ROBERT THOMAS SIMMONS LETTERS - CSA #16A(rr)

Selma Ala. March 15th 1965 My Dear Wife I will try & write a Short note to you in order that you may know that I landed here Safe I was on the road two days. when I got to Bennet's Station he told me there would be no train through that day & advised me to go home and stay until wednesday. I told him no and walked on down the railroad to Leis Station took dinner with Bill Davis and then got on a freight train and went down as far as Arington's & went to George Torry's & Staid all night. then walked to the river next morning. Got here about 8 oclock last night found my officers in a fine humor but Still had nothing for me to do. So I went and Staid with J Bonds last night and then reported back at Col. Hunts office this morning and he Still had nothing for me to do but said he would assign me to duty this evening he sais he will send me out after some men who have ran away and speaks of keeping me for that duty. I dont like the duty for it is dangerous and disagreeable but I Shall do what ever I am ordered to do I expect I will be up in north Ala. a good portion of my time

ROBERT THOMAS SIMMONS LETTERS - CSA #17

Livingston, Ala

March 17th 1865

Dear Wife

I am still in Livingston. I got to Mr. Hainsworth's last night. He lives about 8 miles from this place. He appeared perfectly willing to go with me to Selma but could not go until tomorrow so I am lying over at this. I wrote to you day before yesterday and mailed the letter yesterday (at least I gave it to a friend) to mail as he came the station. I wrote in that letter about sending some thread to you. I suppose the thread is at ?Bennets? Station before now . Hanly is detailed here at this place. He will start home in a day or two. John Thomas is at home, a great many of our prisoners are coming home on parole now.

I am expecting to see some of our boys every day. Mollie you must write to me, you will address to follows Lieut R T M Simnons, Selma, Ala. Nothing more but remain your own affecionate husband.

Thom

x x R T M Simmons

ROBERT THOMAS SIMMONS LETTERS - CSA #18

NOTE: No location - No date
Another 2nd page(?)

Mollie you must write all the news. Tell Etta to write. I will write to her soon. My love to Grandma and all inquiring friends. I can't collect any money yet.--(?)--

I supose you might get salt in Livingston at government prices. I have tried to get some coffee (?) coppras (3) for you but failed to get it. I will get some as soon as I draw some money. I think I shall (?) a months pay soon. I would love to write a long letter to you but have no change now. I just bought paper to write one letter. . cost 50 cents. Domestic is worth from $10 to $15 per yard in this place. Calico is worth from 22 to 30 dollars per yard. Be sure to write soon and often. How is Robert coming on with his lame leg. Well I must quit and try a get some dinner. I have got money to buy one dinner.

(no signature)

ROBERT THOMAS MICHELBERRY SIMMONS LETTERS - Mack #19

ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY
Office of Train Master
? 11-25-1891 ? (or 1897 ?)

Mr R T M Simnons & wife

Meridian, Miss.

Dear Father and Mother:

Again I am blessed-?-opportunity of writing you all a-?-. It has been continually raining-?-night, and the work that I am-?-. I am working at the Steam-?-just 3 miles north of-?- by track.

Sunday night. Well again I will-? write a little more. I have just finished making out my-?-monthly-?-which is a job and we have had only-?-all evening too. It is still raining and the mud there is -?-.

Well my gang was cut today, down to 3 men. So there wont be quite so much in it for me. I checked them this morning for $-?-and last month for $-?-. I-?-pretty soon to-?-I want to build a nice & neat one and-?-to date if nothing prevents -? have enough to do so by Xmas. I will-?-to see you all by that time?-of month. Just think-?-nearly three years since I was home. I am so anxious to-?-be with you all once with you all once more. You ought to see Emma-she is fat as a guinea pig. I weigh about 155-? pounds now, more than Ive weighed since I came so near dying this summer. The Good Lord has blessed us this year. I am out of -?-debt-?-something over too. Tell all of the children I am coming home Xmas and I will try to get Old Santa Claus to come over with me. Ask what they want him to bring them this time. I am so anxious to see all of you, but will try to tough it out until Xmas.

I have been mad at myself ever since I didn't keep Kellie over here with me. He would have been so much company for Emna & she could have kept him up in his studies. Tell Nip Emma is good-?-of him so much.

Must excuse this short letter but we have to-?-get up so early and work so-?-late-?-any too much sleep. I am-?-dreading my work next week so-?-and still-?-I hafter-?-keep a watch man day and night and then can't sleep many nights. I will close with much love to -?-.

