even the duties of a general do not make me forget my wife #cw150

In Camp 5 miles ofRichmond,Va., June 14th, 1862

My dear Wife

Your long and agreeable letter was received yesterday in which you complain that I did not let you know of my promotion.  My darling I certainly intended to tell you in my first letter after it took place if I did not, for I always like to write everything that I think will give you pleasure, and I was sure that would.  It was not intentional, and you must not think hard of it.

I hope Mr. Stuart stayed long enough with you all for you to overcome the first bad impression he usually makes.  He is very amusing, as well as instructive.  It was very kind in him to take Jake home.  Jake I hope is improving and will soon rejoin the service.  You all must not keep him after he is able to come back.

I am having quite an easy time compared to what it was a few days ago, but how long it will remain so is the question.  The Yankees seem to all outward appearances as far from attacking us as ten days ago.  We are making some preparations for them.  They admit in the New York Herald a loss in the recent fight of 7,000 thus showing contrary to my expectations a larger loss than we sustained.  They had all the advantage of position, preparations and artillery.

May has passed and they have not taken Richmond yet.  In some of the letters taken on the field they were quite facetious about marching to Richmond.  Some said they had not time to write more as they were in a hurry towards the city.  Others said their next would be dated in Richmond, etc.

I received a letter yesterday from Col. A.M. Scales asking me to try to get his Regt. in my Brigade and congratulating me upon my promotion.

I went to see Almond Heart today and found the poor fellow in a bad plight.  Altho’ looking fat he said he was completely broken down and that the Doctor had promised to send him to hospital tomorrow.  He said he had not a clean white shirt or drawers to his name, having lost a few days ago, for the second time everything he had.  You will excuse me for offering him one of the shirts you made me.  He said he would accept it a pr. of drawers and seemed very grateful.  I then ventured to ask him about his finances upon which he said he had not a cent for three weeks and I pressed him to take $15.  He said he was so tired of salt meal and bread.  He has had diarrhea since leaving Yorktown.  We talked about when I was married and he said he was sorry when the affair was over as he was enjoying himself very much and that he often thought of Miss Mary Lilly.  It felt like old times for Almond was always a great favorite of mine.

… Honey I must close sooner than I anticipated, having some pressing business on hand.  May God in Heaven bless you all.  I have just gotten through part of my business, I will now give you a few more words to show you that even the duties of a general do not make me forget my wife.  Good night.

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

Read Full Post »

marching thro the mud … there is no fun in it certain and sure #civilwar150

Camp near Richmond

23 May 1862

Mr. John A. Gibson, Dear Brother,

I this morning have the pleasure of writing you a few lyns to inform you that I am still in the land of the living.  I have not hird from you for some time.  I haven’t received a letter from home for two months.  I would have wood have written to you some time ago but I lost my nap sack on the march and I had no paper to write on.  We had a very heavy march and we marched about 60 miles.  We marched from Yorktown to Richmond or near Richmond.  We are within two miles of town.  The Yankees followed us for ten or twelve miles tho they are some 76 miles from this place we all came thro safe and supposed youse have hird that I was taken prisoner in the march but that was false.  I was sick when we left Yorktown.  I went in before with the wagons and got lost form them for five or six days.  I had taken the wrong road and went ahead of the wagons.  Nat Raymir got a letter and he told me that he hird that I was taken prisoner.  I don’t know who it was that sent such nuse as that home.

I saw James W. Gibson the other day.  He was well at that time there Regiment is Camped close here.  They are now on pickett guard day before yesterday.  I met them going out for three days then there will by some other regiment.  We have to go ten miles on pickett.  This is marching back and forwards.  I cant tell how long this will last.  I hope it may not last long I hope.  How soon peace may be made and we may all get home.  This marching thro the mud there is no fun in it certain and sure.  We haven’t any tents now our blankets is all the shelter now .  I lost all of my close and was not able to carry my napsack and it was put in the wagon and the roads was so muddy that they had to throw the knapsacks out.  John A. I want you to write to me soon as you can and let me know where Hugh S. Gibson is and where Will is.  I have been looking for a letter from home for some time.  I have wrote two letters home since I received any.  You will please write soon.

I remain the same your Brother Joseph F. Gibson.

Direct as before only to Richmond Va.

(PS) I must write a few lyns to father and mother.  Dear Father and Mother I will endever to try to write a few lyns to youse to let youse now that I am still on southern soil.  I can inform you that my helth is tolerable good at this time tho I have ween unwell for some time.  I hope this may find youse all in good helth.  I suppose youse that the Yankees had taken me tho that is not the case yet I must draw to a close as my paper is out, youse must write soon to Richmond.  I remain the same your son Joseph F. Gibson.

