my wound is from The Enside of The Thigh…. it is painfull at This Time #cw150

Richmond V.A. June The 3rd 1862

1st Georgia Hospitle

Dear and Affectionate wife I This morning must Drop you a few lines to let you know my condition on Last Fry day we [illeg] so long Depending and on Saturday we Entered The field of Battle a Bout 12 o clock at That Time one with Balance of our [illeg]  fell to the [illeg]  I have not Go The Exact news How many was killed or wounded on That day fight there was only  officer killed Capt Shuff [illeg] Day All so we are Company different Capt wounded in Body my self The Right Thigh Broken and hurd of many others of the Camp [illeg]  But 1/3 wounded I havent herd of Any [illeg]  Killed I have not saw Capt yet Though I Expect him some whare in Richmond my self and 3 Capts from South Carolina were taken To This Hospitle To gether All Then with broken Bones our Treatment is far Better Than [illeg] Expected my wound is from The Enside of The Thigh out on The other The Ball [illeg] it is painfull at This Time I Got A Doctor To Dress it Next morning [illeg]  Pressure hope it works Nicely

I cant go in long DeTail of Things Just now The Doctor after Dressing it said The Bone was not Shattered and none of The  artreys Cut and he sent me To This place said The nicest and cleanest place you have seen in a long Time I Can Do Better here Than if I was in newton or any whare Elce The Doctors has There hands full none has Died in This Hospitle yet he says I am doing veary well He Thinks in some Two or Three weaks I can bee up Again This Do [illeg]  if from Georgia The [illeg] some of Them knows him well he is The head Doctor of The Hospitle Tell J.P. Hillerbrand To Come out an see me I know he has not mutch To Do. I would like To See you all but I must wait till I can [illeg]  I must close for This Time write as

soon as you Recd Those lines Direct your letters to 1st Georgia Hos Pitle Richmond V.A. and They will come short write and give us the news so fare well for This Time

Your loving Husband till Death

W.R.D. Bost

A.A. Bost

Source: Many thanks to Bethany Green of UNC Wilmington for her transcription of the letters from W.R.D. Bost ofNewton,NC.  Original in the collections of the Catawba County Historical Association.

death before dishonor…my first duties are to my country and then to you #cw150

Camp Davis near Wilmington

June 3^rd 1862

Dearest Cornelia

Yours of the 25 inst. came to hand yesterday which was gladly received and now am about to respond but feel incapable of doing so.

You say this is the first time in life you ever experienced a sad disappointment and was done by the one who you thought would give you the least trouble, that I came off without telling you good by or even tell you I was not going back; now you seem to think that it was intentional on my part that I knew very well when I left you that I did not expect to go back home but to remain.

I did not for a moment suppose that you would even sinuate, much less to say I had treated you badly; did I not explain to you in my last why it was that I did stay? I think I did. You say I ought to go home and hire a substitute, that I guess would be a hard job for men are so scare at home I would not know where to get one that would be received in my place, and further more I would not get on if I could from the fact that it shall not be thrown up to my relations in future years that you had an uncle, brother, or that your father or perhaps grandfather would not go into the service when he was called on to assist his country in this great struggle for independence – was too cowardly, afraid of the Yankees & but hired a substitute to be shot in my stead never never shall it be said of me or any descendants; death before dishonor. Dear Corrie you very well know that it is hard for me to leave you but I consider I am doing rightly. I think my first duties are to my country and then to you. I hope I may be spared to see the end of the war and then you and I will marry and try and live a happy life in the future. I pray do not sensure me for treating you badly if I have done so it was not intended.  It makes me feel badly to think that you blame me for every think I do that is not according to your views.

I have wanted to go into the service ever since last winter but you refused to let me come. I could have come against your remonstrances but did not want to do any thing to wound your feelings, which I have never done on purpose to my knowledge, but yet you say I have. Enough of that and I will write something else.

Before this reaches you   you will have heard of the great slaughter at Richmond* Saturday & Sunday the particulars of which we have not got yet only telegrams. All quiet there yesterday up to noon. We had marching orders last week but have never heard the word march. It was said by the Col.that our destination would be Weldon.

Last week the blockading squadron captured the steamer Gordon off Fort Caswell from Bermuda bound for Wilmington her cargo consisted partly in five thousand stands of arms and twenty tons powder which would have been some little help to our army; we could hear the report of the guns very distinctly while they were firing on her.

Last week three of the squadron engaged the batteries atFortFisherafter firing over a hundred shots they withdrew, the only damage done was that of a shell killing a negro woman and chicken   the chicken being carried by the negro.

I have joined Armfields company. Last week I had a severe attack of the diarrhea, am getting better I dont think I’ll have any more chills. You said you wanted some paper. I have plenty such as it is but I don’t know how I will send it to you, I will send the first opportunity, in this I’ll send some stamps.Jacksonhas been doing good service don’t you think so! I hope he is inBaltimorethis morning and then will right about march and come on Washingtonin the rear and burn it up and capture old Abe that would be too good.

