William Thomas Ford, son of Manley Ford and Elizabeth Talley was born about 1827 in Charlotte Co., VA. On January 28, 1851, in Tipton Co., TN, he married Melissa Dorcus Thompson, daughter of Dorcus McCord and a Mr. Thompson. She was born about 1823 in NC. The Ford family had been in Tipton Co., since 1833. By 1854, this particular branch had moved to TX. These are the transcriptions of old letters, that Edwin Jackson of New York, NY , was so kind as to send me copies of. I typed them just as they were written, no corrections in the spellings or punctuation. Some of them are very rough, as the copies were not very clear. (The letters were written on one sheet of   paper, that was also the envelope. All surfaces of  both sides of the sheet was written on, so the ink had a tendency to soak through to the opposite side of the paper, thus making it even harder to read.)

Letters

State of Tennesse Tipton County feb 11th 1854

Dear Sister

This night I seat meself to wright you a few liens to let you no thahat were on the land of the living look out but this is mee wrighting to you an what I Say to you is So that is the ?hat of it now goon (unreadable) ratting kiling if you hav any in you conty

This is the 2 letter that a hav sent to you that is the family if the reason why you dont wright to me is that you hav not gotthe pape it is not plenty their an it is high and you cant make the monney to bye it That is sich a fone place (unreadable) tom I have one the finest boys you ever seen except si? I will not say any thing more about him at this time as he is not at home he has bin down in hatchy bottom hunting for the last week. Tom you aught to see him it (unreadable) do you more good than a litter This is night an it is late to be up but that is nothin when I am writing a bout the (unreadable) of  that for it tanterry (unreadable) that can say that so when one can say that they to do it wod dun the most good in the world to hav bin ther to se him laugh the other day at cort at the boy and speaking O it dun him so much good to ?hen them turn over and cher.

N P

Yarbro Mifs S

Yarbro

(Of all the letters, this was the hardest to transcribe. It doesn't make a  bit of sense to me. I went over it several times,and it seems to be nothing more than ramblings. While I have your attention, whenever you see an f next to an s it is the same as ss, such as Miss or Tennessee. It was written that way back then.)

Dear Sister I embrce this opertunity of Writing you a few lines to let you no  that we air all well at this time hoping these few lines may find you all enjoying the same state of health I received a letter from you 6 of this month which I red with pleasure to hear that you ware all well and doing   well. I have nothing of importance to write to you at this time except Mother is down in hatchy bottom and has bin for the nerly two weeks her and pink is Just a like when they ware in hatchy bottom no place would do them but egyt and now no place wil do but down there Mr Marshell has come back from vergenie he only got one negro girl an sold her for 9 hundred dollars it cost him about one hundred dollars to go and come old Mr yarbro is going to have one of the bigest fandanggos you ever seen they air going to have a Gin razing and a quilting  you ware wanting to no how Mrs Dearing was She was weell the last time I herd from her that was two or three weeks ago. Malissa I want you to send me word what sort of place texas is and what sort of people lives there an what they follow for a livelyhood an evry thing  about it so turn to the right an you will find some more stuff

Dyret your letters to concordy Fayet County

Melissa your old neighbor the widow goforth is Married to the revernt Mr Rasmus Rose (or Rone) he went to see her daughter and could not shine and had to take the old hen at last  Malissa you need not believe all goss said about (hole in paper) fine sone for it is the most ordinary child you ever seen it is nothing to compur with Marcus and you no he was a very ordinary child. give my love to Emaline an the children. tell Emeline I am very much oblige to her for riting so often  an I will answer her letters the first opperunity. Malissa egyp is one of the greatest places you ever seen except hatchy bottom their is as clever people heir as ever you seen an some of the prettyest young gentlemen there you ever did see an their was one of the pretyest young gents heir last sunday you nerer dident see I may as well come to a close as I have nothing  of importance to rite at this time. M tell tom to play on his old fiddle an lern as many tuns as posible Cis kiss Jim an Mark on the right cheek for me. give my love to all enquiring faces espetialy the pretty boys if their be any their an keep a double porton to your self. So nothing more but remaines your sister until death

