{"id":8896,"date":"2023-04-04T17:06:48","date_gmt":"2023-04-04T17:06:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/?page_id=8896"},"modified":"2023-04-04T17:06:48","modified_gmt":"2023-04-04T17:06:48","slug":"j-r-baird-collection-6-17-1861","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/j-r-baird-collection-6-17-1861\/","title":{"rendered":"J.R. Baird Collection – 6\/17\/1861"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_column_text]\n

J.R. Baird Collection – June 17, 1861<\/span><\/h1>\n[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][page_submenu alignment=”center” sticky=”true” bg_color=”#008542″ link_color=”#ffffff”][page_link link_url=”https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/manuscripts-and-guides\/” title=”Manuscripts & Subject Guides<\/strong>” id=”1680627879873-4″ tab_id=”1680627879874-9″] [\/page_link][page_link link_url=”https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/guides-to-the-collection-page\/” title=”Collections Portal<\/strong>” id=”1680627879882-6″ tab_id=”1680627879883-0″] [\/page_link][page_link title=”Visit<\/strong>” id=”1680627887861-2″ tab_id=”1680627887863-7″ link_url=”https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/departments\/archives-museum\/visit\/”][\/page_link][page_link title=”Make a Request<\/strong>” id=”1680627889773-7″ tab_id=”1680627889774-1″ link_url=”https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/departments\/archives-museum\/requests\/”][\/page_link][page_link title=”About Us<\/strong>” id=”1680627890658-7″ tab_id=”1680627890659-0″ link_url=”https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/departments-archives-museum-about-us\/”][\/page_link][page_link title=”Yearbooks Online<\/strong>” id=”1680627892248-10″ tab_id=”1680627892249-1″ link_url=” https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/departments\/archives-museum\/yearbooks-alumni-magazines-delta-state-histories\/”][\/page_link][\/page_submenu][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]J.R. Baird Collection<\/strong><\/p>\n

Transcribed by: Emily Weaver<\/strong><\/p>\n

Transcription date: 2.8.2006<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sunday, June 17th 1861<\/p>\n

Home for the present<\/p>\n

My Dear lost boy!<\/p>\n

I wrote you immediately on the reception (at Vicksburg) of your very unexpected letter from Columbus to Jackson town; since which we have received other letters saying that you are stationed at Union City \u201cawaiting & expecting\u201d a fight at Cairo.\u00a0 Of course you have not or had not read mine from Vicksburg to say you did wrong in going off, you did.\u00a0 I cannot wish I know more of the motives, which activated you, but this I will say & do say that you had sufficient scope for all your energies & patriotism here at home in the protection of your dear mother who dotes on you; of sisters & little brothers & that dear\u00a0 poor little infirm helpless mortal who loves her \u201cbeloved Johnny\u201d like her own soul whose heart was nigh to bursting when your letter was read.\u00a0 I say nothing of your poor old father \u2013 in consideration of his soul, perhaps he is \u201c a thing apart\u201d, not worth protection.\u00a0 But so.\u00a0 But surely you should look to those I have named.\u00a0 Perhaps you think you are doing so by the course you are pursuing.\u00a0 It may be so, remotely, and ultimately.\u00a0 But here is the [word?] parent \u2013 Right here on our little Bayou cut off from every body & [word?] at this very moment, are 120 negros to 5 white men, counting Jo one, for Key is gone.\u00a0 Cousin Tom Lee is in Texas \u2013 gone to see his father, Tom, G., myself<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(page 2 of same letter)<\/p>\n

Jo, Dozen & Thompson constitute the home guard & yes there is Dave Lee.\u00a0 6 of us in all & in my state of health, what could I do?\u00a0 Jo?\u00a0 But don\u2019t think I am fault-finding.\u00a0 I am only presuming that you acted hastily.\u00a0 But it\u2019s done now & can\u2019t be remedied.\u00a0 You are now in the service.\u00a0 All I can now say is, act well your part.\u00a0 Be a man.\u00a0 Be a soldier and a gentleman. Recollect you represent \u201crevolutionary\u201d reputation on both side.\u00a0 The Bairds now Ruperts never show their backs to the enemy.\u00a0 You are satisfied of the justice of our cause.\u00a0 Then defend it & trust in Him who ruleth the armies of Heaven; numbereth the hairs of your head.\u00a0 Then if fall you must, we shall miss you much \u2013 we shall weep when sad memory brings the light of other days among us.\u00a0 Silent forever will be the fields & the barn.\u00a0 The joyous laugh & \u201cyell\u201d we will hear no more.\u00a0 But it will not be gruff without some allay of comfort.\u00a0 We will not grieve as those that have no hope.\u00a0 We will say that he has gone to seek a soldier\u2019s reward and sing the old Irish Caranak which your dear mother has sung you so oft \u201cHe is gone on the Mountain. His last to the forrest be\u201d\u00a0 To Duncan comes no morrow.\u00a0 You recall it?<\/p>\n

John, I am sad & lonely \u2013 sick weak & worn in body & mind and thinking about these things make me chill again.\u00a0 The bare possibility much up the probability, that one this reaches its destination \u2018tho to whom it is addressed may fill a soldiers grave overcomes & makes me childish & forget the great struggle in which we are engaged.\u00a0 But again I look around me & see hundreds of worthless drunks, idlers \u2013 only 30 miles at Camp Humphries are 80 or 10 of such \u2013 Why not they instead of my darling boy.\u00a0 Oh tis too sudden!!\u00a0 Too big a sacrifice!! I am alone \u2013 only Tom\u00a0 & Bobbie with me.\u00a0 Mama & Will are gone to Columbus to see sister Kittie & attend to the business left undone by<\/p>\n

Page Two June17, 1861<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

you.\u00a0 Vick & Jo are with sister Mary \u2013 she will be here in the morning & will keep house for me most of the time your Ma is gone, which will be some 3 weeks.\u00a0 Tis awful hot & dry though the crop looks pretty well \u2013 hastening the cotton.\u00a0 Corn is now beginning to suffer. All well \u2013 not a case so far.\u00a0 Now dear Boy, write often, every chance & keep us posted as to your health, your [word?], and the progress of the war & whenever your duty is done & you can get an honorable discharge, come home.\u00a0 Your Mama takes your absence up to heart, seemingly though any of us save Jo.\u00a0 \u201cWhat of it?\u201d What of [word?] about all he says.\u00a0 Did I tell you Cousin Billy Baird, Beale & Jim Smith, Fulton Weaver, Cousin Victor Baird, Zeb Vance & all are in the army in Virginia at Richmond I think.\u00a0 So you see you are not the only representative as you supposed.\u00a0 Goodbye, my boy.<\/p>\n

Your Pa,<\/p>\n

J.M. Baird<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the outside of the four-page, folded letter, it is addressed as this: \u201cJohn R. Baird, of the \u2018Tombusbee Rangers,\u2019 Union City, Tennessee or Kentucky\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

END OF DOCUMENT<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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