Letters

[thea_447]

I know that we have Soldiers Stories, What The Leaders and the Soldiers Said, etc., but I don't think we have a thread specifically for "letters". These can be letters between husband/wife, friends, cousins, letters from the leaders,just anything. I know long ago I posted some of the Pickett letters, but for the life of me I can't remember where they are located. Since I can't find them I will start a new thread here.

Here is the first one:

Letter from an unknown soldier writing from Nashville, Tennessee, to his friend Ettie


Nashville Tenn Jany 5th 64

Friend Ettie

I believe I am not indebted to you by way of letter, but for your kindness to me I will write you a few lines. It is quite cool Weather here now and some snow upon the ground but not enough to make sleighing. I wish I wish I were in Hillsdale today I think I would call around to friend Ettie and go out a Sleighing. I get lonesome sometimes and I not know what to do, if I ever get out of the Service alive I am agoing to settle down and get married.

What a novel Idea that is, perhaps you will not believe it but I am not joking. I am not quite an old Bach yet but I fear I will be before long.

If you know of some good looking amiable young Lady that wish to change her situation in life, just mention the fact to her, and tell her there is a Soldier in the Army that wishes to marry in less than two years after his time expires in the Army.

On New Year's day about one o-clock I received a verry nice gift which I appreciated verry much. It was the only gift that I received, and on that account realize its worth. You have my heartfelt thanks for your kindness and remembrance of a Soldier. Enclosed you will find the likeness of your unknown Correspondent which you will please accept, with the kindest regards.
I am yours
verry truly

[thea_447]

I suppose these really could fit under the Soldiers Stories thread but that's a little misleading since I would like to see more letters from the homefront, telling about what life was like for the women and children left behind, in the North and the South. The sudden change in circumstance for all of them would certainly have brought out their strengths and weaknesses.


Letter from Sallie Seeper Scott of "Lower Chanceford" (state unknown), to Robert Bennett, Chief Carpenter Shop in Washington, D.C. Ms89-092.


April the 15 1865. Lower Chanceford.




Dear Friend,
After haveing done all the -------
On Saturday evening with the
Greatest of pleasure I have taken
The priveledge of a few minuts
To whold a conversation with you
Thou many miles apart we May
Be. I received a very Kind +
Welcome letter about noon yesterday
From my well wisher + lover +
Its content was very interresting
+ esceptable to me but
Whare do you think I was
When it came to my hands.
I will tell you but you
Musant tell any body nor
Think hard of it your self
For I Couldant help it I
Was in Bed but I am able
to be up and a doing to day.
I was sorry to here that
You had the head-ache but
I hope it is better by this
Time if it ant you had
Beter take care that you dont get
Wors than the headache + be
Obliged to go to bed as was yester
-day. If you do then what will become
Of you away whare you neither have
Friends nor relations nor not even
A gal to take care of you. You had
Beter come home for fear you do.
For you can get plenty of work
here on the canal every body in
the neighbourhood + more is working
There + they havant 1/2 hands enough
yet I would like very much to
See you comeing home for I was
out at Pine grove church on Sunday
Last + there I saw the bride +
groom + if you want to know who
they ware it was Mr. William moor
and Miss Mary hickman was her maden nam
I don't know what gussie will
Do know when wil moor as she
Calls him is gone unless you
Come up + hold her once a
Week but if that dont pleas
You + I exspect if you ware to come
Home you could get into a job
Of sleeping with Mary Jane Snyder
for I exspect she has to sleep by
her self since John went to the
Army I suppose you know for certain
By this time that David has gon
to the army + I herd yesterday that
He has the ague he didant write home
that he had but J. Stevens did.
Well my dear it is nearly 9 oclock
+ the rest the family are nearly
All gone to bed + I feel as much
like being there as any whare else to
I will quit writing for tonight I finnish
in the morning as tommorrow is Sunday
I will have plenty of time so good night
My Dear + I hope you will rest
contented + full assured that I will
remain yours fare well.
April the 16
Good Morning My dear friend
this is quite a pleasant morning
I almost forgot to tell you that
I got a letter about 2 week ago
forwarded from the president A
Lincoln but the next one he sends
to me he had beter not get you
to write it + I won't be so sure to
know that it came from you my
Dearest friend + only lover + loveing
Bob well I think I will haft to
draw my leter to a close for the present
time by telling you to write soon all
at presant from your kind friend
Sallie S. Scott to
Robert Barnett you said that you
wanted me to send you a stamp or
thats what I took it to be from the
way you had it speld I havent any
3 cts ones but will send you all the
one cent ones that I have at this time
I forgot the old hors he is doing well
only there is someting rong with his neck
so he cant put his hed down to drink
Sallie Seeper Robert James write soon

[dawna]

Thea...thanks for starting yet another great thread.

