Though a prisenors life is One Not very desireable I am passing the time better than I expected.

Johnsons Island Near

Sandusky Ohio

August 27^th 1863

Dear Companion

I drop you a line to inform you that I am Still living & Enjoying Good health. I trust these lines May reach you & find you all well.  The health of the priosenors at this place is very Good. Our Quarters are comfortable & rations very good. We are Not Kept in close confinement but have the priviledge of Several acres. There is One hundred & fifty officers from North Carolina at this place. Capt Alexander & Lieut Nolen & Lieut Kindrick from Gastonia are prisenors at this place. Capt Johnston, Lieut Ramseur & Lieut Caldwell from Lincoln are also here all in fine health.

You Should not be uneasy about me as I am not suffering for anything, a friend supplied me with what clothing I want for the present. Confederate money is Worthless heare Except among ourselves but a friend from Tennesee Suplied us with some Federal money & I am living as well as I could wish. We can buy any thing heare that we want to eat or weare. Though a prisenors life is One Not very desireable I am passing the time better than I expected. I cannot inform you as to the length of time I May be Kept prisenor but trust the time will be Short.

Give my love to the Children & Mother & all the fameley. I am looking forward to the time when we May meet once more. May God Give us a Speedy peace. Direct to WG Morris prisenor of war Johnsons Island Ohio Via City Point Flag of Truce. Leave your letter unsealed, put a confederate Stamp on the out side, a united States Stamp enclosed.

Your affection Husband & Father

WG Morris

Source: Christopher Watford, ed. The Civil War in North Carolina: Soldiers’ and Civilians’ Letters and Diaries, 1861-1865, Volume 1. Original in the William G. Morris Collection, Southern Historical Collection, UNC-Chapel Hill.

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April 1863: “Next to a Yankee a “conservative” is the most loathsome sight.” #cw150

Camp Gregg, Va.,

April 21^st, 1863

My precious Wife

You letter of the 17^th came yesterday, a sweet letter it is. You have no idea how much pleasure it gave me. I could very easily imagine how my dear child felt and carried on, when fixing up my old rags and how happy she was to be doing something for me. If course they will suit me for if such love as you carried into the operation could not do what was pleasing, what could?

Oh you dear little woman how happy I am in the possession of you and how much I want to see you. I often think darling that when we get together again that I will not be cross and look mad and refuse to talk as I used to do. I know you won’t believe me, and I do not blame you, for I shall act just as mean as ever. It is in me and I cannot help it.

I am sorry you sent the butter for I fear you put yourself to inconvenience or possibly deprived yourself and you know we deserve no such kindness or self-denial. I have the stars on had for the coat and it will not be long before I shall need it as my old sack is getting rather seedy. I am a thousand times obliged to Pamela and shall appreciate her present as it deserves. Kiss the dear pretty little Sis for me.

The paper was not subscribed for till the 14^th, but if it has not reached you yet, let me know and I will write about it. I subscribed to 1^st Jan., ’64.

We are living horribly now and I am anxious for the month to pass away so I can install a new caterer. Maj. Englehard holds the office at present and justice requires me to say that I never saw one fill it worse and but one – Brewer- as badly.

I am very much worried of late about desertions. Our NC soldiers are deserting very rapidly. I have had about 30 in the last 20 days, and all due to those arch traitors Holden and Pearson and Co. O poor old NC., she will disgrace herself just when the worst is over, and after two years faithful service. I cannot bear to think about those rascally “conservatives” as they term themselves. Next to a Yankee a “conservative” is the most loathsome sight.

I think the papers contain very strong indications of a letting down on the part of Lincoln, but we have refreshed ourselves so often upon false hopes that I will only say that this war as anything, must have an end and that each day brings that desirable result nearer to us. I cannot make out why Lincoln does not carry out his Conscript Law. There must be something wrong for it is all gammon about his having men enough. They have not enough now, much less will they next month.

Gen. Lee is about again attending to business much to the gratification of all. There is no special indication of move, but we hold ourselves in readiness to move at any time.

I will see Dr. Powell and ask him if something cannot be done to help you retain your food on your stomach. I feel very anxious that you should get well, for it is hard enough upon you without having to content against sickness and then I always feel that I am to blame for it.

The next time I send any money home I will write David to buy you some NC money. It is only about 7 per cent and that would be a saving to you amongst those Yankee Dutch. I wish I had thought of it before for by the time I pay for the horse that Capt Sumney bought for me, it will be two or three months before I can send any to you. Can you get along for two months longer upon what you have? Do not stint yourself by any means for by the end of May I shall be a hundred dollars or so ahead.

I wrote a letter to Brother Robert but did not send it, for after thinking about the matter, it looked so absurd for me to be trying to buy a farm that I did not have the face to send it. I know you each laughed at me enough by this time about it. Bless you my dear wife it is all for your sake, for I know how much you would like to have a home where we could live quietly together. I fear I began to feel that there is no alternative for us but the army for life. If I can get a good position, it will be better than anything else I could do, probably. It will certainly be a gentlemanly position.

I went this morning to Fayetteville for a bolt of cloth and if you should not want it all, it will not be difficult to get rid of. Can you not get a straw hat made for Turner, and if not why not let him wear a bonnet. Anything these times. My love to all. God bless you my dear good wife, in all things

Your fond and loving Husband.

 

 

Source: 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).

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Warning – Union troops are circulating counterfeit Confederate currency! #civilwar150

Counterfeits

A friend just from the battlefield of Murfreesboro informs us that large amounts of new counterfeits of Confederate notes were found among the correspondence, papers, and effects of the Yankees which our soldiers captured, the execution of which was superior to that of our own notes. These counterfeits were of the new green colored 50s, and the red or lake tined 5s. A number of captured letters contained indisclosures of these notes, directed to officers and soldiers in the Yankee army, instructing them to be exchanged, some for property of several kinds, some for Tennessee notes, and others for US Treasury notes. They stated generally that an abundant supply was on hand and any amount of them desired could be furnished.

The Yankees are a nation of dishonorable wretches with thieving propensities. We have seen none of these bills and know not how to describe them. We can only say to our readers, BEWARE.

Atlanta Confederacy

Source: Fayetteville Observer, January 15, 1863 as found on www.digitalnc.org

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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

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