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on the Arkansas River,? saying, ?I have great solicitude about you, and your situation and profession is one of my sorrows.? Still at Sea Song, she wrote, ?Your Pa is very much dissatisfied with this country. He has been sinking money ever since he purchased here, nothing has been made. Some disaster befalls us every year. He has been obliged to sell negroes, and to buy (illegible) meat and com; and nothing to do it with. Consequently debts are incurred at high interest rates, and we never know what it is to have peace of mind. Last year he sold about 16, and was nearly free; but the interest on the remainder with the expenses of the year will make it necessary to sell as many more this fall. He is very much cast down and discouraged, and he is resolved to sell out. If he cannot find any purchaser at private sale he will put all up at auction this fall and sell for whatever he can get. I think he would do better to abandon it, and settle elsewhere...I will return to the Hermitage until something is determined upon. Samuel has secured it of the state for two years...I know I will find it very disagreeable there now for I will be considered as a hireling and all who visit there will look upon it as belonging to them. You know the feeling my dear Son of a certain class of people who have been in that neighborhood for some time, and who will be gratified to see the change in our condition but I have made up my mind to it, and will endeavor to bear my cross with submission.?
Unfortunately, it was no longer the right time to sell. She continued ?there are a good many places offered for sale, at this time, land, negroes, stock &c...abolitionism is I think alarming the negro holders, and many of them are anxious to realize a large sum of in cash for them now, while prices are high.?[Letter reference]
Sarah wrote from Sea Song on September 8 to Samuel, who had been away for some time. She stated, ?Your Pa is well also, but troubled about his affairs. He is anxious to sell and purchase higher up in the country. ? (Letter reference] She also informed him of some bad news about a friend: ?Mrs. Ogden has had more trouble. Her little Comie is dead he was afflicted in a way similar to ?Leanmers? baby. We passed there on Wednesday evening and them all walking out. The baby was with them perfectly well, and last evening (Friday) we received an invitation to his funeral. He was taken with convulsions on Thursday evening and died on Friday morning, to be buried to-day.? [Letter reference].
Besides the financial problems, the Jacksons had experienced adversity from many natural causes: mosquitoes, freezes, heat, rain, lack of rain, ants, roaches and snakes. A new experience - in fact, three new experiences - presented frightening times in the summer and the fall.
History records two hurricanes very close together, one having been August 10 to 12, 1860, which made landfall between Biloxi and Pascagoula. The other storm struck the coast just a