William H. Reeves, having been published as a deserter, he requests us to contradict the statement. #cw150

William H. Reeves, of Co. E, 22^nd N. C. Regiment, having been published as a deserter, he requests us to contradict the statement.  He says he has never been absent from his post but two weeks, since he entered the service, at the commencement of the war, and that he has been with his regiment in every engagement from the battle of Seven Pines to Fredericksburg, at which latter place he was severely wounded, and has returned home on a regular furlough.

Source: The Greensborough Patriot, January 8, 1862 as found in Confederate Newspaper Project

 

Read Full Post »

Catching up with Cornelia: quilting, sick husband, battle news, visiting wounded soldiers #cw150

Sunday 19^th [October 1862]

Rather cool this morning but bright & warm now. Mr. Henry still improving. I hope he will be well soon. He had a very slight chill yesterday evening & complained of headache a good deal when he first got up but it is better now. Dinner will soon be on. I must stop & draw off the PO return. Mr. Henry assisted me with the return, got it ready to leave with the mail tomorrow. Old Tanner Smith was here part of the day. Nothing new going on in the country, all quiet along the Potomac.

Monday 20^th [October 1862]

Mr. Henry improves very slow, is not able to go to the mill without resting. I do hope he may soon be well. He frets so much about staying in the house all the time. The others are all well. George Peak eat dinner her today. He left about 2 o’clock for Asheville. Said he was going to Hendersonville tonight. Rather cool all day. I have quilted some today, will get it out in two more days, I think. Mr. Henry & Zona went to the mill this afternoon. He still has slight chills & fever every day. George Peak was telling us of a battle in Kentucky. Our forces were victorious completely as Gen. Bragg commanding the Confederates. We took a great many prisoners, Army stores &c. The mail carrier says the same is reported in Greenville, SC.

Tuesday 21^st [October 1862]

Quilted after the cool of the morning was over, will get it out tomorrow. I sold 6 lbs of butter yesterday evening for 3$. Dear butter surely. Mr. Henry continues to improve very slow. Has no appetite for anything. I hope & pray he may soon be restored to perfect health. He is a dear kind husband to me & a fond father to his little ones.

Wednesday 22^nd [October 1862]

I finished my quilt today. I have been four weeks lacking one day at work on it. I have not quilted every day. I have missed four days besides several pieces of days as it has been so cool for the last three days. I have not commenced work till ten o’clock. Hands has attended to Willie for a week so he is no trouble to me. Mr. Henry still improves. Atheline put mud on the grease spots in my room so I want to scour tomorrow. Three soldiers stay here tonight. One has his arm shot off at the Richmond battles, named Hunter.

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 »

My heart was touched on my journey by the sight of the wounded soldiers on their way home! #cw150

October 11, 1862 [cont’d]

My heart was touched on my journey by the sight of the wounded soldiers on their way home!  My heart goes forth to every soldier but doubly so to them, some on crutches, some with their arms in a sling or their heads bandaged, looking so pale & wan, so utterly unfit for locomotion, & yet so uncomfortable where they were, that I longed to do something for all of them.  One fine looking man, a private but evidently a gentleman, occupied the seat in front of us.  His wife seemed so devoted to him & there was an air of such refinement about him that I longed to know his name.  I could only conjecture that it was Witherspoon.  Had I been sure I would have asked him & entered into conversation with him, but I feared to intrude, for if I was traveling with my wounded husband, I know I would shrink from my interrogatories of strangers.  So I could only look my sympathy & offer him newspapers, etc.  I wish I was not so diffident.  I would so like to have asked him where & how he was wounded.

Got to Raleigh on Tuesday the 7^th.  Found all well.  Attempted but vainly to dissuade sister F from her wild scheme of opening a boarding house.  What infatuation it is!  And so soon after her husband’s death!  I can neither comprehend or have any patience with it—this pretence of Independence—but, Journal, I will say more than I ought.  Some thing we will scarce say “to any,” and all I think of this matter comes under this class.  Patrick alone knows all I do think & feel.  So, Journal, don’t you set yourself up by thinking you are my confidant.  I do not tell you one half I feel.  Some where in the Psalms I think it is there is a text about man’s life being “like water spilled upon the ground.”  And so it indeed seems.

Sophia & her children came down whilst we were there.  Three fine boys she has!  Her youngest is a splendid baby & right well he looks in his Aunt Kate’s old clothes.  The six little dresses I carried him fit well, & sturdy & solid he looks in them.  Mr Turner was to be down the next day to have his head put under medical advice.  Sophia tells me he suffers terribly with it.  Trepanning may be necessary, but I hope not.**

Dined on Thursday at brothers.  His children are attractive as usual.  Kate is growing up a beauty.  Pray God to have her in his Holy keeping.  Saw James Edmondston most unexpectedly, he being there for clothing for his Brigade; says he likes his officers and is well & pleasantly situated.  Poor fellow, I feel for him, so much alone does he seem to be.  I wish he could have a furlough & spend it here with us.  It would do him good.  Mary Livingston, brother’s youngest, is a nice little thing, not so pretty as Laura but better perhaps for it.  Nelly is sweeter & more attractive than ever.  I do love that child.

 

** Trepanning in this instance is drilling a hole in the skull to relieve pressure: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trepanning

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 »

1862 recipe to “remove maggots from wounds” #civilwar150

To remove maggots from wounds.

