Assistance With Transcribing Some Letters

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

I'd like some help transcribing these three letters written during the war.

So far for the first one this is what I have:

____
Camp on Taylor's Farm Henrico Co. Va.


January 17th, 1865,


My dear wife,


As I have gotten back to the same old camp I thought that I would write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and sincerely hope this should reach you safe.


Good health also there are no news at this time worth


I received two letters you sent me since I left I wrote to you from Wilkesborogh N. C.
___

Is there anyone who's better at this than me?


Letter #1.

Letter #2.

Letter #3.

 

[FedericoFCavada]

You got it.

"Camp on Taylors Farm
Henrico Co. Va
Jan 17th 1865

My Dear Wife

As I have gotten back to the same old camp[,] I
thought that I would write you a
few lines to let you know that I
am well and sincerely hope should
this reach you safe that it
may find you in ...
good health also there are no news
at this time worth your attention[.]
I received two letters you sent
me since I left[.] I wrote to you
from Walksborough N.C. but I don't
know whither you received these
or not[.] you wrote me [second? word?] if I
wanted any socks to send you
word. Well, if you have any"

 

[lelliott19]

I'd like some help transcribing these three letters written during the war.

So far for the first one this is what I have:

____
Camp on Taylor's Farm Henrico Co. Va.


January 17th, 1865,


My dear wife,


As I have gotten back to the same old camp I thought that I would write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and sincerely hope this should reach you safe.


Good health also there are no news at this time worth


I received two letters you sent me since I left I wrote to you from Wilkesborogh N. C.
___

Is there anyone who's better at this than me?


Letter #1.

View attachment 453164

Letter 1
Camp on Taylor's Farm Henrico Co. Va.
January 17th, 1865,

My dear wife,

As I have gotten back to the same old camp I thought that I would write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and sincerely hope should this reach you safe that it may find you in the ____ ____ good health also. There are no news at this time worth Your Attention. I received two letters you sent me since I left. I wrote to you from Wilksborough N. C. but I don't know whither you received them or not you wrote me word if I wanted any socks to send word well if you have any...

 

[JOHN42768]

Here is a shot at some pieces of letter #1. No news at this time worth your attention. I don't know weather you received them or not. you wrote me one word if I wanted any socks to send you.

 

[Little Mac]

Attempt at Letter #3:
Camp Near Bottoms bridge
January 24th 1864

My Dear Companion,
I again take my pen in hand to drop you a few lines in answer to yours which came to me in due time. I am truly glad to hear that you are all well [.] this leaves me well and I hope this may find you all the same. You must sell Archibald Hudgins all the hogs you can spear [probably spare?] ....
As soon as I am paid off you must not send me any more for I have a plenty at this time. You hear that we had been in a battle [.] we did have a small skirmish but there was No one hurt on our side [.] we killed five an Wounded Seventy...
...WilliamsBurg it is thought they will give us another ? soon but I don't know whether they will or not [.] All the boys 17 years old had better come up an join the army soon as they can [.] they are going to take all between seventeen and fifty. Tell ? he had better come up and join this company while there is a chance [.] it will soon be filled up

 

[FedericoFCavada]

Letter 1, continued

knit you can send them to me
well we farid [fared] very well in North
Carolina for something to eat
but [unclear.."I?"] our sleeping was very bad
indeed and the country I did
not like that much. Well my
dear if you have any soap
send me a piece. You sent me word
that you was going to be [...]
house keeping where do you think
of going to [?] I am going to write
to Father and see if he will
not let you go to his house. I think
he might do it as he has not got
many ... family at this time
You wanted to know whither
we were getting any thing to eat
we are getting a plenty if you have
got what gros... you can send it
to me there are no news[?] worth
[page break]
your attention so my letter, will be
short and uninteresting you wanted
to know about Furloughs I may get
one this winter or I may not I can't tell
but I will try my best to get one
well nothing more at this time give
my love to all Virginia Friends &
and serve a large portion for
your self and write soon to your
devoted Husband until Death
Jno. J. Driggs
Armistead Battery
Marks Batn. Lgt Arty
1st Corp. at N. Va.

