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Below you will find the following letters:
Fairfax, Va., July 8, 1861 Dear Wife: I embrace the present opportunity of dropping you a few lines to let you know I am on the land and among the living and blessed with a reasonable portion of health at present, and hoping these lines may reach you safely and find you and the family well. I received your letter in four days after it started, which I was glad to read and learn that you were well at that time. As to what we are going to do I cannot give you any satisfaction, as we do not know ourselves. We have been in hearing of the guns in four small brushes. It is said our men killed three hundred of the Yanks and , we had no one hurt at all. As for our camp life, it is pretty tough, though we get a plenty to eat. Some make a great deal of fuss about it and say they don’t get enough. As for my part, I fare as well as I expected, and if anything better. We are in about 17 or 18 miles of Washington. Near enough to hear the guns firing on the Fourth of July. We are within two or three hundred yards of where one small battle was fought, where there were about 30 of the Yanks killed in the fight and we lost but one man. Some of our men have seen the blood of the northern men where they were killed. Our southern men have killed a good many of old Abe’s boys. We are getting more or less of them every day. We loose comparatively none. We have it is reported, nearly two hundred thousand southern soldiers in Virginia. We have a great many soldiers near us. It seems from their talk that most of them are anxious for a fight though I hardly think we will have much of it to do. As for the reports you hear, you may not put any confidence in one half of them, for I know from what letters come here you get a great many false reports. I want you to let father and mother and sister Mary hear from me and all enquiring friends and tell them I am well and as well satisfied as could be expected. I want to see you all very bad and feel in hope of seeing you before long. I want you to write to me and let me know how you are and how father and mother and sisters Mary are and what the prospects of crops is in that section. I want you to write you at present. Only remaining you affectionate husband until death. Yours truly, James Jones To Mary Jones. P.S. Direct your letter to Va., Fairfax county, Menapy Junction, 8th Regiment, So. Car. Volunteers, care of Capt. Hough. Dickson McRay is in our company and has not received a letter since he left Florence and wants to know the reason. He has written several times to his friends.
Camp Victory, Vienn, Va., July the 30th, 1861 Dear Pa, It is with pleasure I write you again, after a great and desperate battle, which you have heard of before this reaches you. I do not intend writing the whole particulars which would take up pages to give a historical description. On the 17th inst. The enemy marched on us at Fairfax Court House, which place we retreated from without firing a gun. We halted at Centerville (six miles from the above named place) a short while, finding out the enemy’s scheme, which was to surround us. We proceeded to Bull Run four miles from Centerville, arriving there just at the dawn of day where we met other troops. The enemy, still marching on, came in sight and commenced a bombardment at twelve o’clock, which lasted some time without success; they advanced nearer and began a fire which was promptly returned by our side from the Washington Artillery, from New Orleans. The infantry trying to surround us on the left was met by out troops and was repulsed with a tolerable loss, losing three pieces of Artillery, which we got, also a quantity of muskets, and we only had 27 killed and wounded - the loss of the enemy was not ascertained. We then throwed up breastworks on the bank of the creek and lay in them until Sunday the 21st when they began a cannonading early in the morning on the right and left wings some three miles apart. About one o’clock we were ordered out of our entrenchments, for the left wing where there was continual fire of musketry. We marched on in double quick time, many falling out of ranks from fatigue. We formed on the ring wing of the enemy and marched through a thicket; on arriving near an opening we received a desperate fire from the enemy on a fence side which was returned by our men promptly, which took considerable effect. We remained there for some time, the balls falling as thick as hail stones in our midst. The enemy began a retreat about a half hour after we arrived and was kept up by Kershaw’s Regiment and ours following them with Kemper’s Battery, taking many prisoners and fifty-five pieces of Artillery, a hundred or two of baggage wagons, and several hundred stacks of guns of different kinds. We pressed them so close that they even throwed down their blankets, haversacks which contained their provisions, some their coats and cartridge boxes. Quite a number of horses also, with many other valuable things such as ammunition, provisions, cooking utensils etc. Our gains was a considerable amount but will be exaggerated or has been already by some of the papers which put ti down at Five Millions of dollars. I do not think it will over go one million, though I am a bad hand to make estimation of such articles. President Davis in his speech after he returned to Richmond said the property taken was more than the amount carried in the Field by the Southern troops. Uncle Ben (Benjamin Jackson) sent home a record of one of the Sergeants in Lincoln’s Army from the time he left home up to the 18th inst., which gives some account of the troops engaged or the troops that marched on us - this he picked up on the battle field. There are (10) ten of the US
Your son, H. A. Jackson.
