Memphis Daily Appeal
Memphis, Tennessee
May 17, 1861
Starksville, Texas, May 5, 1861.
Editors Appeal: The whole country is in arms, the news having reached us that the northern troops, with Montgomery’s band, are concentrating at Fort Arbuckle. Fort Ouchita has been abandoned by the northern troops, and is now in possession of the Texans. Seven wagons with provisions were captured by us, with a large quantity of corn and oats, and one cannon in the fort. One hundred troops left Paris yesterday for the fort, and a despatch has been received to-day calling on the border counties for one thousand men. Two companies will leave this and Red River county to-morrow. We are a unit in this matter—the talk of union is no longer heard. There are scarcely men enough left at home to take care of the women and children. The Indians are all right.
W. H. H.