Poem: The Child’s Last Sleep with a post mortem image attached #cw150

The Child’s Last Sleep

Alas our little flower of flowers

                Is gathered to her mother earth,

And in a fairer world than ours

                She has another birth

She turned her sweet face to the light,

                She thought the rainbow spanned the air,

And when it vanished from her sight,

                Lo, Paradise was there.

She laid her little hand in thine,

                And motioned for one other kiss,

And with that tender parting sign,

                Passed into endless bliss.

She raised her arms with gentle grace,

                As though to greet some angel guest,

And with the welcome on her face,

                Sunk to her dreamless rest.

We watched in fear her slumbers deep,

                So faint was each expiring breath,

And to the last we thought it sleep-

                It was the sleep of death.

Slowly she closed, without a pain,

                Her loving eyes of cloudless blue,

And when her vision cleared again,

                Her heaven was cloudless too.

Source: North Carolina Whig (Charlotte, NC), December 2, 1862 as found in www.digitalnc.org.

Daughter of a NC soldier from the 4th NC

** Note: In the 1850s in America the infant mortality rate in the United States was estimated at nearly 22% for babies born for whites and 34% for African American children.  Mortality rates decreased sharply as children aged, with the most vulnerable periods occurring between birth and 4 years.

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I sat by her dead body & thought of her past life #cw 150

May 14, 2862

Went out to see Mrs Spruill and the girls.  Found them composed & resigned.  Poor Rebecca, as I sat by her dead body & thought of her past life, of all she had suffered mentally & bodily, I could not mourn for her.  Yet I felt her death greatly.  She was a tie to my youth & tho I have been unable to see much of her latterly yet she was one of those upon whom I rested, to whom I spoke unreservedly, & who reposed in me.  Few people look on me with the eyes of favour that she did, few judge me so leniently, & to fewer still does my society & presence give the pleasure that it did to her.

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

 

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A toll on families: “Three grown brothers of this family have died in the last twelve months.” #cw150

DEATHS.

            Died.—In Wilkesboro, on the 13th ultimo, Leander B. Carmichael, Esq.  He was a brother of Maj. A. B. Carmichael who was killed the day following in the battle below Newbern.  Three grown brothers of this family have died in the last twelve months.

 

 Source: The Greensborough Patriot, April 10, 1862 as found in Confederate Newspaper Project

 

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Tribute of Respect for Samuel Hunter, “taken from us while bravely standing at his post” #cw150

Tribute of Respect.

 Camp Near Kinston,

March 27th, 1862

          At a company meeting of the Guilford Grays, the following resolutions were offered, and adopted, as an expression of their respect for the memory of their late comrade in arms, Samuel A. Hunter, who fell in the battle near Newbern, Friday 14th inst.

            Whereas, Our companion and friend, Samuel A. Hunter was taken from us while bravely standing at his post attempting with us, to drive back the invading foe, and protect the rights and liberties of our beloved country; and whereas, by a constant intercourse for nearly ten months, he had endeared himself to the hearts of us all, both as a gentleman, patriot and Christian.  Therefore be it.

            Resolved, That in the death of our late brother we have lost a tried friend, and our State a good soldier; who attested his devotion to the Commonwealth that gave him birth, and the cause in which she is now struggling, by a ready obedience to the commands of all officers placed over him, a cheerful endurance of the hardships of the Camp and finally by offering up his life in her defense.

             Resolved, That while we deeply feel our losse, we meekly submit to the will of a righteous God, knowing that though his dealings with men are mysterious and inscrutable, yet kind and merciful are all His ways.

             Resolved, That we offer our heart felt sympathies to the family of our brother, at the same time referring them to the sweet consolations of the Bible; for though their bereavement be sad, yet they should not mourn those without hope: “He is not dead, but sleepeth.”

             Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family of the deceased, and also to the “Greensboro Patriot” and “Way of the World” for publication.

