November 1862: It is the desire of the Government of North Carolina that the needs of every soldier of our State should be supplied #cw150

AID TO THE SOLDIERS OF NORTH CAROLINA—To show the watchfulness of Gov. Vance, we would call the attention of our readers to the following notice:

Surgeons in charge of the various hospitals in Richmond are respectfully requested to furnish me with a list of the sick and wounded and their names, rank, regiment and company, with the wants of each soldier, whether of bats, clothing, shoes, or provisions.  It is the desire of the Government of North Carolina that the needs of every soldier of our State should be supplied as soon as practicable.

Address:

O. F. MANSON,

Medical Agent of N. C.

Moore Hospital, Richmond, Va.

 

Source: The Greensborough Patriot, November 13, 1862 as found in Confederate Newspaper Project

 

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All officers are great in their own estimation #civilwar150

Richmond VA 27^th August 1862

My dear Wife & children

My dear Boy Pinckney

My dear little Arizona

My dear Baby Willie

I write to say that I am well and Mr. Branton is well. Say to his wife that he is harty & will not gone as a substitute yet. I saw Perry Gaston & several other boys, Old Mr. Webb’s son Harrison and have been for four days trying to get a furlough for them. They are sick and not able to be of service to the Army.

A great bustle in the city. Any amount of escravigance shown here. I saw M. Gaines the other day. Nothing happening. Stonewall is driving so far before him. The conscript bill will pass taking conscripts to 45 or 50 years. I will then have to go. I intend trying to get an office here as clerk or some other indoor officer as I have a great dread to laying out on the ground and the exposure of an Army.

I dreamed last night that Harry Deaver wasdead!!! Winslo Bergan has lost a leg and is gone home. This is a great city of Captains, leutenants & officers as one half of the men you meet have the bars or stars on the coat collar. All officers are great in their own estimation. There are at least ten thousand men and officers here loafing generally.

I have nothing to write. You see that by the short note above. If you want to write to me at Simsville, SC I would like to find a letter there from you. I will be at home soon, say by 5 Sept. I think.

My love to the children & ten thousand kisses to my Dinah  Dear

I am, Wm. Henry

 

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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In Richmond: There are a great many ladies on the streets and very gaudy. #cw150

Letter from William L. Henry to wife Cornelia

Richmond Va. 23^rd August [1862]

My Dear Sweet and Affectionate Wife,

I have not written to you since I left home until now. We are well. Nothing of any consequence happened to us until we got to the place. We got here in the night and the Rail road was so situated that we had to get out on the Rail road bridge. The train being near a quarter of a mile long. Well it was dark when we got off our seats. I told Sitton to follow me and Branton. He did not and we got lost from him and I have not seen him since. That was night before last. All day yesterday Branton & I hunted for him. Branton heard of him. I had to watch him very close all along the road as he would bounce out at every stopping of the cars.

I was yesterday at the Capitol at the meeting of the Congress. I saw our member A.T. Davidson, but did not speak to him. Heard a speech of Mr. Foot of Tennessee upon State’s rights. As I came out of the hall I met who do you think. The only man that I ever saw before I came to R. except Davidson and I was glad to see him and he almost cried when I spoke to him. We talked 30 minutes and he had to leave and I must confess that I was melancholy when he left.

I am going to the camps of the 23^rd this day. I hear that the ambulance train is ordered to be in readiness to go to the Battle expected up the country as the Battle is imminent & will take place soon. Stonewall is trying to get behind the enemy and cut off his retreat.

Richmond is a large city. Some large buildings, some large mills & iron works. The canal furnishes motion power. The iron works are big things for me. One of them are turning out one cannon per day and any amount of shell and shot. Also making large quantities of sheeting iron for the Virginia No. 2. I went to see the No. 2 yesterday. She is a flat looking critter and monstrous stout. I think she is pierced for 3 guns on each side and one before & behind. She will be ready for sea in a month or less time. The men say 2 weeks.**

There are a great many ladies on the streets and very gaudy. I don’t know how many thousand I saw yesterday of the F.F.V’s. Some are very fond of their persons and are grinning and tittering as though the world was on a pleasure trip. I will give you something of the prices paid here. Board from 2 to 4 dollars, common sized watermellons 3 dollars each, peaches $1 per dozen, apples 3 to 10 cents each. Other things in proportion, butter, milk 25 cents, the glass extra.

I will quit now.

Kiss the children all around for me and one thousand kisses for my dear wife.

I am as ever

Wm. Henry

**According to this entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS_Virginia_II, the Virginia 2 didn’t launch until 1863.

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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had a letter from Harrie yesterday… is well & speaks in high terms of his coffee. He is Maj. Deaver now. #cw150

Saturday 9^th [August 1862]

I finished Atheline’s dress, washed the children & put them on clean clothes & cut some apples.  We have out now what will make two bushels when dry, I think.  Mr. Henry went to Asheville this afternoon.  Late when he came back. We had supper Jim Parker is home on a short furlough.  Mr. Henry had a letter from Harrie yesterday.  He is well & speaks in high terms of his coffee.  He is Maj. Deaver now.

