The need of grain is very great and it will be very hard for all to get bread this season. #cw150

Sunday 5^th June 1864

Cloudy this morning but little rain. Matt & Zona to church to the Academy. Mr. Reynolds preached. They have just got back. Mr. Henry & I & the children, Zona & Willie, will go to the Murray place this evening. I attended to Gus this morning & Rose went to Church. He is very little trouble but a great deal of pleasure to attend my children. I am weaning him. He sucked Thursday morning & then not till Saturday morning. I don’t think I will let him suck any more. I do feel so sorry for him when he begs to suck. I hate to turn away & try to amuse him as he soon forgets it & goes to play. He is no trouble at night as he has not sucked any at night for a month. This has been a very wet Spring. Farmers are all behind with their work. I hear the clover & grass seed sown this Spring are doing very well and the clover in the Hotel garden is very nice and is the only feed for our work stock as all the grain is given to the needy for bread. The need of grain is very great and it will be very hard for all to get bread this season. We went to the Murray place, had a pleasant walk. It was rather warm going. We came back & got some strawberries this side of the spring. Nearly sundown when we got back. Two men stay here tonight. Old Draper is one. He is the same man that was here about a month ago. Capt. Parker robbed him & the man that is with him. Rained some this evening.

 

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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Troops are gathering in Asheville. I hope they will not find the way here for some soldiers are very troublesome. #cw150

Saturday 4^th June 1864

Rained nearly all day. Mr. Henry at the mill nearly all day. He is going to start the bucket machine again. I hope it may do good service this time. I picked some wool this morning & knit some. Tena went to see her daughters, Betsey & Leizana this morning as they are both very sick. Mr. Henry brought me a nice paper of strawberries. I gave the children some. They are ripening very fast now. I got Zona’s stocking in the heel this evening. I took off a hen with fourteen chickens this evening & one turkey. We only have 10 young turkeys & about 100 chickens. The chickens have died up with the gapes. I put three hens under pots this evening keep them, from going with one chicken each. I first tied two of them but they soon got loose. Mr. Henry sent Charlie up to Mr. Stepp (where the cattle are) last Wednesday. They are about the Black Mountain. One of the oxen have died since they were taken there. Mr. Henry will sell his beef to the government at one dollar a lb. & he gets hide & tallow. Troops are gathering in Asheville. ‘Tis thought they intend going to Tennessee. I hope they will not find the way here for some soldiers are very troublesome. Jinnie made some sweet cakes for the children this morning of molasses.

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 began to fix my old purple muslin dress, turn it upside down and face it. #cw150

Tuesday 30^th [June 1863]

Warm & some rain. We have had rain for nearly two weeks every day. Things are growing finely. Beans & potatoes, plenty cherries & June apples ripening. Also raspberries. Strawberries gone. Matt began to fix her thread for the loom. Atheline spinning. Nothing new going on. Willie has nearly quit rattling. The baby’s neck gets no better. He is fretful with it. I look for Mr. Henry a little this evening. Hope he may come. I began to fix my old purple muslin dress, turn it upside down and face it. Did not get it done.

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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William starts in the morning or after dinner, back to the army. God protect our poor soldier I pray. Help us in this fight. #cw150

Sunday 14^th June 1863

Several days I will put under one. On last Thursday I got up with headache. It got worse so I took some pills about 10 o’clock. They did not relieve me any. Betsey Jamison staid all night here Thursday. William Tidwell, Tom & another man also so the house was full. I did not eat any supper. A workman came here last Monday to saw out gun stocks. He is boarding here too. Friday morning my head felt some better but pained me some all day. No news came of importance. I received a letter from Lou last Monday. She is well & doing finely.

Saturday morning my head pained me a good deal & all day it did not get easy. Eugenia Hopson came Saturday morning to see Harrie. I was glad to see her. She is looking thin. Her little Fannie is growing off very well.  She is a pretty child. Harrie was glad to see her I know. She will not stay long. She is a kind, good creature. Sunday has been a long rainy day. The children gathered some strawberries for dinner. They are very nice. Eugenia, Harrie & I loved them. Mr. Henry will start off tomorrow to So. Ca. & then to Charlotte NC. I am sorry to see him go. I would have him ever with me if I could. He is such a devoted husband to me & so kind to the children.  I love him more each day. Mrs. Rutherford came here today. She is to make soap or at least learn Aunt Tena to make hard soap without salt. Dr. Thrash was here this evening to see Willie. He recommends squills (onions) for the wheezing. It is now supper time & I must get out supper. I am down in my studio on the branch writing. I left Eugenia, Mr. Henry & Mrs. Rutherford in my room with the children. Mattie & Pinck strawberry hunting. Nothing more this evening at this time. Jinnie, Hopson & I went to the mill also Mrs. Rutherford went to the dam. We saw Pinck Allen as we came back. He looked very sheepish. Mr. Henry went down to se him. We met him at the mill. It was dark when Mr. Henry got back as we had eat supper.

Monday 15^th June 1863

Eugenia & Matt, Pinck & Rose went to the View after strawberries today. Got back for dinner. We had cream & strawberries for dinner & some supper. I have done nothing today. Mrs. Rutherford working with the lye to make soap. RM. Henry started this rmoning. I was sorry to see him go.