This is so badly written I don’t know whether you can read it or not. Write often to your devoted lover

Lewis

 

Give my kindest regards to Puss and all my friends.

*Battleof Seven Pines: see NPS page: http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va014.htm

And Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Seven_Pines

 

Sources: Mike and Carol Lawing, eds., My Dearest Friend: The Civil War Correspondence of Cornelia McGimsey and Lewis Warlick (Durham,NC:Carolina Academic Press, 2000). Original collections of the papers are in the Laura Cornelia McGimsey Papers and the George Phifer Erwin Papers in the Southern Historical Collection, UNC Chapel Hill.

How much hangs on the events of the next few days #civilwar150

May 29, 1862

During the night of Friday the 23d Mr Edmondston was taken quite sick with fever & increased pain in his knee, so that in the morning he was unable to leave his bed & indeed scarcely able to turn over without assistance.  The Dr pronounced it Inflamatory Rhumatism.  He has suffered terribly all the week but is now, I hope, a little better tho’ still confined to his bed.  He is so patient that it is difficult to tell what his sufferings are, but the knee is still so stiff & swollen that he can neither straighten or put it to the ground.

Frank Jones arrived on Sunday & has been with us until yesterday, he having received permission from the Sec of the navy to volunteer in the army whilst his ship is inactive.  He gave us a stirring account of the affair at Drury’s Bluff & thinks he killed the Pilot of the Galena himself; says that unless a strong force is landed & our battery flanked & taken it will be impossible for the enemy to get to Richmond by the River.  He brought me a Bayonette taken from the decks of the Congress during the fight in Hampton Roads on the 8th of March, which I shall prize highly as a relic & place by the side of our Revolutionary Swords.

The daily news from Richmond keeps us almost breathless with anxiety, a fight being momentarily expected.  Johnson has fallen back until his rear rests upon Richmond, McClellan steadily advancing, entrenching as he comes.  We have deserted the West Point R R, which they have seized, & can run a train from their boats to within 15 miles of Richmond, a great advantage to them & place, in one of which we were driven back, but in the other we were signally victorious.  Yesterday Johnson was reported to be crossing Chickahominy Swamp to give them battle, but I do not believe it. Anderson’s and Branch’s Brigades of the Army of the Rappahannock were at Hanover Court House when the enemy made a dash & seized the Central Road, thus cutting them off.  We attacked them front and rear, when a terrible fight took place.  Our loss was fearful, especially amongst Branch’s N C Division, but as we took 55 prisoners & regained the position I hope communication was reestablished.  How much hangs on the events of the next few days; for should we be beaten and a victorious army, flushed with victory & animated with such passion as theirs is, pursue our troops intoRichmond, imagination shrinks in terror from the scenes that will be enacted there.  For even if the city be not given up to pillage the officers will be unable, even if willing, to restrain the men; but what confidence can we have in them, that they will not be our worst enemies?  I remember Butler’s order and shudder.

Johnson is a master of strategy & he ought to know, but to us it seems madness to allow the enemy to entrench themselves as they have done & are even now doing on the north bank of the Chickahominy; but we were not born Brigadier Generals.

Jackson has had another splendid success in the Valley & has completely routed Banks at the Front Royal & driven him into and through Winchester which we now hold.  He pierced his column, one part of which fell back to Strasburg fugitives, whilst he himself followed the Winchester portion.  We took all their cannon, camp equipage, Baggage & Hospital stores, which are most valuable, destroyed their wagons & took an immense amount of supplies & a large quantity of ammunition—in short the rout is complete and we are encumbered with 4000 prisoners!  This victory has cheered our army before Richmond greatly.  God grant that it may have correspondingly depressed our enemies.  It is whispered confidently that the next news we will hear of him is that he has led his victorious column into Maryland, so we shall see whether or not “there is life in the old Land yet,” or whether the “Despot’s Heel” has crushed it entirely out of “Maryland, My Maryland”!

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

 

Unionists in North Carolina are giving aid and comfort to the enemy by creating trouble at home #cw150

5 miles fromRichmond,Va., May 29th, 1862

My dear Wife

I yesterday received two letters from you, one of April 30th and the other of May 20th, and honey I must say the last left me more sad than I have been for many a day.  It was very evident that you had been very sick and would not only let me know nothing of it at the time, but would not have the confidence in me to write me when you could about it.  You ask me to write or let you know if I should get sick or wounded.  Why do you not set me the example.  Darling here I was making myself believe that my dear wife was well and that it was only the mail, when probably she was dangerously ill.  Darling do you never forgive or retract?  Do you really intend to carry out what you said last summer and not let me know when you get sick.  Honey be more confiding next time under similar circumstances.

My dear how can you have any respect for a man who acts and talks as Joe Williams?  Would you like for me to do as he does.  Refuse to fight but want to make money by the worst calling but one—negro trading—making that curse of man more than curse of wife, whisky.  Fanny, write me no more about such a miserable degraded creature.  Let his name never be mentioned by us to each other only to condemn.  I am sorry that his family pretentions so blind you as to allow you to respect such a man.  I do not write how I like the idea of his being Pamela’s husband.  That is her business, but Pamela will have to come down very much from my opinion of her before she gets low enough to marry such a creature.