Sources: Christopher Watford, ed. The Civil War in North Carolina: Soldiers’ and Civilians’ Letters and Diaries, 1861-1865, Volume 1. (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2003). Original in the Catawba County Historical Association, transcription courtesy of Mrs. Addie Cloninger.

Read Full Post »

Who are the merchants that refuse Confederate notes? #civilwar150

Camp near Baltimore Store,Va., May 14th, 1862

My dear Wife

I have no ink or pen so you must excuse pencil.  We are still waiting for the coming of the Yankees, but strange to say I believe we do not even know where their main force is.  Stuart is looking after them but is not doing himself much credit as he does not find out anything.  Gregg is Captain of the 6th Regt. of Cavalry and Cal of the 8th Penn Volunteer Cavalry.  Stuart’s father-in-law is General of the cavalry on their side and Stuart on this.  Stuart says he wants to catch him and that he expects to do so.

The Merrimac you no doubt know has been blown up.  Does it not seem a pity that she had to be lost, but I suppose it could not be helped.  The people ofRichmondare frightened to death and believe that the Yankees will have possession in three days, but I apprehend it will at least take them longer than that.  If they come this way they will be much longer.

How is it that Frank gets as much salary as I do?  What new position has he?  I should like to see him pass this way for I suppose his occupation is now gone near New Orleans.

I shall try to send some money home today.  Those merchants up your way who have refused to take Confederate notes should be made an example of at once.  Hanging would not be too good for them.  I suppose you all will have a jolly time at Good Spring.  Now at least a noisy one.  What you write me about the children is very gratifying, but I should much prefer to know of their perfections from personal observation.  I suppose you have strawberries now while we are barely subsisting upon meat and bread.  Our men have to go upon short rations nearly every day and the officers are not much better off.  I have managed to keep a little coffee and tea yet.

Jake is now a soldier and seems to get along very well.  He is with Sgt. [C.M.] Mebum and Rev. Holt, two very nice and intelligent young men.  You may rest assured that I will take as good care of him as I can.  He endeared himself very much to the officers with whom he has been associated.  He is a very superior young man and if I ever have an opportunity shall not fail to advance him, but I have about as much as I can do to hold my own.

I am fearful that Gen. Whiting is doing something that will cause me to take some step that may appear rash.  He has been ordered to place some one in the command of the Brigade, and if he places any Colonel over me—for I am by right entitled to it unless they put a General in his place, or if they promote anyone connected with us now—I shall deem it due my self respect to resign and look out for some other position.  He has not asked me in a manner to heighten my opinion of him.  I am entitled to the Brigade, and if he would give it to me it is a step towards promotion.

You could direct my letters to no better place at present thanRichmond, for we do have occasional communication with that place.  I must now close, my dear wife, but will write again soon.  My love to all.  May God bless you.  Do not fail to send the likeness on when you have the chance.

Your devoted Husband

Who are the merchants that refuse Confederate notes?

 

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

Read Full Post »

do not believe the reports you see in the papers…three-fourths of what was in the Richmond paper was every word false #cw150

May 11, 1862

My dear Wife

You may imagine what a monotonous time we are having only marching 1 ½ miles yesterday and 4 the day before.  I wish we were at our journey’s end where we could have what few comforts we can have along.  I can have neither change of clothes or writing material.  Jake is all right.

My dear wife, notwithstanding the grand operations going on here I have nothing to write about.  I hope you will receive my letters written a few days before in due time, but when you do not hear from me do not feel uneasy for it is difficult to write for many reasons.  And do not believe the reports you see in the papers about battles, for three-fourths of what was in the Richmond paper the other day was every word false.  We had but one General wounded and only two Colonels killed.  The heaviness of our loss was caused by the bad behavior of the 23rd N.C. and 38thVa.In common with the rashness of others.

Honey, I long to see you.  Now nearly one year ago we were under the shade tree [at Good Spring] sitting on the grass, the happiest hours of my life.  I shall never forget it and I do not wish to.  It was complete earthly happiness.

How are the dear boys getting on.  Honey do you not feel very different from [what] you did last year this time, but about the same [as] you may [feel] the next year this time.

I have not heard from you for nearly two weeks, over, counting from the date of your letter.  How do you pass your time, now [that] you have your summer outfit made.  I hope you will go to the Convention if you think you would enjoy it.

Honey, I have to write always so hurriedly that it is but little satisfaction to me, and I fear less [to] you, but it cannot be helped.

It is distressing to pass through this country.  Nearly every farm is deserted and what our soldiers do not destroy they will…  My love to all the folks at Good Spring.  I must now close.  May our merciful father have mercy upon you all.  Accept my undying devotion.

Your 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

Read Full Post »