Interesting Missive Preserved for Over Half a Century by  Recipient
 

WRITER ONE OF NINE BROTHERS WHO ESPOUSED THE CAUSE OF THE
                                  CONFEDERACY   - THREE KILLED -

One of the most interesting things the Democrat reporter has seen for
many days is a letter written by a Confederate soldier, serving in Georgia
is  1864, to another brother serving in Mississippi.  The writer of the letter
was a Bates County man, Oscar A. O'Neal, and the recipient was S.A. O'Neal.
Two  weeks after writing the letter, Oscar O'Neal was killed in a battle at
Love  Station, Ga.

The letter was written on a slip of paper 9x11 inches in size.  It is yellowing
with age, and some of it is impossible to decipher, as the writing is growing dim
and the creases in the paper have worn through in places. It  shows the same
indomitable spirit that the letters from our boys in France  show today, thus
again proving that American manhood has been of the same  sterling character
in all stages of the history of our country.

The letter was handed to the Democrat by S.A. O'Neal, of Washita County,
Oklahoma, who is now visiting old friends and relatives near Johnstown.
Mr.  O'Neal removed to Oklahoma about eleven years ago.  He is the son
of the late  Oliver O'Neal, and came to Bates County with his parents in 1856.
He was born  in Morgan County.  He served throughout the war between the
States in Parson's  Brigade of the 16th Missouri Infantry, Company 1.  There
were nine boys in the  O'Neal family, and all of them were in the Confederate
army, three of them  being killed in action, and one disabled for life.  They were:
William, John,  Claiborne, Barton W.S., Oscar (author of the letter), Richard,
George, Peter,  and S.A.  All the persons mentioned in the letter, with the
exception of  Nannie Compton and John O'Neal were Bates County people.
John O'Neal was  killed at Vicksburg, Mississippi.

In a number of places, the writing is so dim with age that it is almost  impossible
to decipher some of the words, but we give it as nearly as we can  make it out.
We know that the old letter will prove of great interest to  every reader of the
Democrat, and especially to those who were familiar  with  the trying times of
the great struggle between the States.  Mr O'Neal prizes  the letter above most
of his earthly possessions, and carried it in a  pocketbook for more than a half
a century.  The letter follows.
 
 

            RE-TYPED  BY  PATRICK  O'NEAL  ON  OCTOBER 30, 1997

      "I received your letter dated August the 1st, while at Atlanta, which
gave me much pleasure to hear from you all.  I have since received a
letter  from Huts Martin, dated March 6th, also a short letter from you.  From
these  letters I gained considerable Information concerning how things are in
Bates.

      "At the time your letter first-mentioned came to hand, it found us
all  alive and well, but I have since been made to the loss of a dear brother.
Brother Claiborne was mortally wounded and died in a few hours on the 5th
inst., directly after we had got into position after falling back to Atlanta.  I
cannot tell you how much I miss him.  My attachment to him was more
firmly  fixed than the usual ties that bind brother to brother.  He was endeared
to me  by ties of affection that could only be fostered and kindled in the heart
by  the trying events of hardships and privations such as we had endured
together for the past three years.  But alas! He is gone and we too, must soon
follow.  His dying request was that we all might so live as to meet him in heaven,
and  I beg you dear brother, to be careful how you live.  You are surrounded
by  evil influences.  You are young and apt to be led astray.  I would be glad to
know that Pe (S.A.) Had become less reckless and has conformed more to the
advise that father and mother ever gave him, and all of us.

      "Well, I am now alone.  I only, am left out of four, to carry a musket,and
I have been wounded twice, and who knows but that the next ball that pierces
me may not lay me in a lonely grave, if I be so fortunate as to get a  grave?
These may be the last lines I shall ever be permitted to pen you. If  so, I hope
that we may so live that we shall meet in the land of bliss. I did  my heart good
to learn that you had such revivals over there.  I assure you  that we have a
like revival going on.

      " I receive letters from home regularly.  The last was dated August 10th,
from Nanny Compton.  Our folks were all well.  Crops were very good.  I sent
you a letter that I received from Sack.  Buck was with us a few days ago.  He
has discharge papers on the way.  If he succeeds..., he will soon be on the
retired list.  Bill....  Page, Bill Finley..are also well.  Bill Finley is
also  on the retired list.

      "We have heard war rumors a-plenty.  One is that Grant has defeated Lee
and taken Vicksburg.  We hear rumors of the success of our forces in Missouri.
We are now having a little rest after one of the hardest campaigns of the war.
Up to the 15th of September, we were continually under fire of the enemy
from  the time we joined this company, May 18, 1864.  We have given them the
great  prize for which they commenced the campaign - Atlanta.  Out losses have
been  heavy.  Our brigade has lost 500 men in this campaign.  A brigade numbers
900 men.

"Tell Cap and Martin that I have seen Rube Willard."

 O.A. O'Neal

 Submitted By:

Pat O'Neal