Our servant boy Bill died last Tuesday, was sick near five months. I felt very bad after he died #cw150

 

May 15

Our servant boy Bill died last Tuesday, was sick near five months. I felt very bad after he died, I could not sleep well for two nights. I have not been well for two or three weeks, my bowels have been constipated. I have been low spirited, my faith was surrounded by darkness, the Lord’s face hid from me, had no comfort, felt like I was a poor helpless sinner, who deserved nothing, but I prayed unto the Lord to comfort my poor troubled soul. I have read my bible and found some comfort, and I do trust in the Lord, my health is better today. I have had trials and temptation, had evil thoughts, if the Lord were to mark iniquity who should stand, if it was not for Jesus Christ death and intercession I would have been in torment long ago. I have been led to see how poor, helpless, sinful and miserable I am, without Christ I am nothing, but he is all in all, we are worms of the dust, but to have all our sins washed away by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and have grace to help in our time of need is a joy unspeakable.

 

Source: Mary Jeffreys Bethell Diary, 1853-1873.  #1737-z, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/bethell/menu.html

 

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Gen. Jackson is dead.We have lost one of our best Generals. A nation now mourns his loss. #cw150

Thursday 14^th [May 1863]

Harrie went to Asheville this morning. It rained a little but cleared off before dinner. I had the headache all day & was quite sick after dinner with it. Harrie came back about 5 o’clock. He got the papers which give a full account of the Fredericksburg Fight. Gen. Jackson is dead. Died from pneumonia & his wounds. He was wounded by our men through mistake. We have lost one of our best Generals. A nation now mourns his loss. Harrie complained of his lungs some after he came back. He says he can’t ride horseback.

Friday 15^th [May 1863]

Mail brought nothing new but four letters as Harrie brought the mail yesterday. My head not entirely well but a great deal better. I took some pills this morning. Aunt Patsey spent the day here. Warped the thread for the children’s dresses. It is 4 of purple (dyed with Willow root) & 1 of white. I crocheted some after dinner as my head was easy nearly.

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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Rest assured that I value my life too highly to throw it away uselessly. #civilwar150

Camp Gregg, Va.,

May 14^th, 1863

 

My dear Wife

Your letter of the 10^th came today, and I was much gratified to hear that you continue so well and that Pamela has completely recovered. Honey, I do not laugh at you as much as you seem to think, and be assured that your appearance would have no influence in preventing me from writing for you to come. I am not accustomed to tease my wife in that condition. You should come on the first time it is safe. I was very much tempted to write for you as soon as I got back here, but the great uncertainty of our movements prevented.

My health darling is very excellent, and I take as good care of myself as possible. Rest assured that I value my life too highly to throw it away uselessly. Honey it looks little probably that I should outlive you to see your wishes carried out, but if such should be the case, no one could be mentioned who I should prefer to take charge of our children, but you know Pamela may be expected to marry some of these days, and some one else’s wishes would have to be consulted. Tell Pamela that I am surprised that she should prove so false to poor browbeaten little Turner. That now she has placed her affections upon Dorsey and desert Turner, I do not know what the dear will do, for you never though as much of him as of Dorsey. Poor little fellow, all seem to be deserting him.  I love him as dearly as a father ever did his child, not that I do not love Dorsey as I should for I think a great deal of him, and always think of them together and not Turner alone as you sometimes seem to think.

The Yankee papers are beginning to confess a great defeat, and some of them say it will be some long time before they can try it over. Do not believe all you see about the last words of Jackson, for some designing person is trying to injure Gen. Hill by saying that he frequently said that he wanted Ewell to have his Corps. After it became apparent that he would die, he was delirious most of if not all of the time. It is strange what a jealousy exists towards A.P. Hill and this Division, and for what cause I cannot see, unless it is because he and it have been so successful. I hope to stick to him for he sticks to me.

The next move will probably be here and on Richmond, from the White House simultaneously. The White House is on the Pamunkey just above its entrance in the bay that runs up by Yorktown.

I have sent for my box and will probably get it Saturday

[letter is incomplete]

 

 

Source: 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).

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Woke up this morning with a sense of a heavy misfortune. Asked myself what had happened & remembered that Jackson was dead! #cw150

May 12, 1863

Woke up this morning with a sense of a heavy misfortune. Asked myself what had happened & remembered that Jackson was dead! Omitted to write yesterday that my nephew Thomas Jones had brought his wife to fathers. We go up to see her this morning. I shall offer her a home until the war is ended — for she cannot return into the lines of the hated enemy & since Hill’s repulse at Washington, they have grown more stringent & oppressive. The papers are full of McClellan’s & Burnside testimony respecting the command & conduct [of] the Army of the Potomac. I take little interest in any of them, or anything they say. They only offer an additional proof, if proof were wanting, that neither Lincoln, Halleck, Stanton, McClellan, Burnside, or Hooker understand the first principles of a gentleman. Deficient alike in self respect & respect for each other, they know not what is due themselves from their subordinates, or their subordinates from their own hands. Faugh! they disgust me, a set of cold blooded quill drivers. They have neither the instincts or the impulses of gentlemen.