From Mary E. Thompson To Mrs Melissa Ford

Dear brother and sister it is with the greatest pleasure theat I finger my pen for the 2 time to in form you that our helth is good at this time an hoping these lines may find you all en joying the same blesing I reseiced 2  letters yesterday from you all one dated march the 19 and the other the 5 which I red wth Joy I was glad to hear that you ware all well and pleased  with your move. I must say something About the times we have the Coldest and hotest Spring that I ever seen or felt I Began to scrape cotton yesterday I worked an our or so it began to rain an hail just about night an to day is too Cold to be plesent my corn has benn bit down but now is (unreadable) and to he?lf leg (unreadable) wheat (unreadable) and oats is good. cabbage is 12 cents sugar 5 (unreadable) (unreadable) 22 and you know that just (unreadable) me I will (the rest of the page is all unreadable) tom I want to no whther your horse Can run like use to or not if can run like he did that Sunday I will bet 500 dollars none can beet him from 1 to 3 mile tom they have sent brovelby (I think) to nashville at least for the same (unreadable) from Jackson my first ? shops so plain that you will have to look close to see wht you are doing - P. P. Collier (the next three or four lines are so illegible that I can not decipher them) Frank he is at work George Bibb in Covington 20 dollars per month,, my overseer has left me. I have15 acres in cotton son (about eight lines of unreadable writing)

(next page) We are lookking for W I every night I will ??unch of on something fit to eat I want you an Emeline to quit the trouble untill your old men makes some bred for tom was grumling in his letter to Charles a bout  Willey and boys eating to much when corn woos high   I must tel you that jos yarbro lives in sight of John turnes he workes Johnes place ?one is geting as f??t as much she out (a line of unreadable) you tom ford for the balance.   Mother is compling with her most every day Margaret  is going to right a letter to Tomas thopson he is knocking the he took one horse with him and bet Another and the nuts kiled both of them

I must come to a close by saying one will right us soon as you get my letter so nothing more but remines your brother

D M Ford Mrs E Thompson P C Thompson

Mother sends her best love to you all

(This letter was so very hard to read, because the ink was very wet, and soaked onto the other side of the pages, and made reading almost impossible.)

Miscellaneous Information  The following was sent to me by: Travis E. McDonald, of Goodyear, AZ.

Whether this was voluntary or he was drafted is unknown. He joined 13 January 1863, and was enrolled in Company H of the 7th Texas Infantry Regiment. This regiment was composed primarily of men from the Marshall and Waco areas. It was formed by H. B. Granbury, who later became Brigadier General and was killed at he battle of Franklin, Tennessee on 30 November 1864. William Thomas Ford was taken prisoner on that date. William Thomas' physical description, from his military records, indicates a height of 5 feet 10 inches, black hair, black eyes and dark complexion.  

He was taken to Camp Douglas in Chicago where he died on 3 January 1865. He entered the prison hospital on the 2nd of January and died the next day. Cause of death is listed as a 'fever'. He was buried in grave 391, block 2 of Chicago City Cemetery. As Chicago expanded and the need for land grew, the 6000 or so Confederates who died as POWs in Camp Douglas were dug up and moved to a common grave in Oakwood Cemetery. There is a memorial marker for these 6000 at the site of the grave.

The history of the 7th Texas is worth commenting on. Organized early in the war. it was involved in some 40 actions, campaigns, and battles. Before William Thomas joined it, it had fought and been captured at Fort Donelson by U. S. Grant. This was where Grant first became 'newsworthy' and where he first used 'unconditional surrender' as the only terms he would accept. After parole and exchange, they fought in most of  the major battles and campaigns of the Army of Tennessee. William Thomas joined the regiment sometime after its initial battles.

We have a copy of a letter William Thmas wrote to his wife shortly after the battle of Chickamaugua, GA in 1863. It is well worth quoting as it shows that he was not totally uneducated and to show the formality used in correspondence at that time, even among families. It is important to consider, in reading this, that it was written shortly after one of the bloodiest battles of the war, a battle that had lasted several days and where a number of his friends and neighbors had been killed or seriously wounded.

