In researching family history, I've come across a letter dated 4 Sep 1864 from a son of my 2 X great grandfather. The family was centered in Schuyler County, Missouri at the time, from Claiborne County, Tenn. a decade earlier. The family members were Southern sympathizers, and probably active in the Southern cause. The letter was written from Secor, Ill. to his family in Schuyler County. It was thought by family that this son was a prisoner of war, but terms used in the letter, such as "Little South", the "Cure will break next week" & "skeddaddlement" as well a 3 instances of numeric strings have me curious to their meaning. The numeric strings are: 1. "He stated that he was going to Iowa first and from there he didn't know where so about two weeks ago Uncle Snort started 144 25 99 14 15 17 25 14 15 9 10 9 and I have not heard from either of them since." 2. I tender you all my heartfelt sympathies but thats all I can do for you at this time .....if I were there I would doubts fare the same 11 1 11 9 which so many others have 11 1 11 9 7 viz: skeddaddlement; but I'm not there...."

The father and oldest sons were scattered at this time. Family lore has the mother dead at the hands of "Home Guards" in Oct 1962. The date of death is verified but the cause of death has not been substantiated.

I've included what I hope to be insight at the time. I'm hoping there might be someone that might recognize the numeric code.