Letter from Hubert Dent at Fort Barrancas in Pensacola, Florida, to his wife, Anna, in Eufaula, Alabama.
At the start of the Civil War, Dent was a 1st lieutenant of the Eufaula Rifles, which became Company B of the 1st Alabama Infantry; he was eventually promoted to captain and commanded Dent's Battery (formerly Robertson's Battery). In the letter Dent discusses activity in camp ("Our me...
| Format: | Electronic |
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| Published: |
Alabama Department of Archives and History
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| Online Access: | http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/voices/id/3944 |
| Summary: | At the start of the Civil War, Dent was a 1st lieutenant of the Eufaula Rifles, which became Company B of the 1st Alabama Infantry; he was eventually promoted to captain and commanded Dent's Battery (formerly Robertson's Battery). In the letter Dent discusses activity in camp ("Our men work well and cheerfully") and the possibility of war with the United States: "The news from Washington is considered warlike and excites considerable commotion...There is considerable variety of opinion here in reference to the Presidents message - Some think it means war others think differently...I would not be surprised if Lincoln should attempt to reoccupy the public property here - If he does and waits ten days or two weeks we will give him a respectable fight and with any thing like equality we will whip his army and hold the property." He also mentions recent correspondence with his wife, which has not been as regular as she would like; he explains that mail delivery is not dependable and that camp duty is demanding: "when you do not receive letters from me just think of my being up pulling cannon until 12 o'clock at night and being so busy during the day as not to have time for any thing that would occupy me an hour." A transcription is included. |
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