Here is an amazing piece for the Texas Brigade collector.  This letter is all in the hand of Joseph Benjamin Polley, who is the famous author of: A Soldiers Letters to Charming Nellie and Hood’s Texas Brigade, its Marches, its Battles, its Achievements.  According to Robert Krick writing his annotated bibliography, Polley wrote: “one of the most famous Confederate unit histories, detailing the actions of one of the most famous Confederate units.”  

Our letter is four pages in ink written on blue-grey paper and is dated May 12^th, 1863 from “Frederick Hall”.  Polley is writing his father this long letter that mentions many important things... (full transcription is below photos)

·         “About the 1st of this month Hooker’s grand army was badly beaten by our hero Lee.  But our victory
cost us a man whose equal we may never find – “Stonewall” Jackson.  He was only slightly wounded –
the immediate cause of his death being pneumonia.  The moral effect which this will have on both
armies will be great and very hard to counteract.  Our army is much depressed, while the Yankees
will be encouraged to a like degree.”

·         “Our troops underwent great hardships before Suffolk, their force being so entirely inadequate to the
complete investment of the town that those who were there could hardly be said to be off duty a single
day.  What with standing picket, digging trenches, throwing up breastwork, etc. the men were kept
very busy.”

·         “I found the people (North Carolina) very clever and hospitable – so much so that I never ate a meal or
slept a single night in camp, but always at houses where the best of everything was proffered me.”

·         “The section of country I was in bordered on the Dismal Swamp.  The land was low and sandy
miserable poor…. Before the war every one down there had plenty of Negros but the Yankees have
carried nearly all of them away.  Those that are left are too old to be of use.”

·         “Immediately after the battle Longstreet who was in command of the two Divisions at Suffolk received
orders to march within support distance of Lee.  Hence I presume we are here.  The night that we fell
back the Texas Brigade marched twenty-two miles without a halt.  This was the harder on them since
their duty at Suffolk had been so constant.”

·         “We had an election day before yesterday to fill the vacancy occasioned by Hughe’s resignation. 
Reuben Cugler whom perhaps you knew in San Antonio was elected.  He is an excellent man but will
make a poor officer in my opinion.  Brahan is now 1^st Lieutenant.  Eli Park 2^nd and Kindred our
Captain… not a single one of our original officers is left to us.”

The letter is in fine condition and truly an amazing find for the Confederate collector!