May 28th, 1902
Hon. John W. Hornsby
Austin, Texas
Dear John:
Please excuse my delay for not furnishing
this information sooner. M. M. Hornsby enlisted as a private in Company
B, 18th Texas Cavalry. At the expiration of twelve months were dismounted
and served as infantry during the war. The company was composed of men
about equally divided between Bastrop and Travis counties. The original
line officers of the company were Capt. Hiram Morgan, 1st Lieut. William Cain,
Sr., 2nd Lieut. Duncan McLaurin, Jr. 2nd Lieut. E. Saunders.
The regiment was first in Churchill's
brigade until after the battle of Arkansas Post. General James Deshlier
afterwards commanded the brigade until he was killed at Spring Hill, Tennessee.
After your father was captured the second time at Atlanta, Georgia, we belonged
to Cleburne's division, Hardee's Corps Army of the Tennessee. Your father
was captured at Arkansas Post and confined at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill.
Was captured second time at Atlanta, Ga., and confined at Camp Chase, Columbus,
Ohio. Your father and reckless bravery on that occasion [sic], and it
has always been a mystery to me that he was not then killed for the fire was
simply terrific and he was right in among the enemy.
We were both carried to Camp Chase,
the Federal military prison at Columbus, Ohio, where we remained together
until exchanged at Richmond, Va.
If there is anything in this world calculated
to bring out all the characteristics of a man it is prison life, and men so
confined are either drawn very close together or driven very far apart, but
during that horrible experience your father was the same calm, philosophical,
kind-hearted, and popular Make Hornsby that he had always been in camp and
elsewhere, drawing his old friends closer to him and making new friends of
every one with whom he came in contact.
Kind-hearted and as true as steel, tender
as a woman yet absolutely devoid of fear, Make Hornsby was a man whom it was
an honor to have as one's friend, and you may well be proud of being the son
of such a worthy sire.
Yours very truly,
W. J. Oliphant
May 28th, 1902