Dawna

[william42]

Hi Thea: Sallies letter is really interesting. She seems to be in love with this Robert Bennett or Barnett. I mean it seems they are sweethearts, I guess. She talks about Robert coming home and getting a job "sleeping with Mary Jane Snyder" while John is in the army?? Or holding "Gussie" once a week while Will Moor is away? I think I'm pretty well lost in the translation, but did you notice her letter was started on the 15th, in the evening? Abraham Lincoln had died that same day early in the morning. I guess she hadn't heard the news yet as she did not mention it in her letter. Thanks for posting the letter... Terry

[thea_447]

I'm glad both of you like these letters. If you look around you can find more and they really help to put you "in the moment". I try to understand what these people must have felt like. The morays of the times were so very different . Even taking a young lady for a walk or a surrey ride was a monumental undertaking. A young fellow had to really have a "hankering" after a young lady to undergo the rigorous regimen in order to pursue his heart's desire. I think it's endearing to read about all of it!

[thea_447]

Camp Pegram's Brigade,
52d Va. Regiment, Jan. 6, 1864.

Mr. Editor--By the goodness of God, the army of Northern Virginia is permitted another winter to enjoy rest and quiet, though it be in the camp away from their homes. The 52d Regiment is now snugly fixed in winter quarters and has a fair prospect of so remaining for several months. It is not necessary to say that camp life, in winter quarters, with no adequate means of entertainment, is to the last degree dull and tedious, and that the old proverb, "an idle brain is the devil's workshop," has no slight bearing upon our condition. Therefore we call upon our friends, who are enjoying the comforts and privileges of home exempt from the exposures and privations of the soldier's life, to assist us to spend the winter.

We would respectfully request that the ministers of the various churches in Staunton (Rev. Messrs. Baker, Latane, Taylor, Dice and Miller) and the ministers of the different churches thro'out the county, would, from their pulpits notify their several congregations that any donations of Books which they would present to the soldiers of the 52d Regiment, will be received by them, and duly forwarded to the regiment. We believe that this donation will be made, and can be, with no trouble and at trifling expense.

Almost every family has in its library some good book which has been read, and re-read and with them has lost its power to entertain, the loss of such a book would scarcely be felt, but if sent to the soldiers, would serve to while away many a weary hour, and even though the books which would serve to interest us are highly prized by them, would not the fact that they could be procured at the conclusion of the war, be an argument in favor of presenting them to the defenders of the country. The character of the library, we thus hope to become possessed of, should be composed of books of a miscellaneous character inasmuch as there are so many various tastes in a regiment to gratify. Let not however the number of religious books be small, for religion after all should be the soldier's chief concern. Hoping to meet with a prompt and speedy response to our request, and asking you to give this a place in your paper,

I am yours truly,
John McGill, Chaplain.

N.B. Mr. Albert Garber will receive the donations from the various ministers, at his store.


Trailer: John McGill, Chaplain

[thea_447]

Letter of Anna Marie Jackson to her husband, Thomas Jonathan Jackson

Late April, 1863

My precious husband-

I will go to Hanover and wait there until I hear from you again, and I do trust I may be permitted to come back to you again in a few days. I am much disappointed at not seeing you again, but I commend you, my precious darling, to the merciful keeping of the God of battles, and do pray most earnestly for the success of our army this day. Oh! that our Heavenly Father may preserve and guide and bless you, is my most earnest prayer.



I leave the shirt and socks for you with Mrs. Neale, fearing I may not see you again, but I do hope it may be my privilege to be with you in a few days. Our little darling will miss dearest Papa. She is so good and sweet this morning. God bless and keep you, my darling
Your devoted little wife.

