Someone Please Be My Dear Mother

[DBF]

"Sons of tycoons or sons from the farms
All of the children ran from your arms
Through fields of gold, through fields of ruin
All of the children vanished too soon" {*}

(United States Public Domain)​

Charley was defending the city of Petersburg in the fall of 1864 when his mother Mary Jane Greer Baughman living in Richmond wrote this thought-filled letter paragraph in her letter. To be so close - - - yet so far apart.

"Christmas is just five weeks off. Oh how I do wish you could all be at home on that day, and no more war. No more army to go to anymore. In God's own good time it will be brought to an end I know, I hope we shall be enabled to wait this time with faith and patience. That we shall be successful I have not a doubt, but I dread the prolonged trials and hardships of our men, but we may have cause to acknowledge that these many trials were blessings in disguise. I pray we may all so see and feel that all my dear children may be brought back in safety and in honour. {2}

Charley was one of the fortunate soldiers that came home to his mother. She died on April 25, 1898 and saw her beloved son married and have a son of his own that became a medical doctor. Her Christmas letter and prayers were answered but that would not be the case for many mothers.

(United States Public Domain)​

The mother of a nineteen year old Confederate soldier from Gwinnett County, Georgia Private Eli Pinson must have put an amazing smile on her face when the son she thought was killed - was alive.

"May 8, 1861 – Fredericksburg, VA
My Dear Mother,

"Knowing that you will be uneasy till you here from me I will write to you for you will be sure to hear that I was killed in the fight last Sunday, for it was currently reported here that I was. But I write this with my own hand to testifying that I am yet in the Land of the Living and all honor and glory be to God for his care over me." {2}

On May 8th, 1861 her son was alive but her joy would be fleeting as he contacted Typhoid fever in 1863 and died October 27, 1863. He was twenty-one.

"Some built the roads, some wrote the poems
Some went to war, some never came home
Sons of your sons, sons passing by
Children were lost in lullabies. {*}

(United States Public Domain)​

Henry Burns was six years old when his father died. He was raised by his mother Bridget and in 1861 the nineteen year old Henry enlisted and became Private 59th New York Infantry Company D. Now Bridget's life revolved around letters. She would never know anything of her son unless it came through correspondence. The problem Bridget had; she could not read nor write so a neighbor lady would read the letters and write them for her.

Although she was not as diligent of a writer she did communicate with her son as much as she could. On June 22, 1864 she addressed her letter "Mr Dear Son" - her parting words to her son:

"I am sorry to hear that you have such bad times as you have I wish I was near enough to you to give you your hot rum and oysters but I hope withe the help of God that this war will be soon over and that will be speard [spared] to me to see you once more and then I would die contented . . . As I hope you will excuse this letter it was wrote in A hurry and I hope you will Answere it the first opperthunity you get so I have no more to say at present I remain your affectionate Mother until death Bridget Burns" {1}

A few weeks later, Bridget would get a reply. As she sat with her friend she must have felt confused when that June 22, 1864 came back to her and on a blank section of paper of the returned letter she was read the following:

"HdQrs 59th N.Y. Vet Vols
Near Petersburg
July 15 1864
Mrs. Burns,

Henry Burns of Co D was mortally wounded on June 22, 1864 and died of his wound at Campbell U.S.A. Hosptl Washgtn D.C. on July 6, 1864.

I am Madam,
Very Respectfully
Horace P. Rugg
Lt. Col. 59th N.Y.V. Vols" {1}

* * *

"Ladies, some one be my mother, then 'twill seem that I am home;
I'll imagine I'm a brother, bonus each familiar tone;
But I want a mother near me, with that heaven in her eye,
Ladies, some one be my mother, be my mother till I die.

Now I feel my wound is mortal,
Soon I'll breathe my parting sigh.
Ladies, some one be my mother,
Be my mother till I die.

Long before I was a soldier, long before I fought and bled.
In our cottage all the dear ones thus would gather round my bed.
Do not treat me as a stranger, let me feel a brother's tie;
One of you I want as mother, be my mother till I die.

Soon no wicked war will harm me;
Angels bringing peace ere nigh;
Ladies, some one be my mother,
be my mother till I die." {**}


* * *​

Sources
1. https://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/thisday/ownwords/07/18/civil-war-soldier-informed-mother-of-death-of-her-sons
2. https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2...-contented-an-irish-mother-writes-to-her-son/
3. https://rvanews.com/features/letters-to-mother/41104https://rvanews.com/features/letters-to-mother/41104
4. http://genealogytrails.com/vir/henrico/bios_b.htm
5. http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/songster/32-be-my-mother-till-i-die.htm
{*} https://www.last.fm/ru/music/Judy+Collins/_/Sons+Of/+lyrics
{**} http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/songster/32-be-my-mother-till-i-die.htm

 

[Pete Longstreet]

That portion about Private Eli Pinson hit me... He survives the battle for which his mother thought he was killed... but 2 years later he would die of Typhoid fever at 21 years old. Thanks for sharing.

 

[AshleyMel]

I can not even imagine. Many of us have never experienced this type of worry. Daily worry over your child's well being. Excruciating.

 

[DBF]

Sometimes when we read about casualties we forget the loved ones left behind to pick up the pieces. They may leave wives, sweethearts and children but every soldiers had a mother. Now is many cases, there dear mother had passed on - but how tragic for the mother that is alive and has to bury her beloved son.

One of my favorite poems is this missive written by Mrs. S.D. Tandy to the family of another soldier that had died. Here are several sections that capture the heartbreak of this soldier's mother -

"From his bowed head I severed
One dark tress of waving hair.
Tore a bit from off his colors,
Folded them with reverent care.

Here's the small but sacred token;
Well I know his Mother's heart.
Will be cheered by this memento
Though from him she's called to part.

Father, Mother, all ye loved ones,
Though you meet on earth no more
Far from war and raging tumult,
Safe you'll meet on Canaan's shore."​

 

[Mrs. V]

Darn, it is dusty in here today! As Mothers Day approaches, I often think of those Mothers left behind, and alone to worry over their child. And fear for them! I don't have to imagine, I know. My son very nearly died while at school.