Chesterfield, SC District, September 1, 1862 Dear Brother: I seat myself to write you a letter in reply to your kind letter which I received and was glad to hear from you and that your family was well. Only that J.B. Key was very low. I am sorry to hear of the death of your two sons. These few lines will inform you that myself and family are well, hoping that these few lines will come to you finding you all the same. I sympathize with you all in your distress and trouble. I have but one son in the army yet. The other two will have to start the last of this month. The company is organized. I have nothing of importance to write at present, only times are hard here and getting worse. Corn crops are good in this country. You stated that you wanted me to give you the history of my country, that would be hard to give. Only the people are determined to die before they will be subjected to the Lincoln Government. You stated that you though you would come to see me this Fall, and you wanted me to send you the nearest depot address, you will stop at Florence and come to Cheraw, that is nearest to me, it is about thirty-five miles from me. You wanted to know about our folks. I can't tell you much about them, only Henry and Dempsey Phillips wife. Henry stays most of his time with me. Sister married. Phillips son all in the army and three of them have died. I would be glad for you to come see me for I can't come to see you. I am so clumsy that I can't travel. My daughter wants you, if you come, to fetch one of your daughters. If you would like to come to this country, I have a tract of land that nobody lives on that you may have. I will give you the prospects of living in this country. Bacon is from 35 to 40 cents per pound, wheat is from three to five dollars per bu., corn is worth $1 per bu. Factory thread $5.00 pr bunch. Beef is worth from 10 to 15 cents per pound. Horses from $200 to $300 per head. So I must close by saying to you that I want you to come too if you can. I remain your affectionate brother until death. I can say to you that I answered your letter as soon as I got it.
Dear wife, I take the pleasure of writing you a few lines informing you I am not very well. I have a very bad headache and a very bad cold. I stood all night on guard duty I think was the cause. We get beef and rice one day and rice and beef the next day, sometimes a little sugar. We get plenty such as it is. There has been three deaths in camp since I have been here and a good many are sick. One man was taken in our camp for putting up an advertisement for to elect field officers. Col. Cash had been arrested and brought before him and hand cuffed him and sent him to Georgetown Jail. He has his trial today. I can't say what will be done with him. I have received no letter from home yet. I am very anxious to hear and to know how Harriet is. Write if you have heard from Doc since the fight at Fredericksburg. I am anxious to hear from him and all the rest. I want to know when you heard from Charley Clark. There is some talk of us moving to Charleston. I want you to tell Hiram I want him to come and give you some instructions how to get along. As soon as you get salt, I want you to kill a part of the hogs and after Christmas, I want you to plow in the stubble ground. I want to know if Tom quit at Christmas or no. Let me know if brother John bought the Buggy at John Phillips sale or no. If he was I want you to get John Baker to fix the tire. I mean shrink the tire of somebody else. You can take some of that money and buy some thread if you want it. I want you all to do the best you can. I want to see you all, but can't say when for I see no chance to get off. Tell all the children howdy and give my best respects to mother. I am anxious to hear from you all. Write soon and often all the news how you are getting along. Tell Hiram I want him to see to you and I will satisfy him for his trouble. Tell Hiram to write to me. I send my best respects to his family also to write how Berry is. Tell Hiram to help kill the hogs and salt them for me. I have powerful cold and smoky times over the fire here. I wish I could be there to eat some of the back bones of them hogs and spare ribs. I am tired eating beef. Lotty I want to see you and all the rest. I wish I could be at home. Tell all the children howdy for me in particular little George. I don't want you to sell no more corn and be baking of it until I come home. Direct your letters to Georgetown Camp Chestnut 2nd Reg. of Reserves, care of Capt. D.C. Phillips. I close, remaining your affectionate husband, Travis Evans. Brother Hiram I want to hire old Tice Beaver of any boy that you can get to stay in my place until I can come home and back. Perhaps you can get Erasmus Hunter's boy. If you get any one, let them come back with Burrell McManus and if they have no money to bear their expenses, tell them to get it from my wife. Get John Baker's son and send him back with his uncle Matthew Baker. I will satisfy him well for it. Yours respectfully, Travis Evans.
