Hugh Wood’s Letter to His Mother, Isabella Dated 13 May 1857

Background

Not long after arriving in Texas, James and Isabella’s eldest son, Hugh, left home in search of either adventure or work or possibly both.  In this letter, he is in New Orleans waiting to go to Nicaragua as a mercenary.  He never went to Nicaragua as the action there ended before he could leave New Orleans.  When I transcribe a letter, I leave dashes if I can’t make out a word, and I try to leave the original spelling…but sometimes spell check corrects it anyway.

The Letter

New Orleans

May 13, 1857

My Dear Mother,

I write once more to you from this place and it is uncertain when we leave it but I don’t intend to stay long here if we don’t go to Nicaragua.  There is about 300 men returned from Nicaragua and a good many of them is dissatisfied with the country but none of there statements is to be relied up on as they never saw any of the country there.  There is several very intelligent men that returned.  Believe that Lockeridge was paid to disband his men, but it will make little difference if the leading men here will only send out about 500 men with plenty of guns and ammunition but they are backward about it since the men returned the home.  Mr. Soulie and Col. Slatter is gone to Washington to try and make some arrangements with the government.  We are looking for a dispatch from them today that will settle the question for some time.  If the government gives them any encouragement, they will reinforce Walker immediately.  If not, it will be some months before they can do anything and therefore there will be no use for us lying here losing our valuable time.  When I shall go it will be uncertain but I will let you know either before or after I start.

Frank Weatherly is done gone up the river to St. Louis but after that I know nothing except he mentioned something of going to California but I think it will be difficult to do so without money.  We tried to get him to stay with us but he would not do it.  Give my best respects to his father and mother, John and the rest of them.  There is none of us had any sickness since I wrote last and I have never been the least sick since I left home.  We are staying close to the place where you got the oranges opposite New Orleans.

I have got nothing of any interest worth writing only I thought hou would be glad to hear from me.  Frank McMullen is sitting here filling four pages to his mother but mine being less heavily loaded will reach you soonest.  Give my respects to all my friends to Rans and Margaret, and little Nany.  My love to Ell and Bell.  Tell them to think of me sometimes.  Tell Brother John and Janet that I am well and wish them to be obedient to their Father and Mother not forgetting John Patter for auld lang sine.  Tell the boys that wish to go to Nicaragua to be certain that they can get there before they leave home.  There is bad news of the crops from Texas.  I hope it is not as bad as reported.  I will write no more at present but remain your affectionate son,

Hugh Wood

PS We have had no letters from home yet.  I am sorry of it because we expect to leave in a few days.

PS No. 2 Dear Mother, I have just received a letter from you dated April 28.  I am glad to hear that you are all well but I am very sorry to learn that Mr. Weatherby death as I believe he was a good man.  Frank will not hear of it for some time.  He promised to write to us from St. Louis.  If he does, I will write to him immediately.  It would have been much better I think if he had stayed with us as I don’t believe we will get to Nicaragua at this time but as I wrote before, we will soon know but as to our destination, I don’t know where.  I am sorry to learn of the bad crops with you but I hope you will make enough to do you.  The times is very dull here in New Orleans and provisions are high.  The weather is not very warm here yet but it must be so after a while.  I will write a little to Margaret and Isabella.  Dear mother don’t be afraid.