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July 02, 1831 Letter from Robert Rives to his brother Green Rives Jr. (First of eight)Introduction
(optional)Notes from June Middleton Albaugh, author of Collirene, the Queen Hill.
“The originals of these letters were preserved in the old Mt. Gilead Baptist Church Book by Robert Calhoun (R.C.) Rives (youngest son of Robert Rives) who was for many years Church Clerk at Mt. Gilead.”
The original letters are now believed to be in Montgomery, Alabama.
Transcript or Summary
(mandatory)Dear Brother,
I expect by this time you are willing to hear from me. Since my last to you I have been steadily engaged on my farm, about the middle of May I got Mr new ground ready for the ploughing and whilst my ploughing was running 3 furrows together at four ft. three inches distant my hoes was engaged in shaving my cotton, ten acres of which is a very ragged stand and uneven at that, owing to the seed not being covered deep enough, the balance is an excellent stand. After shaving my cotton I commenced planting my corn 30th of May and I finished 4th of July, by which time my cotton was in a manner lost. The cane and weeds waist high all between the rows in one piece and grass and weeds waist high in the other. On the sixth of June I called up my calvelry and ordered a charge which they did and have the enemy’s lines killed, some wounded and put the balance in such confusion as to enable my militia to hew them down fore and aft, so that no one escaped, except those that hid themselves under the slain and wounded—— now see my little spindling cotton after so serious a conflict over it, torn all to pieces, and the remaining stalks in a chop not able to bear its own weight. June 20th commenced ploughing balks in my corn which was about 1/2 leg high. Four days after commenced thinning and mounding with 3 stalks in a hill, shall finish today. Yesterday John Peoss from Fairfield walked through my crop with me, we examined it minutely. My cotton is from 1/2 leg high to 1/2 thigh high. Would average knee high and my corn is generally knee high and 1/2 thigh high. As to our lands there you must content yourself by selling it yourself, to the best advantage possible. It will be out of my power to return to Carolina just now, building, clearing land and several other preventions to my return. You state that Mother wants to get $1500 out of the sale of our land which she thinks is equivalent for the improvement on hers. I should like to know if they are as valuable as they were at the time of the division and whether our land has not increased in value since that time. As to my part, I don’t think it equitable for us to give her $750 apiece on that score, and under present circumstances I don’t believe hers will make ours sell for one dollar more than if each tract was sold separate. How as ever you think so be it. So I wish mine sold as soon as possible and the money in negroes. My land here will warrant a handsome profit. My land is as dry as I would wish them and works equally as kind as any land I ever planted. And the ploughing cuts it as nice as a bank of well rotted stable manure. The oldest part of my land where the roots is out I can give you no idea when I first broke it up, it was a little cloddy. I am now ploughing it a second time and if any land works easier, I have not seen them.I can’t discover they bake any. I have a spring of very good water. It’s clearer than the water I left. It has a slight touch of the lime, but scarcely perceivable. I can get a well of good water in my yard. The ridge that I shall live on is I believe as healthy as any part of this state. There is no Sandhills on this side of the river. Out from the river is nearly all bald prairies with now and then a streak of pine woods. Game is tolerable plenty around me. Squirrels, rabbits, ‘opposing very plenty, raccoons, turkeys, many deer, doves and partridges, and have killed but one deer, no turkey. I was told the squirrel would scratch up my corn. I turned my attention to them and I think I have killed 100 or more around my field which enabled me to save an excellent strand of corn. Now and then you may see one skipping around the fences. There is no Bear nearer than six miles of me. Society is not of very refined. I have one Neighbor about a mile and a half from me. I think a sterling old man. He comes to my field and encourages me all he can and rouses my feelings very much. We have plenty of preachers here. Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and houses for all three denominations but methinks you would not like to draw off your shoes and Sox and have your feet washed in church. Neither di I think you would wash another’s feet in church. I have been to church once since I came here and the preacher was a size over Berry Harris in his prime. He introduced his subject by saying he was going to take an off hand shot. Before he ended I thought his mark was on the wing after he shot. And other one got up and gave out some appointments and amongst the rest was our dear and well beloved Scezar and dismissed a congregation of about 300 and I understand it was but a common congregation. I wished to know who Scezar was and upon inquiry I found he was a cole black negro. He is here permitted to ascend the pulpit and preach an introductory sermon at the association. As to myself I would not let my family go to hear him. I need not say anything about my religious principles as you are aware of them already. Amelia is pretty much after the old sort. Navigation is of the first rate. You may put your cotton on a steamboat and in four days it will land in Mobile. They pack 450 lbs. of cotton in a bale. Each will cost $1.00 for freight. The market is not so good as Columbia owing to the skinflints there such as Yankees. The boats generally make a trip in 10 days from Montgomery 30 miles above me. Bacon is worth 12 1/2 cants here. I paid $5 per cwt. for pork. I have saved mine very well. Neither do I hear of any person losing their meat in this neighborhood. Sugar is worth here 10 cents, in Mobile 6 cents; salt here $4.00 and in Mobile $2.25 per sack. Coffee 18 cents in iron wrought of cast 8 cents. Flies and ticks are about the same as there. At least I have not made an experiment yet. My attention has been devoted to my farm.
Mr. Adams and Cousin Betsy will spend the fourth of July with me. My stake for the ‘cue that day is the squirrels that will be better than Mation had when he invited the British Officer to dine with him on a log on roasted potatoes. Give my love and how do you doos to Mother. Tell her we are all numbered amount the living and healthy. We earnestly hope that this will find you all in the same ranks. Tell her the time is rolling on and fast approaching when I shall look for her to come and settle her place here. Kiss her for us. Don’t forget us when you see Col. Meyers and family and at home speak of us in your family with every tender _aling you could imagine an only at a distance could posses for you what _ with one accord bestowed upon you our best wishes. Hoping to see you all again in health and strength will be the pleasure of your affectionate brother,
Robert Rives
Commentary
(optional)First of eight Letters
Source
(mandatory)Hayneville Alabama Library
Research notes of June Middleton Albaugh