Letter Transcription Help

[archivist23]

I am trying to transcribe a series of Civil War letters and one letter is particularly challenging to read. The author of this letter is unknown to me, and I'm not use to their handwriting. The collection this comes from is the William Washington Knight Civil War Letters, 1861-1863 (work in progress). Most of the letters are from William W. Knight to his wife Mary Elizabeth Carrol Knight. William was in the 29th Georgia Infantry. Prior to this letter by the unidentified author (S.S. Stiles?), likely a relative of Mary, William wrote his wife from a hospital in Atlanta, written on August 29, 1863. From what little I can read, this letter seems to indicate William was able to return home briefly (Berrien County, Georgia).

Here's the best I can do from the first page, and what I have doesn't make much sense. So I'm hoping some more eyes can help decipher it.

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Camp [See?], Sep. 20, 1863

Dear Mary,

Your [illegible] [news?] [illegible] very glad to hear from you. [I am?] very [glad?] William has got home. I hope he will soon get well. You have [illegible] the [trip?]. I know you were [surely disappointed?] but still it was much better that he was already at home scarcely a day, but what some woman comes to the different [commands?] to see & try to [illegible] her Husband that is sick [of?] home but seldom is it the officers [will?] [either time. If it was William [illegible] since [certificate?] back until I was [goodwill?]. I am sorry I have [illegible] stayed longer at home. We have had a very heavy storm. Our tents were very old & much worn. [Illegible] securely a [illegible] had a tent that will keep off any rain. The Quarter Master says he tried in Savannah to get tents but failed. Capt. [Illegible Name] says they will be no more tents to be had. At least Capt. [illegible] told him so. I [illegible]. We stay on the [cost?] cash? Coast?] we will [illegible] …

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I've cleared up the images as best I can. The originals are quite faded. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Looks like two different styles of handwriting. Was a nurse or someone helping him write the letter I wonder…

 

[lelliott19]

I'll give it a shot. I can read Goode Bryan and Lafayette McLaws so there's definitely hope for this one.

 

[lelliott19]

[PAGE 1]

Camp Sea, Sep. 20, 1863

Dear Mary,

Your Kind favor was Rec & was very glad to heare from you and very glad William has got home. I hope he will soon get well. You have Quite a trip. I know you were Sorly Disappointed but Still it was much better that he was already at home [.] scarcely a day, but what some woman comes to the different commands to See & Try to get her Husband that is sick off home [.] but Sildom is it the officers will notice them [.] If I was William I wont Send Certificates back until I was good&well. I am sorry I have not of staid longer at home. We have had a very heavy Storme. our Tents ware very old & much worn. and now Scarcely a man has a Tent that will keep off any rain [.] the Quarter Master says he Tryin in Savarinint [Savannah] to get Tents but failed. Capt. [Wylly?*] Says they will be no more tents to be had[.] at least Capt. Mercer** told him so. I Suppose if We Stay on the cost [coast] we will make [end of page 1]

[PAGE 2]
Huts[.] I am affraid we are about played out it in my opinion depends greatly on the expected fight in Northern Ga, if we get [Whopell?] there it will be very apt to Start Desertion a gain & a way goes our army. Some of our men has Return & I would be glad if all would Come in I am a peace Man Sometimes on almost any terms but God knows & know one else how or When it will Close. Look what a Trick was fixt to get in the men over 45 [.] I told Several, it was a trick but they said he know Mr [or No] Oaryer of Bier[Our?] going in Long at a time. I would Like verry much to see William. but it is entirely out of my power. Our men are verry sickly and I fear some will die. Our fare is very hard & scarce we don't eat any thing but Beef & cone Meals.

Tell William to writ me. My health is not verry good[.] I suffer verry much with my Breast & I have some fevers from it, the Men say I fall off verry fast, but I continue to do duty am act Orderly Sergent. dislike it very much.

Writ. Soon & all the nisss [?] Truly, S S Siles [or possibly Liles; end of page 2]

* If the word is Wylly, and I think it is, then the writer is referring to Thomas S. Wylley Captain of Company C, 29th GA. Company C became Company G at the reorganization.
** Perhaps I am misinterpreting this word. I can find no Capt Mercer among the members of the 29th GA

 

[DaveBrt]

I am trying to transcribe a series of Civil War letters and one letter is particularly challenging to read. The author of this letter is unknown to me, and I'm not use to their handwriting. The collection this comes from is the William Washington Knight Civil War Letters, 1861-1863 (work in progress). Most of the letters are from William W. Knight to his wife Mary Elizabeth Carrol Knight. William was in the 29th Georgia Infantry. Prior to this letter by the unidentified author (S.S. Stiles?), likely a relative of Mary, William wrote his wife from a hospital in Atlanta, written on August 29, 1863. From what little I can read, this letter seems to indicate William was able to return home briefly (Berrien County, Georgia).

