{"id":8910,"date":"2023-04-04T17:27:17","date_gmt":"2023-04-04T17:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/?page_id=8910"},"modified":"2023-04-04T17:27:17","modified_gmt":"2023-04-04T17:27:17","slug":"j-r-baird-collection-3-19-1863","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/j-r-baird-collection-3-19-1863\/","title":{"rendered":"J.R. Baird Collection – 3\/19\/1863"},"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 – March 19, 1863<\/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=”1680629036582-4″ tab_id=”1680629036582-6″] [\/page_link][page_link link_url=”https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/guides-to-the-collection-page\/” title=”Collections Portal<\/strong>” id=”1680629036589-6″ tab_id=”1680629036590-10″] [\/page_link][page_link title=”Visit<\/strong>” id=”1680629046276-5″ tab_id=”1680629046277-8″ link_url=”https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/departments\/archives-museum\/visit\/”][\/page_link][page_link title=” Make a Request<\/strong>” id=”1680629046971-9″ tab_id=”1680629046972-10″ link_url=”https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/departments\/archives-museum\/requests\/”][\/page_link][page_link title=”About Us<\/strong>” id=”1680629048859-4″ tab_id=”1680629048860-4″ link_url=”https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/library\/departments-archives-museum-about-us\/”][\/page_link][page_link title=”Yearbooks Online<\/strong>” id=”1680629049777-5″ tab_id=”1680629049779-6″ 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: Wanda Ray<\/strong><\/p>\n

Transcription Date: 2.10.2006<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At Home<\/p>\n

(word) Place March 19th\/63<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dearest Mama<\/p>\n

Oh could we but hear one word from you this morning! Or were we gifted with so much of (word?) as to know that you were still better and improving.\u00a0 What a relief it would be to many hearts now anguished and bowed down with sadness and uncertainty.\u00a0 I reached here last Saturday night (14th) just 8 days on the way from Aunt Viccas.\u00a0 In the rain in the mud and water and dangers thick.\u00a0 Left old Tom at Bro Thompson\u2019s broke down and done up.\u00a0 Came to the Valley \u2013 7th Bridge gone \u2013 Paid $15 to be carried to Dr. Fishers in a dugout and swam Jim Polk most of the way 4 miles.\u00a0 Then by wading high and swimming some around Murdocks and South, got to martins that night.\u00a0 There I was compelled to leave Jim and in a dugout got to Burns that night 3 \u00bd miles.\u00a0 He live snow over Bean Creek on the 16th Sec.\u00a0 next day a tiller (words?) dirt eating follow one of Beans (word?) brought me home around through Quiver and only charged me $20.\u00a0 Cheap. But I could do not better and was crazy to see home and \u201cour baby\u201d and boys.\u00a0 Found all well for which and my preservation I felt thankful and humble rejoice.\u00a0 The water is just now where we left it last May when we went out up to front gate and still rising slowly from 1 to 1 \u00bd inches per day and night.\u00a0 Tom has leveed his whole place above last year water.\u00a0 We have levied \u201cnary\u201d foot and I know whether I shall. \u00a0Col. Jones says we will have less water than 58, others that it will be higher than last year.\u00a0 If the opinion any or all be correct I am just as well off without as with all the living I can do and we not the force or means to levee against last year and 58\u2019s water will not hurt me.\u00a0 I seen it will be like last year all under.\u00a0 I won\u2019t try and save my meat.\u00a0 Speaking of meat \u2013 Those hogs are in the pen get and the beef also.\u00a0 There has a boat gone the S. Flowers tho Dew Drop.\u00a0 Will be back in 4 or 5 days I think will try and sell, or get them off on her return.\u00a0 \u00a0Jo and Tom.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what to do with them.\u00a0 They have done badly since I left.\u00a0 Fight, fight all the time.\u00a0 I\u2019ve made an arrangement for them with (words?) but how to get them there is the question now.\u00a0 I am afraid to send them in a dugout and I know no other way.\u00a0 The price of board is very different from what we heard.\u00a0 It is $16 2\/3 instead of $12 per mo. Tho, that as cheap as I would board in these scarce times.\u00a0 I recon they will have to remain till the water get down. \u00a0Aunt Sooky has done little or nothing in the way of gardening and has no young chickens.\u00a0 Says \u201cI ain\u2019t guine to hatch chickens for overflow to drown.\u201d\u00a0 The old Jude!\u00a0 I told her never mind the overflow.\u00a0 Attend to your chickens and garden.<\/p>\n

