Mr. Henry went to Asheville today with a load of bacon for which he gets $1.00 pr lb. He sold to the armory. #cw150

Thursday 21^st [May 1863]

Mr. Henry & Harrie went to Asheville today. They came back late in the evening. Nothing new going on, all quiet along the lines. Mr. Henry says Mollie looks very badly. Poor woman, she is too good for Jim if all reports are true. They were all well at home when Mr. Henry left.

Friday 22^nd [May 1863]

Mail brought no news of importance. Mr. Henry got a letter for me yesterday from him. He beat the letter home. The baby’s ear has quit running. Willie still wheezes some. Mr. Henry gives him squills night & morning. Mr. Henry went to Asheville today with a load of bacon for which he gets $1.00 pr lb. He sold to the armory.

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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Without a lasting peace I do not want to return home, and nor would I want to do so while I am able to do duty. #cw150

May 18^th 1863

Dear Father and Mother

I write you a few lines. I am well but some what tired. I just back from Jones borrow at 3 oclock last night. I did not sleep any for 2 nights. My self and my company is giting along very well expect some 3 or 4 sick. I got a letter form home to day which informed me that the Family was sick with the measles. I can not git to go home now but I think I will before long. I was sorry to here that you was ailing and I hope you will soon git beter.

Father the service is hard on me but I stand it as well as any of my men and had harder days before me. We are still under Gen. Jackson  & I think we will be ordered back to the railroad. The news this morning is that the yanhkeys have taken Jackson Mississippi but it is thought to be a union lie. We gained a great victory at Fredersburg and and we take it that we got 40000 stands of arms & routed the yanks and drove them back across the river

Father I herd form David yesterday. He is giting well fast as can go about and will soon be able to ride. Manuel Stetson is here an will go on in a few days. We are soon looking for Eli Ingram badly. I had two men deserted the other day. They were caught and will be tride by a Gen. Court Martial. This policy will be adopted here after – all men absent without Leave this is arrest & do no come in on there own will be tride. Without a lasting peace I do not want to return home, and nor would I want to do so while I am able to do duty.

They yankeys cant whip us nor starve us out. Wheat crops is beter than usual & thar is a very large crop of corn planted. It looks promising We understand that Gen. Price has got an army in massouri of 60000 men & provisions plenty.

Father I have not time to write more now. I f you here from Joshuas boys please let me know and if some of them has bin killed at fredersburg. Let me know how you and mother is giting along. I sent you some things by Mark which I hope you have got. I know all you want to write soon. I have not had a leter from you sence I left cold creek.

Your son as ever

S. Whitaker

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 Stephen Whitaker Papers, North Carolina State Archives.

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Our servant boy Bill died last Tuesday, was sick near five months. I felt very bad after he died #cw150

 

May 15

Our servant boy Bill died last Tuesday, was sick near five months. I felt very bad after he died, I could not sleep well for two nights. I have not been well for two or three weeks, my bowels have been constipated. I have been low spirited, my faith was surrounded by darkness, the Lord’s face hid from me, had no comfort, felt like I was a poor helpless sinner, who deserved nothing, but I prayed unto the Lord to comfort my poor troubled soul. I have read my bible and found some comfort, and I do trust in the Lord, my health is better today. I have had trials and temptation, had evil thoughts, if the Lord were to mark iniquity who should stand, if it was not for Jesus Christ death and intercession I would have been in torment long ago. I have been led to see how poor, helpless, sinful and miserable I am, without Christ I am nothing, but he is all in all, we are worms of the dust, but to have all our sins washed away by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and have grace to help in our time of need is a joy unspeakable.

 

Source: Mary Jeffreys Bethell Diary, 1853-1873.  #1737-z, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/bethell/menu.html

 

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Gen. Jackson is dead.We have lost one of our best Generals. A nation now mourns his loss. #cw150

Thursday 14^th [May 1863]

Harrie went to Asheville this morning. It rained a little but cleared off before dinner. I had the headache all day & was quite sick after dinner with it. Harrie came back about 5 o’clock. He got the papers which give a full account of the Fredericksburg Fight. Gen. Jackson is dead. Died from pneumonia & his wounds. He was wounded by our men through mistake. We have lost one of our best Generals. A nation now mourns his loss. Harrie complained of his lungs some after he came back. He says he can’t ride horseback.

