James Henry Lauriston ("Lar") Hull

4th Sergeant, Company F., 10th Texas Cavalry, Confederate States Army
Enlisted October 1861 and Surrendered May 26, 1865

Civil War Letter Collection, prob. Bonham, TX - 1864

Transcribed by J. Brinkoeter

Rain, Rain, Rain! That is the cry with every farmer and every stock raiser and every other farmer. There has been but two or three little rains here since last summer. The creeks are all dry, perfectly hard. The river is very low. The farmers have not all finished planting corn! The cold weather has not broken yet. The fruit is nearly all killed. The wheat, so farmers tell us, will not make over third crops! Not that much in comparison to what was raised last year, for firstly, there is not near the amount sown, then the heavy freezes have killed it out. If they could have seasons they will make tolerable good crops of barley. This country can’t stand drought. The citizens’ wells are drying up or giving out. They are now digging a well in the public square. Cattle are dying all over the prairies. The late spring has disappointed them, and they are starving for want of food, grass. You may travel all day and never be clear of the scent of a carcass. If you should come to a pond in a creek you may find more than a dozen bogged down trying to get water, and any quantity laying around dead. I have seen this & know. Taking this view of things, which is a tolerable correct one, we may reasonably suppose there is probability of much suffering and want amount the Soldiers of our army and the families at home. For we know Texas has been rightly termed the "bread basket" and the "smoke-house" of the C.S., but I fear the lands will be wanting this year. But I want to prospect a little more about my trip to my command. I may be permitted to remain a while longer though but a short time. Though I have long expected this, so long that it does not surprise me atall. I think I can stand a campaign. The difficulty is getting across the Miss. River to the "bloody 10th". I think it highly probable I will be assigned to duty on this side. I don’t know yet how I will get there. Maj. Ford says he will let me take a horse and turn it over to Quarter Master at Shreveport. I don’t know yet whether he will do so. Well, I will quit. My health is good. I take a ride on Maj.’s fine mare every morning, which I suppose I will soon quit. I can’t tell you where to write to me any news now ... I am, your devoted loving son J. H. L. Hull

Previous Letter: November 21, 1863; Office of Post Quarter Master, Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Next Letter: March 27, 1864; Bonham, Fannin County, Texas
Letter Index: J. H. L. Hull Civil War Letter Collection