The following is a transcription of:
Sophia
Munroe letter, Bandera, Texas to Huldah Salisbury, Church History Library,
Call no.: MS 28609
This is important as it was penned just one month after the
outbreak of the U.S. Civil War, and the author discusses the fulfillment of
portions of D&C 87 as a result:
Bandera. May. 4th. 1861.
My Dear Mother, Brothers and
Sisters one and all I have once more [opportunity?] of sending a letter to you,
if I stopped on the way. we boarded a Young Man. this winter he was from the
(City of New York) he will soon start for home. i shall ask him to take charge
of this hoping it may reach you + our Mails will be uncertain if at all we will
go to Catesvill for ours + our portion of the country is as quiet as any part
of Texas. we are getting Rangers on the Frontier we think better protection the
before but every thing is uncertain in these days. the Indians are worse then
common. perhaps gathering up to come down [stronger?] + from what i can learn
the North will overpower the South. but those that are in favor of the
confederacy think otherwise. i feel willing to let things take there cours i
hope to go to Mexico or California in the spring. there is many here that does
not want to fight on either side. many have gone to California already we have
an abundant rain and will have good harvest we may have war but not famine +
Munroe is still got the Bandera Mills + he is putting in a flouring Mill now to
grind wheat. there will be a grate deal raised in western Texas this year, corn
never looks better. David breaks down some still he goes from morning till
knight + and sleeps but little at knight. my health is poore able to be around
most time taking Medicine all the time + sew [knitt?] keepe my own some
more scrub wash or iron, except my caps + Beanie and family are well + the
river is up soe we cannot cross it now fulls slow we have had so much rain
[fields?] fair to have more. [Hermenid?] is as large as his Mothers Additional
parenthetical notes near the bottom of the page: (Beannie named her baby for
me) (his next youngest for Victor)
[written upside down:] my love to
Huldah tell her she is not forgotten
My Friends know that i embraced
the or believed the Latter day Saint religion + still believe the first
principles as strong as ever the Prophet was killed in prison, his son must
succede him or else we have no leader his son has taken his place at the head
of a branch of the church, still we cannot gather there now, it is not know[n]
where we shal gather yet, i think the time not far distant when we shal know. i
want to be gathered with the Church with a Prophet at head i do not believe in
the Salt lake Mormons no not I. while the Church was in Missouri the Prophet
had a revelation, and it is printed + in a Book of many revelations, the Booke
is in Town now, it was printed more then 21 years ago concerning the wars that
would begin at South Carolina saying the— [word or words crossed out]
north will be divided against the South. and the South will call on Great
Britton, and other Nations, to helpe him and it will come to pass that the
Slaves will be armed to fight against there Masters. and it shal come to pass
that warre shall be poured out on all Nations, this is the sum [briefly?] of
the revelation though many more plagues spoken of that will be poured out up on
the earth to warn the nations. what i have written on this side of paper may
not interest you but if you were to [keep?] track of me it might be som[e]
comfort to you that i was gone to a place of Safety. i need not pledge myself
to write; if i have opportunity you know i will [write]. And i hope you will
[do the same]. this from your affectionate Daughter and Sister
Sophia Munroe
Brothers and Sisters
Huldah Salisbury
