WATSON CIVIL WAR LETTERS

Henry Watson and John Lindsey Watson

September 1861 - September 1864

Transcribed by Marylee Watson Knight

**Please note that these letters are typed exactly as they are written in the letters.**

Henry Watson and John Lindsey Watson were the first two children known to have been born to William and Nancy Barcenia (Lindsey) Watson who lived in the Holland Quarters Community of Panola County, on land granted to Nancy’s mother Catherine Lindsey when she migrated to Texas in the spring of 1836. Neither Henry nor John married before they enlisted in the Confederate Army.

Henry (born ca 1839) enlisted as a Private in Company F, 10^th Texas Calvary (Locke's Regiment) on September 25, 1861 in Quitman, TX. He served honorably and was discharged, but never returned home. As he had written letters home under the adverse conditions of war, it stands to reason that, if he had not died after mustering out of the army, he would certainly have written to his family in the years to follow. Many soldiers died of sickness or wounds as they tried to make their way back to their homes. Many were killed by highwaymen, looking to rob them of money or possessions.

John (born ca 1843) enlisted as a Private in Company A, 7^th Texas Infantry on March 29, 1862 at Caldwell, Burleson County, TX. There are two versions of his death. Both versions say he died of smallpox. However, the prevailing one told by his nephew and nieces who lived in Panola County is that, when John became ill, the family arranged for him to come home to receive medical care. Despite the best efforts of his family, he died and is buried in Old Macedonia Cemetery. Since the Watson and Lindsey family graves were simply marked with wooden devices, long since destroyed by the elements, there is no proof of his burial there. The other version is that John died in camp at Little Rock, AR on January 17, 1863. To date no official record has been found to substantiate that version.

Henry and John both wrote frequent letters to their family back in Panola County, several of which are still in existence. The spelling of words in this transcription is exactly as it appears in the original letters. The following is a list of fellow soldiers they mentioned in their letters.

September 1861

Mr. Hood

Uncle Newell (James Newell Walton)

Uncle Tom Benedick

Capt. Craig

December 9, 1861

Ben McCullough

Col. Locke

Conrad Wall

James Wall

Guss Coates

January 31, 1862