This is tax paying day. the collector has one leg off just below the knee, lost in battle. #cw150

Friday 22^nd [July 1864]

A good deal of mail but little news this morning. Edney the P.M. at Asheville has been succeeded by Capt. Good Roberts. I hope the mail matter will get on better now. I finished Willie’s pants & cut Mr. Henry’s this evening. He has to go out in the militia next week. I hope he may get off.

Saturday 23^rd [July 1864]

Cool this morning. This is tax paying day. A good many men here. I give up the front piazza to them. Winslow Burgin is the collector. He has one leg off just below the knee, lost in battle. Mrs. Hurtell here a short time today. I finished the pants this evening. Matt helped me some. Albert Hawkins cungured the Clarrion this evening to cure fistula. I hope it may do good. He is a very valuable horse & I wish he was well. Pingree Plott staid here last night. He & Tom Tidwell started to camps since dinner. Jinnie baked some cakes for Tom to take with him.

 

 

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 »

Mrs. Norman was here this evening. She is an incessant gabber. #cw150

Thursday 23^rd June 1864

I finished both cradle quilts today before dinner. After dinner I made some kerchiefs for Rose to wear on her head as I had Jinnie to cut her hair off very close this evening. Jinnie baked some molasses bread this evening. Mr. Henry went to Asheville this morning & got his horse Clarion. He als got a nice lot of his leather from the tan yard, some beautiful calf & goat skins. Mrs. Norman was here this evening. She is an incessant gabber. Matt made Rose a bonnet of old stuff this evening. My head feels badly this evening. I fear I will have another bad spell with it.

 

 

 

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 »

George is implicated with trading with one of Hugh Johnston’s negroes… They gave him about 50 licks. I hope it will do him good #cw150

Thursday 26^th [May 1864]

I made Sam’s other pants today & sewed some on Hanes.’ Mr. Henry went to Asheville today. Charley took the wagon & some flax seed. Sam & George went. George is implicated with trading with one of Hugh Johnston’s negroes, something about stolen corn. They gave George about 50 licks. I hope it will do him good. Johnston said it was Sam & Charley first but the negro said George. Johnston has a spite at Sam & wanted to get him into trouble. I am glad he is clear. It wounded his feelings a good deal to think was accused of stealing.

 

Saturday May 18^th 1864

Betsey McKinnish picked wool here yesterday & today. It is not quite dry as it has rained nearly every day since it was put out. Yesterday was bright, rather cool mornings & Evenings. I had the toothache last night, neuralgia I think. I have had it several nights this week.

I finished Jim’s pants & washed the children & cleaned them. Matt & Mary Tutt went to Mrs. Joe Green’s this morning, a long walk I think. Blair was to sell Mr. Henry’s flour at auction but Pat Thrash pressed it for the government. I think he acted badly. Mr. Henry’s fine horse Clarion is improving some. He thinks he has been foundered a little. We took in all the wool this evening as it rained. Jennie hoed out the flowers in the front yard, cleaned the candlesticks & baked some molasses bread for the children. George seems very much chagrinned at his strapping. He has not been to his meals since.

 

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 do hope his resignation may be accepted & then he can stay at home.

Sunday May 1^st 1864

I lay down yesterday evening & did not get up again as I had a severe headache & all night & till after dinner today. Mr. Stepp of Mr. Henry’s Co. was here this morning. Mr. Henry sent me two nice fish by him. Stepp left him yesterday evening. He was quite well & will be at home on the 5^th as he is on a Court martial to convene that day. I will be so glad of it. I do hope his resignation may be accepted & then he can stay at home. Stepp took off the Stallion. Mrs. Corn got her filly last Monday that was here. Mrs. Fanning & I & the children went to old Betsey’s this evening to see the cloth. I think it will do in that sley. The children got some lilac flowers this evening. They are not full bloom yet. They got some cherry blooms too. The apples will be in full bloom in a day or two. I don’t think the apples are injured much yet but the peaches are nearly all killed I fear. Ruth Jones came home with Mat this evening. She stays here tongith. She is a very pleasant lady. Matt lost her keys today. She will go in the morning to hunt 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 »

the Soldiers ar in good hart for they seems to think that the war will last this summer they seem to bee confident of whipping grant #cw150

