Letters from Owen Jones – Letter 1 – February 5th 1863 (Unedited Transcript)

Dear Mother, Brothers and Sisters
I Received youre Letter in 12 days after it was wrote. I was very sorry to hear about the Death of Dear father1 but death is a thing we can’t get clear of and I hope we all prepared for it. In Regard to this war you have mention in youre letter I know it is a terrible thing. But the cause of this War is Slavery. The Southern States holds Slaves and the Northern don’t and the North wants to free them. But the Southern part want to extent there territories to have more and want to be a nation by themselves and the north won’t agree to it.

And both sides are very Stuf North has about 100,000 men in the field and a large navy beside and a gread many of them Iron Clad that is vessles a shot wont hurt. Our losses is large on both side but gread many of them has died by sickness. But the English People seems to be on the South side and they help them all they can all kinds of implement of war but the North has take gread many prizes of all kind. But there is one call the Alabama a Privateere has been fidded out by some of the English government but if that s the case the English has to pay for all damages she has done.

She is Steamer of aboute 1000 tons but the North will have her before long. But we don’t feel much of the war in the North hear yet. All business is good. But the Cotton Cloth is very high Cloth yard ¼ wide 30 per yard when it use to be 8 cents per yard and I should like to know what it is worth with you or how much has it rise in one year. I hope you don’t think I am very nigh this war the distance between hear and nighest fighting Eight Hundred 800 miles. But oute South the peable is suffering very hard but the North they haven’t accomplish much yet. But I think they will Put this Rebellion down. Million men
Mr Joseph Jones2 , Glybcoed, Llanwenllufo near amlwch anglysea north wales England

Ote to do something. But I hope they will be peace made by compromise before long if we don’t feel this war there is a gread many does. I think the men is going to be scarce this Spring coming. I had charge of a Schooner call the Avon last Summer. I had 8 men with me and my Boy 10 in all. But the men was plenty last summer. I have four men shipped already We will start on May. I started 12 of May last summer and I done tip top I have got charge of another one this winter call the EB Phillip this ent3 But 50 tons Burdon and the Avon 85 tons Burdon I am getting along very well thank god.

  1. David Jones, father of Owen Jones, had died on 17 October 1860
  2. Joseph Jones (baptised 29 July 1832, died 28 March 1900) youngest brother of Owen Jones
  3. ? ‘ain’t’