Camp Pryor, Southhampton Co., VA Feb 3, 1863 Dear Uncle and family, Feeling it my duty on the present occasion to respond to you in the earliest hour, I do it with a heart felt thanks that I have returned to my resting abode once more. On the 25 Jan our company received orders to march over Black Water River in the direction of Suffolk and sent out pickets two miles in advance and on the morning of the 30th our pickets was charged on by the enemy at the hour of 4 o'clock in the morning. Our force was soon in line of battle. The enemy immediately commenced shelling our encampment, whilst our artillery opened on the enemy. The canonading lasted until the dawn of day Our batteries fell back one mile to a better position. The enemy advanced while the canonading commenced at the second position and lasted till 11 o'clock am. The enemy was drove from their position. The battle closed and we returned to camp on 31 Jan. Our force composed 2000. The enemy was reported to have 15,000. The loss of the enemy we have not entertained as yet, it is reported 300 killed and wounded I cannot say how the battle terminated on our side as yet. It is said to have been one of the greatest canonading that has occurred during the present war. Our battery suffered very bad. The loss in our company, one killed and 8 wounded of Charles Linton was killed. He was taken from the field alive and died the next morning, a better soldier never stood at the post of honor peace to this end. He was wounded in the head. The other eight will recover with proper attention. I will give you the names, Erasmus Hunter, wounded in the hand slightly, D. Outlaw in arm slightly, Calvin Plyler in hand, C Johnson in foot, RM Pegues in thigh, Thomas McLemore lost his left arm, Lieut WA Evans slightly in the arm, James F. in the thigh. I was up to see Frank yesterday, he is doing well. The bone is not injured. He will get a furlough as soon as he gets able to walk on crutches. Frank is in Jusalem Hospital 8 miles from this camp. Dear uncle you may be contented about Frank, I will see that he has the proper attention. He shall have a furlough as soon as he gets able to go home. I shall visit him often as possible. I tell you it is a trying time in the hours of battle. I came out safe. I got two wounded in my detachment - Frank and D. Outlaw. I was brushed with bullets and shells all around but am happy to say that I was protected by that being who rules and governs the universe. I have not time to give you much news at the present - excuse bad writing and composition as I write in hast. Fail not - not to answer as soon as you receive. Yours very respectfully, Jas P Thompson J B Knight - Addrey Franklin VA - we loss 5 horses case of Capt Coit - Lieut Blakeney loss Gen Pryors Briggde - his horse
Dear Mother, I seat myself to drop you a few lines in answer to your kind letter which come by the hand of Lieut. H. Blakeney and was glad to hear from you. I was sorry to hear that you all wasn't well, but I hope when this few lines reaches you they will find you all enjoying good health. Mother I have no news to write at this time that will interest you. The company is generally well. Our fare is tolerable good. We get plenty a flour, some bacon and molasses ? . We have some very nice weather here now. I hope it will remain so. Mother I got the clothing that you sent by Hugh and was glad to receive them. We are still in winter quarters yet, but I don't think that we will remain here much longer for the weather is getting so that they can begin to do something. I have been hearing canonnading for the last three of four days. I saw account of them fighting at Charleston, but not much damage done on either side at that time. I was glad to hear that Harriet was mending. Mother you said that you wanted me to come home, but I can't tell when I will get to come. George said I must bring him a present when I come home. Tell him I will bring it if I ever get the chance to come. Give grandmother my respects and all to Harriet and Frances. So I must close for this time. This leaves me well. Write soon. Give me all the news. Tell all the children howdy for me. So nothing more only I being your affectionate son, B.F. Evans. To Charlotte Evans. Dear Father, I endeavor to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well and I hope when this few lines reaches you they will find you enjoying the same state of health. I received the letter that you sent by Hugh and was glad to hear from you. Father I have no news to write to you at this time. We have some very nice weather out here at this time. You said that you had been trying to get someone to come and stay in my place a while till I went home, but you said that you was about to fail. You said maybe one of the Steens would come after while, but I lost all hopes of getting to come home till this war breaks. They have been such talk of they not taking a substitute. When you write again let me know whether he will come or not. I will find out whether they will take him or not. Father you said that I had better lend and what money I have got there, you wanted to know if I was willing for it to be lent out. Yes, you can lend it out to any person that is good. You said that the people was behind with the crop, I wish that I was there to help you ? with it. You must write as soon as this comes to hand. So, I must close for this time. So, I remain your affectionate son until death. Direct your letter to Richmond, VA in care of Capt. BT Powell 8th SC Co. BF Evans (to) Mr. Travis Evans