Sunday 10^th August 1862

Very warm this morning & dry. Mr. Henry will start to Richmond sometime this week with some substitutes.  Branton & a man names Sutten.  He is here now.  He is from Transylvania Co. We have mutton for dinner & sundry other things too tedious to mention.  Mr. Henry has just come back from bathing in Mill dam.  He is laying down in side room.  Willie & Pinck went with the negroes to bath.  I want to go to Steph Jones’ after dinner.  We would have gone this morning but Mr. Henry expected some men to see him.  We did not go to Mr. Jones.  We both eat such a heavy dinner, we took a nap.  It was a very warm evening.  Pinck & I went down to Night’s a short, did not stay long.

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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I haven’t got so long to exspress what I hav felt and seen #civilwar150

Richmond, Va.  Aust. 9, 1862

 

Dear father I take the opertunity of dropping you a few lines to inform you that I am well at this time and hop theas few lines may find you all agoing for the blessing of life.  I got to Richmond on the 7^th of this instant I could not get of from this terrible by no way that I could apply by no means.  I have seen agreat deal sens I left hom.  There is a heap of curis things in this world it loks lik the people in run away in wikness there is some few Christian hearted men in camp I think there is some good singing and praying in camp.  I am within two miles of the battlefield at the seven pines the pickets run the Yankes backed to ther gunboats on Wednesday be low Petersburg.  They expect a battle there.  I can’t tell you whear I am station yet I can’t tell you what I hav seen we have no Shelter but the shelter of the allmity’s covering.  I thank the that things is as well with me that it is.  I have ben her trying to pray for grace and peace you must try to pray fer me when it gos well with you for I nead more grace to sustain me in this army for I can’t tell you when I will get to come back hom in this life I want you to do the best you can with my horses if you can sell my fily do so if you think best if the old man Robin don’t want it too cheep till I com back if it is thy will to bless me with so favorable blessing sell them three beefes when you can and keep the hids.  I haven’t got so long to exspress what I hav felt and seen.  Yours respectful

Hartwell S. Pool

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 Lassiter, Mable, Pattern of Timeless Moments: A History of Montgomery County, North Carolina, 310-311, nd

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Appeal for help to care for wounded North Carolina soldiers in Richmond – some 3,468 men #cw150

Wounded from North Carolina.

 

We have received, (from Surgeon Gen. Johnson we suppose) a catalogue containing a list of the wounded from this State in the battle of Richmond, from June 26th, to July 1st, 1862.  The Surgeon General states that besides the regular corps, a large number of Surgeons are in regular attendance at the several Hospitals, and agents from the State depot visit and distribute supplies to our wounded soldiers daily, while the ladies of Richmond are diligently employed, doing all in their power to alleviate their sufferings.  The number of names in this list is 3,468, though a great many who remained in brigade hospitals or who were taken to private houses are not enumerated.  Hospital stores, poultry, vegetables, &c., are needed, which may be directed to the North Carolina depot, Richmond Va., care of Claiborne Watkins, agent

Source: The Greensborough Patriot, August 7, 1862 as found in Confederate Newspaper Project

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True is it that no war is so savage as a civil one! #civilwar150

July 30, 1862

The Sec of War still delays answering Mr E’s application to fill out his Battalion.  It is annoying on his own account & doubly so on that of Capt Reinhart, the Yanceyville Co., which was mustered into Edmondston’s Battalion & is encamped awaiting orders which seem indefinitely delayed.  Went yesterday to the Plantation with Mr E.  Very busy sowing turnips both there & here.  The seed are put in good order.  God grant the increase!

News by the mail indicates that McClellan having strengthened himself on the James by entrenchments is sending part of his men down the river, with what object it is not certainly known, but it would appear to join Pope at Fredericksburg, I suppose to try “On to Richmond” by another route.  Pope’s army are committing the most horrible excesses in the Valley and about Fredericksburg.  His order which I append is, I think, the most oppressive which has yet appeared.  To expatriate a whole country & then to treat as spies those whom the care of their families, the protection of all man holds dear, may cause to linger round their homesteads is cruelty which no despot yet has surpassed.  The atrocious order will not be believed in future times.  True is it that no war is so savage as a civil one!

A cartel for the exchange of prisoners has been signed, we having greatly the advantage in both numbers & rank.  The siege of Vicksburg has been, after weeks of Bombardment, for the present abandoned, the enemy admitting a defeat.  They have damaged the town to the amount of $80,000 to effect which they threw shells.  Our loss is thirty killed & wounded, theirs unknown.  Truly these Yankees are savage and unchristian enemies.  Even the sanctity of the grave is not respected by them!  The body of Gen A S Johnston was deposited temporarily, subject to the orders of his wife now in California, in the vault of Mayor Monro in New Orleans.  This they have sacrilegiously invaded, taken the coffin out & removed the outer case, with what object does not appear & this too by order of Butler.  Was ever such warfare waged by Christian before, a warfare upon women & dead bodies?  Cromwell’s was the last grave outraged by authority by the Anglo Saxon race & that has always been considered a blot upon Charles 2d’s administration & that the civilization of the 19th Century should now revive it seems incredible!

