Letter from Samuel Maxwell Newman to John Archie Cato

March 30th 1862

 

J. A. Cato

 

                   Dear Sir, I received a letter from you this day that gave me great pleasure to pause.  I was of the impression that you had moved to Corinth to meet the enemy and sincerely hope that you will be able to meet them man to man, and I then know that our men will be proven victorious.  I am very well satisfied that we can­not be repulsed by the Feds if we have anything like an equal chance with them.  I sincerely hope that you will come out unhurt if you should get in a fight.  I hope there will be soldiers sufficient to give them sizzors and take the remains prisoners without the loss of any of our brave soldiers. We are still making exertions to get up more men from Franklin. There is a company to leave on the 3rd day of April under Capt. Web. He has a very good company, and I anticipate that Web will be a noble officer. He is certainly a very clever man and is very well liked by all that knows him. Parson Willis is also trying to get up a company, but I am not able to say how he will get along. If he will persevere he may be able to get up a company. He had 15 when I last saw him, but was then waiting for Web to get his company ready, and he may now go ahead and make his. There was also another company spoken of court week. They were also waiting on Web. This company was merely spoken of then; I have not heard since we heard that the yankees had taken Corinth, and it raised great excitment. I will assure you to think that our Franklin boys were cut off from home; if it had been the case you may expect that there would have been a greater excitment than was. The battle at Norfolk appears cherish the people very much to think 21 guns could stand their hand with 140 guns and whip them.

                   I see a Yankee dispatch today stating that they had now taken the Virgia steamer that done the execution at Norfolk, but am very well satisfied that it is false. It

is not believed to be so at all events by the editor of the paper that I saw it in. I believe that the Yankees are not able to take it. I believe the soldiers aboard of her would all die before they would give her up or surrender a particle aboard of her.

                   I was very sorry to hear that Oren was in the hos­pital sick. I was aware that he left home too soon. He should have stayed longer and gained his strength before going in to camp. If you should get a chance to see Oren tell him to write, as I am very anxious to hear from him.

                   I must close for the want of room. We are all well at present. Margaret has been very sick, but is now able to get about again, and I sincerely hope she will mend on as she has for a few days. You must write as soon as you can as I am now more anxious to hear than here-to-fore. Give my respects to Ben & Osker.

 

Yours respectfully,

S. M. Newman

Webmaster’s note:  John Archie Cato was the son-in-law of Samuel Maxwell Newman.  John was the 1st husband of Samuel’s daughter, Martha Elizabeth Newman.   John Cato died during the Civil War on July 14, 1864, near Corinth, MS.  Samuel Maxwell Newman was the son of Solomon Newman and Mary Ann Lowrey.  Samuel Maxwell Newman married Margaret Ann Herring, daughter of Aaron Herring and Mary Rowan.

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