I am lonely and dreary as it is in Camp without my beloved wife! #cw150

Camp Gregg, April 5^th 1863

My dearest and ever true Wife

I have received no letter since I wrote you in the 2^nd inst. Your letter started on last thrusday night to have reached before this & has given me much disappointment but I am afraid that the delay is to be attributed to the irregularity of the mail which must also be delivered to you for your failure to get mine. According to your last you had not rec’d but one from me and this is the fourth I have written you since that one. By this time you should have rec’d them all & I hope they will come safely to hand.

We are still at Camp Gregg prepared to march at any moment. Last night gave us another heavy snow fall and it is covering the earth this morning at a depth of five or six inches & it is still snowing. The air is very cold and this will delay our movement for several days to come. What I would not give to spend this time as I am lonely and dreary as it is in Camp without my beloved wife! To deny your request to visit me is to deprive myself of the greatest pleasure which could be afforded me but duty & affection alike forbids it. I am forced to stifle the impulses of the hearth & listen to the stern dictates of the Army. If at any time I can get a furlough to visit Richmond I will notify you so that we can meet there. In the meantime we must make the best of our lot.

I have suffered a good deal since I came back in the torpidity of lines. I think there was a slight attack of Jaundice, but I am much better now and in a day or so I will be perfectly restored with my health. There has been a considerable improvement in my spirits & though my darling Kate occupies the greater portions of my thoughts, I have learned to submit to our separation with a calm resignation and abiding hope that it can not last for too long.

Night before last I had a sweet dream it was the only time where I could almost feel my sweet Kate, if only in my dreams. We were together, your hand in mine & your head resting on my shoulder. I was too happy to think of where we were but it was enough to know that my dearest wife was by my side with her head pillowed on my bosom.

I look anxiously for your next letter on this evening and trust it may come. My best to your mother & kindest regards to all. Three shirts are plenty for me now & I could do with two more of them, so let me knw when they are ready. Farewell, a fond farewell to my own dear wife. God bless you.

Your devoted Husband

AM Scales

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

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Do not try to keep Lent any longer for whenever you can you ought to eat. #civilwar150

Camp Gregg, Va., March 19^th 1863

My dear Wife

Your letters come so very regularly now and you do not know how gratifying it is to hear from you so often. Your letter of the 15^th inst. came today. Darling, I did not want an excuse for myself, but one that would have carried my application for a leave through. I made up my mind to apply but Gen’l Hill said did not believe Gen’l Jackson would approve it. So my dearest wife rest assured that I want to see you bad enough to have you if I could have done so. I never felt such a longing to see you as since you left me. I got tonight from Richmond a gutta percha syringe*** for you and in a few days will send it to you, when honey, you must give Dr. Powell’s prescription a faithful trial. You will be weak enough without that wasting disease too.

I wish if you have any good opportunity you would send my drawers and undershirts to me, to Sgt. Montgomery, Wall St. just above “Main” marked on the door post “Billiard Room.” Also a few prs. socks.

I wrote you two days ago of Major Biscoe’s failure to get anything for you, but he sent my order to Phila. and seems confident that the articles will come. My time is pretty well taken up. For the last four days I have been on a Board to examine some officers reported for incompetency and tomorrow I go upon a Gen’l Court Martical. As Maj. George Gordon of the 24^th NC would say, it is a regular swell court – being composed of three Majors and four Brigadier Generals. We are to try a Brigadier and tis said for cowardice. A few days since things looked as if Hooker might soon be up to something, but Stuart’s fight and the snow that is now falling may stop him awhile longer. I do not care if it does. It is too early to commence the campaign for comfort.

I got a letter from Ham tonight and I fear my writing that he rode a horse that was a disgrace to the family made him a little angry. You know I was joking. Do not let Mary think anything of it. Did I write you that Col. Scales married a girl only seventeen. Best evidence in the world that he is getting old. Maj. Englehard says he must be Court Martialed for going off without letting anyone know it and get married in that way. Poor thing, she does not know what is in store for her, or she would not have been in such a hurry to get married.

I did hope when you left me that you had escaped, but we poor mortals know so little of the future. Surely we never need make any calculations again. But darling you were disappointed before in the name you had to give, probably it will be more in accordance with your wishes this time and there would be some little consolation to you would it not. Do not forget that I want F in it.

