Following is a letter from my wife's great great grandfather, written from Fort Pillow. One letter was written to his wife and on the other side of the paper, a letter to L.C. Edwards. We added the punctuation, but left in the misspellings. He was a Private with Co. H, 31st Tn Regiment Volunteers when the letter was written and later mortally wounded as a Lieutenant at the Battle of Perryville.

Fort Pillow March the 21st 1862

Dear Companion and children

It is this one more time this side of vast and never ending eternity that I am blessed with the privolige of droping you a few lines to inform you of my helth. I am well and harty and as heavy as I ever was in my life I expect and I hope theas lines will come to hand and find you all well and doing well in the right exercise of mind praying for me that I may return home again to injoy myself with you and the children around our fire whear we have so often conversed together. Oh that I could be thear now this rainy day to play with my sweet little babes and to see your smiles and to hear your sweet voice sound so deliteful in my ear. My hart throbs with love whil my eyes are buried in tears of grief on account of my absence and the many miles that ly between us. To think of the perilous times in our country that forces me to the tented field in arms to protect my country my friends my home my fireside on which I have so long resorted and which my family the darling of my bosom is left to morn to cry to grieve when they aught to be a sleep. It is all most more then I can bair. I received a letter by Capt Luton from father which gave me much satisfaction to hear from you all I have never got a letter from you yet. So no more.

Samuel Phillips to Eliza Phillips and famely

Dear Brother I take this mode of informine you of my helth. I am well an harty and I hope the time will come to hand and find you and family all improving good helth. I received your communications sent by Capt Luton the other day which give me much satisfaction to hear from you and to hear that you and family was all well. You rote that you had a fine daughter I am glad to hear it but you had be a making soldiers in the place of girls for soldiers I sometimes think is needed though I hope by the help of the Lord that we will yet gain our independence if their don’t too many of our boys get sick. There is a good many of our company sick. We had to send some of our boys to the hospital at Memphis the other day for we are moved so often that we cant take care of them. Among those that were sent wear was D.L. Kelly and J.A. Edwards. Kelly was very bad off John was not was not so very bad off. He could go about a little I think. He will be at home in a few days mabe by the time this letter comes to hand. I told him if he was able to go on home and stay till he gets better I want you to write oftener than you doo. Direct your letters to Fort Pillow Landerdal County Tenn in the cear of Capt Luton Company (H) 31st Regt Tenn Volunteers. So no more.

Samuel Phillips to L.C. Edwards and family

J.L. Brasher hand and pen well tolerable.