 

[FedericoFCavada]

Letter No. 2

Camp Taylor's Farm
August 6th 1864

My dear Companion[,] I again
take my pen in hand to inform
you of my health[.] This leaves me
well, & i hope this may find
you the same & all the family
There is no news to write
of interest only there was
a battle fought last saturday
at petersburg the enemy's loss
was five thousand & ours 6
hundred. I send you by my
[z?...] fifty dollars[.] Well
I have not the time to write
much now so i must close
by saying i will remain
your absent husband here
is my love to you in in full
and to all of my friends,
Love,
[signature, "By J.T. Diggs"]

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

Letter 1, continued

knit you can send them to me
well we farid [fared] very well in North
Carolina for something to eat
but [unclear.."I?"] our sleeping was very bad
indeed and the country I did
not like that much. Well my
dear if you have any soap
send me a piece. You sent me word
that you was going to be [...]
house keeping where do you think
of going to [?] I am going to write
to Father and see if he will
not let you go to his house. I think
he might do it as he has not got
many ... family at this time
You wanted to know whither
we were getting any thing to eat
we are getting a plenty if you have
got what gros... you can send it
to me there are no news[?] worth
[page break]
your attention so my letter, will be
short and uninteresting you wanted
to know about Furloughs I may get
one this winter or I may not I can't tell
but I will try my best to get one
well nothing more at this time give
my love to all Virginia Friends &
and serve a large portion for
your self and write soon to your
devoted Husband until Death
Jno. J. Driggs
Armistead Battery
Marks Batn. Lgt Arty
1st Corp. at N. Va.

Wow! Great work! The soldier's name is John T. Diggs.

 

[Bonny Blue Flag]

Not sure if this is the same John T. Diggs. Found on Findagrave.

John T. Diggs
BIRTH 4 Mar 1839
DEATH23 Jun 1898 (aged 59)
Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland, USA
BURIAL
Laboring Sons Cemetery
Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland, USAMEMORIAL ID208536176 · View Source
Obituary
John T. Diggs, colored, died this morning at his residence on North Bentz street of dropsy, aged 59 years, 3 months and 19 days. The funeral will take place on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, with interment at Laboring Sons Cemetery. The deceased was a member of the G.A.R. and Laboring Sons society.
Source: The Daily News (Frederick, MD), Thursday, June 23, 1898

NOTE: He was a Civil War veteran.

--BBF

 

[Bonny Blue Flag]

There are quite a few John T Diggs, John Diggs, etc on the NPS website, Search For Soldiers. Both Confederate and Union. Would need more info to find him specifically.

--BBF

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

Not sure if this is the same John T. Diggs. Found on Findagrave.

John T. Diggs
BIRTH 4 Mar 1839
DEATH23 Jun 1898 (aged 59)
Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland, USA
BURIAL
Laboring Sons Cemetery
Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland, USAMEMORIAL ID208536176 · View Source
Obituary
John T. Diggs, colored, died this morning at his residence on North Bentz street of dropsy, aged 59 years, 3 months and 19 days. The funeral will take place on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, with interment at Laboring Sons Cemetery. The deceased was a member of the G.A.R. and Laboring Sons society.
Source: The Daily News (Frederick, MD), Thursday, June 23, 1898

NOTE: He was a Civil War veteran.

--BBF

The one who wrote the letters was a member of the Mathews Light Artillery Battery.

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

Attempt at Letter #3:
Camp Near Bottoms bridge
January 24th 1864

My Dear Companion,
I again take my pen in hand to drop you a few lines in answer to yours which came to me in due time. I am truly glad to hear that you are all well [.] this leaves me well and I hope this may find you all the same. You must sell Archibald Hudgins all the hogs you can spear [probably spare?] ....
As soon as I am paid off you must not send me any more for I have a plenty at this time. You hear that we had been in a battle [.] we did have a small skirmish but there was No one hurt on our side [.] we killed five an Wounded Seventy...
...WilliamsBurg it is thought they will give us another ? soon but I don't know whether they will or not [.] All the boys 17 years old had better come up an join the army soon as they can [.] they are going to take all between seventeen and fifty. Tell ? he had better come up and join this company while there is a chance [.] it will soon be filled up

I think after "Tell" it says "Peter" or "Father" (not sure what comes after that) and then it says "Diggs".

Diggs was a insanely popular surname in Mathews at the time.

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

Here are the Diggs men who enlisted in the Mathews Light Artillery after the letter was written.

Benjamin F Diggs
03/31/64

James A Diggs
02/19/64

Moses Diggs
03/31/64

 

[ClintI]

Your letters are amazing. The penmanship and style of writing remind me of my great great grandfather's diary of 1864. I've engaged two people to transcribe and type it for me. I had not been able to make out the words like you.