Gibson, Randall Lee (1832-1892) to his father Tobias Gibson
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04501.032 Author/Creator: Gibson, Randall Lee (1832-1892) Place Written: Columbia, TN Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 November 1864 Pagination: 4 p. ; 27 x 22 cm. Order a Copy
Kin (John McKinley Gibson) is unwell. Randall assigned him duty in Mississippi, where he would be out of the winter weather and the line of battle.
Excerpt:
"I do not strain my mind with a solution of the perplexing problems growing out of the war of Independance [sic]. I accept with hope & confidence whatever post is assigned to me and survey, with simple & abiding faith in the result, all the changing aspects of the struggle. It is not, be assured, the calm of desperate resolution, - far from it -; it is the calm of hope & faith, in the virtue & strength of our people and in the Justice of God. We have an abundance of everything in the Confederacy, we cannot, as sensible men, lose heart. We all feel & know is the true condition of our affairs while utter ignorance prevails in the United States & the misrepresentations so cunningly devised & adroitly disseminated, discourage our best & truest friends.
...We are met everywhere with the wildest demonstrations of joy...our conduct is so different from the enemys - our troops so much better disciplined - so polite & kind to the citizens....The women are intensely Southern - and all parties contribute their weight to the support of the Cause in a thousand nameless ways....The people look with amazement on our yelling, hale, jolly soldiers - who they say are better off in everyway than the Federals & whom they expected to see in rags.
The Brigade which is esteemed to have no superior in this Army is almost self sustaining. I have a shoe shop...I have a Tailor's shop...We have two splendid brass bands - my officers & men believe they can whip easily twice their numbers....
...The County around this town is charming...The estates of the Polk family & of Genl Pillow are not surpassed...I find them an interesting people having called at their houses. We move forward again at daylight in the direction of Nashville. Should Thomas fall back upon Nashville - the battle will be fought in KY well up in the state...We move at daylight after the enemy...."
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