Take the leaves, bark, flowers, or berries of the common elder, make a strong tea by pouring boiling water on them and letting them steep. Wash the wounds once or twice a day with this. Boil some lard, and while boiling, stir in elder in considerable quantity, and strain off through a sieve or coarse cloth. This makes an ointment for the same purpose. It is improved by adding one-fourth as much common beeswax as the amount of lard used.

Source: Yorkville Enquirer, July 24, 1862as found in John Hammond Moore, ed., The Confederate Housewife (Columbia, SC: Summerhouse Press, 1997).

 

 

Read Full Post »

I feel compelled by some particular circumstances to stay at home unless something more urgent should call me away #cw150

Asheville, August the 2^nd 1862

Dear Sister Addie

I can not consistently accept your kind invitation to be with you on the 9^th.  I feel compelled by some particular circumstances to stay at home unless something more urgent should call me away.  I would love to be present if I could consistently.  Please give my kindest regards to Uncle Thomas Osborne, Mr. Siler and Cousin Matilda.  I have heard so much of her that I should like very much to see her.  Kiss little Rosie for me.

I received a note from Ben. F. Edmondston late Thursday.  He said the Mr. Osborne was sick, not able to write, but he did not think him dangerous.  I suppose you have heard the same account of him.  I fear he is much worse than Ben represented him or he would have written himself.  I do wish some one could go to nurse him.  Could not Mr. Minigus er some one else go to him?  Mother says she would keep any boy if I could go myself.  I would love to go if it was posable or rather that he could not come home.  Mr. Osborne, huggy, is mended, but is not at home.  Rufus is well.  Excuse this short note for my mind in on other things far way.  May you be happy is the wish of

Your affectionate Sister – K

Sources: 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 Mary Gash Papers, NC State Archives.

Read Full Post »

No news from Richmond. All quiet. #cw150

Wednesday 23^rd [July 1862]

Mr. Henry took Joyce home today, did not get back till dark. I have the headache very badly this evening. Willie is no better & very cross. I have a dreadful cold, I think from being up with him so much through the night. I finished Hanes’ apron this evening & sewed a little on Uncle Sam’s pants.

Thursday 24^th [July 1862]

Finished Sam’s pants. My teeth trouble me a good deal. They have not been easy long at a time for a month. Willie is no better. My head aches badly this evening. No news from Richmond. All quiet.

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 »

I have the headache very badly this evening #cw150

Wednesday 23^rd [July 1862]

Mr. Henry took Joyce home today, did not get back till dark. I have the headache very badly this evening. Willie is no better & very cross. I have a dreadful cold, I think from being up with him so much through the night. I finished Hanes’ apron this evening & sewed a little on Uncle Sam’s pants.

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 »

He brought a wounded soldier home in the buggy #civilwar150

Tuesday 22^nd [July 1862]

Sewed on Hanes’ apron. Finished one. Was very sleepy after dinner but did not indulge in a nap. Mr. Henry went to Asheville after dinner, did not get back till dark. He brought a wounded soldier home in the buggy & three discharged soldiers. Joyce was wounded in the thigh & foot. He walked on crutches.

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 »

We have but one comfort—that we do not lie like the Yankees #cw150

April 23, 1862

No news from Patrick since he started to Yanceyville to muster Capt Reinhart’s Company into his Batalion.

Mr Turner has got home.  Sophia writes she fears lest he may have received an internal wound by the fall of his horse, as he has been raising blood ever since.  The ball, a Minie one, was fired from above (they were attacking Gillet’s house) & struck where the hair is parted & glanced around the head.  The physician fears a Compound fracture of the Skull but says he will recover.  Truly he had a most marvelous escape! 

The Bombardment of the Forts below N Orleans goes on furiously as yet with the loss of only 5 men—tho’ they have shot off 100 tons of Iron & I cannot repeat the quantity of powder.  Island No 10 is doubtless evacuated, tho we have no particulars, as the bombardment of Fort Pillow below has commenced.

Count Mercier, the French Minister, has left Richmond & “made no sign” that we are permitted to see.  Expectation has been on tip toe to know what brought him here, but she may now tand on the flat of her foot, for she will not be gratified.

The lies told are terrible.  I fear the moral sense of the nation will be injured by the reckless lies the news papers indulge in.  We have but one comfort—that we do not lie like the Yankees.  Burnsides official Report is out.  Says he had hard fighting.  Ah! that we had held out a little longer, he might have told a different tale.

Troops are concentrated at Fredericksburg.  The wise ones predict that the March to Richmond will be made from that quarter now that McClellan finds that we are prepared for him in the Peninsula.  Spade work still goes on there.  A trench has been cut by them from River to River.  The York & the James can mingle, if it be deep enough.

Lincoln has signed the Bill abolishing Slavery in the Dist & allowing the testimony of negroes to be taken in Court against Whites, “a sop for Cerberus.”  The Abolitionist have their wedge now entered & the first fruits of it is to revolutionize Kentucky.  For on the reception of his message recommending Congress to make provision to pay for the slaves in the Border States with a view to their gradual emancipation, a Kentucky Regt mutinied, fired into & killed 200 Illinoisans–& then dispersed to their homes.

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 »