April the 10 1864

camp near millford Station

Dear Father and mother

I seat my self to drope you a few lines to let you know how I am giting a long I roat  you a letter the other day but I feard you did not git it & I thought I had better write again I am will all the boys ar will I hav no nuse of importanc to write times ar very still out hear but I don think it will bee so no longer than the wether yett we hav had a great deal of bad wett since we left home it rained yesterday and it is now very cloudy and loks very mutch like raining at this time the Soldiers ar in good hart for they seems to think that the war will last this summer they seem to bee confident of whipping grant we hav just been on an inspection we hav no deauty to do at this time I have not ben on gard but once since I hav  been hea & we hav not drilled mutch we hav a plenty to eat and I am the Heartyest I ever was when you write to me I want you to let me  know how times is my hors was valued a day or to ago and he was valued at one thouseand and thirty dollars they was just here & valued at more they seem to think a heap  of my horse the colonel wants him but money wont buy him so I must close for the presant write soon for I want to hear from home yours truly till death

A W Blair

Back yourleter to the first NC Cav gordons Brigade depot

 

Source: Blair letters, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh as found on www.ncecho.org.

Read Full Post »

I washed my net & put some tassles on it. #cw150

Saturday 9^th [January 1864]

Willie seemed better yesterday but in bed nearly all day today. Gus is getting better. I have done but little of anything today, only wait on Willie. I cut Sam’s & Charlie’s coats today. Matt & Atheline made Charlie’s & did some to Sam’s. I washed my net & put some tassles on it. Betsy went home with her Mother yesterday before dinner. She cut out 17 ½ yds. of jeans before she left. Some rogue cut the skirts off of Mr. Henry’s saddle last Tuesday night. There is a great deal of stealing going on about now. The mail came yesterday morning but had but little for this office. The mail carrier did not go through last Friday on account of high water so that accounts for his not coming on Monday last. Very cold today, thawed but little all day.

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 want you to love my boy and be kind to him. Try by kindness to teach him his duty. #cw150

Sulphur Springs, Nc

2^nd Jany 1864

My Dear Little Son,

I write this first letter I have ever written to you. I can not express how much I want to say on paper. The day after you & Cousin Harry started to South Carolina, I started with my company on a trip to Cosby (a little creek in Cocke County Tennessee). I suppose you know how cold the weather was, as you were out in the day and I was out day and night, and two days & two nights without anything to eat and only two bundles of oats for each horse. I recon you think we were hungry. We some of the men complained a good deal.

We traveled through the Catalucha Mountains from Haywood County in the direction of New Port and on the morning of the 24^th Day of December, we met a lot of the enemy in the woods. They were acting as bush-whackers (that is men fighting in the woods & behind logs, stones & trees). We were engaged in shooting at each other about two hours & then the enemy ran off in the mountains and our men following for two or three miles shooting at each other occasionally when they would get in sight. None of our men were hurt. A few of the enemy were killed, some wounded & some taken prisoners. We got all their breakfast as they had not got done cooking it, and all their cook vessels and something like 30 horses & such things as are about a camp. We then came home by way of New Port & the French Broad river.

I got home a few days ago and found your mother & the children all well. We have some little lambs, pretty little fellows. The branch is covered over with ice and the weather is very cold. Willie and Zona fee the chickens and ducks & talk of brother Pinckney & send a good night kiss to Pinckney and pray God to bless their brother & bring him safe home to his mother, Papa & little brothers & sister. Zona take a little spell of crying occasionally about little Pinckney.