Before Chattanooga, Tenn

October 12, 1863

Mrs D. M. Ford

Dear Wife:

The last time I wrote you was from Enterprise, Mississippi by Captain Forest of our company which I hope you have received. From Enterprise we were ordered to this place to reinforce General Bragg who was at that time slowly  falling back before Old Rosecrans. We arrived at Ringgold (this is the termination of the railroad) on the 19th of September and that night we were ordered to cook up four days rations. Early next morning we took up the line of march toward the enemy in the direction of Chattanooga. We marched all that day in 'line of battle' and about dark we met a small force of the enemy whom we soon put to flight. We slept on our arms the balance of the night and about 9:00 the next morning the loud booming of cannon and the roar of musketry on our right announced to us that The Great Battle of 'Chickamaugua had really commenced. Our brigade did not become engaged however until about 3:00 P.M. We drove them successively from one position to another, though it must be confessed with fearful loss. The battle continued all day Saturday and Sunday and the Yankees, completely routed and disorganized, filed in utter confusion to Chattanooga, where they now remain apparently intending to stand a siege from our forces.

The results of the victory were most important to us. We captured 43 pieces of cannon, 2300 small arms, 26 stands of colors, 7500 prisoners and wagons and ambulances to a considerable extent. Our entire loss was very heavy, not less than 10,000. Theirs must have been greater. Our regiment lost 8 killed and 82 wounded out of 160. Our company went into the first days fight with 19 men. The second day we only had 6 left. Of these, only one was killed and that, I regret to say, was poor John Frazer who was killed late Saturday evening only a short time before the battle was won.   He was bravely and > nobly doing his duty and had been throughout the fight. He was shot in three places, through the thigh, hand , and side which caused his death. He lived until Monday morning and was buried on the battlefield and his grave  was marked. I was not with him when he died, though Lieutenant Craig was. I came out of the battle unhurt. Peavy was not in the fight as he was sick and had to be left in Ringgold.

The First Texas was also in the fight and several of the boys from Marion (county) were killed and wounded. Jack Thomas, Jake Durrum, and Frank Blackburn were mortally wounded and since died. Frank had his leg taken off.   Will Durrum was seriously wounded in the head but I think he will recover. George Matthews was not hurt. Lucien Thomas and Lewis Todd were not here as they were taken prisoner in Pennsylvania.  

I hope this letter will find you all well and doing well. I am exceeding anxious to see you all once more but of course, cannot tell when that happy day will arrive. I hope it will not be very long. Be sure to write to me by Mr. Sturdivant as he returns with letters for us. He will advertise his arrival and departure in the Marshall paper where you will have to send your letter directed to the care of the postmaster so that he may get it. His postage is one dollar for a letter.

My respects to my friends and love to yourself and the children.

Affectionately;

Your Husband, W. Ford

Direct your letter to me in Co. H, Texas Infantry,

Braggs Brigade

(Further notes from Travis Ford)

Some further information on Company 'H' of the 7th Texas infantry. The roster indicates that about 112 men were in its ranks during the war. Of  those, 52 were killed or died of disease, including William Thomas. He was one of 10 who died at Camp Douglas. Only about 10 or 12 survived death, injury, capture, or transfer to surrender and be paroled in North Carolina at the end of the war. A small number apparently survived captured and Prison camp.  

From this battle, the 7th Texas was involved in the subsequent siege of  Chattanooga which ended with the battle of Missionary Ridge. This was followed with the slow retreat to Atlanta with the several intervening  battles. These battles were fierce and Cleburne's division suffered heavily. The battles around Atlanta wee followed by Sherman breaking loose and heading East on his famous march to the sea while the Confederate army headed  North to try to cut Sherman's supply line, which he had abandoned anyway. The Confederate Army was virtually destroyed in the battles of Franklin and Nashville in late November/early December of 1864. General Granbury, the regimental commander and General Cleburne, the division commander were killed in the Battle of Franklin (as were 4 other Confederate generals). William Ford was taken prisoner.

After the war, Dorcas Melissa found herself a widow with 5 sons to raise.  She managed to buy the farm she was living on which  was 275 acres about a mile and a half from Lodi. I remember having the old home place being   pointed out to me as a child, though no sign of a house ever being there was  evident. Much of this land is now owned by Dan Hicks, a great grandson of  William and Dorcas.