We came out last night fully expecting to move on and attack the enemy this morning, but something prevented.  I hope the attack will not be delayed many more hours.  We can whip them without their artillery, but with them the things become more difficult.  My dear, never allow yourself to doubt our ultimate success.  We can never be conquered unless the Laslens and Williamses do it.  The Yankees cannot.  I slept not a wink last night and but very little for the previous 48 hours.  I have felt anything but bright today.  We occasionally have pretty rough times, but generally it is not bad.  We lived very well at Richmond.  I got a bin of nice sweet potatoes from home two days ago.  We are here with only what we brought on our horses and boys.

Your description of the progress of the children is very gratifying.  I am very sorry I did not get your letter asking for powders for Turner until a few minutes before we left yesterday, but I will send them as soon as possible…

… Do not let your father make you despond.  My dear wife one more word about Unionists.  You love me and think I act from a sincere conviction of the justice of my cause and you did approve it.  Here I am not only risking my life in battle but by any of the various camp diseases in a cause which really primarily affects me but little, while they [the Unionists in North Carolina] are giving aid and comfort to the enemy by creating trouble at home, etc. etc. etc.  Now my dear how can you not only treat these people with anything but frigid politeness, but appear to consider a lingering liking for you as desirable.  Erase the apparent harshness of my letter, but I say no more than I am justified in.

May our Father have mercy upon us.  Write me often.  Love to all.

Your devoted Husband

 

Sources: William Hassler, ed., One of Lee’s Best Men: The Civil War Letters of General William Dorsey Pender (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1999). William Dorsey Pender papers, Southern Historical Collection, UNC-Chapel Hill. http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/p/Pender,William_Dorsey.html

Deliver us from our enemies, & give us a speedy, honourable & lasting peace #civilwar150

Sunday May 11^th 1862

Norfolk & Portsmouth have been evacuated by our troops. The Yankees took possession of it at the time of the evacuation. This is one of those masterly strategical moves, which prove the genius of the commanding officer. Our Noble “Merrimac” was burnt to prevent her falling into the hands of the Enemy. Capt Tatnall commanded her. An old hull once more. How many of our hopes were centered in these Poor Virginians! The armies on the Peninsula stand face to face. The great battle must take place. O that within a few hours. God of battles, give us the victory. Look then upon the two great armies and judge Thou between them. We know O God that but for Thy mercy, we could not abide. Deliver us from our enemies, & give us a speedy, honourable & lasting peace. May 13^th 1862

Source: Elizabeth Collier Diary, Southern Historical Collection, UNC-Chapel Hill.

All true Southern people will bear these reverses bravely #cw150

April 6^th 1862

Thanks be to Almighty God for the victory given us at “Shiloh.” We lost one of our bravest & noblest Gens, Sidney A. Johnson who fell gallantly making a charge. But thank God he died with the shout of victory in his ears. Long will his suffering country mourn his loss.

Noble, gallant Beauregarde was there. & in his heart “Victory or Death.” Victory alone rests upon his banner.

April 30^th 1862

New Orleans has fallen – we confess it is a severe blow. But nothing more than we might expect. For we have no means of successfully resisting the enemy’s gunboats. I should never despair for one moment if they were to take every town & city upon the coast.

All true Southern people will bear these reverses bravely. Let the summer come & let the rivers fall, so that their everlasting gunboats will be of no use to them. Let the vandals have their course on dry land – & we will whip them, as we have hitherto done.

Source: Elizabeth Collier Diary, Southern Historical Collection, UNC-Chapel Hill.

I am but a feeble woman, would God I were a man but I will give gladly my own life for my beloved South #cw150

February

Roanoke Island fell in the hands of the Yanks.

March 14th 1862

Newberne has been taken by the Yankees, our men were overpowered by greatly superior numbers… The citizens fired the town. Gen. Gatlin has proved himself a coward by feigning sickness.

April 11th 1862

Friday night

What I have suffered this night will be ever fresh in my memory. The great love I bear my country will I fear lead me to extremes. But I am so anxious and confident for our success in this unjust war – that it drives me mad when I see & hear desponding persons- who are brave enough when the enemy is kept at a distance but let their homes be menaces let them have to give up one single comfort & they are speedily transformed into a set a miserable croakers, traitors they will prove in the end – and this speculation which is going on. It is fearful to think of it, but we see quite enough without dwelling upon it. Poor grasping, misguided wretch. What good will the few dollars you have wrung from your own people do you when you come to die. Each cent will be a red hot coal burning your perjured soul. But even in this world what good will it do you. The finger of scorn is already laid upon you  you carry the badge of eternal shame wherever you go —-

I am but a feeble woman, would God I were a man but I will give my life’s best treasures, yea I will sacrifice, gladly my own life for my beloved South – we do not deserve to be free & rest assured God will not suffer us to be free, for he only helps those who help themselves – unless we are willing to make great personal sacrifices.

Source: Elizabeth Collier Diary, Southern Historical Collection, UNC-Chapel Hill.