if I can get a furlough and will be up there Christmas and I want something good to eat and no small quantity of it #civilwar150

Camp on Little Doe River,

Johnson Co. Tenn.

2^nd Dec 1862

Dear Sister

Your kind favor of the 7^th has arrived last night with Capt. Gillespie on a detail of fifteen days.  You seem to think there were a few words, “Superfluous words,” I think you called them.  I reckon it must have been written to the Col. I don’t think I ever use any superfluous words when writing you.  I am very particular, knowing that I catch Thunder if I should fail to.  Well if you wish me to write without using such words, you must quit cross writing or underlining.  When you fill your sheet, get another or quit.  I don’t care much which.

I am very sorry sisters bird made its escape but I am not surprised and would not have been had both of them been killed or got away.  I suppose there’s no use fighting about things unavoidable but I would note had that bird to have got away for $50 in Confederate.  Which one was it?  I had much rather Frank had not been lost, Females not being so valuable as males, nor in so much demand, however, he will have to be replaced.

You say if I need anything I need not be any ways backward in asking.  Well if I must tell you my wants, ill procured in the first place.  I want a No. One Six horse wagon with six good mules to draw it.  I then want it loaded with cooking utensils, axs, Blankets & clothing for the Co.  Then I still want about fifty thousand dollars to keep the Co in horses and to keep them shod.  There are a few of my wants.  Can you do anything for me?

So far as I am individually concerned, I believe I need nothing particularly.  I would like to have another good blanket or two, but I can make out very well.  There are two men in the Co that I know have no blanket, and how they keep from freezing I cant tell, for this is a pretty cold country.  Snowing or raining pretty much all the time.  I intend coming home in about two weeks if i can get a furlough to see Thee and if I do come I think I will buy a two-horse wagon.  We have about 72 tents and cooking utensils enough and cant get transportation for what we have.  I’ll give up that this Battalion is a little the worst managed concern ever I have seen.  We have had 4 little one horse guns with the Battalion since we left Greenville and but three or four government horses, they are generally worked on the wagons.  Our horses have never been valued, consequently the boys got tired of working their horses to the artillery.  When they refused to put their horses in the guns, the Col goes made cusses every thing and every body unloads the wagons, tents, cooking utensils, trunks, and every thing else, puts the wagon horses to the guns, place a guard over the wagons.  He will place a guard over the wagons and will not let themen hire horses and take their equipage, but geos off without anything.  I am tired of such doings as this.  Spann wont do anything, in fact he is never here.  I am going to get me a wagon & haul my own tent, cooking utensils, and haul what I can for the men.  Tell the Col to please look around a little for a good light two horse wagon and a pair of heavy set mules.  If he can ascertain by the time I get home where such a concern can be had, it will probably save my company.

I am certain to come if I can get a furlough and will be up there Christmas and I want something good to eat and no small quantity of it.  I have two very particular reasons for coming.  One and the prime one is to see Thee.  The other is to get a wagon.  When I left I was fully determined to never come home until the war was over and if that would not have come I guess I would not.  I don’t know that I will anyway but it shall not be my fault if the Col does not let me go now while Thee is there I shall not come at all.

We have lots of measles in Camp—75 cases or more.  Three or four have died and others will.  Capt Gillespie started the remains of Parker, a member of his company, home this morning.

Baxter Headden is about well of them and Mant Hood is just taking them.  John Orr is very low but I think not dangerous.  Wesley Siniard is also quite low & I think his recovery very doubtful indeed.  The Doctor seems to think he may recover, but I don’t, though I’m no Doctor.

I remain your brother affectionately

Jule

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 Mary Gash papers, North Carolina State Archives.

 

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The manner in which we spent the Christmas holidays, compared with former ones… #cw150

Game Point, Va, Jan 1, 1862

Mr. AJ Proffit

Dear Brother,

            These lines will inform you that yours of the 23 December was gladly received on yesterday morning, and I hasten to reply.  I had been expecting to have received letters from you or some of my friends on Lewis Fork for two or three weeks but as I did not receive any I wrote A.N. a few days ago which I hope he will get.  I am unable to interest you on the War question, as there is but little news in this part ofVirginia.  We seldom get an opportunity of firing upon the Yankee steamers, but when one approaches within 3 or 4 miles of our Battery we are shure to give them a sign by which they may know that we are yet a living and wide awake.

            I would have been glad to have taken Christmas wish for you, but as some 12 or 15 of the company had gone home on sick furlough, I made no application for a furlough, but thought I would content myself until those who were absent returned.  The manner in which we spent the Christmas holidays, compared with former ones, presented a contrast that is more easily imagined than described but we spent the day or at least a portion of it quite agreeably, particularly while seated at the dinner table partaking of an excellent Chicken Pie, etc, etc, which had been prepared by mess no. 5.

            On yesterday morning, one of my messmates and I took a small row boat and went up Aquia Creek about four miles, where we called at a private house and took dinner and bought some articles for the mess and returned to camp a little before night.  I tell you we enjoyed our trip very much, as we have not, until lately, been allowed such privileges, since we have been station at this point.  I would have been glad if you could have been there to have taken a New Years dinner with us, as we dined upon a fatTurkeywell baked and other delicaces, but I would advise you to stay on Lews Fork, at least until spring.

            I was glad to hear that thoseEast Tennesseeanswere being compelled to walk up to the chalk.  The only thing to be regretted concerning those traitors is that they had not been hanged long since.  Tell mother that I received her letter long since and answered it immediately after its arrival.

            I will soon close for the present by informing you that I am quite well at present, hoping these lines will find you all well.  Please give my compliments to all inquiring friends. T.C.Landand TC Miller say they would have written you long since, had they rec’d answers to the ones they sent you.  They say they are not sent you a letter as you supposed.

            I remain

            W.H. Proffit

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 Proffit Family Papers, Southern Historical Collection,University ofNorth Carolina atChapel Hill.

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