The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-10 00:00:00

LETTER FROM THE SOUTH.

The following interesting extract is from a letter
addressed to a lady in Edinburgh by her sister,
resident near Jackson, Louisiana, forwarded by
hand to New York, and thence posted here. Its date
is the 10th or 12th ult. :—"lt is now two years since
I heard from you. This horrid war has shut up all
avenues of communication, unless such a chance
as this, should it reach you. It is by a friend who
is trying to get to Europe for the benefit of his
wife's health. For the last two years our country
has been mourning and lamenting for those who
are no more. Many a battle-field has been crim-
soned with the blood of friends and foes—many
mothers mourning their sons cut down in the prime
of life. Oar land is full of Rachels. I know many
widows who have lost their oldest sons within a few
months, and in some instances their prop and stay.
M—'s oldest son was wounded in the right hand,
so that he has partly lost the ase of it. He
was discharged, and has been at home ever
since—now a year. The second has been in the
army the past year, and is now in Vicksburg.
Mr. M— had a niece married two years since in
June. Her husband went into the army shortly
afterwards, with three brothers. One died of sick-
ness in the camp—the other three wounded in
battle. Anna's husband had to have his leg am-
putated; so he is disfigured for life. There is
hardly a family but is mourning the loss of some
dear one. Everything in the way of clothing and
provisions are at fabulous prices. We were fortu-
nate in having this little farm. We have not yet
suffered, but many families have; our only want is
flour, and I still manage to keep a little on hand,
using it sparingly. We made our own meat—pork
and beef ; had plenty of butter and milk, with
vegetables ; had a good supply of coffee, and eke
it out by adulteration—burnt sugar made into a
syrup. It is the age of invention and economy.
We make our own candles and soap ; starch from
potatoes, and raise plenty of rice ; so we divide
with our less fortunate neighbours. My supply of
tea was rather short, but we have recourse to sub
stitutes—ane is the leaf of the peertree, which dried
and mixed with black tea drinks very well. Most
of the planters are making their own cloth, at
least the females, the most of the men being gone.
Times are sadly changed; still there is no mur-
muring or dissatisfaction, all are willing to submit,
could we only gain our independence. The ladies
cut and make our soldiers' clothes, knit all their
socks, make lint to dress their wounds, attend
their sickbeds, and divide with them any luxuries
we may have. Such a people can never be sub-
jugated. We have a ruthless, brutal foe to deal
with ; they not only take away our servants, but
carry off everything of value in the houses—stock,
poultry, meat, everything—leaving ruin and desola-
tion in their track. Many are completely ruined
who were in affluence and ease. It is not for the
love of the negro—oh, no. They treat them in
many instances so badly they have stole back to
their former owners. We have to make our old
clothes last as long as possible. Everything is at
fabulous prices. Prints, 21 to 3 dols. a yard ; every-
thing else in proportion. Butter, 1 dol. per lb, Eggs,
1 dol. a dozen. M-- gave 12 dols. for a pound of
black tea. 'Tis astonishing how persons make out
to live; still, I don't hear of any actual suffering,
and the poor are not forgotten. Oh I I cannot tell
you how I long to hear from you all. I have many
questions to ask, but how am I to be answered ?
Your letters would have to pass through Federal
hands, and there is no chance of reaching us. May
God in his infinite mercy stop this unrighteous
war, and send us a permanent peace !"

The following extract from a private letter from
an officer in the Confederate army is interesting :
"My dearly beloved Parents,—l wrote you a let-
ter some three weeks ago, but do not know whether
you have received it. Do try and write to me; find
out in London the name of some merchant in Nas-
sau (where all the steamers lay for a while before
they run the blockade into some Confederate port),
and write to me in care of that firm, and put on the
envelope from yourself in England to a son in the
Confederate army in America.' Oh, Ido so long to
hear from you all. I am in tolerably good health
and hope it will continue, and that my dear mother
and sisters, Charlie, and all my relations, are alive
and well, and that my dear father is also alive and
well and knows no trouble; but I am afraid he has
known too much since this war began. Provisions
and clothing must be very high in England ; in fact,
I expect everything or nearly so is. I wish with
all my heart this war was over, and then you may
be sure it would not be very long before Isee the old
cliffs of dear England. Oh, England how I love
thee ; never so much as when separated from thee.
I love my country, but I had to join in this war as
we are in the right, and the North wants tto e
us out entirely from off the face of efiele
have now about 400,000 troops in theth ad, and the
Yankees have twice as many if not more, and yet
they cannot whip us, and never
never will I give
will; for much as I
love my dear old soil, ,2 I
d
and independence. We
up fighting for liberty
would all like this war to cease, but only on one
wou
condition—separation. No union any more for us.
Why, the meanest beggar man lives better than we
dOne pint of Indian corn meal and ilb of fresh
beae.f or Boz. of salt pork, constitute our daily meal,
with a drink of water; no coffee or sugar. Coffee
only costk(when there is any) 20s a pound, and sugar
sth, salt 4s. a pound; shoes, £6 10s.; coat, £2B;
trousers, £8 ss. ; boots, £l5 ; flour, £l7 a barrel of
2001 b; eggs, 4s. a dozen ; chickens, ss. each ; butter,
ss. 6d a pound ; ink, 18s. a pint ; pens, 6d. each ;
common tallow candles, 3s. each; shirts, £2 55., and
everything else in proportion. The ladies cut up
their carpets to make blankets for the soldiers.
When. you have something good to eat, just think
of me in America ; 26 year old this year, going on
seven years since I left home. Oh, Ido so long for
the time to come for me to go home, and I hope God
will spare my life until that end is attained!
" Army of Tennessee, Tullahoma, Tenn,,
C.S.A., April 5."

Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur-
chasing liorniman's pure Tea; very choice at 3s. 4d. and
4s. " High Standard "at 4s. 4d. (formerly 4s. Bd.), is the
strongest and most delicious imported. Agents in every
town supply it in packets.