Miss Bettie McClung
'My Unknown Friend'
Having my curiosity completely aroused by extravagant accounts of your many accomplishments, both mental, moral & intellectual, I shall overleap propriety's bounds and ask the exalted privilege of an aquaintance, or rather of forming a friendship by the aid of pen, ink and paper. I ask tihs of you & expect a compliance, for I am debarred for the present from forming your acquaintance or enjoying your society in any other in any other method. My duties as an Officer in the service of my country prohibits my leaving the field, and prevents my visiting you as I should most assuredly do were I my own man, and at leisure.
You doubtedly desire to know how I became acquainted with your character. It was from the representation of my comrade in arms, who after crossing the Ohio came with me through glorious patriotic 'old Greenbriar.' And learning from the weary wayworn soldire of your kindness I determined to know you. The press of business and the proximity of the enemy alike have thus long prevented my carrying this design - long so formed - into execution. Practice, Polish and Pomposity form an alliteraion of modern requisites not sufficiently possessed by myself to render my letters of much interest to ladies generally. But as Self improvement, by an interchange of thoughts and feelings with one far my superior in all that is good pure & lovely is my desire. I trust your sympathy will be aroused for my forlorn condition & correspond with me. Wont you?
Now for a description of myself, and the heroic part I have acted upon the Army Stage of Southern Chivalry and I am through. Born in Central Kentucky in October 1833. I passed my boyhood days under favorable auspices. I was reared in 'the lap of luxury' & fed from 'Plenty o Table' until I was 16 years old. Every wish and desire that kind parents and wealth could bring was showered upon me. But at 16 my parents emigrated to Missouri where the Death Angel soon stole into my family circle, and carried off my Father. Annually he visited us for seven years, taking at each visit the brightest and best of the family. My sainted Mother & kind sisters and four noble brothers, leaving me almost alone in this wide old world. Misfortunes came not singly. I had not the philosophy nor religion to sustain the seven losses unmoved. I left Mo., cursed my maker and sought the shores of the Pacific. Mid gamblers, drunkards and spendthrifts, I passed four years in sin, wickedness and misery.
At last a better impulse led to return to Mo. I came, remained but a short time until this mad, cruel, devastating war was forced upon my people. The South was insulted, her rights trampled upon, property destroyed and her citizens abused. I should my gun as a private and joined 'Old Pop' (Genl Price). I was with him at Carthage, at Springfield and Lexington throughout his Mo. campaign, and one time by not having proper control of my horse, I was taken by him direct upon a battery which a few more of my comrades seeing, they came to my rescue. The enemy fled. I was taken from the field and prompted to a captaincy.
After the battle of Shiloh my company was dismounted and placed in Infantry. Not liking the service I resigned, went to Ky, rasied a company, was captured and for 3 months was an inmate of a loathsome dungeon under Sentence of Death, with my ankles and wrists beautifully mannacled with iron bands. I escaped from prison in August, joined Morgan in September as a private, and again by accidentally capturing some Federals and gaining some important information, was promoted to a Lieutenancey and last May was made A. A. Genl of one of Gen Morgans Brigades.
Now you have a plain and truthful account of my wayward life. I have never been sick since I joined the army, never received a wound, never had a furlough, have fought under Price & Morgan. In Mo Ark. Tenn. Miss. Ky. Ohio & Indian soil, and as a soldier during the war. Expect to be in a most important battle before this reaches you & one in which the Federals will be badly whipped. I have no relatives that I have heard from since the war began. My property is all in Yankee hands. No father to advise me. No Mother to love & pray for me. No sisters to counsel with. No borthers near and no one to love or care for m. My life is my country's - My home is in the Army. My wealth is my horse and arms. My friends are but few and will you not be one of them? For particulars in reference to appearance & standing I refer you to Miss Maggie Price of Lewisburg or to any member of Morgans command. Should you determine to correspond with me, direct your letter to, may I say, your friend
S. P. Cunningham
A. A. G. Morgans Cav. Div.
Care of Gen. Bragg
Army of Tenn.
If you conclude to write, Miss Bettie, you will certainly be doing a kindness to one whose only aim is his countrys good and whose greatest yearning is for the sympathy and friendship of the pure & good. May God in his mercy protect the Old Dominion and its nobel self-sacrificing sons and daughters. I have the honor of subscribing myself
Your obdt servt
Sidney P. Cunningham
A. A. G. Morgans Cavalry