William E. Whitsett was born 3 Nov 1837 to William C. and Elizabeth Sue (Edmunds) Whitsett,
probably in Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky, one of at least five children who lived to
adulthood. The family probably began their move westward sometime in the late 1840's, with at
least one lengthy period spent in the Fort Smith, Arkansas vicinity, and eventually settling in the
Bonham and Dodd City area of Fannin County. His father was a physician, probably a merchant
of some sort, and a slave owner. Family oral history relates that William C. Whitsett foresaw the
likelihood of Civil War and moved from Kentucky in an attempt to get his sons away from it, with
no success.
Known siblings of William were Mary Jane Whitsett, Elizabeth H. Whitsett, James Whitsett,
Joseph Hayden Whitsett and Charles C. Whitsett.
As can be seen from his letters he was a member of the Texas Rangers prior to the Civil War.
Sometime following the war he moved to Sallisaw, Oklahoma where he was a merchant. In his
later years he walked with a cane due to his wounds at Shiloh. He died 15 Apr 1901 and is buried
in the Shiloh Cemetery near Sallisaw, Oklahoma.
He was twice married, the first time to Nancy Lattimore Walkingstick, a Cherokee; the second to
Martha Francis (Fannie) Harrison on February 18, 1891. Although there were children from both
marriages, I am only certain of those from the second, these were Jack, Maxey, Silver, and Lucy
Whitsett.
Confederate Service Record
Whitsett, W. E. (24), Pvt., Co. H, enlisted 14 Oct 1861 at Bonham, Fannin Co., TX by W. A.
Stanley. Wounded, Shiloh, TN, 6 Apr 1862-right knee, seriously; present, July-October, 1862;
wounded, Murfreesboro, hand-slight,- present, January-October, 1863; furloughed 1 Nov 1863 at
Meridian, MS, Special Order 232/1, by Gen. Johnston, for 50 days.
Letters of William E. Whitsett in Possession of the Family
Family
Salisaw, Ind. Ter. Sept 24, 1900
J. Haid Whitsett
Dodd, Tex
D(ea)r brother. I mailed you a few days ago a condensed synopsis of my Confederate States
Army service and I left out in the same the date and swear in of my enlistment at Bonham by
Capt. T. H. Skidmore and from my descriptive list now lying open before that I enlisted on the
14th Day of October 1861 and I know you can fill in the blank space I left in the statement I sent
you the other day. Try and get the last statement on the record. I was discharged by Genl. Jo. O.
Shelby near Corsicana Tex on the 1st Day of June 1865, the same day the Genl and some 250
others of his old Brigade with Sim Whitsett and quite a lot of old Quantrellites included of whom
I met several in November after in New Orleans La. on their way back to good old Missouri.
Your brother,
Wm. E. Whitsett
Attached as a separate note is:
Genl Jo and a whole lot concluded on the collapse of the Confederacy they would cast their
fortunes with Maximillian, but after he was shot concluded they would high them away to
Missouri.
Salisaw [Indian Territory] Sept 21st 1900
J. Haid Whitsett
Dodd [City?]Texas
Dr. Bro. I enlisted in the "Confederate States" Service in the 9th Texas Infantry at Bonham Texas
on October the 14, 1861 Capt. Wm. H. Stanley Commanding Company "H" and the Hon Sam
B. Maxey being our first Colonel. The 9th fought through the two day battle of "Shiloh" in this I
was hit in the back of the left knee. Dr. Perry Daken dressing the place, at the same time and
place Tommy Penie (?) was killed dead and Jno. Snodgrass was shot through the thigh, in this
Battle we belonged to J. Paten Andersons Brigade, Ruggles Division & we took an active part in
Capturing and Corralling S.S. Prentiss Federal Division, the next battle was that of Perryville Ky.
Capt Jno H. Lane of Bonham being killed as we were retiring from the Battle field, we next
fought through the Battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn; here Jno. Aldridge received a compound
fracture of thigh joint and died in the Hospital, I shook hands with him last as he lay on the
amputating board Dr. Perry Daken of Bonham officiating, next we were corralled at Jackson
Miss. the Feds pounding us there for nine days and nights, here was killed Wm. E. Beavers of
Bonham. Our next was in the two days Battle of Chickamagua Tenn. losses in Co. H and
Regiment heavy. Ectors Brigade Texian Confronting Rousseaus (?) Brigade Federal Regulars
which we whipped and captured Loomis' West Virginia Battery consisting of eight Napoleon
Guns. I fought at the capture of Ashley Station between Little Rock and De Valls Bluff, Ark.
where I was in Genl. Jn. O. Shelbys escort Comp. "A" 3d Missouri Volunteer Cavalry. Here we
captured the 5th Illinois Infantry complete. I was next in the fight at the Fair Grounds at
Lexington Mo. then again at the west of Little Blue going towards Independence when Capt.
