I submit the following article: McNairy County Independent, Friday, 19 November 1909 Correspondence, Oklahoma Letter. Idabel, Okla., Nov. 4, '09. Independent: I accidentally, through the accommodation of an old Tennessean that I chanced to meet some time ago, was put in possession of two or three copies of the Independent, which I read with a great deal of interest, for they carried me back to McNairy county to the years of long ago; and in my mind I went back to Prudy and called on most of the old timers. Bill Jopling was sheriff, Carroll Moore jailer. Of the merchants there were Alfred Moore, Jack Duke, Bell & Wisdom, Adam Hall, Stribling Bros. and Nelson Riggs. Dr. Kendal, Dr. Harris and Dr. Barry were the three most prominent doctors of that day; while Cy Jeans, Jack Ray, Dickey Browder and his boys, Sam Brooks, Dunkin Baker, Jack Wagoner, Dave Redding and Bogan Ray were considered the main farmers of the Oxford creek country. These were my happiest days. I was a boy then, and every week old Ned and I would pay McCullar's mill a visit. You will note that old Ned was a big gray horse. Now I have come to something never to be forgotten. On the third morning of May, 1861, the first company of volunteers left Purdy for the great war that was to last four long, weary years and leave desolate our once beautiful country. I will give you the names of all of that company that I can now remember-one or two I have forgotten their given names-if you will publish the roll and see how many will answer the roll. There are about eight or ten whose names I cannot remember. I think there were 114 in the company, all told. We went to Randolph, forty miles above Memphis, on the Mississippi river, and became Co. I, 154th Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. This regiment was officered by Preston Smith, colonel; Marcus J. Wright, lieutenant-colonel; ____ Martin, major. All three became brigadier generals. Smith was killed at Chickamauga, Martin killed at Corinth. General Bedford Forrest was first a private in this regiment; was elected lieutenant in cavalry; was soon a captain, ! then colonel. From that time on the world knows his history. Luke E. Wright, a mere boy at that time, went through the war with this regiment, serving most of the time as marker and courier; little dreaming at that time that he would one day be governor-general of the Philippine Islands. Since May 15, 1865, the date of my parole, I have been in nine different states, but I find no place that fills the measure like old Tennessee for a TENNESSEAN ABROAD. List of Names of Members of Co. I, 154th Tenn. Regiment who left Purdy, Tenn. on the morning of May 3, 1861: Alfonzo Cross, captain; A. M. Corey, 1st lieutenant; John Cross, 2nd lieutenant; F. D. Moore, 3rd lieutenant: Ned Sanders, orderly sargeant. Private: J. R. Adams, Bill Burkhead, J. K. Burns, Tom Baker, Joe Brooks, Tom Brooks, John Bagsby, Wiley Burks, Tom Burks, Dick Beard, Dan Burton, John Browning, Tom Bowers, Ike Bowers, Tom Barlow, Henry Barlow, Billy Cunningham, Henry Cunningham, Alexander Cleghorn, Clay Chambers, Bob Cates, Geo. Churchwell, W. S. Condon, Tom Darien, ____ Darien, John Dunn, Ned Dicus, Troy Erwin, T. C. Estes, John East, Marion Fisk, Dave Farmer, Straud Gill, Dave Gill, Ben Gill, Will Gill, Bill Gipson, John Gipson, Joe Gipson, ____ Gibson, M. R. Haley, Henry Holderfield, D. P. Hogue, J. R. Holman, Bill Halbrooks, John Huddleston, Hiram Hankins, John Howell, Frank Howell, J. N. Jeans, C. L. Jeans, Cicero Jeans, H. H. Jones, Tom Jones, Jesse Jones, John Knotts, A. J. Lunsford, Carroll Moore, Jim McKenzie, Dave McKenzie, Joe McKinney, Hugh McAlpin, Joh! n McQuate, Riley McGee, Moody McGee, John McNamee, James Monroe, John Miller, Dick McGaughey, George Owens, Jim Owens, Dave Price, Jno. D. Page, Jim Ray, Wm. Ray, Sam Ray, John Ray, W. S. Ray, H. M. Ray, Bill Ray, Jim Rains, Wes Rains, E. D. Roberts, Bob Stewart, Eugene Sullivan, Polk Smith, Bill Smallwood, Dick Turner, Frank Tanner, Dick Tanner, Tom Tillman, Bill Turner, Charley Wharton, Caleb Wharton, Dick Wharton, Bill Wharton, Monroe Wardlow, Jap Wiseman, John Waller, Tom Wagoner. Jerry D Duncan