 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Civil War Letter to Home |
||||||||
| Note: I will post the images shortly. I plan to digitally enhance the original pages to see if we can make out some of the areas that are difficult to read. If anyone should recognize any of the questioned areas, please drop me a line and we will corrent them. | ||||||||
|
Camp 12th NC Regt near Taylorsville Va March 5 1864 Dear Eugenia I have delayed writing to you for several days because I did not have a good opportunity to do so. It is raining now and has been constantly for some time the ground is about as sobby as it can be our tents are in a low Place and the water rises in Them so that it is constantly muddy in the tents my feet Keep wet every day but I have not ben injured by it as I know of yet Nearly all our company are down on Picket at South Amma Bridge to day about 3 miles from here Governor Vance addressed This Brigade yesterday on his Page 2 From the army at Orange C.H. when he had been making speeches to the North Carolina Troops The Brigade tirned out to hear him hear almost to a man The weather was rather inclement though he was well received After some amusing ancedotes Illustrating the course of his remarks he went into a Logical argument Of our Political Stayes Prospects Hopes & Condition I wish you could have heard his speech though I would not have had you to have been here with the army Said when Genl Johnston Telegraphed him of the enlistment of this Brigade for the war be it long or short From that moment the Independence of our Country was Certain in his opinion. It showed to him Page 3 that those who had endured the Hardships were not afraid of the Consequences said the Principal dissatisfaction existed with the People at home they got scarid of act? as Wagoness Ambanlance Distant Straglers in the Rear of a great Battle not to mention Quarter Master & Commissaries were worse scared than those in the Front ranks He told an anecdote to illustrate this Said a youth just from College Prided himself upon his great learning and was somewhat ashamed of his Daddy One day he and the old man went out in the Field to work when about 11 o'clock the old man pulled out some cheese and bread to eat his lunch His son told him he surely did Page 4 not intend to eat that cheesehanding him a sply glass told the old man to look at it through that asked him if he did not see the Animalculae in it (Small animals) Guessed Soldier knew what small animals (lice) were He understood there were some up in Esbells? Corps that had the letters I.F.W (one for the war) on them = But to return to the ancedote the old man's son asked him if he did not see how the Animalculae squirmed. The old man without paying any attention to him crammed the cheese in his mouth with the remark let them squirm If they can stand it I can. Now the Govermor said if the Soldiers could stand it the People at Home could and shoud do it. He went on to show the utter fallacy Page 5 of Trying to make Peace with the Yankees by Separate State Conventions in it could not Alter the Position of the State in the eyes of the Yankee Government becuase it would still be in Rebellion against the United States and the accepted unconditional terms WHile it would at the same time involve us in a war with the balance of the Confederacy. He Reorissasal? the course of the war and paid his repects to the great Yankee Heroes in Commander of the army of the Potsona? Formerly the grand army of the Union From Old Scott down to Meade. After giving each ones brief Career he was gathered unto his Father's and another reigned in his stead ca Whinke? got to McClellan Page 6 after bringing him up to the Chickshomy That Stonewall Jackson came on his right Flank and one Z. B. Vance (himself) Col of the 26th NC Regt on the left flanks and between them they made McClellan Skidaddle. He made a Touching allusion to the Battle of the Wilderness In speaking of Burnside said crossed over in the Ridon? but heard the Gray Jackets singing to him to get out the Wilderness. You must not think the Governor speech was all in this humo over Style it had its serious parts to it in speaking of our losses and great Sacrifices. He made a touching appeal to the Soldiers not to desert Page 7 their colors and Country that they must trust the Peoples at home to take care of Their families that is they run away and got home could not aid their families they could not go to work for fear of being taken up and could only streak about and eat up a part of what little their families had. He said when a man sneaked out horses in that way he was afraid even of a Militia Officer with his bottom yarn stripes on his collar. Though don't let the Militia Officers know this last sentence the Governor might lose a vote by it. It so happened that a deserter from this Regt. (Catawba Rifles) was carried on the ground and Heard this Governor speech though it do not know whether the Governor Page 8 Foundit out or not the reason he was carried out was that the men who had him under guard wanted to hear the Governor's speech and they were allowed to carry their Prisoner with them. I understand when this man Deserted He went out about home and lived in a cave but in the late snow knocking about to get something to eat he was tracked of and caught I do not know what will be done with him but I understand that no man has ever been shot yet from this Regiment. Our Brigade has been reviewed twice lately by Gen Johnston He inspected every man himself he though our co was pretty well clothed and asked Capt Plummer if we got enough to eat and I Page 9 understood he asked Capt Plummer if his men were made to patch their clothes in which they did it of their own accord and the Captain told him they done it of their own accord I received a few days ago (word faded and on crease unreadable) and intending this from you not dated though you said it was Holiday from which I know this date there has been preaching at the Baptist Churches near this place by the Chaplain of the Brigade Sometimes twice a day and at night I have attended frequently there have been a food many mourners and some concerts in? John Received a letter from Sallie a few days ago with a Piece in it to me from you which I Page 10 was glad to receive I was also proud to Hear that Henry was teaching I wish I could see you and him However as that is useless now I will content myself with writing to you You must not take Matters to Heart any More Thank you were obliged to do For it becomes re? to beas out Trials in this life as Christians with Fortitudes When you have an opportunity to send me anything please send if you have them some small pieces to patch my pants With I do not know of anything else I want you to send me You did not state in your letter whether you received Page 11 My letter but I take it for granted you did as the blanket came to hand when you mity please give me all the neighborhood news as well as our son? Matters for everything going on in old Nithagh? is interesting to me John is well and still attending to Jack Russells Ambulance They have Nick Names here for a great Many of the boys they call John Man Kind because he ises that word so often in conversations Jack Russell they call old theiordon? A. B. Faulker they call Dr Minos Josh Davis Creek (Terrapin) Weldon Genl Sec Duke they call Sloop of War Page 12 (This page very hard to read faded and writing on sides and bleed thru) Two of our men Conner (Gen Dalgmouth?) and John Daniel have lost their voices and can only whisper Them boys were very often whimpering to them though I think that is wrong All the boys from Welbush? that I (word unreadable) of are well I believe (unreadable) Let me know whether out heard Uncle Micajah say the (word smeared) recevied a letter I wrote or not John says he wants them to Keep a certain man at home (Bob C?) because he wants him to keep the property together at the Widows but he intended to examine the accounts he keeps when he gets back run your Pen through the last sentence when you read it From you will keep the letter Give my love to all the Family and accept it for yourself Kiss Henry for me Yours Truly T.D. Hilliard Written down the side: You can let Eliza have your Shaci? So they are too in all From yours Let me see of whe? you might want to gain? through I Suppose? you ought to have a pair now Send an order to Chefs? when you read |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
©2009 Charles Hilliard, Diane Siniard and/or NCGenWeb. This is not public domain. Charles has generously allowed us to post it for the benefit of Warren Co. researchers as well as NCGenWeb researchers. Any republication or reposting is expressly forbidden without the written consent of the owner. Last updated 02/09/2009 |
