and terrible thought that the next meeting as doubtless has been the case should be on the battle field in deadly strife.  But I will not dwell on so painful a subject.  Let us rather hope that the great afliction through which our bleeding country is passing will not only purify the fountains of society, and purify our religion, but that it may cement the affections of a great people and that this may be the last internal war that history shall have cause to record concerning the United States - One item more & I'll quit the subject.  The people of Texas as you are aware are or were made up originally of a hard set of men from all parts of the U. S. - of course there were exceptions.  What I was going to speak of is the way some of the planters here are treating their helpless negroes.  They are in some cases driving them off, without the means of support or to get out of the country & it is said that they are shooting them down like beasts in other places - What is to come of the poor defenceless creatures is more than we can foresee at present - Yesterday I made a contract on my own responsibility that you will be interested in.  I found a little boy - James Henry Hands packing his knapsack, to leave the Regt he did not know where, he has been with one of the Captains of the 23rd since we were at Kennerville La last spring - as waiter, cook &c. he was with us during the Campaign against Mobile & took an active part in the siege against Spanish Fort, a Soldiers part, was in the whole fight with his gun & did more service than many of the Soldiers who are paid & clothed at the expense of Gov't who if maimed will be pensioned, he (Jimmy as we all call him) risked his life & braved all danger without any such inducements - he has been a faithful boy as all the Regt could testify - but the Captain yesterday morning coolly told him that he did'nt want him
