Sabine Pass 2nd Jany 1862

My Dearest Elizabeth,

We have this evening received intelligence of the death of Mr Spurlock. William and Patrick will start home in the morning and I will send Cicero with them to bring down the oxen and waggon. I have sold them to Col. Hicks.

Our major has gone to Galveston and will be back tomorrow and I intended starting home on Monday but I am satisfied that the major will not let me leave during the absence of Wm. & Patrick. G.W. Felps is likely to die, I let Mancill have my horse yesterday to go after {?} Joe Felps and directed him to leave Sheep at Frenches for me, expecting to go up on the car Monday morning and to Wm. Hooks' Monday night and home Tuesday, but alas, death brings many disappointments and frustrates the purposes of men. I am at a loss how to manage for the best, but think Cicero had better haul wood one or two days during which time he can shell corn & grind meal to bring down in the waggon. if you have any meat dried or partly dried, I should be glad you would send me some, two, three or 400 lbs. if you will have plenty left after sending that much, but I want you to keep plenty at home, and if you have any doubt about having plenty left you had better send me but little and risk sending more down by the Boat when the River gets up. In fact I do not care to have much here at a time as we have no way to take of it. I lost my Potatoes by not being able to take care of them.

Your sausages never reached here till this evening and they were hardly fit to eat, as they had soured. Your letter of the 23rd Decr also came to hand this evening. We thought last Sunday evening we were going to have a fight at once, as a steam ship came to the bar & at once came up to the Fort. The col was at the Fort & had two cannons fired for the purpose of stoping her, and she immediately stoped and hoisted a Peace Flag. She was seen a good way off and the town people had made preparations to leave. The cars were fired up and the citizens considerably alarmed, but no one scared in camp. I believe nearly all would have been glad of a fight. If Cicero comes back before I come home, write me. I am well except {?} Cato and nearly as zanny as any in camp. Cicero must bring meal to pay his passage.

Your affectionate Husband
J. G. Collier

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(above letter in possession of Barbara Yancey Dore, Nederland, Tx)