Bone Letter, November 24, 1861, page 1 |
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Object Description
| Rating | |
| Title | Bone Letter, November 24, 1861 |
| Subject |
Correspondence Health Soldiers Civil War |
| Description | Camp Sanford near Hemstead, Austin County, Texas, Dr. Bone to Minerva: his health, food, camp conditions, his appointment in the regiment. |
| Date | November 24, 1861 |
| Collection | Bone Family Papers |
| Collection Identifer | A9, Box 1, Folder 3 |
| Collection Link | http://library.sfasu.edu/findingaids/?p=collections/controlcard&id=17 |
| Biographical Note | Robert Donnell Bone (1832-1892) was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, and came to Nacogdoches County in 1841 with his mother and stepfather. He and his brothers and sister moved in with his older sister when she married John Winstead Paine in 1846. After a serious illness of pneumonia, R. D. Bone rode horseback to Tennessee and entered the University at Nashville Medical School (which later became Vanderbilt University) in 1854 and returned to Douglass, Texas, to practice medicine after graduating in 1858. That same year he married Griselda Minerva Burk (1841-1912) who was also from Tennessee and had moved to Nacogdoches County, Texas, with her family in 1848. On November 25, 1861, Dr. Bone was appointed to serve as Assistant Surgeon of the 12th Texas Volunteer Infantry, Col. Overton Young's Regiment at Camp Hebert, Hempstead, Austin County, Texas. He felt it was his duty to serve the cause of the Confederacy and eagerly attended his post. As revealed in the following letters exchanged with his wife while on active duty in the Civil War, it soon became clear that he would have to contend with inadequate provisions, boring camp routine and confusing orders. "The Fever", dysentery, measles and exposure were Dr. Bone's patients' main medical problems; his regiment was not involved in any serious fighting. When he resigned his commission on March 7, 1863, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, he went back to Douglass, Texas, to practice medicine. Dr. Bone also bought cotton and cattle and took them to New Orleans each fall to be sold. Minerva was Post Mistress in Douglass from 1866-1867. Only six of the Bone's 12 children reached adulthood, and two of their sons graduated from the University at Nashville Medical School exactly 50 years after Dr. Bone did. At least eight of his descendants have followed him in serving the medical profession. (Aiken, Roy L. (Pete). "Bone Family." In Nacogdoches County Families, 172. Dallas, Tx.: Curtis Media Corporation, 1985.) |
| Scope and Content Note | Included in the collection of letters between Dr. Bone and Minerva are letters to the Bones from family and friends, report forms from the post office at Douglass, and two poems (probably written by Dr. Bone). Typescripts for most of the papers in the collection are in a booklet in Box 2. Several 19th century newspapers belonging to Dr. Bone are cataloged and shelved with the newspaper bundles. |
| Associated Dates |
1860-1869 |
| Type | Correspondence |
| Repository | East Texas Research Center |
| Repository Link | http://library.sfasu.edu/etrc/ |
| Transcript | Camp Sanford near Heamstead [sic] Austin Co Texas Nov 24th 1861 Dear Minerva Once more I am permitted by a kind Providence to hold conveser [sic] with you by paper. I had one of those mean little chills yesterday evening that I used to have while at home which made me feel bad but this morning am well as ever in feeling. Several of the boys are complaining of diarrhea or bowel complaint consequent upon change of water made of life etc. All hands are hearty eaters, we eat too much, is the whole truth Jim Paine has had it winding up with a touch of the flux he is out this morning however pert enough. Every man in camp was out at breakfast this morning eating hearty, we have plenty to eat, consisting of some Bacon plenty of beef wheat & corn bread potatoes coffee Tea sugar etc. If our cooking were prepared by good cooks we would live better than at home. I saw Lt. Col Young yesterday evening as he passed the Garrison on the Cars and he informed me that I would be put on duty immediately as Physician in Chief of this post with the assurance of a position as Assistant Surgeon in the Regiment when the Medical Staff is organized I have not seen Luit [sic] Sparks yet and do not know the precise notion [sic] of the appointment yet. I have come to the conclusion to hold on here a few days longer before going home I am very anxious to get into service here or elsewhere. If I accept the appointed tendered me I will have to organize some plan of Medical government and put it into execution which will require my presence here for some time; You must not be disheartened because I do not come home now. Be cheerful and attend well to our interest at home and I will do any part here Lieuts [sic] Grayson and Murph [sic] will start home tomorrow on business pertaining to there company. I have Murp’s [sic] promise to go and see you when he can tell you perhaps more than I can write. My close are doing well. I think I have plenty to do me till Spring. I will be at home at Christmas or some time between that and Spring when I will get a new supply. I would like to have a few caurse [sic] towels if you can have a good chance to send them if not I can make out. It goes hard with me to sleep on the cold ground and with men, quite different from a good warm bed and the prettiest & sweetest little woman in the world. I slept cold last night, night before last was the first frost we have had in this section, corn cotton grass etc. looked green till now. The weather has pleasantly warm all the time. I want you to lay in enough pork to do us and take good care of it, take good care of what little we have. Teach little Watson to be a good boy tell him how good little boys conduct themselves and how bad boys conduct themselves and impress his mind with the advantages of being a good boy. Let your walk be in strict conformity with the rules of morality and Watson will catch it from you. May the good Lord bless you keep you from all harm give you health strength and ability to accomplish all in your loneliness. May His protecting arm be cast about you and you and ours be made an especial objects of His care is the prayer of your loving R. D. Bone Nov 25th I will be sworn in this morning as Surgeon or Assistant Surgeon in Sanford’s Regiment for 1 year. I will come home as soon as I can perhaps about christmas [sic] or shortly after I will write more soon. Direct your letters to R. D. Bone Hemstead [sic] P. D. - Austin co. Texas write often R. D. Bone |
| Rights | This item may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. It is available for non-commercial research and education. For permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the East Texas Research Center at asketrc@sfasu.edu. |
Description
| Title | Bone Letter, November 24, 1861, page 1 |
| Collection Identifer | A9, Box 1, Folder 3 |
| Repository | East Texas Research Center |
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