[thea_447]

Letter
TJJ to Rev. (Dr.) Francis McFarland, Augusta Co. Va.
Date: 1862 February 11
Place: Winchester, Virginia

Winchester
Feby 11th 1862

My dear Doctor

Your very kind and Christian letter respecting my proposed withdrawal from Field Service has been received, and be assured that it met with a cordial reception. My desire to serve our cause is undiminished, but I am in active service not because it is more congenial to my taste, but from a sense of duty. The moment that my services are not required in the field I desire to return to the Institute.

After God had restored to us the county of Morgan East of the Big Capon River and the most valuable portion of Hampshire County, and was still driving the enemy from this Military District, the Secretary of War without consulting me upon the subject, sent an order to me stating that he has information, that Genl. Loring's command is in danger of being cut off, and directs me to order him back to Winchester immediately, thus unnecessarily abandoning to the enemy what had been restored to us. If such a policy as that was to be pursued by the Secretary at his desk far removed from the theatre of war, ruin must result to our cause, and I feel called upon to utter my strongest protest against such a ruinous policy, and this I designed doing by offering to resign, rather than be the willful instrument of carrying out a ruinous policy. So far as the secretary may have shown indignity to me personally, that is not a matter to be considered in times like the present. I am satisfied that my course was a good one for our cause, the effect that it may injuriously have in the estimation of men respecting me, is of but little moment. I say it humbly but with the hope that you will live to see that my course has been what it should have been. I am every ready to remain in the field when I can have a prospect of being useful there. Pray that I may be useful.

I am sincerely your friend
T.J. Jackson

[thea_447]

A letter home (Confederate)

Near Chattahoochee
Fulton Co.
July 15th, 1864



Dear Sister - - - - - - - - -Pickets don't fire at each other now. We go down to the edge of the river on our side and the Yankees come down on their side and talk to each other. The men on picket opposite are from Ohio, and seem very tired of the war. They say that their term of enlistment will be out in three months and most of them say that when it is out they are going home. Gen. Johnson has issued an order that there shall be no more communication between with them, and I think it is well that he has done so because they were getting too intimate. Some men don't know what should be concealed. The Yankees are very much in want of tobacco, and our Government gives it to us, and we used to trade tobacco with them for knives and canteens. There is a rock near the middle of the river to which they would swim and trade. After a while they got so well acquainted that some of our men would swim clear across and land among the Yankess. The Yankees were not so bold for a long time, but a few days ago they got to coming across also. That has been broken up now and if any trading is carried on, it is done contrary to orders.- - - - I took some tobacco down with me the other day but I found out when I got there communication had been stopped. As I was sitting on the banks, one of the Yankees from the other side called to me to know if I had any tobacco. I told him I had. He said that he had a good knife to trade for it. I told him that trading was prohibited. He said "Your officers won't see you, come over, I want a chew of tobacco very bad." I asked some of them who they were going to vote for President. One of them said "Old Abe" but most of them said they were for McLellan.

We have a fine rain last night that was much needed. I had my oil cloth pitched for a tent but it leaks very badly. I got rather wet but the rain was very hard and lasted only a short time, and I got dry and went back to bed and slept very well. One of the Yankee Lieutenants promised to mail some letters for one of our officers and I wrote to Aunt Martha expecting to send it at the same time but Gen. Johnson stopped the prodeeding so I did not send it. There is a force of Yankees on this side of the river and have been there for some time. Why Gen. Johnson don't drive them back I don't know he must have some object in view.
Write to me soon..





Yours truly,
(s)O.D. Chester



Editor notes-I selected this letter for a number of reasons. First, it shows a side of war that most people ignore. It is not unusual for troops from opposite sides to mingle when not fighting. Second it comes two days prior to Jefferson Davis removing Joseph E. Johnston as Commander and replacing him with John Bell Hood. The final sentence details much of the argument about tactics over which Davis and Johnston fought. Finally, the letter speaks of the coming election in November. This is very important in the South. At the time, the South viewed McLellan as a peace candidate so support for him would have been pro-South.

[thea_447]

A letter home (Union)

Camp of the 29th Regiment,
Ohio Vet. Vol. Inft.