Geo. Todd, Quantrells first Lieut, was killed in his Saddle. We fought at the crossing of Big Blue
and from there on to Kansas City where we had a hard fight and were worsted. Our next fight
and last was at Acoho/Scoko(?) Mo., where we whipped their cavalry in good style and lit out for
the Arks River coming by way of Fayettville, Ark where old Genl Jo stirred them up quite lively.
From here the outfit finally landed at Bonham Texas. This is a running statement, from memory,
not to long for you to get me recorded I hope.
Your brother
Wm. E. Whitsett
Enlisted in Co. H. 9th Tex Infantry.
Sallisaw Ind Ter.
J. Haid Whitsett
July 13th 1900
Dodd Texas
Dear Brother.
Herewith you will find a running history of my army life made mostly from memory.
My first army service was under a Call from Gov. Sam Houston, in the Rangers service of the
State of Texas. When we organized a Company at Bonham of Cavalry with Wm. M. Woods, as
Captain and A. M. Gass as first Lieutenant, and Ash Pace as second Lieutenant and Jim Cowan as
1st Sergeant. and a Dr. Hill was our Surgeon for a while, but was discharged and I was sent with
a detail under Sargt Cowan and five others back to old Fort Belknap, from which place two of the
party proceeded to Bonham and escorted Dr. W. A. Stanley to Belknap and Sargt Cowan, I and
his Squad escorted him from thence to the Witchita Mountains where the Regt was then
rendevouzed at what was known as Col Easlban(?) Dorrs Camp, old Radmins Ka. At Fort
Belknap the Companies concentrating there organized into a Regiment. Electing Capt. M. T.
Johnson our Colonel, the late Gen. Sul Ross becoming Capt of his Company. We elected a Mr. J.
T. Smith of Waco Lt. Col. and Capt Gabe Fitchure(?) of McKinney major of the Regiment. We
were all discharged in the Witchita Mountains, the bulk of the Command returning by way of
Austin, the balance making their way back to the Settlements as suited them. Selves, Daniel
Deupree, Daniel Brown and myself coming back together, hitting first the Stockade of old Mr.
Mabe Gilbert on Witchita and the Striking the town of Montague in Montague County and from
there to Gainsville in Cook Co and from there to Bonham and home.
I find from my descriptive list herewith submitted that I enlisted in Co. H. 9th Tex Infantry at
Bonham Texas on the 14th October 1861 by Wm. A. Stanley who was our first Captain, with
Harvey Wise as our 1st Lieutenant and the Honorable Sam Bell Maxey as our first Colonel, we
proceeded from our camp on South Sulphur to Paris Texas, afoot, and from there to Little Rock
Arks. afoot, where we were put on some open flat cars and sent from there to De Valls Bluff,
where we were placed on some open Keel boats and sent down White River and from the mouth
of which were towed to Memphis Tenn. being in Camps at the Fair Grounds back of Memphis
Tenn. when the Battle and Surrender of Fort Henry took place. From Memphis we went to Iuka
Mississippi. The 9th Texas Infantry and old Co. H. fought through the Battle of Shiloh, a two
days regular hard setto. The 1st day we done them in fine style all day long and the 1st night Gen.
Buell reinforced them with about 30 thousand fresh troops who took the front the second day
with Grants remnant of beaten forces for flankers, in this shape we held them a hard setto, until
about 10 o'clock the 2nd day when their flank fire began to enfilade us and we were compelled to
fall back reform and gave it to them in good style again, and surprising(?) numbers with successful
flanking, subjecting us to an enfilade fire, again forced us to retire and so the thing continued all
through the 2nd day, our forces falling back on their fortifications at Corinth and the Federals
falling back to Pittsburg Landing under cover of their fleet on the River. In this Battle Genl. A. S.
Johnson was killed and we lost a Cousin, Dr. John Comfort, who commanded as Captain Co A.
