Thomas J. Goree to Dr. P.W. Kittrell and Mrs. M.F. Kittrell,
January 5, 1861
[Goree Family Papers MSS. - L.S.]
Near Centreville Va. Jany 5th 1861.
My dear Uncle & Sister,
Your letters of the 12th [ult?]
have just a few moments since [been at hand?], and
I take this the only opportunity I may have to reply.
I was very sorry indeed to hear of the death of Henry,
and particularly the manner of his death. I little
thought that Grandmaw[sic] would ever survive all of her
servants, but it may be that she will survive many
even of her Grandchildren. We are here in daily
expectation of a great battle in which it is more than
probable four of her grandchildren will be engaged,
and if we all survive it, it will only be through
the interposition of a kind Providence.
We had almost given up all hopes of an advance
on the part of the Enemy this winter, but within
the last few days, our Generals have received infor-
mation which has led them to expect a very
early attack. What the information is, I do not know.
To day orders have been issued to the troops to prepare
3 days cooked rations, and have every thing ready to take
up the line of march at a moments warning.
The Surgeons have all been notified to have the am-
bulances and every thing in their line ready.
The consequences of which every thing is to day (Sunday)
bustle and excitement. We are having [eggs?] hard
boiled & crackers baked. Genl Longstreet is firing off
and reloading his pistols. The attack is not expected
against Centreville, but down on our right at Evans-
port. Hence all the preparations for a march.
The ground is stiff frozen, and is white with a coat
of sleet, which will make it rather bad to march over.
In event of a fight, I think we will be equal to
the emergency, though I am sorry to say our army
is very much crippled up. A great many of our
troops are off on sick furlough, many are
sick here and not in condition for a fight, besides
many of our horses are very poor, and almost too
weak to draw heavy Artillery, but we are more
than all crippled by an unfortunate misun-
derstanding, which unhappily exists between
Pres Davis and the leading Generals of this army.
I do not all the causes of the difficulty, but I am
satisfied from what I do know that the blame is
not here. Van Dorn & E K Smith are the only
two leading Genls here that Pres Davis is on very
friendly terms with. He does not like Gen Longstreet,
and I believe that he is hardly on speaking terms
with Genls Johnston, Beauregard & G W Smith.
Mr Davis' motto seems to be "Rule or ruin." Our Generals
here are too independent to suit his ideas, and
have an unfortunate habit of thinking some
for themselves. Mr Davis is undoubtedly a great
man, but he has his faults, his whims and
his unbounded prejudices. I have nearly lost
all the admiration I ever had for him as an honest
man and a patriot. If I had time, I would
try and give you some reasons for what I have said.
I was already fixed up to go down and see
Langston & Edwin on the 1st last, and but when
I came to ask the Generals Consent, he seemed
rather loth to let me leave just now, so I have
postponed my trip for a while longer. I however
heard direct from the boys two days since
and was delighted to learn that they were
both in such excellent health. Ran Fisher
went down and I heard from them through him.
Having heard of the great amount of sickness
in the Texas Regts, I had become very much dis-
tressed about them. They are poor hands to write.
I am glad to hear that the health of the two Regiments
was improving. If the Enemy do make the attack
at Evansport the Texas Regts & 4th Ala. will be apt
to be in the [van?].
I have not yet [recd?] a commission but am
daily expecting it. Genl Longstreet is entitled to two
regular aides, and when he was appointed Major
Genl he applied to have me appointed, but although
both of us have written about it, we can hear
nothing of it. I wrote last week to Genl Waul
to try and get the applications through if possible.
I suspect that there is some one else who is trying
very hard to cut me out. But no gentleman
would make application for a staff appointment
when he found that the General had made
application for some one else.
I can think now of nothing else of interest
to write. My hand is so benumbed with cold
that it is with great difficulty that I write at all.
Give my best love to all and write soon
to Yours Affly
Thos J Goree
Dr P W Kittrell &
Mrs M. F. Kittrell Huntsville
Texas
[Written sideways on the bottom of the letter:] Centreville Va Jan
5, 1861
T. J. G. to his Sister & Uncle
Special Collections - Thomason Room