White Plains, SC, July 23, 1863 Dear Brother: I seat myself to write you a letter in reply to your kind letter which I received a few days ago, and was glad to hear that you and your family was well. Hope these few lines will come to hand and will find you all well and doing well. Me and family are doing tolerable well, that is what is at home. My boys are all in the army that is what is living. My youngest son died the 18th day of May at Petersburg, VA, and J.J. has been sick for the last four months, he was taken sick the 22nd day of March, in the camps and has not got well yet. P.O. is in the camps at Adams Run below Charleston. He and J.J. were both in the same company. Dear brother, I have had a bad time of it. I have nobody to help me work only a negro man, and he and I are both getting very old. You wanted to know whether I was a Secessionist or not. I was that very thing. I was no Cooperationist, what good that would do for us. The North the majority anyhow, and would have carried their point. You wanted to know how produce was selling here. It is selling high. Bacon is worth $1 per pound, corn $2.50 per bu. and horses and cattle is fourfold high. Crops in this section is tolerable good if the season holds out. There has been an abundance of rain here this spring and summer. You wanted me to send you all the news. I have no news from the war any more than you have heard, they are fighting at Charleston I suppose and the Yankees say they are determined to have Charleston, but it is thought that they will hardly get it, they may be. You wanted to know about the law respecting what was made, such as wheat and corn. It is the same here as it is in your country. I suppose it is the same all over the Confederacy. So I have had a hard time and an abundance of trouble but I put my trust in God, knowing that He doeth all things well. I hope the Lord will bless you and keep you from all harm and if we meet no more on earth I hope we meet in Heaven to part no more. I have no more at present. Write as soon as you get these few lines and give me all the news. I remain your affectionate brother until death.
Mississippi, July 24, 1863 Dear Father, as we are not marching this evening I will try and drop you a few lines in answer to your kind letter which come to hand and found me well. This leaves me well hoping that it may come safe to hand and find you and family all well and doing well. I have nothing of importance to write to you more than I got through that seven days fight that we had at Jackson, Miss. Dear father I can tell you that we had hard times there fore we lay in the entrenchments eight days of which there was more or less fighting going on. We was in range of the Yankees sharpshooters so that we could not poke our heads out without being shot or was out on pickett still nearer them. Then I tell you that we had to lye low or they was picking at us on all sides the fight was nearly all heavy skirmishing. They charged on our best works two or three times but we drove them back without very much loss on either side. I think that we could have held that place if the Yankees couldn't get round our army but they was about to out flank our lines and we had to leave the city to save ourselves. Johnson is smart in a retreat we left the trenches at 12 o'clock in the night marched all that night and next day and the next day making 2 days, then lay by day and half then marched another day, stayed there 2 days and nights, then moved 2 or 3 times a little there and there till we never know whether we can get to write or now. We lost 27 men out of our regiment killed and wounded. There was 2 of our company very seriously wounded and I fear mortally for WG Rivers. PW Manez (or Massey) was wounded in about the right breast and came out under the right shoulder blade. Massez was hit in the arm. It went through his arm and in his side making it bad wound. Our force was said to be fifty eight thousand the Yankees 75 thousand but I don't know how true it was. I can't see what is the reason the Yankees don't get before our army I think the Yankees left about the same time we did but I don't know but what they are after us. Dear father I tell you that this is a hard life for I haven't had on a clean shirt since the first of July. The reason is we haven't had the chance but they say that we are going to stay here a while and I am going to try and clean myself in the morning. There is a talk in the army that this state is going to go back in the union but I don't pretend to say that it is. So though I think that there is something doing for Johnson's army and Grant's army is here together and doing nothing and I can't see for my life what they are doing would to God that peace could be made and I could get to come home for I am tired of this sort of a life. They say that they are fortifying another place near Meridian but I don't know whether we will go there or not or where we will go we are in Frenches Division. It is getting dark and I will have to close for this time by saying I was truly glad to hear from you and to hear that you was able to be up and doing. I was glad to learn that Frank got to go back home and stay till he got well. You must excuse my bad writing and spelling for there is a mighty stur up. Write soon and fail not direct the same way so no more for this time. Howdy father and mother and all the children. I still remain your son until death. John W. Knight to James B. Knight, Esq.
