Dent, S. Hubert Letters (1861-1865)

              [page 1]
Camp of the Eufaula Rifles 
Near Montgomery Feb 14th /61 

My own Sweet Darling 

Here am I in camp 
at the fair grounds - all the Commissioned 
officers except  myself have left - and about 
three fourths of the men I mean they have 
gone over to Montgomery the rest of us 
are here. But as Bill McGyer said in his 
lines on the death of a favorite hound 
"Every dog must have his day" and so 
I will have mine tomorrow. I preferred 
remaining here today and sleeping all 
night so that Tomorrow I will be 
fresh and walk over to Montgomery and 
remain all day. Judge Shorter and 
John T Morgan have visited us and 
all the men who came over with us 
from Eufaula excepting Chambers 
I forgot to say that we reached here 
about 12 oclock. It is now nearly 8. I 
am writing on the tray of my trunk up in 
a Circus wagon and my bed is up here 
too. I went out to Beallwood saw every 
body out there stayed a short time went 
back slept at Cook's and got up at 3 
oclock this morning. Marched to the Depot 


[page 2]
in the rain &c & I wrote you from 
Columbus It is said that we are to leave 
here for Pensacola Saturday morning But 
the Capt and privates Pugh & Cochran are 
working with the Gov to keep us here until 
the inauguration of Jeff Davis. I would like 
to see the inauguration very much - but I am 
not satisfied that it would be best for us 
to remain. It is impossible to have strict dis- 
cipline while here and drills and the men 
need both very much while therefore as a 
man I would like to remain - as a Soldier 
I don't wish to remain so long I am 
impatient to get to Pensacola and get settled 
at least for the time that I have to stay 
there, I have been in a state of suspense 
and uncertainty long enough. The Gov, I 
learn does not favor the idea of our remaining 
and it is uncertain whether we will or not. 
The common opinion here is that we will not 
have a general war, as to whether we will 
have any collision at all or not men of informa- 
tion are divided - Judge Shorter thinks we will 
be releaved in Six weeks I would be content with 
that — Nannie my Darling this is no idle sport 
that your old Dear has gone into and he knows 
it. But he has made up his mind to bear 
it all like a soldier without a murmur 
I think it was the only time I ever saw 


[page 3]
Hatch Cook in tears. The morning he met 
us on the Boat. He could not keep them 
back they would come. He is outraged at 
the Gov calling us out. This of course you 
will not mention. But thank God and the 
Company I am lifted about the most exposed 
and arduous duties and I intend to take 
care of myself. I have stood every thing 
thus far first rate, never felt better in 
health and were it not that I am parted 
from my Darling Nannie whom I love better 
than every thing else on earth I would have 
nothing to regret. I am in good health 
strong patient able to undergo fatigue 
and exposure and if it comes to fighting 
I am not afraid but what I will win my 
way to glory with my strong right arm 
and well tempered sword. The thought that 
my Nannie will look upon me with a prouder 
and fonder gaze and that she will think of 
me as one who stands higher with men than 
he does now will nerve my arm and fire 
my heart. But I must stop this sort of talk 
Nannie I sometimes think that even you have 
not sounded the depths of my soul and I be- 
lieve that you have looked deeper into it 
than any one else — I will stop that - 
I will have to make some arrangements 
with Judge Shorter about getting your letters 


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to me at Pensacola. I will make them 
and write you I cannot be deprived 
of that pleasure. well my darling good 
night I will finish this in the morning I 
hope you will have pleasant dreams of your 
Dear - good night My Angel - Good morning 
Darling I hope you are well I slept 
well and feel first rate. I expect 
to leave here to-morrow for Pensacola 
I am getting on well It is a bright 
and beautiful day and I am 
going up town to see what is to 
be seen I think we will be 
back in two months our company 
excites much comment and has 
quite a reputation. The Gov will 
not consent for us to be the guard 
of honor to Jeff Davis the men 
are all well except McLeod and 
have behaved well here I do 
not know that I will have 
an opportunity of writing again 
here - good by - my love to all 
the family from Carrie up also 
to Will and Henry and families 
May Heaven's choicest blessings 
rest upon and guard and protect 
and cheer you is the prayer of 
your own devoted 
Hubert 

P.S. We remain until Tuesday morning 
are appointed the Escort of Jeff Davis 
Bill McTyre is well tell his wife he will write tomorrow 

[written at top of page 1]
Pugh thinks we will be returned to Eufaula as soon as Jeff 
Davis is inaugurated. This is very private and it must 
be kept very secret-- Good by. God bless you my 
Darling- your own H