Title: Jennie [McKay] aka Jane Reese [McKay] Letter

Date/Date Range :   1865

Extent: .1 linear feet

Abstract:

In this letter, Jennie McKay discusses her life on the Confederate home front in Missouri. She speaks of her home being burned, family members currently serving with the Confederate Army, what she considers the inflated prices of various goods, and the deaths of her older sister and newborn niece.

Call number: MS-2143

Repository: University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN

Aquisition Information:

The Special Collections Library purchased this collection in June 2002.

Access Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Copyright:

The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of Item], Jennie [McKay] aka Jane Reese [McKay] Letter, MS-2143. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

Collection consists of a single folder.

Jennie McKay is writing from Henry County, Missouri which is located east and northeast of Bates County. Bates County is where in the 1860 Federal Census that a Jane R. McKay, 21 years of age, resided with Jane McKay, 50 years old, and James M. McKay, 24 years of age. All were born in Tennessee. In the Confederate Veteran, James Madison McKay is stated to have returned after service in the Confederacy to Bates County "with his mother and remaining sister-to rebuild the home which had become ashes." He had served in the 6th Regiment of the Missouri Cavalry.

This transcript is four pages long. Jennie McKay is very informative in her writings that concern Confederate families during the Civil War. Jennie, whose name is Jane Reese (named after her mother) writes about her home being burned during the same night that "the Price raid was camped at the Old Trading Post on its retreat 15 miles from our house." Her brother had "belonged to Shelby's Brigade. Old Joe as the boys all called him was too spunky to surrender but took as many of his command as would go: and went to Mexico all of the Thomas boys got through the war Jake and Jimmie come back to Missouri." She is outraged by the prices of pigs, cows, calves, horses, corn and apples.

Christia, her older sister died on 28th day of October 1864. Her treatment was described in great detail. Her brother who was with Christia when she died told of the recent death of his new born daughter, "My Babe is with my sisterwe named her Jane Reese for you and Ma."

• Confederate States of America. Army -- History.
• Confederate States of America. Army -- Missouri Calvary Regiment, 6th (1861-1865)
• Missouri -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
• Missouri -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal Narratives.
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal Narratives.