Tuesday 16^th [June 1863]

This has been a very warm day. Atheline went & gathered some strawberries. We had some for supper. They were very nice. William & Tom Tidwell stay here tonight. William starts in the morning or after dinner, back to the army. God protect our poor soldier I pray. Help us in this fight.

Wednesday 17^th [June 1863]

Eugenia & I went to the mill this evening. She wanted to have a dough board made. Wiley Night made a very nice walnut one & sent it up this evening. Fannie made Eugenia a pie to take with her of strawberries to eat on the stage. Harrie went to Asheville yesterday & he & Jinnie go today as she wants to leave on the stage in the morning. Harrie will be back tomorrow evening.  I finished Willie’s dress today. Eugenia gave Zona a very nice muslin dress & me a nice cap & some other little things.

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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The baby’s neck is sore, chapped I think. I hope it will soon be well. He is a good child.

Wednesday 10^th [June 1863]

I finished Zona’s dress today. The baby’s neck is sore, chapped I think. I hope it will soon be well. He is a good child. His neck has been sore several days. Harrie has strawberries for lunch once every two or three days when he can get the berries.

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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There was a wounded soldier stopped here for whiskey. I think him an imposter. #cw150

Saturday May 30^th 1863

Betsey went home this morning. We have had some rain today, not much. I finished Willie’s dress soon after dinner & put it on him. He is very proud of his homespun with buttons. I washed Pinck’s head after dinner. George cut his hair today. It is shingled very close but looks very well. Mr. Henry out about the farm & mill. Wiley Knight moved the loom this evening in the back piazza. He put the rollers on the trunnel bed also. The children are delighted with it. Mr. Henry got the rollers when he was in Columbia. He is ever thoughtful of his wife & children. He is such a good man.

 

Sunday 31^st [May 1863]

Cloudy & sunshine this evening. Looks very much like rain if the wind don’t blow too much. Atheline is not well today, has headache. Rose is rocking the baby in the cradle now. Strawberries are beginning to ripen a little. Old Goodlake & Margaret were over here this morning. They brought Matt’s shoes, one pair. She will get the other pair soon. Margaret looks badly. She breaks very fast, has two living children & one dead. Old Goodlake would start before dinner. Margaret wanted to stay till evening. There was a wounded soldier stopped here for whiskey. I think him an imposter. Mr. Henry gave him some brandy. He says he was in the Fredericksburg fight, the last one they had. I will stop now as my baby is fretting. He laughed out yesterday, the first time. Harrie came up to take a nap. I am in his room writing. He is lying on his bed.

 

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 should like very much to help you eat some of your strawberries, but I do not expect any such delicacies this season. #cw150

Camp Gregg, Va.,

May 23^rd ‘63

My dearest Wife

Your sweet letter of the 20^th came today much to my great gratification. I wish my letters could go to you as quickly as yours come to me. The longer we stay here the more I wish I had sent for you, but as Turner and Dorsey were both so sick it would have given you great uneasiness, if you had come with me. I am so glad that they are both better and hope soon to hear that they are both well.

Honey, I like your summer. I shall send tomorrow to David $150 to help defray your expenses at the springs near Raleigh. Do try to get Pamela to go with you. She would enjoy it and you both would be better pleased. But if she does go, make her understand that the thousand and one human beings in Confederate uniforms that she will meet there are skulkers from duty. Most of them who will be getting sympathy upon the pretext of wounds will be well enough to be with their commands. I judge by what it was last year. Go to Edgecombe and from there to the springs, but under whose care are you going?

Brigadier General Junius Daniel and his Brigade came up a few days ago and Colquitt’s Brigade went from here to NC. We got a large Brigade for a small force. Everything looks quiet this way. Stuart has 12,000 cavalry now and it is said is up to some big raid. It is to be wagered that he will do better than Stoneman.

Honey, I thought I told you about my arm. I certainly intended doing so. It is getting on very well, but last Sunday it was very painful. It has turned out to be a little deeper than it appeared at first but still it is but trifling.

I should like very much to help you eat some of your strawberries, but I do not expect any such delicacies this season. You have no idea how anxious I am to go home and shall take any reasonable pretext to take a little furlough. I find but few so conscientious about leaving as myself.

It is rumored that Stuart has tendered his resignation because they will not give him this Corps, but I cannot think him so foolish. I heard this evening that Gen. Hill had gotten it. The same state of affairs as you relate about deserters exists in a great many places in western NC. We have3 lost a great many men by desertion since the fight, most from NC REgts. Vance has published a Proclamation which will have a good effect. Gen. Hays’ sword was presented me and I sent it to Vance to be kept at Raleigh with a very patriotic letter. That is the way to make glory tell. Did you see a little notice in the Journal of your husband, but I am getting to care very little for newspaper compliments; I feel that they are worth but little compared to the good opinion of my superiors.

We have communion tomorrow. Mr. Williams is a nice man and a good chaplain. I wrote a few days ago to brother Robert to get you some NC money and about Anna’s going back to Salem and think he cannot withstand my appeals in her favor.

Take Pamela to Edgecombe and Kittrells by all means. God bless you my dearest wife and kiss the dear boys. I was joking about loving Dorsey best. Love to all.  If you find you will want more money than I have sent, please call on David for it.

Your 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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