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.

Read Full Post »

I have no newse of importance more than what I have wrote that is worth spoiling paper with. #cw150

Hanover Court House Va

May the 9^th 1863

On the Fredericksburg Road at the bridge on Northanna River

27 miles from Richmond

Miss Martha R. Jackson

Dear sister I rec’d your kind letter yesterday morning and it was a welcome visitor. You may depend I was more than glad to hear from you and all the rest of the family and Cole and family and the Neighbors general and that you were all well. I am well at presant and hope these few lines will soon come to hand and find you all the same. The Company is in very good health at present but very few sick in it. We have very near 100 men for duty at any rate we draw rations for 99 and they are all able for duty.

I havnt much news to write you at this time only they say that General Lee has whipt the yankeys again at Fredericksburg and taken about ten thousand prisoners and several peaces of artillery and drove them back across the rapahoac with heavy loss. There is supposed to be some where about 40 thousand kilt wounded and missing and our loss 10 thousand. I saw yesterday 2000 prisoners pass the bridge that we are garding and some 1200 more this morning passed down the Railroad in about the 1/2 of the miles of where we are standing. Some of our boys saw them this morning. I did not see them I was off fishing when they passed this morning. I hear there is a great many behind yet. They say it was one of the hardes fought battle that has been fought since the war commenced. So I shal say no more about the battle for some body else can give a better description than I can and that will be put in the papers for every body to read.

I have no newse of importance more than what I have wrote that is worth spoiling paper with. You said Mother wanted to know how I was getting along in the army. Well just as I always have only I don’t get but a ? pound bacon per day but I got shugar now in the place of meat ? of a pound per day. Times is hard here but if they don’t get any worse I think I can stand it at least I intend to try it a while longer before I do like B. Stutts. So I must close by saying write soon and direct your letters to Richmond Va. 26 Regt NC Co H in care of Capt. J.D. McIver Pettigrews Brigade. Give my love Mother and Brother and my respects to the rest of the family & all enquiring friends.

Your ever loving Brother

J.A. Jackson to M.R. 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.

Read Full Post »

I have no good news to tell you. Cousin Matilda Gray has lost one of her little girls. It died last night. #cw150

Rose Land NC

March 2^nd 1863

My Dear Sister

It has been some time since I have heard from you and as I am getting anxious to hear, I will write to you although I have no good news to tell you. Cousin Matilda Gray has lost one of her little girls. It died last night. First it had measles, then took the sore throat which caused its death. It was Lelia the oldest of the two little girls. Poor cousin Mat. It seems like she has a full share of trouble. She had just heard of the death of cousin Mary Jane’s husband and was very much troubled about that. Lelia will be buried tomorrow. Cousin Mary Jane too has had her share of trouble, has lost her dear husband & is left with two little children. I received a letter from sister Kate Saturday saying the Yankees had taken Brother Dick prisoner & she had not heard from him in almost two months. I feel so sorry for her & do wish I could go & stay some with her. I know she feels lonely & distressed about Brother Dick. Oh how much more trouble is this wicked war going to cause us? I feel anxious about our dear brother Jule, but do hope he will be spared to return home safely.

Sister Kate was wanting to hear from you said she had not heart it a good while that you had almost quit writing to her since you was married and I think the same for I very seldom get a letter now. Tomorrow is Aunts birthday. She will be 64 & she has invited her children and a few others down to take dinner with her. Cousin Jule  & Capt. Dobson were sent home after deserters & recruits. Mr. Lee Allman has been home on furlough, but will start back next week.  Cousnin Roxie is still in Clarksville but is very lonely. Addie Moore has been staying with her but is speaking of coming home soon & if cousin Rox does not come with her I will have to go & stay with her.

Sister, what has become of my dear little Bud/ I wrote to him and sent it to your office but received a letter from you soon after saying he had gone to Uncle Buds to go to school.  How must I direct a letter to him? I would have written again before now but did not know where to direct. Uncle Jacob would write to him if he knew where to send it. Please tell me when you write.  Aunt send her love or says she think it is time you were coming out again to see us. You better be visiting before Brother Eli has to go back to the army. The friends are well.  Give my love to Brother. Write soon to your devoted sister.

