[Transcript of Letter from Maud C. Fentress to David Fentress, March 10, 1862] Page: 1 of 4

                                
Bolivar, March 10, 1862

Dearest Child,
I have had no letter from you
for so long I am getting very miserable for fear
you are sick or have gone into the Army,
or something wrong. I had a most pleasant
dream a short time ago of being at your
house & seeing & conversing with you &
Clara & the children, & thought I was charmed
with the prospects around you & your comforts.
I feel very uneasy about Jimmie & Frank.
they are both at island No. 10, just below
Madrid, where the federals are collecting for
an attack. constant firing among the Pickets.
Our Pickets are stationed every three miles
from there to Madrid. I reckon there will be
a disperate battle there, & if we are defeated, there
is nothing to keep them from Orleans. Boureguard
is concentrating a large force at Huntbolt,
some at Union City & Jackson, a large force
at the Junction & Corinth, & fixing it so
that he can reinforce Johnson or Madrid
at a moments warning. Our generals do not
seem to consider the taking of Nashville of much
importance, but their policy seems to be to draw
the federals into the country, & then think
they can whip them without doubt. Bragg takes
up headquarters in Memphis, Polk at Huntbolt,
Boureguard Jackson. The successes of our arms at
first seem to lull the people into a feeling of security
until they had become careless,  they seem greatly
aroused every where but in Tennessee. Pitser Miller