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 have no news of much importance to write you only General Jackson departed this life yesterday.#cw150

May the 11^th 1863

S.T. Jackson

Dear Brother

I take the present opportunity of dropping you a few lines to let you know that I have not forgotten you. If you have me it seames that you don’t intend to write to me any more or if you do I don’t get your letters. I want to know what is the matter that you don’t write or have I done any thing to keep you from writing. If so let me know what it is so no more on that subject at present.

I am well at present and hope these few lines will come safe to hand and find you and all the family well and Coles & Family. I have no news of much importance to write you only General Jackson departed this life yesterday. He rec’d a wound in the last battle at Fredericksburg in his left arm. Our own men done it but I heard today that it was a bumshell that struck and that he never recovered from the shock.

It is a great loss to us and I fear that it will bother us to find a man to fill his place though I hope we will and soon (god can give us a man to stand tall in his place). I hope it is for the better if it is gods will for us to gain our independence it is all right. I saw about 2000 yankey prisoners yesterday going to Richmond. There has went some 5000 by us to Richmond and a good many others so no more on that subject.

You need not send them shoes that I wrote to you for I have bought a pair since and don’t need them at present. So I must close for the present by saying write soon and direct your letters to Richmond Va 26 Regt NC Troops Co H General Pettigrews Brigade. Give my love to mother and Martha and all the family and Cole and family. So no more at present only I remain your loving Brother

J.A. Jackson

Source: Christopher Watford, ed. The Civil War in North Carolina: Soldiers’ and Civilians’ Letters and Diaries, 1861-1865, Volume 1 and original in Richard A. Cole papers, North Carolina State Archives.

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Pender’s Chancellorsville: I was hit … slight bruise by a spent ball which killed a fine young officer standing in front of me #cw150

Camp Gregg, Va.

May 7^th, 1863

My dear Wife

We are back again at the same old camp after eight memorable days. The enemy are all once ore on the other side of the river and may God grant that they may go still further. We have had a terrible time of it and surely I have enough to make one grateful to Almighty God for.

We had the most terrible battle of the war, not because they fought better but because they had such terrible odds and held such a strong position and so well fortified. Hooker thought he had us but Lee is too much for him, and while he was waiting for us in his front we fell upon his right flank and but for night coming we would have cut him to pieces Saturday night. Saturday night he had time to change front and fortify but to no purpose only to make it harder upon us. After five terrible hours commencing 5 AM Sunday, 3^rd, we drove him from his position. I was in the front line to start at them and went through to the last.  Fought my Brigade until the final repulse and then took command of other troops as they came up.

If not before, I won promotion last Sunday and if it can be done I think I shall get it. Our NC troops behaved most nobly. Ramseur covered himself and his Brigade with glory. My Brigade behaved magnificently and got cut up terribly. Six out of ten field officers were hit. Two are dead, Cole and Odell. Cols. Scales and McElroy, Lt. Col. Stowe and Maj. McLaughlin were wounded. Four out of the seven Generals of our Division were hit but none seriously. Hill, Heth, Pender, and McGowan. I was hit the next day while standing behind entrenchments in a miserable skirmish, but it is only a very slight bruise by a spent ball which killed a fine young officer standing in front of me. It is on the right arm near the shoulder.

We took over 6,000 prisoners and between 15 and 2 pieces of cannon and lots of small arms. I will write you more of the fight in my next letter for I am very tired and sleepy now. We only got to camp this afternoon. Gen. Hill is in command of the Corps and I of Archer’s, McGowan’s, Lane’s and my own Brigades. This last is temporary. Stuart commanded the Corps ion the Sunday fight, Gen. Hill being unable to ride horseback and right noble did Stuart do. He is now going after Stoneman’s cavalry. We may have some rest now, at least for a week or so. We had about 30,000 in the fight, and they not less than 65,000. This is Chancellorsville. Near Fredericksburg Sunday afternoon Gen. Lee had about 22,000 and Sedgwick about 30,000. You will have to read closely to understand for our Army had three or four fights, all of which were completely and wholly successful.

Our papers in Richmond made themselves disgustingly ridiculous. Honey, thank your Gracious Father for his great protection to me. My love to you all. I will write again tomorrow or next day. I saw Ham and Willie today. God bless you my dear.

Your loving Husband

 

Source: 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).

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Poor fellow. I fear he will not live long. He is very feeble. #civilwar150

Wednesday 6^th [May 1863]

Atheline cleaned upstairs today as I expect Harrie this week. Poor fellow. I fear he will not live long. He is very feeble. I have knit some today. Cloudy & raining this evening. Willie still wheezes a good deal. One of I. Mathew’s children died this morning of fever, typhoid pneumonia, and another child very sick.

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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Heard today of the death of …the darling son of an old and dear friend…May God comfort the striken mother! #cw150

May 3^rd [1863]

Sabbath Afternoon

The children all went to Tardis today, leaving the Col. Katie and myself at home. After their return I read to them & endeavored to make them impune the sacred hours – oth that they may incline unto “thy testimonies!” how diligent I should be in “loving deed” in this spring time of their lives. I heard today the sad news of the death of Lieut Lutterloah, the darling son of an old & dear friend of my early days. He was wounded in a skirmish near Kinston. May God comfort the striken mother!