Hattie

Source: 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.

Read Full Post »

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.

Read Full Post »

Bob Henry came here today. He wants whisky very badly. He is one of the prisoners of the 62nd Reg

Monday 5^th [January 1863]

Mr. Henry went to Asheville this morning, did not get back till night. Nothing new. We have had a terrible fight at Murfreesboro. Our forces victorious as usual. Nothing else of importance. Bob Henry came here today. He wants whisky very badly. He is one of the prisoners of the 62^nd Reg. Mrs. Jaminson & Betsey came this morning. Mrs. Jamison to help me make some jeans harness & Betsey to weave. I think she will get the cloth out tomorrow. There is 14 yds of flannel & 14 yds. of blankets don’t card up as I want them.

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).

Read Full Post »

Even the letters sent by our dying soldiers to their families in the South…Yankee officers withheld and destroyed. #cw150

Federal Outrages

We are informed by some of the surgeons who were left in charge of our sick and wounded in Maryland, after the battle of Sharpsburg, and who have recently reached this city, that on their arrival at Fortress Monroe their baggage was rigidly searched, and many articles of clothing taken from valises. Even the letters sent by our dying soldiers to their families in the South, the implacable hatred of the Yankee officers withheld and destroyed.

Such conduct is in strong contrast to the treatment received by the Yankee officers captured at Harper’s Ferry. Not one article of their private baggage and papers was allowed to be touched, and Gen. Jackson permitted them to retain the use of some twenty five or thirty wagons with which to remove their effects within their own lines.

Our surgeons with whom we have conversed, concur in stating that they, as well as our wounded, were well treated and kindly cared for, while within the limits of the army commanded by Gen. McClellan. Everything that could reasonably be expected was done to mitigate their disagreeable position. In Frederick our wounded received much attention from the citizens of the place, many of whom were undisguised in expressions of sympathy for the South in her struggle. Several of these surgeons express the opinion that Maryland, East, of Frederick, is in feeling and hope, strongly with the Confederacy. Richmond Dispatch

Source: North Carolina Whig (Charlotte),November 11, 1862 as found on www.digitalnc.org

 

Read Full Post »

every yankee prisoner should be held to be exchanged for negroes at the rate of two negroes for every yankee #cw150

Indemnity for our Losses –

The Mobile Advertiser insists that no yankee prisoner should be paroled; that exchanges should be made so as to get back any of our own captured men; but that after that, every yankee prisoner should be held to be exchanged for negroes of whom they have robbed the South, at the rate of two negroes for every yankee. It is estimated that from 50,000 to 75,000 negroes have been carried off, worth from fifty to seventy –five millions of dollars.

The Advertiser’s plan would be a very good one but for one difficulty: The Confedracy cannot feed the prioners.

Source: Fayetteville Observer, October 2, 1862 as found on www.digitalnc.org.

Read Full Post »

Out of nearly four thousand prisoners, only three hundred are reported to have availed themselves of the offers of bribery made by the Federal authorities #cw150

CONFEDERATE PRISONERS.—Out of nearly four thousand prisoners, only three hundred are reported to have availed themselves of the offers of bribery made by the Federal authorities and, of these we are proud to say was but one North Carolinian.—Henry S. Armstrong, of the 12th regiment.

Source: The Greensborough Patriot, August 21, 1862 as found in Confederate Newspaper Project

Read Full Post »

Arrival of Exchanged Confederate Prisoners in Richmond #cw150

Arrival of Exchanged Confederate Prisoners.

RICHMOND, AUGUST 7.—Among the Confederate officers who arrived yesterday from the Northern prisons, are Gen. J. Johnston Pettigrew and Lieut. Colonel John O. Long, of the 22nd N. C. Regiment, who were taken prisoners at the battle of Seven Pines.  Forty-two officers have already registered their names at Gen. Winder’s office, and are assigned quarters at the various hotels.