5th Mississippi Infantry, in the Battle I recollect a young man belonging to Co H. by the name of
Tom Pennick who lived on Caney and was killed dead, Jno. Snodgrass of Caney got a terrible
flesh wound through the thigh and I got a wound in the back of the left knee. Pennick, Snodgrass
and myself all fell in one pile and were attended to by Dr. Perry Daken of Bonham. Capt Jo
Dixon formerly of Clarksville, Tex. was killed dead in the 1st days fighting being shot in the
forehead, the 9th Inft took a conspicuous part in the most desperate fighting in this whole battle
and suffered severely in killed and wounded. The Battle was fought on the 6 and 7 of April 1862,
we were in the Brigade of J. Paten Andersen of Tenn, who commanded in person and we were in
Genl. Ruggles division, the Corps Commander I don't remember. [n.b., before Perryville and
briefly after Munfordville, the Army of Tennessee was encamped at Glasgow, Ky. See Evans,
Vol X] The next Battle we participated actively in was the Battle of Perryville Ky. a few days
previous to this we helped Corral and Capture some seven (?) Regiments of Federals at
Munfordville Ky. Here we turned in our old buck and ball Springfield muskets and took the
improved Enfields captured at this point, the Battle of Perryville was fought on the 8th of October
(1862) and the morning of the 9th when retiring from the Battlefield, a solid shot killed our
Captain John Lane of Bonham who was one of the Lord's true, best and noblest specimens of
humanity, brave generous and humane to a fault. It made all heartsore to see him fall.
Our next hard fighting was at Murfreesboro, Tenn. [This is also known as Stones River and
occurred on December 31, 1862.] In this battle the old 9th was in the hardest and hottest
fromearly dawn until it got too dark to see your gun's sights, we fought over and over the same
ground three or four times and occupied the Battle field all night and next morning commenced a
hasty retreat to a little town called Winchester and from there we immediately returned to
Shelbyville on Duck river, where we went into winter quarters. In this battle we were in Genl
Preston Smiths Brigade, Genl. Cheathams division, the Brigade was Commanded by Col. Vaughn
he being the senior Colonel, Gen. Smith being absent on furlough. And the old 9th was
commanded by Col. Wm. H. Young, a tyrant in camps, one the battlefield in the thickest and
hottest all the time and as brave and true as the good Lord makes man. [Smith/Vaughn's brigade
lost 705 men out of 1,813 present, at one time Young himself carried the flag, all other bearers
having been killed. See Evans, Vol X, pp 64 etc.] After this the 9th Infantry was put in Genl W.
D. Ectors Brigade and was sent to Mississippi to join Genl. Jo Johnson's army, who was then in
command and had started in to relieve Vicksburg on the 5th of July, at roll call that morning
amounted to 36 thousand active fighting men. We reached Big Black and were placing our
Pontoons across the stream, this being about the middle of the afternoon, when Genl. Johnson
received a courier with dispatches announcing the surrender of the place and forces by Pemberton
on the 3rd July. Our army was firing(?) with right in front and Genl. Johnson immediately about
faced us through the left in front and we had hardly gotten good under way when Genl. Stuls(?)
federal Cavalry, showed up on our rear and we had it with them tough and hot. From there to
our fortifications at Jackson Mississippi, which we reached and occupied about 9 o'clock at night
in a hard driving pour down of rain, I believe as hard as I ever saw fall, filling and flooding our
trenches with water. Here was killed by a Solid Shot Wm. E. Beavers of Bonham, who at one
time clerked for W.B. & J.B. Oliphant of Bonham and was as brave and true as ever lived. The
Federals kept us corralled here for nine days and nights. Genl. Johnson giving them the slip just
after dark one night, muffled his artillery and made the boys place their Blankets down under foot
on the Pontoon bridge across Pearl River for Cavalry and Artillery to pass over the stream. The
retreat was an eminent success and a great surprise to the Federals who the next morning charged
our works and found them empty.
I ought to have brought in before this the two days Battle of Chickamaugua [Sept 19-20, 1863],
in which the old 9th Texas Infantry took a determined and active part from start to finish, our
Division Cheatham's, being the first Infantry in it and who where thrown in to relieve Forest's
Cavalry who came near being swamped but for our timely arrival. Our Company H in this Battle
was commanded by Capt. Geo. W. Daniels of Bonham, the Regiment by Col. W. H. Young, the
Brigade by Genl. M. D. Ector, and the Division by the immortal old Gen. Frank Cheatham than
whom a better one never lived and we were in Genl. Walkers Sub-Corps, with Genl. McGains (?)
