February 1864

It has been an unusually cold winter here.  
It seems that the cold, just settles in-between 
the Mountains and will not move for any force 
on this earth.  Spring is not that far away.  
Ah, Spring.  The very thought of it brings 
warming thoughts of promises to come. New grass 
for the creatures of this earth, new hopes for 
those of us who still dream of an end to this 
blessed War.  I look down at my youngest son, 
Stephen Decater and wonder what this world will 
hold for him.  He is so young, thank goodness 
to remember the horrors of this War.  He will 
be two years old come April 18th.  At least he 
has a birthday to look forward to.  Many a young 
lad, will have that dream no more, for they have 
given the ultimate in this War, their life.  

Dear Uncle Abraham is still in hiding.  It is 
told, by the Negroes in the area, that Abraham 
is Crusoe's father, that he was given Crusoe a 
very large sum of money and told him to leave 
the area, get as far away as he could from this 
cursed War.  But Crusoe, being so devoted to 
Abraham and his family, continues to sneak food 
in bundles of fodder, to Abraham when he goes 
off to do his work.  Now, honestly, if someone 
had given you, a slave, a vast sum of money, 
would you hang around and continue to stay here 
when you could get away from this War, go far 
away where it would not harm you?  It is all 
just a gathering of gossip, brought on by the 
idleness that this War causes.  They have 
nothing better to do, then to create these 
stories, which in turn, unbeknown to them, 
causes my husband's family to be in a constant 
state of turmoil from the worry of whether they 
will be raided by the Federal Troops or that of 
guerillas like Champ Fuerguson.  

I have heard that a Senator John B. Henderson of
Missouri, has proposed in the Union Congress, a 
joint resolution to abolish slavery, once and for 
all.  I believe that this should come about, as 
no one, should be held in bondage for any reason.  
To be taken from their families and sold like 
cattle.  But if I were to voice my opinion, 
Heaven forbid, my neighbors, even my own family 
would chastise me for my beliefs.  So I keep 
them to myself.  I have always tried to treated 
ourpeople fairly and with human compassion.  

There have been many skirmishes around the area, 
including one not far from here on the Calf Killer 
River around the first of this Month.  It is said,
that Federal Scouts came upon and captured many 
notorious Rebels under Champ Fuerguson.  They are 
accused of engaging in many horrendous crimes, 
including murder, robbery and even rape.  These
groups of guerillas are made up of mostly absentee 
deserters, paroled soldiers, and Rebel citizens.  
It is told that they rob the good folks of all 
they have and then are going over into North 
Carolina and selling the goods for outrageous 
prices.  It is not enough that we have to deal 
with the injustices that War brings upon us, but 
we also have to suffer at the hands of the men 
that engage in this guerilla warfare, praying on 
the very people that they grew up with and know.  

It is also been told that Union General Sherman is 
advancing from Vicksburg, MS.  His forces have had 
a few skirmishes with that of our gallant General, 
Nathan Bedford Forest.  There was one at Prairie
Station, and  also West Point and Ellis Bridge.   
All of this taking place in Mississippi.  There 
has also been more fighting on the Calf Killer in 
recent days.  It seems to never end.  Will this 
never end?