My Dearest Mary:

If you get all the letters I have written to you in the last ten days you will be well posted as to our whereabouts, etc. I feel confident you will get them, or four of them. And my particular object in writing now is that I think I have arrangements made that I can get a letter from you, and I assure you I would give a $100 Confederate bill to see a letter written by your fingers and the information it would give me of you and Ma and our children etc. When you get this letter it will be enclosed in an envelope, an additional one to the I now put on it. And in this second envelope you will receive instruction how to direct your letter. Now Mary observe particularly those directions or instructions and answer without delay, so as to enable the gentleman to bring your answer out this trip.

Mary, I have given you all the news and particulars of our Camp, etc., in the letters I have written and as I expect an answer to this I will make some request. I want to know the no. of mules Bohannon and Bailey bought of Pa and how much they was to have given him for them. Whether they paid him or you any part or all of the money. I want to know who taken ther rest of the horses & mules & how many each man took. And what they done with the stock. I have learned that John M. Richardson, Worldly & others made the finishing stroke & cleaned them up leaving you the blind horse & Jack. I was gratified to learn that they left Lucy Jane her filly. I have also learned that John Bohannon & Bailey pretendedly bought 35 of the mules for $250. I have thought and hoped that Bohannon & Bailey was aiming to do me a favor and would do in the end what will be right about this matter. I want your opinion, and if you know any thing that will favor them in my estimation, let me know it all, for those who have come from there have given them a bad name indeed, besides many others that I know to be mean and expected no good of them. I did not expect it of Bohannon & Baily and trust their motives are good. If so, they have paid for the first mules they got and will do what is right about the last lot. I want you and Ma to write me freely and fully about all your wrongs & who have perpitrated them and who of the Union & pretended stay at home Southern Men have been kind to you tho. Let me hear from Uncle Levi's family --- Aunt Phebe, and all of that stripe. I expect to be home if life lasts this summer and I don't know what road I may go or come and I want to know when I meet my friends or rather yours and he that hasn't befriended you & my widowed Ma is not and never will be my friend.

There is no one knows the truth of this rumor except General Hoams. General Parsons thinks it is true tho. Parsons says or said tonight since dark that when he recrossed the Ark. River, it would be the last time during the war that he was going to Mo. All are in fine spirits. Both officers and men think the fighting is well nigh done. There is a fight daily expected at Vicksburgh, and we think of nothing but a victory. The deserting Feds. from Vicksburgh have, and are, flooding Ark. Beauregard has probably whipped them at Charlestown, S.C. These are about the only fights expected. I think the war will close and oh my dearest Mary, Ma and children may we meet again on earth and I will be the hapiest of men on earth. But, if we fail to meet on earth I yet have within me that which is worth all of earth & it contains. I know that I am prepared to take my exit and be happy with you in this world or Heaven prepared for all the finaly faithful. Teach the children to love and serve God. When all is dark and gloom before me, I find in my hope of final rest with my God in Heaven a comfort unequaled, & I now thank God for such hope & confidence. My dear, it is hard for us to be so long separated. I have much to contend with in thought. Yet all will be right. Write a long letter speak of all & especially our babe. I want a word of encouragement from you, Ma and want both of your prayers. Kiss the children for me and tell them all I love them. Your husband, J.H. Fulbright.

PS It is now 12 o'clock or near it. All the boys are well. Dr. Isaac Jones is dead. Francis Givens was killed at Corinth, Miss.

My Dearest Wife, Pa, Ma, and children.

I now have an oportunity to drop you a line by Mr. Shubert who is going to start for Linn Creek, Mo. in the morning. He was taken prisoner at Linn & now released for parole. I learned since I stoped at this place that you had not heard of me since I left home the 29th of Dec. I saw John Lo he has gone home & will probably see you ere this comes to hand. I started from your Fathers to Texas the 6th day of January, went there in sixteen days had fine luck and good weather. I sold $140 worth pork in Lawrence. This gave me plenty of money to move on. I found all the friend in Tx well and they treated me very Kindly. Old Uncle Dave took all hands of us in, fed Negroes, Horses and all, three week. When I had my houses on our land completed and mooved the Negroes home. Uncle Trim & Jimmy his youngest died some 2 weeks after we landed. I buried them both decently in One Grave "There I parted with a faithful friend" (Tim) I bought 200 bush corn at 40cts. built a crib & cribed it at home. I left them 1500 lbs pork or bacon, of which I bought 500 lbs. I sold 5 mules & the wagon Pa bought to Henry Khim (?) for $600. I then rented 50 acres of land & left 5 horses & a wagon & the boys to tend the rented Land, & Improve the place. I left the business in Alfred Neelys hands. I left Marth & her youngest at Dr. Jacks, she had a fine daughter & done well. I come to this place, Lande here the 9th in company with Haustin Hooker. We both had a two hors wagon each. We intended going home but found Gen. Price ret. from the fight at Elkhorn Tavern & ret. from the top Bostin Mountain with him. I had Peter with me. I got Haustin to take my wagon and team and Peter back to Tx. with him as he was going with John Hookers Negroes.