August 11, 1854

Dear Son

I take this opportunity of witing you a few lines to inform you that my Self an family are well at present hopeing theese lines may find you and family enjoying a like greatble?ring I received yours In July which gave me great pleasure to hear you were all well and well pleased. I have deferd writing In hopes of haveing somthing more faverable but haveing nothin more favorable I must give you a history of the time and prospeekes here. the helth of the County is good at this time tho the month of may and part of June theare were so mutch rain that wee had to plow in mud nerly all thee time and during that time there were a great deal of Sicknefs the diseese was Colry and (unreadable) ?ad gret many deaths T Howard (I think) died this feb(unreadable) of June of Inflamation of the bladder M. B. Talley died on the 20th with tyfoid flevr three of her brothers and sisters were sick but are getting well J P Tally is determened to move back to virginia Wee have  very bad crops here owing to too mutch wet and too mutch dry. We have very little rain since the first of June and the hotest weath Generaly wee have had since thirty four and Corne is burnt to the year or where the year aught  to be. Cotton is very small and and stands not jenerly good and is now failing very fast and great complaint of rust in cotton. some of the people of haywood are cutting there corn down and stack it, wheat crops were very short and that not good hardly woth geting out yet asking one dollar and fifty cents per bushel everything is scarce and high here corn too dollars an fifty cents and scarce bacon six to eight dollars per hundred flower four dollars per hundred at the mill we heve no vegitabes but a few Irish potatoes it is so dry that cabbages has dried up and thee beans cant bloom I cant say what corn will be worth this fall I was offered too dollars the other day for mine but would not sell I dont think it can be bought for that price at all (ink smear) any (ink smear) where in my knolege the neighburs are generaly well and look about like they did when your all left here since riting Joel received a letter from bolliver informing him the sorry crops and some sicknefs In all of your familys and some of you in clines to a better grain County. I want you to write to me what you intend to do and hand this of  Tommy and bolliver and I want you all to say to me what you are likely to do that I may no what to do my intention was to move there this fall or winter but its (unreadable) that you are dissatisfied and I dont no what to do until I can here from you all difinately it is to be with you all and to enjoy your   sosiety the evening of my life but if I an to be depraved of that wee had bette move to some othe County and not have the pain of seperating a gain i want you all to write and to write advisingly that I my no how to make my arrangement I have written this for you all as you are living so close together that it is unnessary to rite the same thing to each one in seperate letters

I must conclude this part of my apistle by subscibeing my self your loveing father till death

Manly Ford to W.T. Ford T Thompson H. B. G. Welson

I take my pen to write again a few more lines to you all wee are all well at present hope these lines may fiend you are well I have nothing now to rite Your mother is very willing to move there if you are all satisfied there if you think that is to be your home say so if not say so as wee are all anxious to no as wee may no what to do for it depends on you all whether wee move ther or not what do you think of kansis teritory or arkaansas (unreadable) We shall move in some where this fall or winter I received a letter from Tommy the last of July Im farming with his fine daughter (blank) that and its mother was doing well and (unreadable) Joe Talley was difsatisfied and intended le??ing there and that Ann had a fine daughter an doing well I want to see you all very mutch and thee time seem very long for me to have that pleasure but I am in hopes the lord will spare our lives and eenabla us to meet again and enjoy you sciety many days to come the Children are all goinf to School at this time (unreadable) Bois at sharp Schoolhous and the sheler to a singing scool they have improved very fast in singing as well as in (unreadable) (unreadable) Joel is a real ladys man John (unreadable) is a real dandy loving fellow if you were to meet them you would hardly no them (unreadable) goes to them singing and is learning some and think as mutch of the girls as any of the boys your mother sends her love to you all and to each one of your children and to kifs them all for me

I must conclude by subscribing ourselves your lovingparrents untill death

Manly Ford

Elizabeth Ford

N B (space) Joel says he think too much of the girls to bring one there to ha?? an (unreadable) (unreadable) in the side as big as (unreadable) mill ha ha too (unreadable) from shellegh Mifs Koonces an am afraid that I shant be able to get him away from hear atall John thinks of hinting one in the valley of the (unreadable) Charles and Sarah send ther love to you all an remember them to all of thee Children Joel Jhon Chares Sarah Emmilin you and Ann must rite the names of your children and Malifsa must  rite what she intends to call hers I must conclud

Give my love to Joseph Talley and family Spence thigpen and family J. D. Wesson and family it would be a pleasure to read a letter from my (unreadable) at any time

yours (unreadable) untill death from

> Manly Ford Elizabeth Ford W. T. Ford T. Thompson B. G. Wefson

N.B. I saw Pernet three weaks ago for the first time since she left for texas and she gives a bad account of texas

