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