I met Uncle Dick Wilks on my ret. going to Tex I employed him to take charge of the Negroes etc for five years. I made arangments for lumber etc, to build an Ell of a house which I expected Some day to build on our Land in Tex He is to have this built and he & Aunt Nancy ocupy it until you or I may otherwise direct. There is no doubt about the title of the Tex. Land the Pattent is isued to the heirs of E. Swink. I am to furnish Uncle Dick every thing & pay him whatever is right. I left $100 in the hands of W. Rhine to be taken up in the store $40 cash with A. N. Fulbright & sent back to him and Uncle Dick by Haustin Hooker and Jas. Titterington $450. I have with me $100 now & paid Uncle Dick Poppelwell today $20 in gold. I owe nothing except what I owe in Mo. & at home except $40 of money borrowed in Lawrence & $100 to one of Frank Wilkses sons for the wagon I sent back to Tex I left $300 in scrip with your Father. I met with Dr. John Titterington here. Betty is at home & our arrangements left with her. Mr. Wilks left home for Ark. or Tex the family with him he brought off all his stock we can't hear of him since he crossed the Ark. river he has gone I supose to Tex. Dock left me, I mean Dr. Jack, for Mo. better than a week since. I have now given you a short sketch of my trip to Tex and how my business in Tex stands, etc I do this not knowing when if ever, I will see you I however trust in god I will see you soon. My health has been and is yet good I supose I will today weigh 160 lbs. I had a wagon to run over my foot the other day, though it is now well. Robt. Andrew & John Turner are here with me, we mess together we belong to Parsons Division Capt. Leroy Roberts Company we are doing well and have plenty of Everything to Eat. Plenty of Clothing a good tent a good Company. I will mention a few of the company you know Peter & Bennet Ivy, Corley John Givens, Jesse McCalys, James & T. Cumins & Macy Athens, Leutenant Col. Parmley is here and & my friend. John Lo tolde me you was in fine spirits. This my dear did me good I think you a Sensible Woman I want you to keep in good spirits. The God of Heaven will reunite us, if it be his will for us to be again reunited. My friends in Tex if I never see you again will provid for you Pa & Ma & the Educating of my Children. We went in as recruits to the Company Our time will be out the 22nd of June. My Opinion is we will all be thru before that time. If not I will come thru if life last and I can get thru. I expect to come home to remain there unmolested or Remain with the boys. If I live I will be of no benefit to you at home laying in the brush. I am perfectly well satisfied here, I was driven hear by professed friends & here I will remain until my home and self are free, or this war or myself may be no more. Do the best you can tell Pa I was proud to hear his health was better may god bless him & prolong his days on earth. Ma has my prayer for the same I pray for you, my Children Pa Ma & Myself every day & night. I ask the prayers of you and all my brethren & friends. The god of Heaven is a just god, in him is my trust. I will write every oportunity as to the fight. I feel confident from the best I can hear we killed moor of them & wounded & taken moor prisoners. We gained 3 pieces of Canon. The loss of the Southern men was 180 men killed 500 wounded. Gen. McCuloch & MacKintush also Gen. Slock are killed. The Southern Men will be almost innumorable up and down the Ark. river in One week from today. Say to Mrs Payton that Andrews wife has a fine Son. She & the Children are well & well satisfied. I will Sure say Texas is a fine state & I could make my home there in time of piece and be satisfied yet I prefer Mo. If we could but be Once more free & I feel sure that it will be I am not jesting. Kiss all the children for me I only think of you & them when my eyes are open & dream of you when a sleep. I am your Husband as ever. Jas. H. Fulbright

My Mary

I am today quite well. I have had a day of rest, and quiet. I have spent the day pleasently with Mrs. Young who I think to be a lady in the full sense of the term. They have a quite obedient & sensible family of 3 little boys & 2 or 3 servants, ? Negroes an excelent House well & neatly furnished & their table is also well furnished, besides Mrs Young has an Excelent Fortie Piano and she is an excelent performer & sings well. She takes an interest in me -- seems to do all in her power to render me easy comfortable & agreeable For which I am to her much obliged, etc. We had an excelent dinner today I asure you. I shal remain here until Young returns. Tell him all is right well here.