Friday 15^th [May 1863]

Mail brought nothing new but four letters as Harrie brought the mail yesterday. My head not entirely well but a great deal better. I took some pills this morning. Aunt Patsey spent the day here. Warped the thread for the children’s dresses. It is 4 of purple (dyed with Willow root) & 1 of white. I crocheted some after dinner as my head was easy nearly.

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 Asheville: No more news from the fight yet. #civilwar150

Tuesday May 12^th 1863

No more news from the fight yet. I have worked a little on the babe’s stocking. I took the toothache after dinner, not very badly. The baby’s ear still runs, smells rather offensive. I hope it may not injure his hearing but I greatly fear it will. Willie still wheezes some. The other two little ones very well. Harrie has been to the mill today. Oh! how glad I would be to see him once again in health. I would ask Thy blessing on him this night & may that blessing be health if it is Thy holy will.

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 wish vegetables would come in fast for I am tired of dried apples & meat. #civilwar150

Sunday 10^th May 1863

A beautiful bright day. Excellent growing weather. Our people will soon be done planting corm. Our lettuce is just getting large enough to eat, very late at that. We had some last Sunday. It was very small. I wish vegetables would come in fast for I am tired of dried apples & meat. I have not heard anything more of Harrie. I think of writing to him tomorrow by the mail. I have looked all week for him & Mrs. Hilliard as she sent word she was coming over with Harrie this week. My babe’s ear still runs. Poor little fellow. I fear it pains him. It is inflamed on the outside this morning. Jinnie is getting dinner. I guess it will soon be ready. Atheline has the baby & Zona off somewhere. Willie is down with Jinnie & Pinck off with the negro boys. I want to write some letters this evening. One to Lou & one to Sister Jane. Mrs. Cagle has not come yet. Matt spent the evening at Mrs. Willey Knight’s, staid till dark. Three men stay here tonight. Not soldiers.

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 fixed my hoop this evening. Made some flour sacks this morning. I lined Pinck’s straw hat yesterday.#cw150

Saturday 9^th May 1863

I fixed my hoop this evening. Made some flour sacks this morning. A bright, beautiful day. This is the most backward Spring ever known here. The trees are putting out a little now. Last Sunday the woods looked nearly like the dead of winter. They are putting forth very fast now. I lined Pinck’s straw hat yesterday. Mrs. Willey Knight made it. He got it last Sunday. Mrs. Bob Moore was here a short time this afternoon, wanted to see Mr. Henry on business. Mr. Cagle sent a horse for his wife yesterday by the mail boy. He is no better. He expects her today. I hope she will come. He is able to come down stairs yet. The whip o wills came & lit on the piazza Tuesday night & Wednesday night this week. I dislike to hear them very much about a house. Not that I am superstitious but they make such a plaintive wail. Aunt Patsey spent the day here today. She says Betsey will be here Monday. Old Jim & Bill Knight got home today with a load of bacon from Dr. Kilgore’s. They bought 151 pieces & 21 joles. They will go after the other next Tuesday.

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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We arranged the room upstairs for Harrie today. Put up another bedstead. #cw150

Thursday 7^th [May 1863]

We arranged the room upstairs for Harrie today. ** Put up another bedstead (single one). We got the single bedstead from J. Green’s two or three weeks ago. We put the single bedstead that was in my room in the side room & took the corded stead out as it was too large for the size of the room. Matt & Betsey will stay in there when Betsey comes.

** Harrie had been a military officer but because of declining health, he had to resign his position.  Cornelia is preparing for his arrival and what she feels is his imminent death because of his bad health.

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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Poor fellow. I fear he will not live long. He is very feeble. #civilwar150

Wednesday 6^th [May 1863]

Atheline cleaned upstairs today as I expect Harrie this week. Poor fellow. I fear he will not live long. He is very feeble. I have knit some today. Cloudy & raining this evening. Willie still wheezes a good deal. One of I. Mathew’s children died this morning of fever, typhoid pneumonia, and another child very sick.

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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May 5, 1863: I have done nothing of importance today.

Tuesday 5^th [May 1863]

Jinnie scoured my room & the dining room today. I took one bed out of my room & changed the furniture a little. Matt & Pinck will sleep on the little trundle bed & Zona, the babe & I in the bed. Willie in the crib by the bed. I have done nothing of importance today. Helped arrange the things in the room. Mr. Cagle no better.

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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