Camp Collier, Sabine Pass 23 Feby 62

My Dearest,

I have written a lengthy letter and put in the hands of C. R. Swearingen who was to have started home two days ago but the Boat failing to start at the appointed time he gave and holding till tomorrow (Monday) morning and their expecting the cars to run up to Beaumont, but I learn that the cars will not leave for Beaumont till next Friday, 4th March and if so and I find no appointment of sending you a letter before he comes up I fear you will get very impatient but I tell you again, you must not suffer yourself to become impatient to hear from us or believe any _______ you hear in relation to us, for there are always somebody in every county to take advantage of circumstances to circulate (if not raise) reports to _______ the credence or ignorant of the county. Whenever anything of a serious nature happens here you will be informed of it from the place of proper authority and not by the mouths of tellers and the _______ of that, or any county. Lt. Swearingen is not willing to start home a foot and Kirth or some other person may come up before he does and of so I will send this up to you. Mr Mancill Howard will leave a foot tomorrow morning for Hardin County, I may send this up to Wm Hooks by them, hoping he may have a chance of sending it up to you before Mr. Swearingen comes. Court Martial has been held at this place and all the accused except Dallas and Rawls. At Rawls' request I have withdrawn the charges against him by his consenting that I might pass such sentence or inflect self punishment on him as I might think proper. Being a member of the court myself Dallas could not be tried, but you need not feel uneasy about him. I do not know when another court will be held here, perhaps never. Dallas has never been arrested, and may never be.

A Sloop came in yesterday loaded with Sugar & Syrup from Louisiana and this morning a Schooner came in from Kingston Jamaica (West Indies) loaded with Coffee, Powder, Lead, etc. I understand Coffee can be bought at 25cts a pound from R.B. Post of New Orleans who is the owner of her. He will be here soon. I intended sending by Mr. Swearingen a Bottle of good Brandy to Bro Joe, but if he goes a foot he can not carry it. If I get a chance to do so I will fill his 1/2 gal jug & send up to you and you can divide it with him.

Eliza (Ned's wife) wrote me in relation to and I had written an answer to her before Court was held, thinking to have a chance of sending it up immediately, but it is still in the hands of Mr Swearingen. I am not allowed to say what the sentence of the Court was, in any case, till we know whether the General approves of the sentences or not, but if you see, or can send her word, let her know that she need not uneasy herself. We had Preaching here today and the Chaplain has just left for town, after spending the day with us.

Oh my heavenly Father, how thankful I should be for the many mercies and blessings, confessed upon one so undeserving as myself. If I shall be spared until tomorrow morning I shall be fifty years old, and to look back it looks short and ill spent -- almost one continual strain of rebellion against God, my creator and kind preserver. How many who have been born since I was, have been taken from this world, and brought before the Bar of God to give account of their deeds in life, while I am still spared and for what purpose the Lord only knows. But to look back it seems for but little good I have ever done or can do in the future. I am now an old man, and if spared to die with old age, the time will be short, as it were but a few more fleeting days, and we shall know each other no more in this world, but thanks be to God this is not an abiding place. We too shall be called to follow those who have gone before, and may we through the atoning Blood of Jesus Christ be saved with an everlasting Salvation, and allowed to join with the Apostles of Christ and our departed friends, Parents and and {sic} relatives; together with the blood washed host of heaven, to praise Father son and holy ghost through vast eternity...... It would have afforded me a great deal of pleasure to have been at Beech Creek yesterday and today, and to have heard the Gospel Preached effectually, to my dying fellow man, but that may never be my happy lot again.

Mr Swearingen is goin up to town this evening and will determine to night whether he will go home or not. I should be glad to have some more dried Peaches and perhaps I might sell all you have to spare if they were here. I would also like to have Eggs & Butter if you have to spare. And if a Boat comes up before the Turnips spoil, I should be glad to have some of them. Mr. Swearingen will not leave before Friday next and I shall send this up by Mancill to Wm Hooks hoping some one may pass before he comes. Mancill will start before day in the morning therefore I have to close tonight. Through mercy we are all getting on pretty well tonight, and I hope the Lord will preserve us through tonight and future life, and that we may soon meet again, blessed with health and happiness.

I remain your affectionate Husband
J. G. Collier 

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(In possession of  Barbara Yancey Dore, Nederland, Tx)