Well sisters Dora & Mattie, I have not written to you for some time as I had some little riding around to do. I have been practicing soldiering for some time & I find that I can commit pretty well. I suppose you have long since heard that Sister Jane had moved to Asheville to avoid as much as possible the calamities of her own adopted country. I saw her yesterday. She is in the John W. Woodfin house near Dr. Neilson’s house. She is well but she looks very care worn. I am truly sorry that she had to leave her home as I fear we people of the mountain country will have to move out next summer unless the enemy are driven out of East Tennessee, as we will not have enough stuff to support the contending armies that will have to pass through this mountain country, and that must be quartered on our section, as I hope we may be able to stop the enemy in the mountains.

The enemy will try in the months of May & June to push our armies to the wall as several thousand will be at home from expired time, whose service will have expired by that time. Our darkest days will be next Spring & Summer but then we will be able to push the enemy back to their own cold northern home. Oh! that the war might be broat to a successful close and our men who are yet alive be able to come to their different familys & avocations. I hope to weather the storm & be at home not to be called away for the defense of all that I hold dear & love best.

I want you to love my boy and be kind to him. Try by kindness to teach him his duty. I want both of you to write to me as your letters to wife are not to me & I want to hear from you in letter to myself. I know you have very little to write of and little inclination to write. I want you to say to Mr. Smith that my family & Mr. Neilson’s familys are well

.

Love to all

Love, Respectfully

Wm. Henry

Mother, Gus, Willie & Zona all send love & a heap of kisses to Pinck. You must be a good boy & ask God to bless your Papa every night. Zona sends you this button. She says keep it till she comes.

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 »

Since the death of my Brother – I am more anxious than formerly to hear from home #cw150

Camp Gordon’s Brigade

Dec 30^th 63

Near Guinea Station, VA

Dear Father,

I received your kind and interesting letter of the 21^st inst. was glad to hear that all was well &c. Since the death of my esteem Brother – John, I am more anxious than formerly to hear from home and kind relatives & friends there. Never do I expect to find another such friend or Brother, while I remain in the Army. Many times while on long and fatiguing marches we used to divide the last cracker or bit of meat with each other; it made no difference how small or mean his rations was he would never eat it without being satisfied I had some. And I always divided with him. I miss him very much, but I know it is useless to wish him back again. He was kind generous and agreeable to all who knew him, and was universally loved by his company and acquaintances in the Army. He remarked only a few days before he was killed “that he felt like it was time for him to be wounded or killed; as he had been in so many engagements & never received any wound.”

I cheerfully join you in “thankfulness to God for my preservation from bodily harm in many engagements while many of my Comrades have fell upon the field of carnage, while contesting with the enemy in defence of our homes friends and Liberty.” Don’t give yourselves any further uneasiness about me. I feel prepared to meet my fate whatever it may be. I shall indevor to do my duty to my country; and my God, and I hope to be victorious; and ere long arrive safe at home. We are all as well as common at present. I regret to learn that two of our company have died from disease who went home on detail after horses in Nov. Thomas Howell of Wake Co. and Francis M. Brown of Chatham are the two.

I have heard nothing from JM Hadley since I last wrote to you. He was then near Mortons Ford with his regt. that is about thirty miles from here. I would like to see him but we are not allowed to pass more than five miles from camp. We certainly do have very hard masters in the Army. They equal or exceed taskmasters of the Isrealites. But I hope there is a time not far distant when me will again be upon equality.

I sent by Mr. May John’s pistol overcoat & several other little tricks. Which I suppose you have rec’d ere this.

I presume you recollect that I wrote to you about 2 months before he was killed that I had bought his horse for $300.00 and paid him that amount. He kept the money a few days and handed it back to me to keep yet (subject to your orders). His detail came approved a few days after he was killed. But; alas, too late for him to enjoy it. I asked the privilege of going home on it but was denied on account of being an officer. Gen. Gordon gave it to one of his couriers. And he went home after a horse on it.

