Difference between revisions of ".MTA5Ng.MTY3NA"

Revision as of 12:18, 21 December 2012

This item is currently being transcribed by a volunteer. We look forward to making the full-text of the document available soon.

Private Columbia June 23d 1870

My Dear General If the condition of our country does not improve I may accept an offer to enter service with the [?] Rez of Egypt in command of a corps of cavalry. Should I do this it would be of great ad- vantage to me in my new field of service to have the endorsement of my past career as a soldier by the officers under whom I served. You who were my first & my last commander are competent to speak on this subject & a recommendation if you can give one would not only carry the weight of your great reputation but would be peculiarly agreeable to me. May I ask you then to give me such a general letter of introduction as you [feel?] authorized

[Page 2] to write. I do not wish anything said about this matter at present as my plans are not fixed.

How are you getting on? Suc- cessfully I hear & hope. I regret not having seen you as we passed [?] [Ga.?] last fall as there was much I wished to talk to you about. Our affairs seem to be growing desperate & I fear some of our people are letting down under the pressure. My only hope of the ultimate [redemption?] of our country was in the indomitable spirit of the people. If they will but re- main true to their old principles all hope is not yet lost: but I fear trials are the one side & [?] on the other are making inroads in our ranks. If we lose faith & [?] in the past we may give up hopes for the future.

[Page 3] May I venture to allude to a matter which [though?] private to you concerns me as warm friend of yours! I have heard that you were under the impress- ion that Mr Davis had sent in to Con- gress a [?] during the last days of the Confdcy reflecting on you & that such a document has been exhibited. I have the assurance of Mr Davis himself that nothing of this sort was done. I hope you will pardon me for saying that I feel sure no good could come in any way by any publication by you raising an issue on this point. Any con- triving between Mr Davis & yourself would jar open the feelings of thousands who are friendly to both of you & would [tend?] to [their?] discredit on our cause. You already occupy a position in the history of that

[Page 4] great struggle inferior to that of no ther soldier & you are firmly fixed not only in the esteem but the hearts of our [unfortunate?] people. Your Reports which I hope you will prepare for publication will furnish I am convinced ample indication of your conduct & justification of your [?]. Do not allow yourself to be drawn into any personal altercation but have your public ready to justify your motives & your actions. I presume in a long & warm friendship to speak on these subjects to you & I hope you will understand & appreciate the the motive that induced me to do so. Wade left here today to visit his sister We are all well except Mrs Hampton who had a pretty sharp attack of ill- ness as we were coming from Miss. Do give my kindest regards to Mrs Johnston & believe me to be

Very sincerely yrs Wade Hampton

Gen. Johnston