TWO CIVIL WAR LETTERS BY THORNTON COZART

            My husband is a descendant of Joshua Cozart through his son Thornton Ellsworth Cozart. T. E.'s daughter Elizabeth Paralee Cozart married Stephen Robert Winton — they were my husband's great grandparents.

            I just recently received two letters Thornton wrote home during the Civil War. In the second letter he wrote his wife, Mary Jane (living in Blackjack Grove, Hunt Co., Texas) from a hospital in Smith Co., Texas (Tyler) to tell her he was ill and ask her to come get him. He died before she could get there. She was pregnant with twins at the time and one month later she gave birth; she and the twins died. The surviving four children were raised by their grandmother, Mary Jane Bowen Cozart's mother, Esther Craig Bowen.

            The letters are very neat. One was folded and the postmark is on the backside (no envelope was used).

            It is awesome to think I'm holding in my hands letters my husband's gg grandfather held in his hands in the 1860's and penned to his wife and she held them in her hands. It is all we have of them — no photos, etc.

Peggy C. Wilson, March 2002          

 

State of lousianna cado parish
may the 20 1864

Dear wife an children I wonce more seat my self to write you a few lines to let you that I am well at present an hope when these few lins come to hand they may find you an all inquiring friends ejoying the same blesing of god I have no news to write of importence to write we are living verry hard here in camp we drawed our ration yesterday to do us all day and we eat it all for breakfast we had nothing to eat till this morning one of the boys went out last night an drawed a ham of meat through the crack of the smoke house we are faring very well to day we her a hold ham we are here waiting for orders we dont where we will be ordered to yiet there is some talk of us staying here a month or two I dont think that we will stay here but few days before we will be ordered to alexandra the feds are said to be verry thick there I wish that I could see you an the children once more but i have but little hopes of geting home.

(page 2 on back of 1st page)

Direct your letters to Capt barret Co. Sweats batallion 15 texas cavelry again soon we are bound up verry tigh her we have some verry good officers amgst us an some verry over baring ons I am going to do my duty as nigh as I can an put my trust in my god an if I should neve see you again try to prepar to meet me in heaven I have writen two letters to you one from quitman [Texas] an one from tyler [Texas]

but I wont you to try to have your heavy work done dont try to do two much your self [his wife was pregnant with twins] and if you hant found your pony yet I won to trade of one yoke of your seers an get you a good gentl nag that the children can ride get some of your nubors to help your trade if henry bunta to hunt collected to

any dont try to get it until the new ?? ?? have come out I think the money will be better for a short time nothing more at pesent but remain your affectionate husban until death.

T. E. Cozart

 

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This letter was folded and addressed on the back and was postmarked so no envelope was used.

Mrs. M. J. Casort
Blackjack Grove, Hunt Co., Texas

From T. Casort
15th Texas Cavalry
Postmark is Tyler, Texas

 

the front side of the letter:

Smith County Texas
June the 14 1864

Dear companion i drop you a few lines to let you know where i am and how i am i am in the hospit at tilor and very sick with feevor and i wish would com to see me

and come prepared to take me home if they will let me go i would rather bee at home where you could wait on me i will come to a close nothing more i remain your true husban untill death

T.E. Cozarte
To Mrs. Cozarte