Here's the best I can do from the first page, and what I have doesn't make much sense. So I'm hoping some more eyes can help decipher it.

---

Camp [See?], Sep. 20, 1863

Dear Mary,

Your [illegible] [news?] [illegible] very glad to hear from you. [I am?] very [glad?] William has got home. I hope he will soon get well. You have [illegible] the [trip?]. I know you were [surely disappointed?] but still it was much better that he was already at home scarcely a day, but what some woman comes to the different [commands?] to see & try to [illegible] her Husband that is sick [of?] home but seldom is it the officers [will?] [either time. If it was William [illegible] since [certificate?] back until I was [goodwill?]. I am sorry I have [illegible] stayed longer at home. We have had a very heavy storm. Our tents were very old & much worn. [Illegible] securely a [illegible] had a tent that will keep off any rain. The Quarter Master says he tried in Savannah to get tents but failed. Capt. [Illegible Name] says they will be no more tents to be had. At least Capt. [illegible] told him so. I [illegible]. We stay on the [cost?] cash? Coast?] we will [illegible] …

---

I've cleared up the images as best I can. The originals are quite faded. Any help is appreciated.

View attachment 483972

View attachment 483973

Camp Lee Sep 20 1863

Dear Mary your kind favor was rec & was very glad to hear from you been your William has got home I hope he will soon get well you have quite a trip & know you were very disappointed but still it was much better that he was already up home scarcely a day but what some woman comes to the different commands to see & try to get her Husband that is sick off home but seldom is it the officers will notice them if it was William I would send certificate back until I was good well I am sorry I have not of staid longer at home we have had a very heavy storm our tents ware very old & much worn & now scarcely a man has a tent that will keep off any rain the Quarter Master says he tried in Savanah to get tents but failed Capt Wylly says they will be no more tents to be had at least Capt M?? told him so I suppose if we stay on the cost we will make huts I am afraid we are about played out It is my opinion depends greatly on the expected fight in Northern Ga if we get whooped then it will be very upt to start deserting again & a way goes our army Some of our men has return & I would be glad if all would come in I am apense more some times almost on any terms but God knows & know one else how ??? it will close soon what a trick was fixt to get in the men over 45. I told several, it was a trick but they said ??? know no danger of our going in some at a time I would like very much to see William but it is entirely out of my power

Our men are very sickly & I fear some will die. Our fare is very hard & coarse we don't got anything but beef & cornmeal

Tell William to write me. My health is not very good, I suffer very much with my breast I have some fevers from it, the men say I fall off very & ast but I continue to do ??? ??? orderly sergeant dislike it very much

Write soon & all the news Truly S S Siles

 

[Belfoured]

I'll give it a shot. I can read Goode Bryan and Lafayette McLaws so there's definitely hope for this one.

Next up if you pass this test: Emory Upton. I'm willing to make a wager ...

 

[lelliott19]

Next up if you pass this test: Emory Upton. I'm willing to make a wager ...

Ok. Bring on Emory Upton's writing. I'm feeling froggy. In another thread of course so as not to drag this one off track.

 

[archivist23]

Thank you lelliott19 and DaveBrt! This helps tremendously! You are both really good at this. Great job! I'll make a note in the metadata that you both assisted. I'll come back and make a post to share the whole collection here once it's completed. Thanks so much!

 

[Belfoured]

Ok. Bring on Emory Upton's writing. I'm feeling froggy. In another thread of course so as not to drag this one off track.

You will regret it

 

[DaveBrt]

Thank you lelliott19 and DaveBrt! This helps tremendously! You are both really good at this. Great job! I'll make a note in the metadata that you both assisted. I'll come back and make a post to share the whole collection here once it's completed. Thanks so much!

Many transcribers try too hard to get each letter right first. I find it easier to go with the flow of the letter, then check what seems to be the sentence/word with the actual writing. Helps greatly when the writer uses what looks like a mass of m's and n's and you can only make out an occasional work to start with.