My heart and dearest of wives, why should you feel mortified at my praise. Do you know in a single particular where you do not try to do everything you should and if you knew how successful you are, you would see that you ought to think that you got no more than your dues. Yes, my own little angel, you are the best and sweetest little wife in the world. I see none so intelligent, so pretty, or half so good. No not one. And I always feel as if I ought to be doing something. Oh, if I were rich what luxury you should live in. May Heaven bless you my guardian Angel.

Tell Pamela I am too selfish to have written her a long letter for any pleasure it might possibly afford her, but the pleasure I hoped to reap by an answer and that she must not let all my labor be in vain. I am getting Stephen Lee all right. I am dying to hear something of the bride and bridegroom. She must write all the news about them.

Dr. Holt when he got back got a bottle of his hospital brandy and presented me, leading me to infe that he had brought is as present from NC but I am too old to be got around in that way. He is trying an arrest awhile. He had the impudence to tell Dr. Powell that he thought I did not expect him back at the end of his furlough.

Honey dear, as soon as you  are able you must take exercise and you increase in the amount of as your ability increases. You will want all the health you can get. Do not try to keep Lent any longer for whenever you can you ought to eat. Recollect your comfort depends so much upon your strength. The stronger you get, the less nervous you will be.

Now my own dear wife, good night and I say with a Christian feeling, God bless you. I think of you all the time. Kiss the dear boys and my love to all the family. What is the matter with your eyes honey. I take it, it is a part of your case or I should be very uneasy. I have tried to write large so you could read it.

Your loving husband

 

*** Gutta Percha is a natural rubber-like substance that can be molded into a variety of shapes from medical instruments to jewelry.

 

November 20, 1862 Ad for “Gutta Percha Female Syringe” http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%2010/Union%20NY%20Union%20News/Union%20NY%20Union%20News%201862-1863%20Grayscale/Union%20NY%20Union%20News%201862-1863%20Grayscale%20-%200030.pdf

 

 

 

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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I must close by saying when this you see think of me though at a distance we be. #civilwar150

Camp near Fredericksburg

March 12^th 1863

Dear wife your kind letter dated 2 ist came to hand yesterday wich gave me great sadisfaction to here from you & to here you was all well. It found me well.  This leaves me the same except bad cold. I am very sorry you tuck up the notion that I had quit writing to you as often I ought to. I write two letter to you to one to any body els. I know you have not Red. All the letter I have started to you. I started one to father a few days ago with one in it to you. You wanted to know if they had been writing to me that caused me not to write oftener to you. They have not. They have wrote very favorable about you & the children. They allways seem to think you are doing well. I would not of thought that they would of grumbled about the sheep after uncle Mathew being at as much trubble.  Nither would I of thought they would not of done something for you in some way before this time but I expected they would think that, where you are you would have plenty so they got shut of any trubble for you & no you are not suffering. They are willing for some body els to have the trubble. I don’t want you to let on, do the best you can. Don’t do or say anything that would caus any fuss. You wanted to know if I give in last summer. I did though I am one tax behind to Sherif Long. I want you to see if it is paid & get the Receipt. Sofar as you hiring some boddy to come to bring me some things, I don’t want you to do that for I had much rather do with what I get than for you to give part of what you have got for I would rather you would try to make preparations for you self in the future for I get annuf to live on here and so far as living by your self the way things have turned out I would of seen much more uneasneys. I see some as it is for I am aware of some of the difaculties where you are but you must bar it patiently for I think you should be thankful for the favor uncle Mathew & aunt Edney Does for you I consider it a great favor there letting you have a cow to give you milk beside getting wood & doing your milking. I would be glad to know if uncle Mathew has worked my colt. If he has not I want him to. I would like to know if Chafin will have to come. They say here that Malitia Officers will have to come. I want to know also if Loggins will have to come for if he comes there is no chance for my land to be tended this year. I would like to come but I don’t see much chance. There is some getting furlows from this company but its those that come out first & have never been home but if they don’t stop the frulows my time will come after a while if I live. I would like to write to Logans & I think I shall in a few days. I want to know if he is making any preperations to tend my land. Dear Jinia I want you to write as soon as you get this and let me know how all the things is Doing. Be saving with your provisions for it will be a trying time next year I fear for you to get any thing. Give me love to Gamm & family & uncle Mathew & aunt Edney for that is all I can do. I often think of there kindness. I must close by saying when this you see think of me though at a distance we be. Tell Branch Elley & Matthew to be good Children I will be a home some time I hope.

