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remained low the entire spring and summer, and the people almost came to want for groceries, especially for salt, which went to the enormous price of twenty dollars a sack. Some may think when they see this, that it is a mistake, or exageration, but I repeat it, salt was worth twenty dollars a sack. So great was the distress, that some persons went to Alexandria, La., Houston, Texas, or some point on the Mississippi river, with ox teams for supplies. Think of that trip with an ox team, gone forever. Horse or mule were something very rare in those days.Persons who read this may think perhaps, that it is a history of the family, or country, or both, rather than an autobiography of myself, but I find it impossible to leave out some incidents of which, if I was not a participant, I was an observer.
This brings us up to A. D. 1856, of which year I remember nothing of special interest; also A. D. 1857. I suppose, however, they were spent in the usual way, spring and summer on the farm, a short-time in the fall at school, the remainder about the gin.
About this date the Eastern states, especially Georgia, began to send her emigration to this state -- none, however, or few, were satisfied after their arrival, yet they still remained; and bemeaned the country, and its ill conveniences, which, no doubt were difficult to become accustomed to by people who had been used to railroad facilities.
I remember nothing definitely of A. D. 1858; I suppose however, it was spent the same way of previous years. In the fall, I think I went to school. My teacher was W. S. Turner -- a good teacher for that day and time.
About this date, I lost a little brother, Robert Obediah, whose birth I failed to note in its proper place. The baby (the Benjamin of the family) was two years old, or upwards, at his death. (I have no exact date at command.) A bright, promising boy; we idolized him. Indeed, I never learned for many years to become reconciled to the death of him, and other brothers and sisters (given an account of above), and to not wish them here again -- circumstances in the future, however, showed me my folly.
The year A. D. 1859, was, I suppose, spent in the usual way, though I remember nothing definitely, more than I spent a short time at school. My teacher was Mr. Turner. That it was a very fruitful year, and the emigration continued to pour in from the Eastern States.
The year A. D. 1860 was a memorable one, on account of the drouth, which almost ruined crops, and for the excitement that prevailed on account of the Presidential election. Almost a famine prevailed; distressing even to the old settlers, and much more so to the new emigrants, who often inquired if such was often the case, and like the children of Israel, "sighed for the fleshpots" etc., but strange to say, they all, with few exceptions, remained; complaining of the failure in crops, and society, the later a favorite theme, of which I heard so much that I looked forward with pleasing anticipation to the time when they, the company of reformers from the
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East, would cause such a reformation in the wilds of Texas that I should see our country filled with refined society, and by the blessing of God, I have been spared to live to see that day, but alas! I must confess that it fell far below my expectations. Refined society have worse behavior at church, less reverance for their Maker and age, than the rough pioneer. Indeed, we exchanged true and disinterested friendship for that that is affected, pure religion for a kind of formality, in a great measure, free and unembarrassed association for that which is formal and worrysome to me at least, and the religious conversation often for common neighborhood gossip. I have perhaps used language too strong, but all who know, must confess that there is a great deal more gossip now, in proportion to population, than in the good old days.This year I went to school a short time to Mr. William Carell -- my progress at school was generally considered good, but in justice to myself, I must state that our circumstances were such that I did not go regularly as students do in these days, neither were the facilities so good as now. When I have passed from time, if this sketch should be perused by the educated reader, I hope the above explanation will be sufficient for him to make due allowance for all errors and supply the deficiency.
In consequence of the drouth of A. D. 1860, we had the most extremely hot summer that I have ever experienced, even the wind was hot. I saw fields of corn just ready to tassel, parch up within a few days and not make a grain. During the summer, a great many houses and towns burned up in this state, caused by the heat setting some combustions, or the then servile population were influenced to set them. This, together with the election, caused intense excitement -- the men, old and young, talked nothing else but politics, secession and war. Although I was but a boy, it gave me much trouble -- I was sorry to see any gentlemen visitors; theirs and Father's conversations caused me many wakeful nights. I had an early taste for history, especially of war, and consequently was not so much elated over the idea of one day becoming a soldier, as great many boys of my age.
At the first excitement, there was a variety of sentiments, some were hot headed Secessionists, fire-eaters, kill ten to one, going if they had to crawl, have it over with, etc. This kind of men, as a general thing, never did anything, as the sequal will show. Some few were Union, while others were more reasonable and wished to contest our rights in the Union, which all can now see would have been best. But when people get excited on any subject, they have less sense and reason than any of God's creation. The Secessionist, however, had the ascendency, and it became unsafe for one who did not fully coincide with their views to express himself; in fact, a number of good men in this state were hanged, for no other reason than they did not agree with the masses in opinion. Times grew more exciting, as the time drew near for the inaugeration of Mr. Lincoln -- soon after which the states began to secede, South Carolina leading the way, which is a matter of history, I need not rehearse it here.
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Pretty soon, in the year A. D. 1861, companies began to organize to repair to the seat of war, who, as a general thing, were in a great hurry, and a little jealous of the Virginia troops for fear they would whip the fight and get the glory before they, the Texas troops, could get there.This year, my brother Hezakia, myself, and Dock, the servant, made a crop, and perhaps my Father helped some, though he was not a farmer, did not like the business; he was a mechanic, and did not work regularly on the farm. I do not remember distinctly now. It makes me sad, as I pen these lines, as I can still draw the view -- our then standing crop, and remember many of the pleasant hours of enjoyment that we had -- trouble being a comparative stranger, as no grown member of the family then had died; but since then, death has taken from our embrace Father, Mother and brother, older than myself, of whom I will give a full account in the proper place.
In September, A. D. 1861, I think it was, my brother Hezekiah and five other young men from our neighborhood, sent their names to the tenth Texas Cavalry Regiment, of which Col. Lock was the commander. Aled Arp, as he is generally called, was the Captain of the Company. They hoped to remain in the State service, as the Regiment was made up for that purpose, but after remaining in the state a month, the Regiment was reorganized for Confederate service, disbanded, returned home for a short time, then rendezvoused at Coffeeville, Texas.
My brother did not seem to enjoy his stay at home; the bitter thought of having to return outweighed the pleasure of home. He was not the cheerful, light hearted boy he had ever been, consequently destroying the happiness with me that I had ever enjoyed in his association, which had been from my earliest recollection, with never more than a week at a time of separation up to the time he enlisted in the army September 1861. Although I did not enjoy his company as I had, I did not wish for the time to come for his departure. The time, however, soon rolled up, and he and the five others, to wit, T. M. Jones, A. and Hugh Gilliland, Marshall and Green Edwards.
They fitted up a two horse wagon to carry their baggage (six soldiers in the outbreak of the war, had enough to lead a span of horses), and I went to drive the team for them. My Father accompanied me, to see Col. Lock and his regiment. We arrived at the command, after a long day's drive. The soldiers were very cheerful and hopeful for our now, lost cause. My brother also, was more cheerful than when at home. His comrades all seemed extremely glad to meet him, which gave my Father and me great satisfaction. We remained three days, saw the Regiment drill -- a great sight for me. It seemed to me that there were so many, that when they got to the seat of the war, and were thrown into balance, they would be of sufficient weight to crush all opposers. Then we bade adieu to relatives and friends, as we thought in all probability forever, but in a short time the command moved near Pittsburg, from which camp my brother visited us several times. The Regiment was then ordered to Red River