Arks supporting us on the left with Forrest Cavalry, dismounted and supporting us on the right.
We were the extreme right Regiment and Co. H was the extreme right Co. of Infantry in Genl.
Braggs Army. We were pitted direct against Genl. Rousseau's Brigade of Kentucky Regulars,
who were supported by Maj. Loomis West Virginia Battery of Eight Napoleon Guns, this battery
we charged twice and were driven back, it being supported by Rousseaus Brigade, which had
been reinforced by the 1st California Infantry, we charged them the 3d time and captured the
Battery Complete and drove the Ky. Regulars and the 1st Californians back until we were ordered
to halt and reform and readjust our lines and late that evening we carried all of Rousseaus lines,
they breaking in the utmost confusion and falling back on Chattanooga and Tennessee River. I
was one of the burial detail, under the management of our Lieut. Jno Butler of Fannin Co. we put
in two days and nights, packing in and burying the dead, the most awful and sore hurting job I
ever in my life had to go through, the old 9th suffered terribly in this Battle both in killed and
wounded and eight or nine of the boys were captured among them I recall was Noah Moody off
Caney and who was afterward killed at Camp Chase, by a negro guard. On the 6th of November
1863 I obtained a furlough for fifty days, which I herewith enclose and Dick Thomas & myself
started from Brandon Mississippi, both being relieved from duty on this date, turning in our guns
and accoutrements and started for Kosciusko Miss, where our Cousin Daniel B. Comfort lived,
and who furnished us a couple of Ponies and a negro boy, who we were to send back with the
ponies when we reached Big Sunflower and this we did, but the Federals captured and kept both
the boy and Ponies. Dan Comfort gave me a letter of introduction to one Geo. Powell, who lived
three miles back in the country from Eggs Point on the Mississippi River, afoot we reached
Powells, found him all right, true to a friend, dead game & a perfect gentleman. He made us
acquainted with an old darkie known as the widow Friday's Alf. At this time the old Federal
Gunboat Tyler laid immediately at Eggs Point and the Conestoga lay something over a mile below
the Tyler, patrolling the river. Dick Thomas myself and old Man Alf went some 12 miles from
Powells down on Moon Lake and dug up out of the slush of the swamp and among the cypress
necks, with the muck hip deep, an old cottonwood dugout which old man Alf had sunk there
some months before and the widow Friday furnished us with an old mule and a dry Beef hide. We
cut the hide up and made a harness for the mule, hitched to the Dugout and started for Mr.
Powells. I led the mule, old man Alf followed close to unhitch the mule when we hung up, Dick
Thomas going in front with a double barrel Shot Gun & keeping a look out for the Federals with
which the country along there was swarming. We drug the dug out close into the Levee of the
River, leaving it in some high weeds. On the third night with old Alf's help we slipped in and
dragged the dugout to the waters edge and pushed her in, old man Alf holding her by a rope,
finally we got ready, old man Alf, myself, Dick Thomas and a Cavalry Lieut by the name of Lee,
who lived some 3 miles above Fulton on Red River Ark. side. A transport going down the river
liked to run over us and come in an ace of swamping our outfit, old man Alf quit his oars and
went on his knees and prayed manfully we finally got him to resume his oars and he finally landed
us on this side about a mile below where he aimed to hit, we hastily bid the old darkie good bye
and pulled through the bottom in the darkness for Monticello Ark. after many ups and downs we
reached there all right having to lay up and hide close every day on account of the negro infantry
and cavalry . We finally reached the town of Washington in Hempstead Co Ark where we found
Genl. Magruder commanding he gave us something to eat and transportation on the hackline
running to Clarksville Tex. We started, the old hack bogged up and broke down three miles out
from Washington and I and Dick Thomas pulled out afoot and finally reached Clarksville, Tex.
