The following clip was published in the Union City Daily Messenger on April 16th, 1942:

“OBION COUNTY WOMAN HAS SOLDIER’S LETTER DATED ATLANTA, APRIL, 1864.

For many, many years now, Obion county citizens have been receiving letters from their boys at the front.

One of the treasured possessions of Mrs. Sam Pool of near Crystal is a letter, dated April 18, 1864, written by her uncle, Green Matthews, from Atlanta, GA., a soldier in the Confederate army, who later lost his life in that war and never returned to Tennessee.

The letter follows:

Dear Father:

I take this opportunity of writing you a few lines to inform you of my welfare, hoping this will find you all well. I have not heard from home since I saw Lieutenant Hartsfeite and received a pair of sock by him. I am still at work in the government shoe shop. I am doing better here than at the Front, though I would rather come home and see you all if I could. Times are very hard here and provisions very high.

Bacon is worth $5 a pound, meal from $10 to $15 a bushel, flour $1.25 per pound, and everything else in proportion. I have nothing of interest to write so I must close for the present. I remain your affectionate son till death.

GREEN MATTHEWS

Dear Mother:

I cannot close this letter without giving you a few lines. I was glad to hear that my sisters are well, but you did not mention my little brother. I took it for granted, however, that he was well too when you wrote. You spoke about father’s coming. I would be very glad to see him. I add no more, but my respects to the family. I remain your affectionate son till death.

GREEN MATTHEWS

The author of the letter was a brother of Mrs. Pool’s mother, Mrs. Joe Janes. Mrs. Janes was born in Gibson county, but moved with her family to this county at about the time of the Civil War. Whether Green Matthews enlisted from Obion or Gibson counties is not known.”