John C. Price to Adeline Price, October 25, 1863 To Mrs. Lydia A. Price. Dear and kind wife I seat myself this morning to let you know I am well at this time only this VA smoke is hurting my eyes very bad. I truly hope these lines will reach you in due time and find you well and hardy. I received your kind letter wrote October the 18th. I received it October the 24th and was glad to hear from you and to hear you had got home safe and sound and well. I am glad to hear the neighbors is well. I want to see E.M. Price and if I can't see him, I want to read a letter from him. You said tell William E. Pressley he was at his fathers. I can't do that for he is in Yankeedom a prisoner. Out of two brigades there was about one thousand killed and wounded and taken prisoner. I can't tell you how it was so many but it was managed quere. I will tell you there is talk of sending us to West Tennessee. I don't know whether they will send us there or not for we don't know what minuet they will send or where or how, but I want to get out of the smoke. I have just been to preaching. I have heard a great sermon today. I want to hear from mother and the girls. I want to hear how they are getting along if she has made enough to do her or not. I want to know if the land is divided yet or not. I want Adaline to have my part of that land. I want Adaline to have all that belongs to me or my part of all the lands if I don't get home again. I want Adaline to pay all my debts and then have all the rest. But I think I will get to come home again. Mother I am glad to hear you and Adaline get along so well as you do. I wish everybody would do so. I am not uneasy about mother and girls and Adaline but what they will pull well together. A few lines to Dell Price. Dear father and mother you can look on the other side and see how I am. I truly hope these few lines will reach you in due time and find you all well and hardy. I would like to hear from you all and hear what for crop you have made. I want you to attend to Adalines affairs and don't let nobody fool her out of her land. I don't want no one else to have it but Adaline. I want all of you to do the best you can for yourselves, I must close by saying I remain yours as ever this from
White Plains, South Carolina, September 1, 1864 I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that we are all well, hoping that these few lines will find you all enjoying the same. Dear brother, I was glad to receive your letter to hear from you and to know that you were a living. My son Pleasant's family is all well, but himself he is not well. He is still at home on sick furlough. The last time I saw sister Polly she and her husband were both well, four of her sons are dead and the rest are in the army. Alfred and his family are all well, one of his sons is at home with one of his legs off, and the other son is in the army but can't hear from him. You wanted to know about Henry, the last time I heard from him, he was at Marth Pittman's, one of your brother Jepthe's children. I have heard that he has given her all that he had to take care of him. As for the money he owes you, you have got as much of it as you will ever get, I expect. You wanted to know if he said anything of your family. I never heard him say a harm word about you or your family. Wheat prices were very sorry here, corn looks tolerable well in some places, prices of corn is from $6 to $20 per bu. What is from $25 to $30 per bu. Flour is from $90 to $100 per sack, bacon is from $3 to $3.50 per pound. The last account I have had from the Army, they were still fighting about Petersburg, VA. Our men took 10,000 prisoners, there was a great loss on each side but I don't know how true it is. I heard that the Yankees were in Alabama destroying things. I want you to write whether it is so. As for sister Betsy's children, I don't know but two of the boys I reckon are in the army. I must close, write soon and give me all the news.
Senators for peace since the battle. I forgot to say there was only five killed in our Regiment. The writer, Henry Andrew Jackson was killed in battle in 1864, his head being severed from his body by a cannon ball.
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