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Outposte Loueasana April 16, 1853
Col. R.C.Ballard
Dear sir I Have the pleasure to inform you that we ar all well as conon We Have had a litt shower of Rane on laste Wednesday night and som on Friday night But carceley a nough to doo eny good all the old land will bee to a stand in a few dayes I think I will get a fine stand an all the old land the new land I fear a stand tho it is coming up som places I have a fine stand of corne as I had last year. I shall comence plowing and howing my corne Monday weak purhapes Before. I Compleated the Ditch on Tuesday Eaving threw [motores?] field and a fine Ditch it is it takes all the water clean out of our Ditches. I have Bin Cleaning out Ditches all the weak and cuting kane we have got a long slow cuting for the want of knives It is a good peace of land. will cut som this weak if nothing hapens. If you will send me som more hand men or woman sow tha can plow or how I will try and get in too hundred acers for another year and ditch it. if you will give me woman handes to helpe make the crope I can get in a heap of land during
the year I have got in the spirit of clearing and ditching cine I have comence the cane looked sow nice when cut down I shall stun the monkeyes. Mr. H. Beard came and taken off six cowes and caves and said tha we reserved in the saile of the place Mr. Richerdson told me he heard the trade and it was sow concequently he taken them off It is very cold this morning I think som froste sunday morning
I recied all the fereght from Neworleanes with the Bill. Recied a Hat but nothing elce for my self Yors Respectfully H. Shaw
Pecan Grove La Apl. 18. 1853 5
Col. R. C. Ballard Esq
Warrenton Miss
Oasis April 18th 1853
Col Ballard Dear Sir I have heard since my return that you had been informed that I should have said that I would go through your place by force of arms if I could not be permitted to do so peaceably - and I write to you to descain every having used such language
When I conversed with Mr Shaw upon the subject of the road in presence of Mr Richardson - "I stated that Shot gun law had been the only law of the swamp and so far as my influence extended it should be put down and the civil code substituted in its stead? I made the remark so that it could be understood that I countenanced nothing of the kind Respectfully Your Obt Svt Mark Valentine
Col Ballard Warrenton Miss