[Little Rock] Arkansas True Democrat, September 8, 1860
From the Arkansas Baptist.
Dear Brother Watson: For fear you or some of your friends might conclude this to be the year to come to Texas, I will give you a short statement about the crops.
I have traveled through several counties recently, namely; Falls, Bell, Travis, Milam, Roberson, Limestone and Freestone. There are several counties north of me and from me to the Louisiana line, in which corn cannot be purchased for less than two dollars per bushel, and in a great many places, corn cannot be had at any price. Pork will be very high, but we are blessed here with as good beef as the world can afford and this is a very good substitute for pork. Wheat is worth two dollars a bushel.
It is of no use to mention the cause of the hard times here, as it is understood that this country is seldom blessed with rain enough to make good crops.
Our country has been thrown into excitement in consequence of the burning of several towns and residences. After examination it was found that Abolitionists had placed in the hands of the negroes a great quantity of poisonous medicines and had the plan laid for an insurrection which was to have come off on the fourth of August.
The plan was to poison all the melons to be taken to the Election, on the night before, and on the Election day, to burn all the houses and graneries ; kill all the women and children; then make wives of the young women; then kill all the men as fast as they returned from the Election! But greatly to their disappointment several white men have been convicted and hung! also, several negroes, and there is no telling how many more will be convicted. As the work goes on, the more there is found out. Two or three of those hung, were Methodist ministers; two more were mechanics from the north.
The towns burnt are Dallas, Henderson and Natchodoches . Those fired by extinguished are Tylor , Marlin and Palestine. There is a Vigilance Committee in every county that looks into every hidden mystery, and keeps the county well patrolled.
Your interesting paper comes to hand regularly.
Yours Truly,
J. L. Bowdon.
Springfield, Texas, }
August 12th, 1860. }