Dear father,

Your letter of the 8th came to hand on the 15th and I was very glad to hear from you once more. It had been so long since I had heard from you that it seems as though good times were coming once more when I receive letters from you. - Mother has written to me quite often since you left home and I am very much obliged to her for doing so. - Since you have been gone my regiment has been in a good many battles and have lost a good many men.

My regiment has had about 200 men killed and wounded out of 400 and my company has lost about 32 men out of 56. All of my tent mates, James Walsh, Charlie Gove and William Gilbert, have been wounded on this campaign and I am left alone. - My health has been so very good that I have not missed one mile of the march and I have been in every battle of the campaign. I have had two muskets shot out of my hands by rebel balls and a short time ago a 6 pound shell went through my tent within 6 inches of my head but as yet I am all right side up with care.

We are now within a mile and three quarters of the centre of the city of Atlanta. We have got all the railroads cut and we are sending shot and shells into the city all the time. - Every night there is some part of the city set on fire by our shells and it seems to me as though it must be a very uncomfortable place to live in. Almost two weeks they have not shot one shell at our brigade. I think they have none to spare and are saving them for the time that we will have to charge them. This will represent the position of our army.

[img][/img]

The numbers are the numbers of the army corp. The length of our line of battle is 13 miles, nearly half of it is held by the fourth and twentyth army corps. All of the fighting that is going on is where the 23 corps as we are trying to shove the army around to the right. - Almost every day the rebels try to break our lines somewhere but as yet they have made nothing, for every time they charge on our lines they lose 4 men to our 1 for we are in good breast works and they have to come across the open fields to get at us.

Every day a good many deserters come over to our lines from the rebel army. Night before last 100 of them started to come into the 1st division of our corps, but as they did not have a white flag, our men fired one volley into them and killed 20 of them. The rest of them (80) came in and have been sent North. - We have had plenty to eat all along this march, but just at present we can't eat any pork, as they are using the cars to bring up big guns so we have no meat but fresh beef every day. However we get along first rate. They have established a bakery close by the army and we get soft bread one day in three. We think this a treat as we have not had any soft bread for three months. - There is rumor around in the army that Longstreet's corps is coming down here to reinforce the rebels. If this is the case, we will have our hands full, but I should think that General Grant could keep the whole rebel army in Virginia busy so that they would not think of coming down here.

General Grant don't get along so well in the east as he did in the west. The fact of the matter is, the rebels have got their biggest and best army in Virginia, and their best generals. I wish we had such an army as the army of the Potomac down here. We would eat up Hood's army before breakfast. - I see by some Cleveland papers sent me by Miss Frankland that the hundred day men think they are seeing very hard times. Why the poor sinners don't know anything about soldering and it makes me laugh every time I read there woeful complaints. If they were with Grant or Sherman, instead of behind the forts of Washington then they might grumble. - The weather has been very warm during the months of July and August.



This month it has been raining almost all the time, but it don't seem to cool the air any. Sometimes I think that when this summer is over I will be nearly black enough to pass for a negro. - I was of the opinion that you would not like the Isle of Man very well, for I know that traveling only makes a man think more of home. I wrote to mother a short time ago for a gold pen, some writing paper and envelops and some postage stamps. If they are not sent, please send them as soon as you can for I need them very much. - There is some talk of us getting paid off pretty soon and I guess that we will soon get some greenbacks. There is a good many of them now owed me from the government, but I have no more to write this time, so I will bid you a goodbye. Give my love to mother and the children and accept the same yourself.

From your loving son,

Caius C. Lord
CO. I. 29th Regt. O.V.V.I.
1st Brig, 2nd Division
2?th Army Corps
Via Chattanooga, Tenns. </FONT>

Editor notes-
Caius C. Lord was born November 23, 1842 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the son of Hugh Lord and Ann Kelley. They were both from The Isle of Man, but they married Dec 6, 1835 in Cleveland, OH. The mother he refers to is his step mother Elizabeth.

After the War, Caius married the Martha Frankland he mentioned in the letter. She died around 1870 and he moved to Valley Falls, KS. As an elderly man, Caius C. Lord (C.C. Lord) moved to Seattle, WA. and died Dec 24, 1932.

The letter comes to us from Greg Wickenburg, a direct descendent of the author.