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Manuscript Written in 1862 by a Confederate Soldier from Missouri Ozarks True Story from 1860s If I should fall on the battlefield or die in any other way while this war lasts, I hope some friend will finish my letter by giving a detail of my last days, the manner of death, burial, etc. this I desire some friend to do for the satisfaction of my Father and family. Yours, William A. Ruyle, Co. C. 5th Mo. Infantry, 1st Brig. 2nd Division A short sketch of my life and travels. Also an outline of the camps and battle skirmishes that I have been in since I joined the Confederate Service January 11th, 1862. I seat myself with pen in hand to give you a short sketch of my life since I espoused the cause in common with the Southern people. This question, dear Father, I think I thoroughly investigated before I took the position I have taken. In investigating this I found myself to be a southern man of the deepest dyes ever, opposed to jay hawking, stealing Negroes and other property, of gagging free white men, or insulting helpless women and children, which the enemy was heaping upon us even in our midst.. Therefore, I felt it a duty I owed to my God, my Country, and family to take up my gun in the ranks in common with my fellow soldiers and go forward and fight against these insults and oppression being heaped upon us by the black Republicans of the North. Springfield. Immediately we loaded up and arrived in Springfield about 2 P. M., but the whole of General Price's Army had commenced a retreat southward on the account of the advance of a superior Federal force. Therefore we marched on until about midnight, then we caught up with our Army in camp on the oak Hill Battlefield. . . . . (read full story in Country Folk in a series beginning with Issue #22) |
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Country Folk Magazine, HC 77 Box 580, Pittsburg, MO 65724 Phone: 417-993-5944 E-mail: editor@countryfolkmag.com |
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Excerpt from a true story in Issue #21 Copyright 2001 Country Folk Magazine Pretty Boy Floyd Visits Tunas by Evalene Whitney Pretty Boy Floyd came to our farm about one and one half miles east of Tunas, MO one time in 1927 or 28, I'm not sure of the year. The picture above [in #21] is of our farm where Pretty Boy stopped. My uncles knew Pretty Boy in Oklahoma as they were there during the oil boom. The picture above [in Issue #21] is of my relatives in Bristow, Oklahoma during the oil boom days. They met Pretty Boy Floyd along with some other outlaws who were from the Kiamichi Mountain area. Pretty Boy stopped at our place to get information on the area east of the Big Niangua River. I grew up with my Uncle John Whitney. I followed him to the road to talk with Pretty Boy. I didn't know who he was until a few days later when my uncles were discussing it and called him Pretty Boy Floyd. Uncle John gave him a ham of meat and he went on east. He was hunting a place to hide out for awhile. The Big Niangua River area was a fairly primitive place at that time. I was seven or eight years old, but I do remember the man and the conversation that took place. . . Read the whole story in Issue #21 and more. . . . |
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