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Karnac Plant July 1 th 53 Mr R.C. Ballard Sir I take this opportunity of informing you we are all well at present crop of cotton doing tolerable well though needing rain corn crops has been cut short for the want of rain Though I think we will make corn enough yet I am now getting everything in readiness for moving our Quarter I suppose I will make a start on it probably some time next week I will try and get what Done to the Ditching I can I wrote to you some time since that you was send before the magistrate at Grand Gulf to the amount of $511, for not working on the road I had the matter laid over as long as I could so as to get some instruction what to do about it I also wrote to Mr Boyd and have not as yet heard from either of you The trial was to come on last Thursday and I did not go as I did not know what to do and I do not
Know what they Done About I will hear in a few days My old field cotton is looking fine it is now about shoulder high I have cotton of all sizes from 6 inches to shoulder high I have 2 hands whip sawing Thinking after we move the quarter we will of course have to have a new cook shop and probably a new quarter or two I should like to have John a little while if it would be convenient Nothing more at present Yours respectfully J Westbrook
Col R. C. Ballard
Louisville
Ky
Warrenton Jul 2 M.I.
[Pecan Grove, La] Outpost July 3th 1853
Col. R. C. Ballard [Grayson Springs, Ky]
Dear sir I am glad to Enforme you that we ar all well at this time with the Exception three cases of the measeles. the Boy give the new Boy went off I have got him and he is still complaing. I cild a Beef yesterday and give all the hands a Barbacue tha ar in good spirietes and all ar dooing Better cince you Left hear the Last time then Ever befor cince I have bin hear. with the Exception of som few tha ar geting Bad advice which I will tell you when I see you you would not thought it for on the [sorce?] it is. I have had mor troubl cince the gin has bin comence with the yeard Negrowes then a Litl. My years dont deciev me. I have Bin imposd on a goodeal cince you Left hear. tho I gow on and dont say Enything Becaus I know you think hard of me to say Enything out of the weigh to Eny one you put hear their for I must take It you would not of sed and don thinges that others have sed and ar
If you had Lefte them agent tha could not medel with the negrowes and Buisness mor= the worst of all he talkes too mutch to the negrowes,, and yo know it wont doo hear= I am sory to distur yor mind But I must say what I know the gin is aup and covered in the spurs put in the maine wheal is all that is don= Mr. Walker give the old press to dLedbeter and Deacon= the screw tapes Box and dooers and all Belinging to the Bress Except a few pices= the Crope Lookes well Boath coton and corne we have had But very Litl Raine since you Lefte But it is Rainig now and Birdes for for plenty= I have the crope in good order= we ar geting on tolarbley well with the clearing I have finisht the Lower peace and now I am at work aup next the maunten cellar Road= We ar wornd to work the Road this weak which will throw me Back very mutch with the clearing= I have sed all that you wish to know and purhapes mor if have I hop yo will Ecuse me= all I Regrett is that you ar not a bout I Remaine yors moste Respectfully
We havent heard from you cinc you Left
H. Shaw