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Campt nere Pine Bluff Arks
Febury 2, 183 [1863]
Mr. A.C. Martin
D
ear Cousin
I should have written sooner, but the mail is unsertin, in fact There no chance, only as indiviguals cross the Missippi river. I have no news to offer you we are fare from getting any news it unnecessary for any appoliges now I shall endever to gave you a few details of the past. Our Commander of the Army of the West have marcht us from piler to poste and finally the yankees captured four thousand of out best troops, it true, nine Regt were at the Arks Poste but only the abouve number affective men, they cared off our sick and wounded to St. Louis. it was so cruel, but it seems to me, the yankees are no more than the scourings of the earth or the scoundrels would have pardoned our sick and wounded. I saw one of the ascistan [assistant] sergants who was taken at the Poste [torn] [indecipherable] lea [torn] at Memphis, he was [torn] his return for Texas. I only spent a few moments with him and did not gain but little information. Our prisners suferd grate deal with cole, four frozen on the way to Memphis, I fere they suferd much befour they reacht St. Louis. We expect a fight soon on the [Arkansas] river, the rumer is the yankees are in the river with thare gunbots. We have but few guns to drive the gunbots from our fourt, or fortification. I have but little confidence in the stand our army are about to make below Pine Bluff. We can repuls any lan fours they may bring againts us. Our fours is of good meteriel. I would like to here from you, I know not when I can go to Tenn. I will write and let you know whe I am coming. I am one of the refugees of the Poste and now joind Col, Youngs Regt untell Col Varnells Regt are exchanging.
Capt. W.M. Nunn is one of fathers friends. I have formed a good opinion of Capt. Nunn, and have been acquainted for four years. He a sone of W.R. Nunn a good and pious friend, he was liked by evryone in that neighborhood he has gone to the land of excistance where we shall all go, sooner or later.
I received your letter of March the 14 and ancerd it. I can tell you but little reguard to Bells wellfare, I have writin to know of her how J.S. Holman has treated her and whither she has been going to school or no, but Jas. and I are not on good terms and she is of feare [affeared?] to say much. I reseived a letter from Bo and Bell, Bo has lost one of her children, the babe. he died last spring. Jasper Holman has sold his plase and will move soon. Bo did not know where they would move to. I look for a letter from Bell or Bo soon, and if Bell will write any news, I shall write and gave you all the news of this country. Write soon and direct your letters to Little Rock Arks in care of Capt. Nunns Company (K) Col Youngs Regt. I remain your cousin untell deth.
Respecfully,
J.D. Gibson [signed]
Confederate General Thomas Hindman
Arkansas Post, or Fort Hindman, a fortification on the Arkansas River surrendered to the Federals under General McClernand in January, 1863
That is, until the prisoners could be exchanged for an equal number of captured Federals--a common practice early in the war.
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