MARTIN VAN BUREN TEAL The following is from the De Queen Bee, in DeQueen, Arkansas dated December 22, 1916. "OLD SOLDIER WRITES LETTER" Sends Old Ballot Box that was used when there were only 17 voters in Bear Creek Township, Arkansas. "I was born in Cambellton, Georgia, May 11, 1843. My father moved to Paulding, (Co. in GA) a few years afterwards. At the age of 18 years, I was taken out of school and put in the army and served until the close of the war in 1865. I entered in the 40th Georgia Regiment, Company F., under Captain Middlebrooks. Afterwards I fought under General Johnson in Kentucky until the army was divided. Then I was sent to Vicksburg, Mississippi and fought under General Pendleton. The Battle of Vicksburg lasted 47 days and nights. We surrendered July 4, 1863. Then I was paroled home. I stayed at home a few days and then went back and was placed under General Wheeler's command. We fought through North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and nearly to Atlanta, Georgia. I fought seven days and nights near New Hope Church within seven miles of my father's home. When we retreated to Atlanta, I was captured by the enemy and taken back down the Cumberland River. AT the mouth of the Cumberland River, I got away from the enemy. I worked my way back up the river within 40 miles of Nashville, Tennessee. The war ended the following May 1865. I reached home in the same year. On October 1, 1865, I was married to Mrs. Sarah F. Goodson of Paulding. We lived in Paulding County two years. In 1868, we moved to Arkansas. We only stayed here four months and them moved back to north Mississippi. In 1871, we moved back to Arkansas and have been living here in Bear Creek Township every since, except for two years we lived in Clear Creek Township. We have had 14 children. Twelve of them lived to be grown and married. I now have three boys and four girls living. My wife died June 14, 1906. On November 15, 1908, I was married to Mrs. Ida M. Demis of DeQueen, Arkansas. I am sending you the poll box that was used here when I first came to this place. The voting precinct at that time was at the Teal schoolhouse, about three miles from where DeQueen now stands. When this box was used, there were only 17 voters in Bear Creek Township. If any of the old Confederate soldiers that I was with in the war should see this, I would be glad to hear from them. Yours truly, M.V. Teal Route 2 DeQueen, Arkansas"