Your Dear

J.W. Armsworthy

Source: Christopher Watford, ed. The Civil War in North Carolina: Soldiers’ and Civilians’ Letters and Diaries, 1861-1865, Volume 1.

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this is a verry muddy slippery country and it is also pretty cold #cw150

Camp Price Va March 4th 1863

Dear Martha

I embrace the present opertunity of writing you a few lines from camp this leves me in tollerably good health better than when I first came here I am pretty well satisfied here considering everything for this is a verry muddy slippery country and it is also pretty cold there has been one Snow here since I arrived but it will not be long now before spring will be here with his wreath of flowers to drive cold winter far to the north

My dear I have recived some clothing Since I came here but have not yet recd my Bounty nor do I know when I will but the Captain says it will be sometime first I have no news of interest to write you everything appears quiet in this quarter at present but I dont know how long it may remain so for the enemy appears active in other quarters and we may expect him to attack us here after while as well as at other points do write to me and let me know how you are &c and whither you have recived any support from the County or State yet I have my degeareotype and will send it to you by the first good chance I get at present there is no body going home from here for all furloughs are stoped, I tell you I am tired of Beef & flour bread all ready and I dont know how it will be in the course of two or three months, I hope you are well and all the family also tell the old gentleman that I will write to him soon tell him to write to me you must excuse this ill written letter as my chance to write is bad and I will try and do better next time I remain your affectionate husband til death

John Futch

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

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I have got some money I would like for you to have [but] I am afraid to risk it by letter #cw150

Camp Gragg March the 1st 63

Dear friend

it with pleasure that I seat my self to write you a few lines to let know that I am well hoping when these few lines reaches you tha may find you and family well I have nothing of interest to write at this time only the health of our Regt is very good at this  time we have but very little sickness in camp at this time we have had a very large snow here last Sunday it was ten inches deep as a general thing gave my love and respects to all of the family and except a good portion for you self you will please send this to father & mother

R. Womble

 Dear Father

I now seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and harty hoping when these few lines reaches you they may find you and family well I want to sea you all very bad but I do not know when I can ever sea any of you again if times keep quiet I am in hopes that I can get a furlow in the corse of 5 or six weaks tha are furlowing at this time but I do not know how long tha will continue it I am in hopes tha will keep it up until I can get a furlaw the reason I have not writen before now is we have not been at a station plus when Brink left I was off from the Redg and did not know anything of it until he was gon I have got some money I would like for you to have I am afraid to risk it by letter tha are so uncerting about going if I can see any person going home I will send you one hundred dollars I could send more but I want to keep some in hand for I do not know what might take plase it takes lots of money to live a little here tell Mary and Nancy that I have not forgotten them yet I would like very much to see them and tell them some of my ups and downs since I left

I am going with the wagon yet I stayed in the hospital about 4 months I got with my company at Winchester just after the fiting ended I have ben in very good health ever since Gorge and Jack is both well Gorge look as usual as I ever saw him he is right fat you know that is some thing comon so I will bring my remarks to a close by saying write soon and gave me all the nuse derect your letters to Richmond Co. G. 7th. Regiment N. C. Troops Lanes Brigade So nothing more at present only I remain your affectionate son until death

Richard Womble

Source: Williams-Womble Papers, North Carolina State Archives, as found on www.ncecho.org

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I hope the outlaws will trouble you no more, since the cavalry are in Randolph.

Camp of 46th NC Regt.

Pocotaligo. South Carolina

Feb. 24^th 1863

My Dear Sister Emily

Only a short letter today. My diary runs thus: Feb. 17^th left Holly at 4 o’clock PM and arrived at Burgaw Station at 12 AM 18^th Left Burgaw at 4 o’clock PM and arrived a Wilmingtona t dark, taking quarters at Camp Lamb. 19^th remaining at Wilmington. 20^th left Wilmington at 10 o’clock PM on W. and Manchester RR 21^st Arrive at Florence SC at 12 o’clock AM and left there at 10 o’clcok PM on the Darlington and Charleston RR. 22^nd Arrive at Charleston SC about 9 o’clock AM and left there at 3 o’clock PM on the Charleston and Savannah and arrived at Pocotaligo SC about  12 o’clock at night in which place we went into camp.