where I hired an old man with a two horse wagon to Paris Texas, here Dick Thomas reached his
home. I applied to Mr. Sutton for transportation showing him my papers but he refused me in
total. I then hunted up the Hon. Judge Rice Maxey, at whose house I staid the night, Judge
Maxey introduced me to a Capt. Crothers who had charge of a Confederate stable of mules on the
north of the public square at Paris. Crothers told me to come around there the next morning and I
would find a good mule, saddled & hitched to a swinging ring in the Stable, to ask no questions of
any one, but quietly and coolly untie the mule get into the saddle and ride off, which I did
reaching my fathers 4 miles from Bonham late Christmas eve-evening and the next day being
Christmas you took the mule and returned him to Crothers at the stable in Paris. I was at my
fathers and Collins in Bonham some time pretty well broken down with chronic diarrhea and
about the 27th July 1864 myself, Bob Marley and Sam Cobb started to go East of the Mississippi
River. Bob Marley and Sam Cobb, to join Genl. Morgans Cavalry and I to return to my Regt. the
9th Texas Infantry. We went to Camden Ark and tried to make it through and across by the way
of Lake village. In this we made a complete failure owing to the heavy amount of Federal Cavalry
and Infantry in that portion of the Country, so we struck out for the Ark River & Arriving at
Swansons Landing. We fell in with Genl. Cabell's and Fagans troops who were then camped near
the landing, we went down the river one morning to a burned mill and gin to get material with
which to shoe our horses, on returning we found the camp deserted, the two flat boats had been
scuttled and sunk, Genl. Caballs & Fagans forces, having fallen back to Arkadelphia, we were
forced to swim the River all reaching the north bank safely. On the north side of the river we
stopped quite a while with a Dr. Price, here we fell in with Bud Vaughn and Bob Hill both
belonging to Shelby's Escort and two other fellows belonging to his brigade which I have
forgotten the names of and in Dr. Prices neighborhood the Federals had got numerous and were
hot on our trail. Genl. Shelbys Brigade was then located on White River in what was known as
oil trough bottom, and we pulled out between suns for Shelbys headquarters. Crossing the Little
Rock and De Valls Bluff Rail Road near Ashleys Station where there was three Regt of Federal
Cavalry encamped, two being towards De Valls Bluff the other toward Little Rock with a space
some two hundred yards between the encampment, all asleep, the fires having all burned down,
we formed the seven of us abreast. When we reached the rail road, we were halted by a sentinel,
who was killed by Bob Marley dead in his tracks. This shot raised and alarmed the whole camp
and we lit out across the Prairie for the timber with they pursuing in hot haste. We reached the
timber and traveled some miles. Concluded to leave the road and go in behind a Small cornfield,
lie up and feed, leaving one of our partie back in the main road as a rear guard, the Feds pressed
on and captured our guard on the main road in his Saddle asleep and then we had a fight and run
for our lives. Vaughn in the hurrah getting away from the Yanks and rejoining us, we proceeded
from there to a small place on Little Red river in Ark. where a Capt. Daniels of Shanks Regt.
lured us into a trap, capturing the whole Seven. Carried us back to old Jo Shelbys and the Capt.
came near to having all seven of us Shot instanter but finally desisted & carried us all back to
Genl. Shelby, who ordered us to report to Capt. Morris M. Langhorn, in Command of his Escort
and remain there three days, in which time we would select our Company and Regt. to be
assigned permanently to duty. We remained the three days out and on reporting to the Genl. all
liked Co. E the 3rd Regt. commanded by Camp Langhorn first rate and the Genl. ordered our
names enrolled on the Company Roll and us all to permanent duty in the same. Shelbys Brigade
moved out from White River, making a feint and threatening Little Rock, in order to enable Genl.
Prices Army to cross the Ark River. We attacking and Capturing and burning Ashley Station with
more Drugs and Hay than I ever saw anywhere and in addition we defeated and captured the 54
Illinois Infantry all complete somewhere near 800 men all told and we drove off and back Genl.
Wests federal Brigade who had come out from De Valls Bluff to retake and rescue the 54th.
Immediately after this, Genl. Price having crossed north of the Ark. River we lit out on Genl.
Prices Missouri raid, scraping some everyday, Quantrell, Dave Pool, Bill Anderson, George Todd
& Genl. Shelbys Brigade leading. Captured some feds at Brownsville (?, there is a Boonville in
about the right place) passing on we captured Glasgow north of the Missouri River, here by the
aid of Dick Collins Battery we captured and burned the Steam stern wheel Steamboat "West End"
securing a large amount of Fed clothing with which the boat was loaded, including a large amount
provisions, a large ? establishment loaded with Plug Tob. (acco) and we took in some 800 Yanks
here, at Jefferson City we laid most of one day doing but little at Lexington we had quite a scrap
at the Fairgrounds, Capt. Geo. Todd, was killed just west of the Crossing on the little blue & from
here we passed on to Independence where we lost some two days and pushed on to Kansas City,
the Scraping all along here was hot and continuous, particularly at Big Blue and then at Kansas
City, where we got a genuine licking losing one of Dick Collins Parrot Guns and capturing a
smooth bore from a Yank Battery.
