The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 83, July 1979 - April, 1980 Page: 16
464 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
In July, 1864, Dunnie's mother pointed out that his father was not
making a profit on the manufacture of wagons and ambulances for the
Confederate government and that money was difficult to obtain. A re-
quest from Dunnie for thirty pounds of coffee, first made in June and
repeated in August, led Mrs. Affleck to exclaim that this would be
"nearly half of what we have in the house" and that "we cannot tell
when we will be able to get any more." Other letters from home con-
tained admonitions that Dunnie take better care of his possessions. "Oh
my son why don't you try 8 take care of your things," wrote his mother
on July 20. Several days later she cautioned Dunnie about wasting
money: "do not make debts try a little self denial." She also reminded
Dunnie of the economic conditions at home that made fulfillment of
his requests difficult: "it seems so strange that you are so blinded to our
true position here," she wrote.31
Although Dunnie's mother rebuked him for his carelessness, the fam-
ily made every effort to supply their son's wants. The letter of July 3o,
in which she sex erely criticized Dunnie for his failure to appreciate the
effect of the war on domestic life, closed with a postscript: "I think I
can send you nearly all the things you write for except the buck skin
pants and the sonibrero-Pa will send you his felt hat though I do
not think he ought to deprive himself of it." A later letter indicated
that the senior Affleck had secured most of Dunnie's wants and was ar-
ranging for a friend to take them to Dunnie by a pack mule.32
In September, 1864, the monotony of camp life was broken when
31Mrs. Alffeck to Affleck, July 13, 20 (third quotation), 30, 1864 (first, second, fourth, and
hfth quotations), Amleck Letters. In the July 30 letter Mrs. Affleck repeated the story of
Thomas Affleck's 1861 monetary difficulties and reminded Dunnie "that few if any soldiers
make such a drain from home as you have done since you entered the army."
32Ibid , July 30 (quotation), Aug io, 1864, Affleck Letters. Dunnie himself was somewhat
defense\ when he rccei\ed his mother's letter of July 3o ie replied, "but Ma you givezi-W
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 83, July 1979 - April, 1980, periodical, 1979/1980; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101207/m1/36/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.