Source: The Greensborough Patriot, August 14, 1862 as found in Confederate Newspaper Project

 

Read Full Post »

To my great dismay I find that my hams & bacon are spoiling #civilwar150

  August 13, 1862

            Yesterday to my great surprise as I was standing in the Store Room a finely dressed Military looking old gentleman, tho in citizen’s clothes, with beard & moustache as white as snow, came walking across the back yard having driven in to the back gate in a most familiar style, who on coming near enough for my blind eyes to recognize proved to be Charles!  Great was my surprise at first to see him and next at his altered appearance.  His hair & beard have become grey since we last saw him & it gives him really a venerable aspect.  He is in the Medical Purveyor’s office in Savannah, & being in Richmond on business stopped for a day to see us.  He is in fine health, has his family in Laurens safe from the Yankees.  He is getting a good salary.  Passing through Petersburg last night he heard the roll of musketry & the roar of canon distinctly & was told by the Conductor that it was on the River five or six miles below, but whether we attacked or the enemy is making an advance no one could learn.

            Jackson has attacked & beaten the advance of Pope’s army ,driving them back with heavy loss & capturing 300 prisoners, amongst whom is one Brigadier, Gen Prince & twenty seven commissioned officer.  Much to their apparent surprise they learned that they were not to be treated as prisoners of War, in accordance with Mr Davis’ expressed determination to retaliate upon them the outrages and oppressions to which Pope’s command have subjected the people of the Valley of Va, a determination which he expressed to their President some ten days since.  I hardly think he would be so cruel as to leave them ignorant of it, but they profess to be so & demand to be treated as the other officers taken by us have heretofore been; but for answer they have been placed in solitary confinement & notified that they are to be answerable for the future oppressions of Pope & Steinweyhr.

            Our returned prisoners give a terrible account of the sufferings they have undergone.  One of them brought home a ration as it was issued to them.  The meat weighed one ounce, the bread 3/12 ounces, & this was all they were allowed per diem.  Some of them were manacled before their wounds were healed.  Gen Pettigrew was taken from his relatives house in Baltimore where he was on parole under the care of Dr Buckler & confined in solitary confinement without even a servant to attend on him, at a time when he could not walk from a wound in the thigh from a Minie ball nor use his arms well from one on the shoulder and chest from a piece of shell, & fed on soldier’s diet, salt pork & bread, altho his physician protested against it–& all because the ladies of Baltimore sympathized with & showed him every care and attention in their power.  It is infamous!

            To my great dismay I find that my hams & bacon are spoiling, owing I suppose to the barrels of Pork whch Burnside forced us to store in the Smoke House.  I have been overhauling both the shoulders & the sides & to my horror find skippers in them!  I had Dolly & Vinyard scalding & picking them yesterday, Harry in the Store Room heading up this years supply of flour, & Angeline boiling down the old Pickle to save the salt & finding it tiresome waiting on them, & my bodily presence being needed when so many valuables as I have there were exposed, I sat down in the store room and sent for my book, “Literature du Midi,” & when Charles came upon me I had a hearty laugh at myself and the situation in which he caught me: Harry pounding the flour into the Barrels with a heavy pestle, Dolly & Vinyard with a pot of boiling water & all the sides spread out on the grass, peeping into, scalding & examining them, whilst further on Angeline with a cauldron like the witches in Macbeth, which with “double double, toil & trouble” she was making “boil & bubble,” whilst Mistress sat composedly on the step, deep in the Chansons & Tensons of Troubadours & Trouvareres, occasionally lending an eye or an admonition to each.  Such is life, such is Southern Life.  What would an English lady have thought of my situation & occupation?  Would the ridiculous or the sympathetic have predominated as she looked at me?  And yet I was in happy unconsciousness of exciting either.  The occupation was not distasteful to me, for it was a necessary & ordinary duty, & I enjoyed my book none the less for my surroundings.

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

Read Full Post »