This defeat was disastrous to us, losing a great many men, besides forcing us to burn and destroy
Hundreds of wagons with large amounts of ordinance supplies of all sorts and kinds, from this
defeat our retreat commenced for Red River, in the run we struck a streak of about six miles of
Kansas, which we put in a blaze as we went at the crossing of the Maumaton (?), out a piece from
Fort Scott, they crowded in on us heavy, we whipped their Cavalry very decently, but when their
old web footed infantry got up we had to haul out an git, leaving Cabells and Marmadukes
batteries complete, at Newtonia we had our last scrap with them, here we fought and whipped the
2d Colorado or what was known as their "White Horse Cavalry" which was tough to a certainty.
This was a square setto between Genl. Shelby's Brigade, Quantrell, Anderson, Pool and others
and Dennison, Blount, Pleasanton and others on the Federal side, no webb foot being in it on
either side. Simply two forces of Cavalry with Artillery helping each and we gave them an all
over sound whipping, though they were stubborn and lashed some of our boys with their Sabers.
From here we horsed on our way, quietly with nothing to eat and crossed the Ark River some
eight miles west of here [Sallisaw, Ok.] at what is known as the Big Drift and from here we went
out through Limestone Gap crossing Sweet Bugg(?) at Davis on the Widow Flax's which is now
known at Atoka, from there out by Armstrong Academy at which place Bob Marley, Sam Cobb,
W. T. Hickman, Bud Vaughn, Mart and John Cristen and myself staid all night forcing our stay on
Mrs. Lorain Folsum, who was then in charge of the Academy, we crossed Red River the mouth of
Island Bayou, near the widow Popes, out by Hoppers and on to Bonham, where I obtained a
thirty days Furlough, which I herewith inclose and which was signed by W. T. Hickman and
approved by Mr. Jeff Thompson or the old "Swamp Fox" he being the ranking officer in
command of Sub. Division, Genl. Shelby being in Dallas and having taken Capt. Morris Langhorn
with him leaving Leut. Hickman in Command of Shelbys Escort. At the expiration of this
Furlough we all proceeded to Clarksville Texas, where Shanks Regt. and Escort were
rendezvoused, I boarded the few days we were at Clarksville with the wife of our Cousin Moses
Whitsett, but do not remember her given name and I think you and Mack and Jack were all then
with us from here. We moved to Fulton on Red River and from there to Pittsburgh in Sulphur
County, near Pittsburgh in Sabine bottom Mrs. Bettie Shelby was on her way to join Genl. Jo, the
bottom was badly overflowed, she had 4 mules to the Ambulance and an old negro driving and
some miscreants overtook them and took the mules out from the ambulance, leaving her and her
children sitting in the vehicle and it axle deep in Mud and Water. He never got any trace of the
marauders or the mules, if he had found them or ever caught up with them they surely would have
died on the spot.
From here we moved out north of Corsicana some three miles, where we disbanded and Genl.
Shelby gave me my discharge, we all formed a circle around the loved Shelby and a two Gallon
jug of Brisbane? whiskey took the rounds of the circle, each fellow sitting in his saddle and taking
her by the word of mouth from the brown jug, we all shook hands, lots were in tears, the Genl.
and quite a following pulled out for Mexico to join Maximillian and I and 12 others struck out,
stricking the little town of Lancaster, Porters Bluff & from there to Dallas, where we dispersed,
each one pulling for his own special point. The ladies of Dallas were very kind to us, long tables,
were spread in the Court House Yard, loaded with the best the land afforded, with the fairest of
Dallas daughters to dispense them, as free as the water the flowed. I will love Dallas and her
chivalrous, patriotic people as long as I live. From here I went home, the war was over, our
cause lost past hope. What of the future! This is run out to a long narrative, there are a great
many incidents and happenings all the way along I could have better put in perhaps some already
told would have better been left out & yet tis all the truth.
I hope documents which I send will enable you to get the data you want. I have a great many which I got wet is swimming the Arks river, hardly intelligible to you without me to help you, in fact some I send were wet too but I managed with extra good care to print them. If this is too long or don't suit write again I will give Battles only. Your brother, Wm. E. Whitsett
Sallisaw IT
Sept 5th 1900
©Ron Brothers and Hayden Whitsett, 1999, All Rights Reserved.
July 29, 1999
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