Mary I have been in a deep study about the Brainhall note. I am rather inclined to the belief that Geo. is correct though for the life of me I cannot fully remember -- but Brainhall will remember to whom & for what, he gave the Note which I am willing shall settle the matter.

Did you find the notes & Swinks bond for the Texas Lands Get Receipts, etc Keep them closely. What does McClurg say -- will the Turner matter suit. Mary advise with Young on the tex questions you must hurry Healoway & Browning. What does Uncle Mat H. Say, what will he do. What of Bruce Fulbright. Mary try and have all the Land papers on hand so as to enable Mr. Young to get the whole.

Have you heard anything from Bohannon and Baily. Write to Bohannon & see _?__ Levok close to the day book & draw up all unsettled accounts & present them.

I cannot see that I can better my suggestion of yesterday as it regards __?___ the lands. You talk with young Titterington & Mr Hooker then make any arangement you can, or any suggestion you wish, any arangements you may make in any way will suit me. Just so I can again be with you, Ma & my children in peace & quiet, where we can serve God acording to the dictates of our own conscience & have none dair to molest nor make us afraid.

But, Mary I want you to not make any unnecessary Sacrifice to hurry us off. Take the necessary time required & do as you think best. John Hooker & Ed Bryant are in town. Your Father, Ma Bros & Sister & all hands White & Black was well the first of July & crops was splendid & peace prevailed. Dr. Wm Dodson & Family was to start to their homes in Mo the 15th day of Aug next, all those Mo's are coming back to Mo this fall. Except your Father. I have not heard from Dr. John T. since by the letter enclosed to you. I enclosed a letter to you yesterday, directed to Dr. Jas. Titterington. Why doesent Bet. T. write to me. Mary tell Ma I want a fiew of her ideas and words in your next.

I almost dred to hear from Home There is so much sickness there. But I want you to write every day & let me know all Either good or bad as it occurs & I will prepare to Meet it, let it be what it may. I have not been to Town today as the rodes are mudy & I have to walk 1 1/2 miles to get on the street cars. I will send those Trunks to Hooker this week, you can then send to him for them at any time. If you have any money, moor than you will want, please send me some by Young as the Trunk matter will bring me down, I have now $38 & all dues paid & my clothes clean & boots blacked & my board free of charge but nothing to do. I have written to Aleose today and will finish this to you in town tomorrow.

Mary I this morning received yours of the 17th Inst written at Dr. Jas T. It is at any moment a source of pleasure to hear from you. I fear you are exerting yourself too much, Your health is poor & my dearest I had rather wait till Christrnas to meet you than have you to expose yourself & destroy the little health you now have. Take care of yourself for my sake, for without you this world has but few charms for me. Take things quietly if it takes you longer, in fact you are apt to succeed better better, if you do not show to great desire to get off & and to great wrestlessness.

I read Haloways Letters this morning & will write him tomorrow. I think him disposed to do what is right. I yet believe him honest. What does Titerington say to the arrangements, what will he do. He does not Mention it in mine letter. Say to Mrs. Arnold that I do not know where Dock is He was in Ark. and had not surrendered when I left. I will send the Trunks tomorrow or the next day to Hooker. Continue to write as you have done, from day to day. I enclose a Note to the children, The weather is still cloudy. & raining- I will have the photographs taken when it clears off.. & send them. Take as good care of yourself as possible. Direct letters to ?123 South 7th St. Louis Care of J.T. Campbell.

your husband J H Fulbright

Apparently enclosed with the above were notes to three of the children;

My Sweet Little Emma-

Are you well, are you as pretty as ever. Oh how much I wish I could see you. Good Bye. Love Pa. J. H. Fulbright.

My Loved and unseen Baby Jimmie Price.

I know you are a sweet babe. Send me a kiss-- be a good babe ___ ____. Your Pa. J.H. Fulbright.

Lucy Jane. I propose, my daughter to talk with you a little. Oh how much I want to see you & talk with you face to face. I want to see you, to hear that loved voice, those pleasant words, to see those loved eyes. I want to see the same good obedient & effectionate Lucy Jane that once greeted her Pa on his every return with welcome words & a pleasant smile. Are you kind & effectionate still to your Ma and Grand Ma your Bro. & little sisters, to your Schoolmates & friends & do you obey & love your Aunt Betty. Do love and serve God. I trust you will do all of this. Improve your every moment. When we all get together we will be happy. I want you to answer this. Write soon to your Pa. J. H. Fulbright.