Source: Jane Evans Elliot Diaries #5343, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/e/Elliot,Jane_Evans.html

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Surely the war has caused more trouble than anything that has happened in our beloved country since the Revolution. #cw150

Hed Qtrs. Pettigrew Brigade

Camp near Hookerton, NC

April 26^th 1863

My dearest Friend

We came to this place last Sunday from Washington via Greenville in two days and you may guess that we were somewhat fatigued. Remained here until Tuesday morning when we got marching orders. Fell in and marched back the road 9 miles towards Greenville – pitched camp and the next morning received marching orders for Kinston to report there that night but to our gratification the orders were countermanded when we reached here or before and here we have been ever since. We were all disappointed at leaving Washington in the hands of the enemy, when we went there we were confident that Washington would be ours with all its contents but not so from some cause or other the siege was abandoned, supposed to be from the fact that our battery at Fort Hill below the town could not successfully blockade the river the enemies boats would pass of very dark nights without being discovered bringing in supplies and reinforcements. Some think that it was not Hills intention to take the place but to draw forces from Suffolk to weaken that point so as Longstreet could work out his plans successfully; my notion is that the former was Hills plan – to take the place We busted six of our best guns at fort Hill and Rodmans farm, a few miles above the former.

I received two days since the sad intelligence of my sister, so was I sad to hear it but God’s will be done. It’s a debt we all owe and have some day or other to pay, our family has been distressed greatly for the last four years for in that time I have lost a mother, brother and two sisters. I do hope that there will not be another death in the family while the war continues as that gives sorrow and sadness enough to be borne; but we know not the day or the hour we have to bid adieus to this world. There may be more of the same family distant this life before the expiration of this horrible war. Surely the war has caused more trouble than anything that has happened in our beloved country since the Revolution. Alas! and when will it end?

Yesterday there was a detail of 50 men from the brigade sent to Randolph and Chatham to hunt up deserts. Reuben Branch was detailed from our company. They are offered fifty dollars and a furlough for every one they catch.

I am getting tired of this country because we have not drawn but one days rations of flour since we came to Greenville, corn bread all the time except on a march. Then sometimes hard bread which is but little better. I want wheat to get ripe soon and lots of it. But then we will get but little of it as there is but little raised in this part of the country and they want us to eat up the corn that is made here and ship the flour to other parts. I would give considerable now for some nice biskets and butter. And wouldn’t object to having a little honey sprinkled over it such as they have at “Pleasant Hill.”

Phifer Erwin has not left yet, he did not accept the appointment of Lt. in the 7rh NC – is looking for a better one – Quarter Master of the 60^th – hasn’t got the appointment yet, but has been written to know if he would accept it. David Moody has been discharged.

I understand a few days since that Reuben Hawks a member of our company died lately at the hospital – don’t know the certainty of it.

Our tents have been sent to Wilson together with all heavy baggage, don’t suppose we will get our tents any more. I must quit as I have to report at the guard house immediately for guard duty. Direct to this place

Ever affectionately

Lewis.

 

 

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.

 

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dressed in mens clothes and went to a sick man’s house and tried to scare him out of his house #cw150

April the 14 1863

dear husban after my love and best respects to you I will in form you that I am well hopin that those fue lines may rech and find you in joyen the same good blesings dear husban I receved your veary kind letter the last maill and was glad to hir from you and to hir that you war well and I trust that you may in joye good helth the rest of your time dear husban I have no neas veary impornce to rite to you only I want to see you veary bad I want to see you worst then I ever did in my life and I am very on easy a bout you as I hir that you war a bout to move but I hope that it aint so dear husban I shall start to wilmington a tusday to git me a pear of shose I am a blege to have them I hate to spend the money but it semes like that I must have  them and as soon as I git back I shall come to see you if you hant moved from that place an if you air in teenty miles of the rode I never in dured so much truble in my lif be fore it semes lik it will kill me if I dont see you one more time dear husban I want to no how you air faren and if you have warm close and slep warm and if you want eney morer socks if you do I will fech you some when I come dear husban you hird of your brother Wilam deth be fore I did he had bin dead a weke before I hird of it tha never let me no a word of it tha feched him to yours fathers and saut up with him one night tha beared him at [wilars] greave yard tha never agen him a tall to see him at your fathers I under stant that he had the tiberdfored  fever and the munps and his legs both war sore and eat to the bone so I sopose he dide turebl deth I should like fore you to come home to his funerl if you could pasen canedy will prech it it will be at your fathers house or at my fathers house or at the chall house shelten has turned out  to be the worst place you ever saw Margreat rose and hir too sisters and susen muney and franceny lee dresed thear selves in mens close and went to a sick mands house and trid to skir him out of his house and hollard and lafed and run all over the feald I will tell you all a bout it in my next letter for I must come to a close by san rite soon as you receve this nothin more at presant only I remain your Affectionly wife tell deth Martha Futch to John Futch

Source: Futch papers, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, as found on www.ncecho.org

 

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