 J. H. McKNIGHT, W. U. STEINER, J. E. WHARTON, Com. C. W. WESTBROOKS, A. F. COBLE

                    

Source:   The Greensborough Patriot, April 3, 1862 as found in Confederate Newspaper Project

 

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March 1862: Recipe to preserve dead bodies to prevent offensive odor #civilwar150

To Preserve Dead Bodies

 The following preparation, which has been used on many occasions for thirty or forty years, comes highly recommended for the preservation of dead bodies. It will, in great degree, prevent the offensive odor from corpses; and, while the remains of so many of our deceased soldiers are being transported from the camps homeward, it may be of service to publish: Take two pounds of common salt, two pounds of alum, one pound of saltpeter- dissolve in six gallons of water and keep the shrouding wet with the mixture.

Source: Charleston Tri-Weekly Mercury, March 22, 1862 as found in John Hammond Moore, ed., The Confederate Housewife (Columbia, SC: Summerhouse Press, 1997).

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He came to settle about hauling that corpse #civilwar150

Saturday 22nd

I finished my dress soon after dinner. I then darned some stockings & fixed some to heel for Pinck. I heeled one pair & another ready to pick up the stitches for Pinck.

Sunday 23^rd [March 1862]

J. Frady staid here last night. He came to settle about hauling that corpse.* Atheline is down with toothache.

* The body was that of a young soldier, Chris Coffle, that Cornelia reported being brought home on the 4th here: http://wp.me/p1qIB8-DP

Source: Diary of Cornelia Henry in Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journal and Letters of the Henry Family. Clinard, Karen L. and Russell, Richard, eds. (Asheville, NC: Reminiscing Books, 2008).

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2/14/1862 “How differently has this Valentine’s Day been passed from the last!” #cw150

February 14, 1862

The mail tonight brought Mr Edmondston a Commission asLieutColof Cavalry in the service of the Confederate States!  Ah! me, I ought to be happier than I am but the prospect of long and uncertain separation eclipses for the present the glory & honour of serving his country.  After all I am but an “Earthen vessel,” but Courage!  I will be a vessel made to honnour!  Courage! I will be worthy of my blood, of my husband.  Yes, I am glad, glad that he can serve that land to which we owe so much, our home, our native-land.  The Cotton creeps slowly away.  I go out & count the bales & do numberless sums in addition & subtraction, calculating how long ere it be all gone!

            Susan came down today & made a strong appeal to Kate Miller to go up with her.  The Misses Smith being gone, she feels lonely, but Kate was staunch & steadily refused to leave me.  Then came the resort to me, backed by a message from Father that he had sent the carriage and expected me, but I declined & to Sue’s chagrin wrote and gave my reasons, in which McCullamore fully sustained me.

            Young Selden of Norfolk, nephew of my friend Mrs Henry Selden, had his head blown entirely off by a shell atRoanoke Island!  What sorrow for his family!

            How differently has this Valentine’s Day been passed from the last!  Then I was peacefully planting fruit trees at Hascosea.  Today, in the face of a stern reality am I packing up my household goods to remove them from the enemy.  Ah, this water and these roads!

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

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I helpt to put a man in his coffen this morning #civilwar150

 Goalds Burough Nc

January the 20 1862

Dear wife I Seat my self to write you a few lines to in form you that I am well and hope theas few lines may find you and the children aul well and ingeoying the Riches of blesings I hav no news of importents to rite at this time. I Receive yore letters which you sent me this morning and I was glad to receive them They Give me Great pleasure to hear that you was aul well I was sory to hear our neighbor Hoard acte as he had but I was Glad to hear that you paid him it matters for that for he that oppresses the pore Shall Receive thair Reward this is the time to the principles of men I will find out who is a friend to me and to the caus to which I am a triing to susstane if they hav had a went through what I hav had to and seen they would think [very] Diferent you can let as many as you pleas Sea this. I will chang the Subject I helpt to put a man in his coffen this morning by the name of Gilbert Bell he was from Rutheaford he Died in a ful Triumph of a living faith. I Recived evry thing that you sent to me in safty I often think of you and my beloved little children I of ten [marvel] the wonder when the sun was a setting behine the western Horising if it was a shedding its brite Rays on my lovely home I often look at the moon and the countless stares and wonder if my belove ones is a behold the same seen my Dear companion I never Shal forgit you for my love to is as costant as the Wheales of time the time is a huring us on to a neve ending eturnty I hope if we never meat on earth we may meat where the Sound fo the Drom and war whoop ei heard no moar I will cloas by saing I want you to Rite as Son as you Get this and Give me the news So nothing moar at this time but Still Remaines yor husban untill Deth