Elizabeth Ford

(N. B. must be the same as P. S. is to us now)

Tennessee tipton county September 16, 1854

Dear sister we received your letter yesterday with much pleasure to hear that you ware all well I have nothing of importence to rite at this time Mother and Pink and mary went to Mr Ford yesterday to go to the (blank spot on page) meeting (blank spot) in ?? went to the Campmeeting at Clopto? Malisa I dont no what to rite but the widow bird has a (unreadable) in and no dady Pane ann l?gan married Chni? Sharp Adline came up last monday doe the first time this year and went back wednesday when I went to adaline i w? shen (washed?) th?ee white counterpens susan miller is going to be married to doctor tu?ner I am before long I want to See you all vary bad malisa i picked one hundread an forty too pouns of Cotton in one day and lost about three pouns at that Pornet ballard profst religion and Lined (Joined?) the methodest church and mary marshll porfet at the Campmeeing ??at said Jim gommason Come to see nancy to day ?h?nry ???s oldest girl married his one Cousin and his youngest girl next thursday to Mr John Cozzel pink is invited to the wedding Malissa I hardly no what to say as pinkney and Margaret has come so near finishing the paper. I went down to hudsons school house last saturday to the big meting an staid til monday I was at mr Fords they ware all well william Malugin preached his first sermon last satuday nite (blank) is going to join conference Malisa I have no more (blank) now I will try an rite to you and Emaline in a week or too. give my love to all inwuireing friends and keep a potion to yourself

Mary E. Thompson

(lower part of letter, in a different script, more

masculine)

tomas ford it is with pleasure that I take my pen in han To in form you of   the helth at this time it is better then I ever ??ow I belief and he?s bin all summer you aught to be here to see Jo and John flying round the girles Jo nocks b??k of all the boys in ?uten he can get all the Miss coonce and that   is not half I think Jo will take A wife before he goes to texas it is douftfuk Mr ford going out this faul Mr ford told me that I had better come down and see the widdo howerd She gets A childs part of every thing but the land an she will get het part of the ???n and the houses her life time we (unreadable) (unreadable) the (unreadable) year I ever saw. I was glad to hear from you in my letter (unreadable) is worth 3 dollars at the (unreadable) Cotton is not seling at all as I noof my neighbors seays I have the best Crop they have seen I wont make mre than 5 or 6 barles of corn to the acre an 5 booles of Cotton we have wet wether Cotton is neer a bout done opeining I have 2400 (unreadable) I would to see you all very much tom.

(I don't know if the signature is from Tom, or if the writer says that he misses Tom, I believe it is the later.)

September the 18 1854

Dear ?other it is with pleasure that I drop you a few lines to let you no how er are we are all well but me I feel verry unwell I am hardly able to wright  this lettter the ??il road will run in 3 miles of me I belief. the fourth depot will be at the fur? (unreadable) of the wiebo(unreadable) lain at the hogpen on top of the hill next to belmont it has the name of masons ? hogpen depot frank talks of going out there this winter Peskinny Came home a few days before your letter came I (unreadable) he put Charley out of the notion of texas this faul (unreadable) Could Stomp him. kinny sais that he could not yet (unreadable) thing to eat or feed with Frank is geting (unreadable) I wont you to tel garner to an see us this winter Tel will I would like to see them verry (once again this portion Sends her love to one and all of the letter is missing) lov to all inquireing friends and (Unreadable) to your self and so on (unreadable) jim pool kild danil brown last winter (unreadable) pool lived on a bout a mile an w?halp of us and now he is going to go to nashville for 3 years an a half Mother sends here best love to you all

James Thompson

Pinkney Thompson

(All the above was addressed to Thomas Ford of Daingerfield, Titus Co. Texas)

Tenn. Tipton County June 10, 1854 (very beautiful script)