My Dear

I rec. yours of 1st & 2nd since writing this morning & as I have an opportunity to send it to the office I will answer them. I think we will be ready by the first of next month to start, though I am taking all the pains I can to do all things right & will not sacrifice anything, you may rest assured. We have rec. your pictures & I will tell you there was all kinds of capers cut over them. The children did not now how to act when they seen them, poor little Jimmie was just as proud as any of them. I wish you could have seen her. As to the renting, I will see further & let you know all about it. I wrote you a long letter yesterday -- you will see from that how everything stands. I believe your notion about renting a sensible one. I also think Dave would be a suitable man to administer the estate. I have but a short time to write as Betty & Jim Tittering will start in a few minutes. Jim came after Betty to take her to her school.

I will now answer yours of the 3rd. My Dear I was proud to hear you were enjoying such fine health but sorry to know you had the blues so bad. This My Dearest will never do, you must not give up to such trouble. I think we should rejoice & be thankful for the preservation of our lives, you have lived through the heat of war & we ought not complain-- for my part I feel thankful that we have done as well as we have. I know we have lost a great deal, but what of that, we can & will have plenty yet. I think we can get money enough to move us & I have such great confidence in you that we in course of time will have plenty -- so now my love cheer up & be merry and if life last we will soon be together & be happy. I know you are lonely & conserned, so am I, but I am looking forward when we will be a happy family. This comforts me & now I must close--asking you to never have the blues again, Yours from Mary

Mary Fulbright

PS I have writen in such a hurry you must excuse all mistakes. Jim Tittering will be in St. Louis Sunday or Monday next. Mary.

My Own Mary, Ma & children

Mary, I recd yours of Aug. 1st on the 6th Inst. Also one from Dr. T. I have since read another from the Parson in answer to mine of the 4th July. I will send you the letter.

My dear Wife, you have ere this received my last letter from which you see to enable us to make a settlement with Bohannon, etc. we will have to delay our starting until the middle or last of September. This will give you moor time to collect, etc. besides if we go South the weather at this later season will be cooler & moor healthy for you all.

This being settled, that the time for starting to our future home, be it when it may, is prolonged. I have the following suggestions to make.

I have this offer of $40,000 to invest in Cotton, to be purchased in Louisiana or Elsewhere. This I refused as the responsibility was too great & I feared I would in some way involve our lands.

The man owning the money now offer me one third the proffits arising from the investment to go with one of the partners & asist in purchasing the cotton & bring it here. Besides they free me of all expense if there is nothing made & I am in no way responsible for the Money. Now the only remaining trouble is I want to see and consult you & Ma, besides I do not know what you have sold & what you have left to go on, and they want to & will start the last of this present week. Neither can I go until I see Mr. Young. Hence, I told them I would give them an answer when Henry Young returned which I thought would be by next Thursday. Mary I would give one hundred dollars to have you with me one hour but this I cannot. Hence I have to act on my own judgement.

I have a strong notion of accepting this offer, for these reasons, first I cant be with you, & my children no how for one or two months. Second, I know there is any Amt of Money in the Trade & it will Enable me to get business, & I think make in the next two months from one hundred to ten Thousand dollars, besides if we fail to buy cotton, I have the offer of a like amount of goods, to sell on commission down south, & we will select the place, and an other and great reason it gives me the confidence of the best firm in St. Louis & the use of any amt of capitol without endangering our present Int. in Mo., and again by making this trip I will learn how matters in Texas are & hear direct from your Father & etc & will be the better prepared to decide where we will make our future home, & I think the better enabled to furnish the home where we may move. Mary, this for our Children I am proposing to do this, they have to be raised & educated for the present we have no means & I must make some, if I can. Meat & bread you and I can make any where, or almost any way.

I have counseled old Uncle Benny Hooker & give him all the items in the account, & he advises me to go into the arangement. He say there is no risk & he thinks an excelent prospect for a big & quick proffit.

I shall not go if Mr. Young fails to get home & not then, if all things doesnt suit, & he think it best.

My Dearest should I go, I will give you all the necessary instructions as to our future management, etc. besides I will keep you constantly posted all the time by letter. The great difficulty with me is the seperation from you all & your trouble in managing the Home, but I feel confident I will be best for by and by. Mr. Young has got the Draft from Donnall, & if I go it may enable me to colect it or secure its payment.

I will make this suggestion, you had better keep 2-3 or 4 of your best milk cows & put up your hour hogs that will do to fatten & feed them, your beds & bed cloathing Keep. I feel confident I will get money aenough to Make & pay all our debts. If I determine to go I will then give you all the necessary advice, dont make any further sails until you hear from me, without it is such articles as you will not want. Oh, I do wish I could see you, & have your opinion, but I will have to determine at once when Mr. Young comes.