In Kentucky Morgan carries all before him.  He has even threatened Cincinnati & thrown the whole south of Ohio into a terrible panic.  In Cincinnati it was terrible & had he troops enough to protect his rear, he would have been able to shell it from Covington.

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 hope he is not dead. His mother was here today. She is very low spirited about him. #civilwar150

Friday 25^th [July 1862]

Mail brought nothing new. It has been reported for several days that Watson Cannon is dead. H. Cannon started to Richmond last week. I hope he is not dead. His mother was here today. She is very low spirited about him. I sewed some on Charlie’s pants today.

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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an amount of human suffering difficult to conceive of… a picture of War from which one turns appalled! #cw150

July 13, 1862

Sunday—Yesterday came home Patrick & to my great sorrow quite sick.  He gives a most moving account of the suffering in Richmond.  He says it is fearful—the hot weather, the crowded Hospitals, the stench, the want of attendance, the filthy muddy James River water, tepid at that, the actual want of proper food—altogether make an amount of human suffering difficult to conceive of  & then add to that the desolation of heart, the anguish endured by those who have lost friends, or have them suffering unable to alleviate their pain, and it makes a picture of War from which one turns appalled!  Twice since he has been gone did he see ladies going on to nurse their husbands, one of whom heard of the death of hers in the Cars & the other saw a Coffin marked with the name of hers carried past her as she sat by the window!  My God!  I thank Thee that thou has saved me this suffering, this anguish!

The Secretary directed him to reduce his Business to writing & lay it before him, saying he could not remember all the cases brought before him & must have time to consider and recollect.  So the matter is no nearer settled now than it was when he went & he has had his journey & consequent sickness for nothing.  All night & today he has a scorching fever and I feel uneasy about him.

About eleven came Jacob Higgs bringing news that there is a Regt of Yankees at Plymouth and ten Gunboats.  He is in a terrible “swivet” (mem look out that word & see whether it be slang or not) for fear that his Cotton will be burned.  I do not believe the news, & am thus saved much distress & anxiety.

Brother came to dinner, if possible more despondant than ever.  I would not have such a disposition to look on the dark side for millions, for I never could enjoy them & therefore would be better off without them.  Mary & her children left us today.  She takes the boys to school & goes herself to spend the summer in Clarksville near them.  Children are blessings I suppose.  I know that they are sore trials and a great trouble & anxiety.  “Sour grapes” perhaps, Mrs E, but who want grapes at all?

Mr E brought us a map picked up on the battlefield.  I wish it could tell its tale!  It is on an Extra Herald & is a map of the South Western States & of the seat of the War about Corinth.  True it might say with the “Knife Grinder”

“Story!?  God bless you!

I’ve none to tell.”

but I would like to hear even that.

Jackson’s Division have marched North, it is supposed to invade Maryland.  Vicksburg holds out nobly, but the enemy have seized 250 negroes & put them to work digging a canal which they intend to make so large that they can pass their ships through it & thus avoid Vicksburg altogether, make an island of it as it were.  Matters look well for us in Arkansas, & Missouri is preparing to rise.

 

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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How I pity the families in the garden spot of Virginia! Suddenly driven outcasts from their happy homes #cw150

July 7, 1862

The enemy in the fork of Chickahominy & James, a strong natural position, which he is strengthening.  We must either attack at great disadvantage or fall back.  Westover and Berkely are the scene of their ravages now.  Their tents dot the river for miles & there is a desolate wilderness behind them.  How I pity the families in the garden spot of Va!  Hitherto War has not come near them.  One week ago and their crops were smiling with plenteousness, the Wheat Harvest had commenced & secure in their remote situation with impossible swamps, without roads, too, between them and the enemy, they dwelt at home & viewed from far the horrors of war.  Suddenly with one swoop they found themselves environed with blood & carnage, their houses pillaged, their crops destroyed, their stock killed, their fences gone, & they driven outcasts from their happy homes.  God be with them & support them in this time of trial!  Ah! for the Virginia.  Were she still afloat McClellan would have capitulated in the Swamp of the Chickahominy instead of entrenching himself, a new thorn in our side.

The N Y Herald admits the fact of Intervention, but that is such a lying sheet that we do not trust it.  Probably he has some stocks which he either wishes to raise or depreciate & hence his admission. Vicksburg still holds out, but our eyes are so bent on Richmond that we see scarcely anything else.  The enemy have abandoned James Island, it is supposed to reinforce McClellan, so Charleston feels the first good effect of the repulse we have given him at Richmond. Lincoln calls for 300,000 more troops.  Will he get them?

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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