Der friends I rite you a few lines to let you Know that we are all well at this time and hope this may find you all well I receved your letter a few days ago and was glad to here from uou all and that you (unreadable) wa? Sattiefied with the Country i have nothing to rite you of any interest times is tollerable dull here at this time we have had the wettest Spring here i ever Seen Since i have been in the destrict. our land has not been in good plow order during the hole month of may and part of april it has not rained much this month our land has just got. So we can plow the last week Corn and Cotton looks very badly for the time of year i finished Cutting wheat yesterday and it was hardly worth Cutting the mist and wet wet wether ruined all the wheat Crop in the County i am making prepation for moving i have plowed nerly all my Cotton up the last week and planted Corn the lice killed Some and the ballance got drowned i have (unreadable) 2 acres left my Corn Crop looks very well considering the wet wether oats are fine Corn is worth 250 cents a barrel four 350 cents hundred pounds Covington is ?ising it has five Stores and 2 groceryes Miller Larrimore and Conrad dacus has put up a fine grocery Ephraim Smith and Shivy has got a Store and Mr Che(v or r)y from (blank) moptown has a big Store in Ha?en old Stan Rowlet Bragg and Ben Retherford went a fisning about the first of may and got tight went to rastling and Rowlett got his leg Broke he is able to walk on Krutches a little now Mrs braggs father and mother is here now tha are going to wait until fall and go with Rowlett when he moves I dont Expect the live very far from you but not in th Same County he goes through dangerfield when he goes to Shreiveport the Collery is Said to be tollerable bad now in memphis Some 3 or 4 died with it on (unreadable) indian Creek not long ago the old friends is all well as far as i Know i have not Seen any of your fathers people for some time i dont no how tha are frank is at work with George bibb tha are working now at brags for ?rayton Smith building a fine portico in front of his house he wants to sell again i would like to see texas (unreadable) well be moving but it is so far just to look i dont think i can Come if i Come at all we will all be to gether me and marshal expectsto take a tramp this Summer in arkansas and if we dont like it may be we will go on to texas i beleive i have told you all i can think of at this time (unreadable) has nothing turnup since you left but what you have herd Evrything Goes on as usual tell Thomas i have not Collected any more mony for him yet Give my Respect to tom and Emuline Chas H. Hutchison

Tipton County tennessee Concorcty (?)

Dear sister I again take up my pen to inform you that we air all well at presant hoping when these lines comes to hand they may find you all enjoying good health we received a letter from you today that was backed to Margaret which we red with pleasure too hear that you ware all well and doing well I suppose by the way you brag on your garden and ireish potatoes your garden me be earlier than ours but no better we have the finest beets you have seen lately and has bin eating theme for a month as for cewcumbers and white head cabage we have bin eatimg theme so long I cant tell when we did conserve as for ireish potatoes they have bin an evry day thing so long I have forgotton when they did come in you ware speaking of the wet weather we had a very wet spring but we are dry now to make up for it a good raon now would do most everything good our crops air suffering for the want of it we have very fine corn and Cotton crops heir this year but wheat is very sorry I herd one of our neighbors soud 8 bushels and made (?) Pinckneg will make 25 to 30 bushels of 4 acors we will have it out in a week or too if you will come over we will send a peck of it to mill and have some blackberry dumple and honey stird up together I no your children is fond of honey and we have plenty of that I suppos you herd that sarah had a fine boy and ??line a girl but Emeline beat theme all they have not named theme yet William ? speaks of serting to virginia for a name for his I must tell you something about the fourth of July we had the finest barbacu an emanination at ebonezar prehaps and Muzic tyil you could not rest Melissa we received a letter from yarner the other day he says he is coming back s soon as his time is out if not before it Melissa I have nothing of importance to rite at this time Mother sends her love to all and thomas and Emeline and the children she says she wants to see you all very bad she says to tell James and willy to be good boys you may kiss James and Marcus on the rite side of the left cheek for me tell Jimma (?) and wille to come over and go with us to the barn dance next week tell Emmeline to hold on to the willow till she hears from me again and I will send that little one a name worth nameing it. Mary young and Thomas and sis camee over to see us yesterday they send their love too you all. Mr Ford I must say a word too you before I leave you wanted to no who I was flying around I can tell you I (?) fly a round all of the time so fast they cant begin to catch up you Wanted too no where franklin was working in Covington at the institute a time health is tolerable good heir at this have herd of some few deaths but none in this old Mr thomas howard is dead. you must bad writing I will try and do better next time more at present but remains your sister unt give my love too all enquiring friends and ke double potion too your selvs From Mary E. too Wm T and Dorcus M Ford

July the 16th 1854

Return to Tipton County Main Page
© 2003 Tipton County Coordinators