April 29, 1863, Arkansas True Democrat (Little Rock)
Jackson, Miss., March 6, 1863.
Madam–I have the honor to acknowledge the reception, at the hands of Dr. Blackburn, of the elegant “chappeau” sent to me by yourself and other ladies of Montgomery. I accept it with pride, and shall wear it in grateful remembrance of the fair donors.
When the history of the revolution shall be written, I trust that the ladies of the South may receive that credit to which their lofty and self sacrificing patriotism so justly entitles them. Through our darkest hours they have stood firm and unshaken, seeing, with the eye of faith, the rainbow of promise spanning the horizon of the future, when to others all seemed gloomy, desolate and hopeless. The first to counsel resistance to tyranny, they have nobly maintained their position by sending forth to battle, and perhaps to death, the objects of their earthly adoration; and this not reluctantly, as the miser parts with his gold, but cheerfully and courageously they have laid their temporal happiness on the altar of their country, content to lose everything except honor, and determined that at any hazard it should be maintained. Nor have their exertions stopped here. The soldiers of every battle-field, and on every starving march, and in every hospital, have been nerved, strengthened and encouraged by the words of cheer and sympathy that have reached them from home. Nobly have the women of the South fulfilled their mission in this our struggle for constitutional government. Their conduct gives assurance to the world that men descended from such mothers, having such wives and sisters, can never be made to bow the neck to the yoke of oppression, no matter with what strength it may be forced upon them.
For the complimentary expressions toward myself, contained in your letter, I am deeply grateful, but I cannot accept them without assuring you that whatever of good to the cause I may have been enabled to accomplish is due to the exertions of the noble men who have constituted my command. They have endured the heats of summer and colds of winter–have faced death in its most horrid forms, in camp and on the battle field, with a sublime heroism to which history presents few parallels.
Again thanking you for your kind remembrance of me, I remain, very respectfully, your friend and obedient servant.
Sterling Price,
Major General.
Mrs. Alex. F. Givens, and others, Montgomery, Alabama.