This places is about half way between Charleston and Savannah and we (Cook’s Brigade) are probably sent here to be convenient to run to either place in case of an attack, which is daily expected. At what place is not know. A great battle will perhaps occur at Charleston but our general s and most of the soldiers are confident of our success & that Charleston is called a second Sevastopol. Her defenses being very formidable and led by the illustrious Beaureguard we feel safe.

The furloughs are stopped at present just as I expected they would be before I got off. I shall go soon as I can. I have not received the detail for Charleston yet as I know you have written me to know what has happened to it. I wanted to stay home but I have no chance now. I am well equipped with clothes and I believe I can save back some money here.

I hope the outlaws will trouble you no more, since the cavalry are in Randolph. Tell mother were are doing finely and are some firstrate boys. Tell Father we would be mighty glad if he could pay his boys a visit. It is not further than Richmond and he could come by the Charlotte and Charleston, then on the Savannah RR. We are in one mile of the rail road. I will close. Write soon and direct as you did before only change to Pocotaligo. SC

Affectionately, Tom

Sources: Christopher Watford, ed. The Civil War in North Carolina: Soldiers’ and Civilians’ Letters and Diaries, 1861-1865, Volume 1. Original in Branson Family Papers, North Carolina State Archives.

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tell her I think there is no danger of any of the girls becoming old maids Since She was so fortunate to get Married #cw150

Camp near Buckners Neck Virginia Feb 13th 1863

Dear Martha

I write you a few lines informing you that I received your very kind letter yesterday evening and was very glad indeed to hear from you and to hear that you were well but was very sorry to hear that your Father was yet sick and did not appear to get any better. my health is no better I have been sick all the time since I have been in Camp and I have not been well enough to do any duty since I have been here. Captain Armstrong has gone to North Carolina and will not be back again before the first of March he told me when he left that when he came back to Camp that he would send me before the Board of Doctors to be examined and to see if they would not give me a discharge. I long to see the time come for my health is so bad and it is so cold here that I am perfectly miserable and I am doing my Country no good and Myself a great harm dear Martha I have no news of any importance to write you at this time We expect to have a fight here as soon as the weather gets dry enough for the Yankees to have their Artillery across the River We are well prepared to meet them and our men will be certain of another Victory whenever the Battle is fought. You wanted to know in your letter if they punished me in any way after I came here They did not punish me in any way and all the men are very kind to me I was very glad to hear of Elizabeth Catharine Howards marriage tell her I wish her much Joy. tell her I think there is no danger of any of the girls becoming old maids Since She was so fortunate to get Married

I want you to try to send me a pair of gloves by Captain Armstrong when he comes back you Can leave the gloves with Richard Savage at Burgaw Depot and he can send them by the Captain. Dear Martha I will send you some money as soon as I can draw some unless I get a discharge if I get one I can in hope that I will have the pleasure of bringing it to you I expect we will draw money some time in March. When Captain Armstrong comes back I will try to make arrangements for you to draw Something from the County Dear Martha I would like to be with you to day so that you might cook me Something that I could eat we have very little to cook here and that little is very badly cooked. I Will come to a close by saying to you that I wrote you a letter some time ago and I hope you have got it before now. I want you to tell your Father that I am very sorry to hear of his being so Sick and I would give anything in this World if I could only see him it would give me great satisfaction if it did not do him any good give my love to Your to Youre sister and tell her I think of her very often and want to see her very bad and give my love to all the family as well as my own Relatives and friends reserving a goodly portion for yourself I want you to write to me as Soon as you can after you get this letter So farewell for this time I Remain your affectionate Husband

John Futch

to Martha Futch

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

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Hear the people are all strange and awful wicked

