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- Mar 18, 2011
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The following quote is from a letter written by Sergeant George W. Dillard of Company D, 6th Mississippi Infantry to his brother Owen. It is dated April 1, 1863, from Edwards Depot, Mississippi:
April has opened most beautifully indeed. To see such beautiful weather and to hear the pretty singing of the birds makes me think of and want to be at home to see the corn coming up and being put in the ground. And, brother, it causes me to think how pleasantly we have spent our days together when little school boys; and further, to think there was a time when we both were working in the same field. And when we got tired we would meet and talk it all over relating to our farm business. We could look around us and see pa coming down to see how we were getting along; and how our hearts would gladden within us to see him coming. And then we all would walk over and consult each other about what we thought best to do next. And when meal time would come we would go out and there we would find and meet our dear mother in good humor, and ready to talk and counsel with us also, and brother-in-law, all ready to partake of anything we saw proper, and our dear father at the head of the whole of us. But what a change! O, what an unhappy change since then! And there too were the darkies ready and willing to obey any command we saw proper to give. O God! will times ever be so again? We are aware that there is a portion of it which cannot be so again. We can only hope and pray that it may be so. The great loss of our dearly beloved mother! But O! our dear mother is gone, gone from us to a far better place than this. God Grant that we all may take the good advice she gave us, both white and colored; and prepare to meet her in high heaven, when parting will be no more. Brother Owen, when I come to think how pleasantly we have spent a portion of our lives, if we only could have known it! It makes my heart almost melt within me. God grant that the time may soon come when I can return home to enjoy our friendly relationship as in days gone by.
Sergeant George W. Dillard was killed in action at the battle of Port Gibson, May 1, 1863. He is buried in Wintergreen Cemetery in Port Gibson.
A typescript copy of this letter is in the Civil War Troops Individuals Subject File at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History
April has opened most beautifully indeed. To see such beautiful weather and to hear the pretty singing of the birds makes me think of and want to be at home to see the corn coming up and being put in the ground. And, brother, it causes me to think how pleasantly we have spent our days together when little school boys; and further, to think there was a time when we both were working in the same field. And when we got tired we would meet and talk it all over relating to our farm business. We could look around us and see pa coming down to see how we were getting along; and how our hearts would gladden within us to see him coming. And then we all would walk over and consult each other about what we thought best to do next. And when meal time would come we would go out and there we would find and meet our dear mother in good humor, and ready to talk and counsel with us also, and brother-in-law, all ready to partake of anything we saw proper, and our dear father at the head of the whole of us. But what a change! O, what an unhappy change since then! And there too were the darkies ready and willing to obey any command we saw proper to give. O God! will times ever be so again? We are aware that there is a portion of it which cannot be so again. We can only hope and pray that it may be so. The great loss of our dearly beloved mother! But O! our dear mother is gone, gone from us to a far better place than this. God Grant that we all may take the good advice she gave us, both white and colored; and prepare to meet her in high heaven, when parting will be no more. Brother Owen, when I come to think how pleasantly we have spent a portion of our lives, if we only could have known it! It makes my heart almost melt within me. God grant that the time may soon come when I can return home to enjoy our friendly relationship as in days gone by.
Sergeant George W. Dillard was killed in action at the battle of Port Gibson, May 1, 1863. He is buried in Wintergreen Cemetery in Port Gibson.
A typescript copy of this letter is in the Civil War Troops Individuals Subject File at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History
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