, tell them we all felt lonely for two days. Charley thinks it quite hard he did not find his “papa” with them, tell Colonel the young man that was with me, lost horse, bridle, saddle and whip. Joseph I think would know his horse. I think Mr. McCracken has raised a horse and is still here trying to help me fix up some. Our neighbors cackle over this very much, and say Oh! Yes she will have to leave now and her own men will be the cause of it. I tell them I don’t mind it, I’m having bad luck all round. I started my big wagon to Mexico yesterday, when on the bad bridge near Judge Calhouns one yoke of our oxen ran out. The end of the planks or poles, they flew up and away they went. As luck would have it the wagon and one yoke of oxen were saved, though they were apparently dead, they came to after awhile. They are home all right. I sent away the fifteen cows as was agreed. I should do, but so, they are not shipped, and not knowing when they will be.

I cannot help that. Our work oxen have become perfectly dangerous to manage, neither men of boys can do anything with them. I know where I can buy a gentle yoke for eighty dollars ($80). I have tried several times to break ours, but none wish to do it. Please let me know what you think about buying them as the man will sell soon. We all join in sending love to Joseph and James. I will write them soon. From your Affectionate Wife J.E. Martin

I will here say the Officers paid me two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) in green backs toward our loss. He put it in as beef to make all things come out right.

J. E. M.

Letter of Mrs. J.E. Martin to her husband, November 16, 1864; Union Provost Marshals file of papers relating to individual citizens (Missouri State Archives microfilm roll F1484, National Archives Microfilm Publication No. 345, roll 177 Martin, T.- Mas).