Febr 6^th 1863

Lynchburg, VA

Dear wife I now sit myself to drop a few lines to in form you that ime some on the mend but haint satisfied. Hear the people are all strange and awful wicked an I can in form you that I cant hardly liv on what we have to eat. We get beef froth and bred for brekfust and turnip broth and bred and a few irish potatoes for diner and small pece of beef for the sum of the day. The price of food is so high butter a dollar, mile 50 cents a quart, honey 50 cents per pound, chickens 1.00 to four dollars, eggs 1.00 per dosen, onones 1.00 per quart, apple two dollars per dozen, sweet cider one doll per quart. That looks like killing a man be fore his time. I hate to spend my money for you all know that I never made away with more than our teer in the time that I was riting this letter. I would like to come home I hear they giv furlowes at this hospital and som others get discharges sometime. If my old and aged mother was only hear I think she could maby get me home one more time I shant get able for duty in two or three month. My weight is not more than eighty pounds and before I was in hear my weight was 150 pounds. I am very poor and if I must stay they tell me I will be giv duty hear at this place. I want you to write me and let me know what chance you think there is too send for [illeg] I hope and trust to god that these lines may find you all well and hearty. I prey to get home to your side till I get well. I put my trust in god to see you again. Direct your letters to Lynchburg, va to berdens hospital so I must close my few lines by asking you to write soon and often. I remain your husband

John H. Leonard to Mrs. Elizabeth Leonard

Sources: Christopher Watford, ed. The Civil War in North Carolina: Soldiers’ and Civilians’ Letters and Diaries, 1861-1865, Volume 1. Original in Leonard Collection, Davidson County Public Library.

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Lewis to Cornelia: did she tell you that you would marry soon? #civilwar150

Camp near Magnolia, Duplin Co. NC

Sunday Jan 25^th 1863

My dearest Friend

I received a letter from you last evening the first I have got from you for some time.

We left our camp last Monday and arrived here the following morning gatigued hungry and sleepy, Ever since then we have been expecting marching orders but luckily have not received any as yet – have made preparations for that purpose by storing up all surplus baggage that we could not carry. There is now in this vicinity a large force composed principally of Gens. Ransoms and French’s divisions and at Wilmington and Goldsboro there are also large forces. Should the enemy made an advance either on Wilmington or Goldsboro we are in striking distance being about half way between the two points mentions. The enemy were a few days sine at Jacksonville in Onslow Co. but the impression is that he has retraced his steps towards Newberne  doubtless it was a mere faint to draw our troops in order to make a strike at some other point   my opinion is that Weldon will be the first place attacked as it would be more important to them than south to Richmond would be cut off, there our forces in Virginia would suffer much as there would be no way to get supplies from the South.  There was a rumor afloat yesterday that we would go to Weldon or Wilmington in a few days, may be so but I don’t believe everything I hear in camp for there is always something going to rounds in camp for men to talk about. Today is the first time I have seen the sun since here we have been – has been cloudy and raining all the time. We are encamped near a Baptist church and yesterday and today was their regular monthly meeting and of course our regiment made a good time out, if for nothing else to see the ladies who came to church; upon the whole I think they were a common looking assemblage, they will not compare with our mountain fair ones as to looks. We had only three cases of smallpox in our regiment when we left which is partially a preventative for taking it, and should one take it who has been vaccinated it will not hurt them much.

Our regiment is in very good health at present. Phillip Anthony was left at Weldon in the hospital with Pneumonia. I heard from him day before yesterday he was improving very fast and spoke of joining us in a few days.

Tomorrow our brigade (Pettigrew’s) will be ordered out to witness the execution by shooting of a member of the 26^th NC for desertion. I understand there has been about fifty desertions in that regiment, perhaps by shooting one now and then it will put a stop to their leaving. Say to cousin J. I was very well pleased with the cheese   I could hardly keep them  when I got to camp every body was wanting them – could have sold them for one dollar per lb. I wish I had some more of them.  We are the worst set of smoked men or rather a set of the worst smoked men I ever saw.  We get nothing to burn but pine and the black smoke soon covers us. The reason why there is so much pine is that the turpentine makers skin the pines for fifteen feet up the tree which dies in a few years and all that part of the tree that is skinned is as rich as it can be and that is what we burn   oak wood or any other kind cant be had.

