1858 NATCHEZ MS Letter - Edward C. Councell - Col. of 16th Miss KILLED CIVIL WAR

Description

Lengthy 6 pg. letter, approx. 5" x 7-7/8", dated at
Natchez, Mississippi, Feb. 17, 1858
, from Edward C. Councell (signed "E.C. Councell"), to his mother.
During the Civil War, the writer of this letter, Edward C. Councell, (1831-1864), was mortally wounded at the Battle of Globe Tavern at Petersburg
. He was 30 years old when he was commissioned as Captain of Co. D, 16th Mississippi Infantry on June 1, 1861; Was promoted to Major and then Colonel, and was commanding the 16th Miss. at the Battle of Globe Tavern (2nd Battle of Weldon Railroad), at Petersburg on Aug. 21, 1864, when he was severely wounded and taken prisoner, requiring the amputation of his right left. He died of his wounds as a POW on Sept. 10, 1864.
Good content, writing of his sister Bell being jilted by a man, but admits not being able to comfort her with words, because "I am a man of action, not of words". and writes of the hard times, exclaiming that "
If I thought there was going to be another such winter here or anywhere else where I was at, I would leave and go in the woods and play Indian for a while, and scalp every confounded Banker and Speculator I could come across."
Includes (spelling corrected):
"Dear Mother,
Your letter of the 7 instant came to hand today. I have been anxiously awaiting a letter from you for some days, in fact, was getting uneasy. I was afraid that you might be in bad health. I am glad to learn  by yours that tis not the case with you. I am well, with the exception of a cold.
Mother, I regret to hear of Bell's trouble. I hope she is not ill from the effects. Tis indeed a very ungentlemanly act, one that I did not believe that Pampilon would be guilty of from my short acquaintance and from what little I have heard of him. The man that would break his promise to a girl is not worth the grief of that girl. Tis hard, I know, to forget such a thing. Dear Mother, I will give her all the sympathy that lies in the power of one that has the unnatural nature of myself. I have the feelings but can not express myself as I would wish, as I am more a man of action, not words....
We have had the hardest kind of a time here this winter. There has not been a cent to be got hold of. I have also been idle for some time, but have commenced work again on Monday last. Hope to keep at it for some time.
Dear Mother, I must confess that your letter has put me in an awful state of mind. Between Bell's trouble and my own little comical affair, I have my head full, prime full....I have always thought that my heart has a small decoration of flint mixed through it.
Mother, you are the best one to advise and the only that can advise in a case of that kind. I know that you will do what may be demanded of you. You speak of Bell's being too tender hearted to be trifled with. She is too good to be trifled with. If I was there, I should be tempted to give the man the small end of my boot. But not being there, I must wish him all the enjoyment the world affords and believe that Bell will do the same, although it proves him to be unworthy the notice of her...
If I thought there was going to be another such winter winter here or anywhere else where I was at, I would leave and go in the woods and play Indian for a while, and scalp every confounded Banker and Speculator I could come across.
I saw Mr. Newcome on last Saturday. He was enquiring for Henny. He says that he would like to have her down here and wanted me to go and bring her here and bear the expenses myself, I suppose which would be 0 near abouts, with the view of going home next fall. I declined his offer, but let him come and shell out 0 and say, Ed, I want my niece here, you would see me in Baltimore in 10 days after I received the money. He thinks that he could marry her to some rich planter. He says that he is a good match maker. I had a notion of calling on him to give me a lift with some planter's daughter, but taking everything in consideration, I believe that I would rather have a mechanic's daughter, but they are all searching out for the planters, so I think that I shall have to give up the notion and come to Baltimore in the Fall and see if I would be acceptable to one of the Baltimore belles. I will neve be guilty of trifling with one.
Tis nearly 11 o'clock. I must now close. Give my love to Bell and all the rest. Write soon Mother, there is nothing gives me so much pleasure as a letter from you.
As ever yours,
E.C. Councell"
Fine.
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