Here is a portion of a journal written by Thomas Smith in 1854 as he moved his family from Alabama to Texas. He was later a captain in 11th Texas Inf, CSA. I'll only list his hunting entries on the trip from Alabama to Memphis, even though he hunted all his way to Texas. He left Monday March 20, 1854. His first memtion of hunting was March 24, 1854 a Friday.

"Tolerable early start. Passed Rianza. Made a good drive today. Killed two bunneys, seen 3 deer and a lots of turkeys."

March 30th,Thursday
Rose late. Had our horses and steers to hunt. Started later and drove 4 or 5 miles and struck camp and stay there all day and night. A wind storm came up. We went hunting and killed some bunneys. Turn quite cold.

April 1st, Saturday
Still remain at our camp. I and Gordon went hunting in the p.m. Saw 3 deer. got none.

April 4th, Tuesday
Moved to J.S. and___. I and Gordon went a hunting. I saw 3 deer. Got one shot, but don't know a thing of it and so on.

April 5th, Wednesday
Still at Jenkin's all day. I went hunting. Saw 14 deer. Got no shot. Got bun bush. ( I believe this is a swamp rabbit- R.D.)

April 6th, Thursday
Rose soon. I and Gordon went turkeying. I killed a deer. Moved to the back of Jenkin's field today. I and Gordon went a hunting in the p.m. He shot one deer and killed it but did not get it. Shot at another.

April 7th Friday
Still here. Hunted most of the day. I saw 4 deer.

April 9th Sunday
I and Gordon went to Blackfish. Saw one deer and Knats a plenty.

April 10th, Monday
Rose in due time and went hunting as usual. I killed one deer and Gordon one and C saw 2. The 2 we killed. That's all

April 11th, Tuesday
Rose before day. Went a turkeying. Saw 2, killed one and got back by sunrise. Then I and Gordon went a deering. He shot one, but did not get it. I saw 4. So went the day.

The journal reads this way all the way to Texas. I left out entries that did not apply to hunting.