Forum Host- Joined
- Jan 3, 2019
- Location
- Waynesboro, Virginia
I just found a portion of a letter from a Barton Smith to a friend in 1863, that mentions my Great, Great Uncle Col. Legrand Shockley. Here is a portion of the letter.
"I understand that the legislature has passed an act to appoint pressmasters in each county to take grain and distribute as they think best. I want you to watch them closely, for I know in reason that some of the Hillsvillians will be appointed and will press all the grain that you men of the Union corner have and perhaps keep it themselves, or press your grain and distribute it and keep their and divide. I want you to watch my grain and not let them have one peck of it, if you have even to put it under the ground. I have ten bushels of corn or rye and corn at Col. Shockley's, which I want you or Mr. Utley to get away for me and do it soon. I think it would suit Mr. Utley to take it, as it would be much nearer for him there to come to the mill. Don't let them have my grain, for I am a soldier now and my wife is a soldier's wife. The officers of our company say they will do all in their power to get me a position, and I think it can be very easily done. The reason I didn't pay the postage on this letter is they are more apt to go through when the postage is not paid, as they don't get any pay if they don't sent it to the one to whom it is directed."
"I understand that the legislature has passed an act to appoint pressmasters in each county to take grain and distribute as they think best. I want you to watch them closely, for I know in reason that some of the Hillsvillians will be appointed and will press all the grain that you men of the Union corner have and perhaps keep it themselves, or press your grain and distribute it and keep their and divide. I want you to watch my grain and not let them have one peck of it, if you have even to put it under the ground. I have ten bushels of corn or rye and corn at Col. Shockley's, which I want you or Mr. Utley to get away for me and do it soon. I think it would suit Mr. Utley to take it, as it would be much nearer for him there to come to the mill. Don't let them have my grain, for I am a soldier now and my wife is a soldier's wife. The officers of our company say they will do all in their power to get me a position, and I think it can be very easily done. The reason I didn't pay the postage on this letter is they are more apt to go through when the postage is not paid, as they don't get any pay if they don't sent it to the one to whom it is directed."
Last edited:
Bringing the