When old Rock feel down in the charge at Middlesburg, Va and crippled himself John proposed to swap with me for a sorrel maire that I had captured, which I agreed to that he might be mounted and go on to Pennsylvania with us. But before we reached Gettysburg Pa she lost show shoes & got lame by marching so far on turnpike roads. When he captured the Bay horse, I bought, he turned the mare loose and left he there & told me to keep her or sell old Rock in her stead, which I have done for $250.00.

I desire that you hold my grain and brandy until you see or hear from me again. You need not dispose of any of it unless Mr. B. Carter calls on you. If he does please furnish him.

I still hope to get home soon but I can’t name any time when I expect to be there. This leaves me very well no news of interst all quiet about here.

Your Ob’t Son

Wm. C. Hadley

(Please write soon)

 

Pencil notes in margins:

We have had a rather dull Christmas. Some have enjoyed themselves very well. I have better than I expected too. Give my love to the family.

Please excuse my changeable ink. I have to keep it … to make it black  all the good goes to the bottom. Good Bye. WCH

 

[Separate memo enclosed in letter]

Acct of Bro. John’s Burial and effects

Nov 9^th 1863

1 Coffin & Plank                                                $29.00

1 Jacket & Pants 12 ½                                     25.00

1 Pr Glove                                                               5.00

Board for detail at Orange CH                      12.50

                                                                                 $71.50

 

Cr by cash in Pocketbook                                                                              $30.00

                Drawed from Q. Master for Mo. Pay & clothing                     79.50

                Cash in hand for Bay horse                                                           300.00

1 Order on C. Basel Poe from Alois Biddle                                                  43.75

                                                                                                                                $381.75

There is now 8 days pay due him which you can draw at Richmond Va he had assigned the Rolls up to Nov 1^st before he was killed & I rec’d the money and have it now.

He is charged with a Saddle Bridal & Halter and I have returned his in the place of the ones he drawed. I have his Saddle pockets is all I have except what is herein accounted for.

Your Ob’t Son

Wm. C. Hadley

He had only 1 Pistol & I returned his sabre & his gun was lost where he was killed

W.C. Hadley

 

 Source: Hadley Collection, Chatham County Historical Association.

Read Full Post »

peace has not come nor will it show its smile I fear for some time #cw150

Wm. L Henry

Private Co. B, 14^th Batt.

Paint Rock, 13^th Dec. 1863

My Dear Dinah & Babies

I only write you a few lines to say I am well & enjoying myself as well circumstances will admit of. I cannot enjoy things away from my home under arms for the destruction of my race as well as I could at home with my wife & the war over but peace has not come nor will it show its smile I fear for some time. Gen. Vance has come to take charge of this district. I like him & his course better than the course Col. Palmer. Tell John Hendrix & Albert Knight to come to camp. Have their horses shod & come on & not wait to be brought in as a hound with a guard after them. Send me a shirt or denim, which I need I do not know. I think some of our men will be at camp ground Reams Creek.

My Dear, don’t sell anything to eat. Store if possible as our friends will all to move from Tenn. I have nothing to write. I hope you are getting along well.  Kill your hogs & cattle.

I am as ever yours. Ten thousand kisses & fine wishes to my wife & babies.

Wm. Henry

Wife, please let the bearer have five pounds of blue stones if you have that much. I know you ought to have more if not wasted.

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 »

New canvas horse harness made in Raleigh, November 1863.

The Raleigh Standard says: We saw a day or two since at the harness establishment of Col. C.W.D. Hutchings, of this place, some harness made of cloth and leather, about three-fourths of the former, which appear to be durable in their character. They were made under the direction of Quartermaster Pierce, and if they will answer the purpose – the bearings and fastenings only being of leather – great saving in leather will be affected. They present a very neat appearance. Col. H. informs us that the savings is about twenty pounds in leather to the set.

 

 

Source: Southern Cultivator, November – December, 1863 as found in John Hammond Moore, ed., The Confederate Housewife (Columbia, SC: Summerhouse Press, 1997).

Read Full Post »