Your devoted son and daughter Mack and Emna Simnons

P S Papa pay my tax and I will settle with you very soon.

Mackey

ROBERT THOMAS MICHELBERRY SIMMONS LETTERS - Texas #20

Waco, Texas

Febry 17th 1911

Mr. R.T.M. Simmons

My dear old Comrade.

If you knew the pleasure it gave me to hear from you and to know that you are yet living, it would make you happy. I received your letter on the 8th inst and read it with so much pleasure that I have read it over two or three times. It brings back to memory so many things that occurred when we were defending our homes and country that I love to cherish them, although many of them were very painful. My memory is so filled with (?) and with occurrences of those days that I could write a book of incidents about men and officers, companies and regiments, brigades and divisions, but none are more vivid than the thing? which took place on Lookout Mountain that rainy, foggy day--the 24th of November 1863. And none of those are more distinct in my mind than the helpless condition in which I found you wounded and bleeding to death, with no one giving you any attention. Do you remember that I got salt and had you cram your mouth full of it to stop the bleeding? It stopped it and saved your life--so I acted the surgeon as well as the nurse.

I recollect all about putting you in the wagon and seeing to it that you got to the railroad so you would be certain to get to a hospital and have attention. I expect I remember many incidents connected with your case that you do not, for the fact was you were so dazed with suffering and weak from loss of blood that I wonder you can remember as much as you do. While it is a pleasure to me to know that I was a help to you in your needs I take no credit for doing what was my duty to do for a suffering brother; and it is a consolation to know that if I did not save the Confederacy, I did save the life of a dear comrade, and to know you are yet living and have not forgotten me.

I and John Maggard of Co. A are the only members of our regiment who are living here in Waco. Others have lived here, but are dead and there are some scattered all through Texas. Simnons, a cousin of yours--of your Company ?K? who lost a leg on Lookout, is living in Buck, Texas, but I have not seen him since 1895. Your Lieutenant Saunders died several years ago in Louisiana, and Lieut Bingham is preaching some where in Mississippi. What has become of Capt McMoore? I have not heard of him for many years -- is he living yet?

You write of old comrades in Livingston - Capt Jones of CoC and San Sprotte of Co A are all that I know of our old regiment who are living there. Col Higley and C L Gully have been dead ten or fifteen yeaIs, Major Willett has been dead for twenty years, and Col Coleman died in Birmingham last year. The old comrades are going fast -- many more dead than living, and soon all will have crossed the mysterious chasm, which separates the living and the dead, and will stand the old Confederate Army on the plains of eternity.

Since my article on Mr McMullen and our old flag I have received a letter that the flag is in Livingston in the care of daughters of Col Gully. Write me, for I love to hear from you --- and old comrades ---and tell me about oId comrades, and about everything of interest, and belive me

Your friend and comrade.

W. C. Dodson

OBERT THOMAS MICHELBERRY SIMMONS LETTERS - Texas #21

Waco, Texas

Nov 14, 1911

My dear old comrade and friend.

I got your letter of Febry 29 telling me of the death of so many of our old comrades, and also of your feeble health. That is the last I have heard from you, but trust you are in better health now, and that you are in your old age enjoying the fruits of a well spent life, with a well grounded hope of that which is to come.

I was glad that you wrote to me about so many of our old comrades, for I feel an interest in each and all of them, and am glad so many are yet living; although they are comparatively few, and far between. John Maggard and myself are the only ones here of our old regiment, but we have some of the 54th Alabama, which was in our brigade, after you were disabled. Capt Jones of Livingston, died in August, so that as far as I know Sam Sprott is the only man of our old Fortieth left there. I learn that our old flag is in the hands of Colonel Gully's daughters--all safe so that is one thing the Yankees never captured.

When you see the Culpeppers give them my kindest regards. I am glad to hear of them -- they were true men and good soldiers. Dear Clint Houston is gone, but I am glad Robert Houston and Col Stone are yet living. I am, and have been for several months, a helpless cripple, and am now just able to hobble about the house with a stick. Ever since the war I have suffered with an old hurt in my hip which gave me a great deal of trouble, and this summer the Sciattica attacked my hip and right leg, and I am afraid it has made me a cripple for life. I have to sit and write on my knee, and make a poor out at it.

Write to me when you can for it gives me pleasure to hear from you. This time 48 years ago we were on the slope of Lookout, and the 24th of this month will be 48 years since that Yankee shot you in the mouth, and I thank our heavenly Father that he has spared you so long."

In friendship

WC Dodson

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