You say that Miss Rack told your fortune and that it was very good. I want you to write me all she told you; did she tell you that you would marry soon?  There is great excitement in camps now about furloughs, arose from the fact that there was an order for each company to furlough one man out of every twenty five for duty. I’ll not get any until all those who have not been at home have that privilege.

Monday morning, there is heavy firing in the direction of Wilmington supposed to be at that place. We amuse ourselves now-a-days by playing ball.  There was quite a large turn out of ladies at dress parade on last evening, some very hard looking ones. We have the praise of being the best drilled regiment in the service, which make us feel proud that we belong to the old “Bethel”

Write soon and often to your devoted

L.

 

Margin Note: Tuesday morning: The Brigade was called out yesterday to witness the execution of private Wyat of Co. B 26^th NCT but to the satisfaction of the assembly he was reprieved by the commanding general. Thos. Parks, Port, myself and two or three others went last night to Mr. Swinson’s to hear his daughter Miss Mollie perform on the piano   she is a very nice young lady and gave us some good music.  That was my first time of calling on any lady since I’ve been out. Don’t be surprised if I fall in love with her. If I do I will write you.

Again I will quit and go on drill as the company is now called out for skirmish drill. As ever your devoted friend.

 

Margin note: I am not as fortunate as Will Avery – have not made the acquaintance of any lady since – been in the service

 

Margin note: One of Perkins’ cavalry was here a few days since – said that the Yanks had taken Puss’ beau a prisoner and the last they heard from him he was tied to a wagon and doublequicking to keep up.

 

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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The Enemy on one bank of the river & we on the other about 200 yds wide. They are very Friendley & want to talk a Great Deel. #cw150

 Head Quarters Camp Gregg

Near Fredricksburge

Jan 22^nd 1863

Dear Fameley

 I am well & hope these Lines may find you all well. I have Not Recd a letter from you Since the one Roberts brought. The enemy are making Some Demonstrations to cross the River but I think it is onley to Keep um from Going to NC to Reinforce General Smith. We was ready Last week to march but the order was countermanded. I think as Soon as it is certain that there will be a General Engagement in NC, we will Guet orders to march. It may be that the Enemy will attack here & at NC at the Same time, if So We may not be Sent to NC. I hardly think Burnsides Army will attack us hear unless they find that part of our forces are Gon. They are badly Demorilised. We was on Picket Duty a few Days ago. The Enemy on one bank of the river & we on the other about 200 yds wide. They are very Friendley & want to talk a Great Deel. They curce the war & say there time will be out next May & will Go home peace or No peace & if the Abolitionists want the Negroes set free they will have to do there own Fighting.

It has been Raining hear for 3 Days & tolerably cold. Some of our reinlisted men are Gon home on furlows but none granted Since the enemy have made signs to cross the river. Lieut JC Moore made application for furlow a few days ago but has not herd from it. I am looking for Col Barber to return in a few days. I expect to make application for Leave of absence for 30 days as Soon as he returns. General Lane Says he will do all he can to procure me a furlow as soon as Barber gets back. Lieut Col Ashcraft is with us at Last. I think when Barber returns that him & Ashcraft could Shurely manage the Regt of 30 days without me as well as I did when a capton without even company officers to assist me. They ay they Don’t want me to Leave During a prosepect of a fight. I will say to you but to go no further that had it not been for Me our Regt would have been Disgraced. I have been told By officers from capton to General that I was looked upon as being the Onley field officer in our Regt that would do in time of a fight. I Expect you to Keep this a Secret. I am as high in office as I feel myself capable to fill. If I wished Glory of this Kind Long Since I could have had my name in the Papers as having done wonders on the Battlefield but all the Glory of this war that I Desire is our rights & to be Permited to Return Safe to my Deare Fameley to Enjoy the Blessings of Peace Once Moore. I must Close. Do not Neglect to wright. I will make a Strong Effort to come home as soon as Barber returns. Give my love to all. Remember me in your Prayers. It is my Constant Prayer to be spared to See you & our Deare little Children.

Your affectionate Husband

WG Morris

Sources: Christopher Watford, ed. The Civil War in North Carolina: Soldiers’ and Civilians’ Letters and Diaries, 1861-1865, Volume 1. Original in the William G Morris Collection, Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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