I ask of you and Ma to keep this whole arrangement secret except to safe hands. If cI go I will be back by the last Oct. at furthest & probably sooner. I will write you immediately on Mr Youngs return. If Mort Fulbright wants the Geo place, he can have it for $10,000, he can pay Titterington the $300, and can get his own time on the note, we would want $500 down. The remaining $200 he can pay in one or two years, as he may wish, & we will Make him a deed at once. I will arange it through Mr. Young & he can move at once.

Mary I dont want you and Ma to want for any thing while you have any money or credit. I think I can see where we will yet get money enough to free you and me from want. I want you to be of good cheer, all dangers are met, & I hope we will come out all right.

If work & what I think to be management on my part can save us, I am shure I will Proudly pitch in.

Collect every dollar you can & urge all to pay at once, dont hint that there is a probable change in the time apointed for starting.

I look for Lucy Jane & Mr Young, you will hear from me soon and often this arrangement may all play out, on my part, you shal know I wnat your opinion at once. Your Husband

J. H. Fulbright.

My Dear Mary, Ma & Children

I received the letter & money by Dr. Titterington & Lucy Jane. They landed safe and sound without the slightest accident Wednesday evening. I did not meet them until 10 O'clock Thursday morning. I must confess Mary that I could not refrain from a long unrestrained Cry for Joy at meeting my Child. They had stoped at the A. Fallen House and Lucy Jane was alone, when I met her The Dr. had steped out on business. I soon met him. We was together until 3PM & he then taken the cars & rode for the east. The Dr. is a good man & I will ever respect him for his kindness to Lucy Jane on the trip, and to you since I have been absent. After the Dr. left, Mrs Young, Lucy Jane & I got into the buggy & and came out to Mr. Youngs. Lucy Jane is as happy as she can be & will be a great advantage in way of relieving my mind of Worry. She knew me. I knew her. She has not changed much, she looks taned & her little hands are hard & ruff but this does not injure the heart nor brains & we will all have to continue working. If I ever get started. I am doing nothing & cannot find any employment. I am making my board also Lucy Janes. Or in other words Mr & Mrs Young treat us kindly & are apparantly proud to have us with them.

Mary, Mr & Mrs Young will start for Laclede County the first of next week. Mr Young especially to attend to our business.

He will want all the land papers, Deeds Pattents, Duplicate & etc. You must get some person that knows the amt and No of the Land Sold Brainhall & the 40 acres sold Holaway. So as to keep their lands from being taken in the ammount with Ours. Their deeds will show the whole amt & etc. I mean B. & H. deeds. Murphy understands the Land Matters & would be a suitable Man. It is also Mr. Youngs desire to probate Pa's will while there and start the Administration business. He thinks Mr. Hooker the best choice & Dr. Titterington says he will do us Justice. The truth is he could not avoid it if he desired to. Mr Young will be there at Court & will be at Court at Linn Creek. In fact he will be at Linn Creek on this trip. I feel confident he will make the matters all right and Mr Young will explain everything to you & Ma. He says he will bring all things out right yet. I trust he may. Dr. Titterington proposes to let me have $500 when he returns the 15th Sep. and take a mortgage on Lands, etc.

Mary I cannot determine what to do until I can learn what Mr. Young does on this trip. I am not fully settled on any pollicy nor place. It will greatly depend upon his trip and advice when he gets back. I regret that I cannot decide & relieve you & Ma as well as myself from suspense. I will at once decide when he returns which will be by 2 or 4 of Sept.

If Bohannon pays me any thing like what he is owing us we can go or stay. I shal be with you & my children if we live. If we have to go into a cave & live on wilde meat. I had rather die than continue to live as I have for the two last months. They have been longer than all the rest. You may rest easy so far as Bohannon is conserned. If he doesent pay me he will some other agent. I have but little confidence in his honesty or word, yet I think he is my friend, if he has any friends. I shall have but little to do with him & will not go to his House if I can get the money or settlement any other way. I think he will pay us something & every little we need. Mr Young thinks it best for us to wate until after the courts before we start if we go at all.

Mary I want you to have your wood cut & hauled as long as you have a Dollor & keep plenty to eat. I have no fears but that I can get money.

I am proud to hear that you and Ma are willing to go or stay as I may decide. I will do what I think to be the best for us one and all. When we are once together we will be happy. We will have to move some where & you had better sell it all when you have an oportunity such things as are of no immediate use & we cant move when we start. Kiss all the children for me & Lucy Jane.

Your husb. J.H. Fulbright.

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