SHARP COUNTY
MEMORIES

If you know any memories from your ancestors about Sharp County; please email me Gary Wiles. Please be sure to list the subject area "Sharp County" so I will not overlook it by mistake. Thank you.

Information on this page may not be used for personal or financial gains. It is to be used for research only. Use of the material must be granted by the submitter of the information. Nor is any copyrighted material is to be submitted. Thank you!

If you wish to listen to "Sentimental Journey"; press the button.

Robin Hoff Kaspar
James J. (J.J.) Gordon was almost 34 years old when he enlisted with the 38th Arkansas Infantry, Company F (CSA) on May 11, 1863 in Jacksonport, Arkansas. He left behind his 35 year old wife, Livonia Jane ("Jane"), and their three daughters, Mary Emmarellus ("Emma") age 11, Arkansas ("Arka") age 6 and Frances Eleanor ("Ellen") age 2 at their home in Sidney. As far as we know, he never made it back home. One family member thinks he was captured, sent to prison in Missouri and died of disease. There is a monument at Alton Confederate Cemetery in Alton, Illinois that lists a J.J. Gordon, but there is no other information. At that time, it was the style to use initials rather than full names and there were several J.J. Gordons in the Confederate Army in that area. So we may never know.
His daughter Ellen died in 1866 at age 5. Jane died in 1880. Emma and Arka married; Emma had 8 children, Arka had 5, 4 that lived to adulthood.
These letters are in the possession of Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Meeks McCormack of Austin, Texas. She is a descendant of Arka. I have added punctuation and a few minor corrections to help with readability, but I have kept J.J.’s spelling and grammatic errors. These letters are in remarkably good shape, only one being torn at the creases.---Robin Hoff Kaspar, Richmond, Virginia, descendant of Emma.
Little Rock, May th 26, 1863
Dear wife and children, I write you a few lines this morning to let you know that I am well. I hope they will find you all well. I landed here in four days. I had the privilige of riding here which --- me verry much. My command is gone to Camden but I learn this morning that it is coming back to this place which releaves me verry much. I found a great many of my friends and acquaintances here they were glad to see me. There is no reliable news here as I can here from Vixburg every thing is high here. It cost one Dollar a meal from Batesville to this place and here one Dollar and twenty five cents ower rash helped us out mightly. I drawed 14 Dollars transportation money when I got here. If my command comes back here I will save that much. I want you and the children to do the best you can. I have not time to write anymore at present. I send this by Max Simms. I will write again as soon as I can. You must rite to me when when you see any one passing to my command direct your letter to Tappens Briggade Shavers rigiment Company F. I will rite again the first chance. I have nothing more. JJ Gordon

Monroe Louisiana June 10th 1863

Dear wife and children, I write you few lines this evening to let you know how and where I am. I am well and hearty and away down in ---. We went to Camden and from there to Monroe and the chat is that we will go from here to Delhi 40 miles below here. We are in 35 miles of the feds, they had a fight last Sunday. I have not herd the particklars we are camped on the Ouachita river near the town of Monroe. They have been fighting in Vixburg for two weeks. The Southerners had the ground so says the dispatcher. We can here any thing here in in the world. We have plenty to eat now bread, bacon, molasses, sugar peas --- but I don’t [k]now how long it will last for there is the poriest prospect for crops that I ever seen in any country. I would not give Lawrnece County for all the country I seen south of the rock. The people will be bound to starve I am affraid. I am better satisfied than I thought I wound be. The officers treats their men verry well. The army is well armed and tolerable clothed but I would rather be at home with you and the children and live on bred and water than to be in the war, it don’t suit me and no other man that loves his wife and children but you know how it is. There is not much sickness in ower army yet but if we stay here long I fear there will bee. The general opinion of the people is that the Vixburg fight will settle the matter and I hope it will for every boddy is getting tired of it. Nearly evry boddy is gone from here and from the feds gone to Texas and scattered about our pay one dollar for ever meal we eat out of camps that shows scarsty. I must close for this time. I will send this letter by the old man Israel that rides the mail for us. I want you to write to me as soon as you get this letter. Rite your letter and send it to Evening Shade to Shaver or Haleburton and the post rider wll get it back your letter to J.J. Gordon. Tappens brigade Shavers Regiment Company H and it will come. Give my respects to Springer and Furgeson, all the neighbors. I want you and the little children to [be] the verry best you can. I have the promise that you won’t sufer by some of the neighbors as long as they have any thing. I hope and pray that I will have the pleasure of seeing you and the children one time more. So good by. My God bless you all. JJ Gordon.

Delhi July 2th 1863 Louisiana

Dear wife and children, I got hold of a half a sheet of paper and I write you a few lines --- ---. I am well and have been ever since I left home except the sore eyes. I had them a few days but they have got well. I have not heard from you since I left home but I hear from the count evry week or two. Some of the boys gets le