Sessoms, Preston Harrell, b. 1843
I have again reached this place in safety, and found all things as
they were when I left last January, except there has been a great deal change
among the College affairs. For such a place as this, which is called a
university,—there had ought to be no
less than three or four hundred students, but there are only fifty here now, a
very small number. Very soon after I left last January nearly all the students
left and went to war; some were called out by the draft some were taken by the
Conscription law and some went voluntarily, So nearly all left; if there had
not new students come this session, there would be hardly twenty students here
now. I call it very dull and lonesome place; if it was not for one thing I
would not stay here, There is but two or three boarding houses now, all have
gone down, and board is very high, and but very little to eat, The college
expenses are the same as the have always been. I have heard something about the
second call for conscripts; if there does come another call, this college will
certainly break, it will take all, sweep it clean. I have been here about three
weeks, I started the day that I told you I should and came some fifty or sixty
miles on the buggy before I took the cars. Brother
John
came no further than to the Rail Road with
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me,
then I took it by myself. But I had no trouble in coming. There is no pleasure
in staying up here unless everything was
more
free, and cheaper, I would like it great deal better to stay at home, I suppose
that the
Yankees are thicker up there than when I was there. There is no chance
of their getting up here, but they may cut off the rail road then I should be
locked up in a place, hard to break out. If the
Yankees were
to cut me off up here, when I got ready to come home, I should surely come,
Yankees or
no
Yankees, If
there was no chance of getting round them, I would go through them, In three
months this session will be to an end, on the fourth thursday of November. By
that time I suppose the
Yankees will
have those counties down there fully in their possession, I dont think that any
more conscripts will come from out of those counties which the
yankees have
so nearly got in their possession. I have written enough. Excuse me for
stopping. I am well, and going on as well as the times will allow. Give my
respects to
Mr White and
Henderson, Keep those three poulets of mine which I told
you not to kill. Write me anytime when you have the chance, Believe me to be
your brother