F S Kendrick

To M C Kendrick

 P V Beam is well and G.A.Brient D.M. Stronp E Hamrick M Carpenter is aul well at this time

 Source:  Larkin S. Kendrick To Mary C. Kendrick, Larkin S. Kendrick Papers 1861-1874. North Carolina State Archives and found in the Civil War Digital Collection:  http://digital.ncdcr.gov/u?/p15012coll8,673

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He was one of the Dixie Boys…has left them and gone up higher, where all is peace #cw150

Jan. 2, 1862

Died.—In Richmond on the 8^th instant of pneumonia, Robert A. Wilson, of Guilford, N. C., in the 26^th year of his age.  He was one of the Dixie Boys.  Robert Wilson’s character merits more than a mere announcement of his death.  From childhood he had been remarkable as an affectionate, dutiful son.  It may be said with strict candor that he not only never disobeyed a parent’s command, but never disregarded a parent’s wish.  He was modest, truthful and energetic, never stopping to parly with any vice.  Although not a church member, he had for years sustained a hope, which taken in connection with a spotless life, gives strong confidence to his afflicted friends that he is now at rest.  In obedience to his country’s call, he left with his companions for the field of strife; in obedience to his Maker’s call, he has left them and gone up higher, where all is peace.

 Source: Greensborough Patriot, January 2, 1862. As found on Confederate Newspaper Project.

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We have 120 of the regiment sick and a death about once a week #civilwar150

Camp Ashe

Near Centreville Va

December 3^rd 1861

My Dear Sister,

            I have intended writing to you for several days but knowing that some one at home received a letter every week from me I knew you heard through them where I was and what I was doing.  We have now a very pleasant camp in a thicket of pines and cedars all small and scrubby so that we are well protected from the wind.  The ground is rolling so as to drain the camp and we have to cut out roads to pass from one row of tents to the others.  We are still 1 ½ miles from Centreville.

            We have very cold weather at this time & our men being thinly clad suffer much on picket.  We have 120 of the regiment sick and a death about once a week.  I am enjoying fine health & am quite comfortable.

            We have been expecting an advance of the enemy for some weeks, but they have not yet advanced.  It is now believed by our Generals that a fight is inevitable within a short time but don’t [know] where the main attack will be whether on the right, left, or centre and there are designs for our regt to find where it will be.  The battle flags have been distributed to the various regts & they have been impressed with the believe that a tremendous battle is inevitable soon.  We have a large number of troops near here & if the attack is made at this point I have no fears of the result.  We had a little fight with Cavalry the other day of 180 to 200 on each side & we scared them so badly that very few of them fired.  We chased them for 3 miles & such yelling & firing & reckless riding by our boys you can’t imagine.

            I don’t much blame the poor creatures for running.  I was placed in front and ordered to lead the column of attack & saw more of the fight than any one else.  I felt calm and quiet during the whole affair.  Though most of the time in close proximity to the enmy & firing at them.  I wrote Foster, giving him an account of the affair.  The Col was kind enough in making out his report to head quarters to mention my name very kindly & flattering in conversation with the officers.

            Well my dear sister I have nearly completed this sheet and have not given you anything of interest either.  I have to write but war news.  You must write me often Carrie and tell how you all are and how the baby grows.  Tell Frank also to write.  My love to all.

Your brother,

J.B. Gordon

Sources: Christopher Watford, ed. The Civil War in North Carolina: Soldiers’ and Civilians’ Letters and Diaries, 1861-1865, Volume 2. (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2003).  Original in the James G. Hackett Papers, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC.]

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