Bad Water Kills People. - 08/19/19
Here is a letter from a woman during the Civil War, talking of a number of her family who died, presumably from "bad water." Today, people still die from drinking "bad water."
Like many residents of Searcy County [Arkansas] during the Civil War, the family of Hannah Horton Gray fled their home to take refuge in a northern state in search of safety and protection. Upon her arrival, she wrote to her sons who were serving the Union. Her correspondence describes the perils of the 470 mile voyage from Arkansas to Mattoon, Illinois on the Mississippi River.
"Matoon, Ill. August 19, 1864
Dear Children,
On the 10th of July, we left Little Rock to go on north and arrived at DeValls Bluff, where on the 14th day of the same month, Benjamin, your little girl, Susan Franklin died and was buried on the following day. And Thomas, your dear little sister, Rebecca, died the 16th and was buried the 17th. And on the same day our uncle's child, Frances C., died, but the boats left and we buried her on the 19th at the mouth of the White River.
Then several days' boat ride, about the 24th of July, we arrived in Matoon, Illinois all sick but Poke. My trouble then began to increase greatly and on the 6th of August in the evening your dear father died leaving us all alone in a strange land.
And, Benjamin, the same night at 11:00, your little boy, Samuel, died and on the next day both buried. And, Samuel Parks, your little girl, Martha, died the 17th of August and buried beside your father and little Samuel. Your grandmother is lying low now at the point of death. And Sarah and Betsy are very low.
Tomorrow morning we will leave this place and go to a farm about 15 miles from here. I think we have found a good country here. I don't think it has ever been settled, there is plenty of everything here and many kind friends.
I want you, as soon as you can, to get a furlough and come up here to see us. We haven't been able to do a bit of work since we got here. I have found the kindest people here I ever met with. I don't lay our sickness to the country since we came here but to the water on the boats, and now when we go to the country we hope all will get well. We have had the diarrhea but your father must have had typhoid also.
Since I wrote this your grandmother died last night. Tell Jacob Shipman that his father and mother have both been sick and that his daughter is nothing but skin and bones. When you write, name all who have left there, where they may have gone and if any of them have been killed by the Jayhawkers. Tell me, also, if your Uncle Warren is still with the Rebels and if he does get out, tell Sarah Ann to come here, for there's plenty of everything, for there is no want here, and very good friends.
Tell Wilson Gray, Aaron, and Willie Gray that I have not forgotten them and I want them to write. Tell Mary that I should like to see her. And Samuel, little May is very weak yet, but they say she is getting better. Write soon if you can and direct to Matoon, Coles County, Illinois.
Our love to all, Your affectionate Mother, Hannah H. Gray"
by -Tina Lewis Johnson
Kinda shows you how today, we take for granted the water coming from the tap is "good."
L.W.
Like many residents of Searcy County [Arkansas] during the Civil War, the family of Hannah Horton Gray fled their home to take refuge in a northern state in search of safety and protection. Upon her arrival, she wrote to her sons who were serving the Union. Her correspondence describes the perils of the 470 mile voyage from Arkansas to Mattoon, Illinois on the Mississippi River.
"Matoon, Ill. August 19, 1864
Dear Children,
On the 10th of July, we left Little Rock to go on north and arrived at DeValls Bluff, where on the 14th day of the same month, Benjamin, your little girl, Susan Franklin died and was buried on the following day. And Thomas, your dear little sister, Rebecca, died the 16th and was buried the 17th. And on the same day our uncle's child, Frances C., died, but the boats left and we buried her on the 19th at the mouth of the White River.
Then several days' boat ride, about the 24th of July, we arrived in Matoon, Illinois all sick but Poke. My trouble then began to increase greatly and on the 6th of August in the evening your dear father died leaving us all alone in a strange land.
And, Benjamin, the same night at 11:00, your little boy, Samuel, died and on the next day both buried. And, Samuel Parks, your little girl, Martha, died the 17th of August and buried beside your father and little Samuel. Your grandmother is lying low now at the point of death. And Sarah and Betsy are very low.
Tomorrow morning we will leave this place and go to a farm about 15 miles from here. I think we have found a good country here. I don't think it has ever been settled, there is plenty of everything here and many kind friends.
I want you, as soon as you can, to get a furlough and come up here to see us. We haven't been able to do a bit of work since we got here. I have found the kindest people here I ever met with. I don't lay our sickness to the country since we came here but to the water on the boats, and now when we go to the country we hope all will get well. We have had the diarrhea but your father must have had typhoid also.
Since I wrote this your grandmother died last night. Tell Jacob Shipman that his father and mother have both been sick and that his daughter is nothing but skin and bones. When you write, name all who have left there, where they may have gone and if any of them have been killed by the Jayhawkers. Tell me, also, if your Uncle Warren is still with the Rebels and if he does get out, tell Sarah Ann to come here, for there's plenty of everything, for there is no want here, and very good friends.
Tell Wilson Gray, Aaron, and Willie Gray that I have not forgotten them and I want them to write. Tell Mary that I should like to see her. And Samuel, little May is very weak yet, but they say she is getting better. Write soon if you can and direct to Matoon, Coles County, Illinois.
Our love to all, Your affectionate Mother, Hannah H. Gray"
by -Tina Lewis Johnson
Kinda shows you how today, we take for granted the water coming from the tap is "good."
L.W.