Bobbi does not grieve about his \u201cmamma\u201d now tho (word?) says every day as tho he would go off and take care for his mamma.\u00a0 He was the only one at home when I arrived.\u00a0 He was playing with the little Negroes and didn\u2019t see me till I rode into yard.\u00a0 He stood somewhere before he would come to me.\u00a0 He was actually so ragged and dirty that he was ashamed.\u00a0 After hugging and kissing me, he ran off washed and dried.\u00a0 \u201cNow Papa I am clean let me kiss you good and for mamma\u201d .\u00a0 He is a precious boy, but you know that \u2013 He gone now over \u201cSissie Manies\u201d and to (word?).\u00a0 So I and Tom are alone<\/p>\n

Page Two March 19, 1863<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

or rather I am all alone for I have not seen Tom for hours.\u00a0 Yes \u201cMamma\u201d I am very lonely now.\u00a0 I am setting where you and I have so often sat together and can but think of things that ought not to be thought of\u00a0 – Separation.\u00a0 That pale face the grave!\u00a0 Oh what would I and the children do?\u00a0 Poor Bobbie and Vic.\u00a0 Ay All little and big (words?) surely not.\u00a0 Oh no.\u00a0 \u201cMamma\u201d will come back improved and herself again. \u00a0The possibility of a different fate renders me so uneasy and restless that I see no peace, day or night for if I forget you for a moment, Will and John one one or both take your place.\u00a0 And even if I would deceive myself into moment any ease or joy, here is this everlasting flood staring me in the face and threatening to cover up everything.\u00a0 \u2018Tis rising now at the rate 2 inches in 24 hours and covering all the river plantations.\u00a0 Tom Lee thinks it will be higher than last year.\u00a0 My only hope is that this water will run out before the ice comes down but some the ice is melting already, if so we a \u201cruined people.\u201d\u00a0 Levies nor anything else will do any good if there is no ice to melt.\u00a0 That tho\u2019 crazy have been open all (word?) if do we shall have no very big river \u2013 March 23rd.\u00a0 I did not get my letter off by the Dew Drop as I expected she did not stop as she went down but swift but will return in a few days.\u00a0 Moll is here but Bobbie home sick.\u00a0 He had fever all day yesterday and last night, is still in bed. \u00a0Can\u2019t eat, stomach terribly out of order.\u00a0 I am giving him Quiine to day and I hope he will be all right in a few days.\u00a0 \u2013 Dear Ma.\u00a0 I know not what we shall do, for I have no hope hearing from you or the Boys and this suspense will worry me just into another spell of (word?) and wasting away.\u00a0 If Will should get a discharge and you improve as I do hope you may, you and he had better come home as soon as you can get in.\u00a0 Then we can start about the middle of June for N.C. however of this you be the judge and do as you think best but how to do without saw I don\u2019t know.\u00a0 (word?) you are of \u201cno account\u201d when at home but some we can\u2019t do without \u201cMamma\u201d .\u00a0 You are a necessary evil and one that we would rather have than without.<\/p>\n

At this moment I been hearing cannonading on the direction of Yazoo City.\u00a0 Heard it all day yesterday (20) \u2013 fear Greenwood is gone up and Yazoo likely to follow. \u00a0We can hear nothing here now, all communications cut off in every direction.\u00a0 You will no doubtly know more of our situation than we can ourselves.\u00a0 But this we can very well understand if Yazoo and Vicksburg fall we down here are in the hands of the enemy for there is near no chance of escape anyway.\u00a0 We are completely hemmed in on all sides both by water and this \u201cuniversal Yankee\u201d.\u00a0 If I were as you are or if you were as I am (and where I am) you would and might much property say \u201cO Lord of Grace truth and mercy help us be our shield and Rock of Defense in this our the time and hour of great<\/p>\n

Need.\u201d\u00a0 But as for me I can only look and endure and let the Lord\u2019s will be done.\u00a0 Oh my dear old wife.\u00a0 If this is not a dark hour in the history of our fate I am a poor judge of the signs of the times.\u00a0 But into the hands of Him that seeth not as man seeth but doeth all things right do I commit myself, you, the children all and all we have and are.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In much love I am<\/p>\n

Yr. Husband<\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/p>\n

Dr. Baird (J.M.) wrote to his wife in the hills from his plantation on (word?) Bayou, – (word?) Washington, afterward Sunflower Co.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

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