Sample Letters from the Civil War era
Fredericksburg, Va.
Dec. 17th, 1862
Dear Father,
I had concluded that I could not write to you any more until I had received a letter from home. But, I came to the conclusion that this course of procedure bid fair to cut off all communication whatever. As I have given up all idea of receiving a scaratch from your very reserved pen. You certainly should be appointed Superintendent over some asylum of mutes, as I verily believe your experience in such matters would be highly beneficial to such an intitution.
We have had another great Battle at this place resulting in a decisive victory for the Confederate Army. Fredericksburg was shelled on Thursday 11th Dec. On Friday there was little done, except a continual fire of artillery. On Saturday the battle oppined (sic) early in the morning on the right of our lines. Where Old Stone-fence commanded, 15 min. before 11 A.M. the Battle commenced near and around the city. The small arms made one continual roar without a moment's cessarion from 15 before 11 until dark. Our position was splendid.
It is said we were attacked by 40,000 Federals at this point. Whilst our force which opposed them did not amount to one 4th of that number. there were about 30 acres covered with ------(illegable line due to fold in letter) ------very small. tis said that we repulsed them 17 different times, each charge being made with overwhelming numbers. Their loss is estimated at 20,000 in killed & wounded, whilst ours will not exceed 2500. 500 of which was killed. Most of our killed was on the right where Stone- fence fought them. The slaughter on the right is said to exceed anything of the war. If it was greater than around the city, it must have been awful. Near the city we lost Generals Cobb of GA & Maxwell Gregg of ALA. The Federals loss in killed may be fairly estimated at 6000. 14,000 wounded & about 3000 prisoners. I understand Burnside has reopened the river to its northern bank, removing their pontoon bridges 5 in number & withdrawing their troops from view. Only a few remaining in sight. What will be Burnsides next move is not known. But, supposed that he will try Port Royal on the Rappahonock some 50 miles from this place down the river. There are various conjectures. He will be closely watched by Gen. Lee, who has the entire confidence of the Southern Army. Our army is in fine condition & went into the fight on Saturday with perfect cheerfulness. This was the best (strgling???) ever known. every man stood to his post & fought bravely. I narrowly escaped being killed by the explosion of a shell.
I have not anything more that would interest you. Col McAffee is well, & etc. Ellison. Black was wounded in the head by a ball or piece of shell & is now on his way to Richmond. His wound is not serious. He may be home before long. I have not received the clothing mother sent me. The boxes were sent here from Richmond the day we were ordered to the battlefield & we could not get them. Some were sent back & some are scattered every where. We will probably never see them. Tell sister Ann I got that letter she wrote me last week, but my eyes were so bad that I could not make out anything that was not in it. Tell Sallie to write. She owes me one. All of you write, or you may consider this my last. I never expect to get home again at all. Furloughs are out of date. They would sell for 500. Money is worth nothing & nothing is worth everything. My love to all & little Gill especially.
Your son, affectionally,
Jno D. Dameron
Goldsboro, S.C.
May 14th, 1862
My dear sister;
I have just read your letter sent by Mr. Wray. It was truly encouraging and contains wholesome truth which I hope will prove of benefit to me. Our parting was painful and my heart now sadens at the remembrance of it. Never had the circumstances been the same. Our family circle had by the hand of providence been rendered happy and social, but the same hand by other causes has caused us to be separated perhaps forever. This is kept hidden in the future. I had just made up my mind to settle in Shelby to return to my once loved home to (illegible) and be (illegible), and do every thing in my power to make my mother happy. For god knows her latter days on earth ought to be blessed with happiness, for she has seen trouble. But providence has ordered otherwise and we must submit with all humbleness. My motto has ever been to do the best I could under all circumstance. My purpose is to do the very best I can and do my duty.
I have been protected before by a higher power when danger was nigh and I have been thankful for it. Not as much as I should have been. I have at times been led astray and have wandered from the path of duty. I hope to be humbler, live a better life and love God more. I pray his protection in the hour of danger and his deliverance from disease death and the cursing influences of camp life. I pray to live to the good and be of service to my country. I pray to get back home to comfort my poor mother and make her happy. I pray to live the life of a Christian and after the war is over and my country free and my labors on earth completed I pray to die the death of all humble followers of Christ. I have been unwell but am better now. Tell Annsi to come right on and bring two pillows a blanket, and comfort. I have lost my camp chest. It was impossible for me to get it on at Charlotte & I left it in the agents care & he sent it but I have never received it. All items clothes & bed clothes are in it. I hope I will get it yet. It is marked. I send this to mother and she can send it out to you. John is well. Write soon and direct to Maj. Leroy M. McAfee 49th Reg. NCT. Goldsboro, S.C. It will come (illegible).
Yours,
Lee M. McAfee
Camp Anderson
Jefferson County, Kentucky
December 12th, 1861
Dear Wife,
I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines. I am not very well and have not been well since I left home. I have enlisted and been sworn in. I have the promise of an office of some kind as soon as the regiment is organized. We have not been mustered into the United States service yet but we expect to be today or tomorrow and as soon as we are mustered in we will get our horses and uniforms. The boys from our neighborhood are all well but they are dissatisfied about not getting their uniforms sooner. Tell father to do the best he can with my corn. I have not rec'd any money yet but will get some in a few days and I will either bring or send you some. I want to come home if I can as soon as we get some money. You must do the best you can and take care of the children and if any of you get sick let me know it immediately. If I do not come home before next Thursday write and let me know how you are all getting along. This is a big day with us as one Captain is to be married today and two other officers are to fight a duel today. There is five artillery companies camped in sight of us having about forty cannon. They are firing with their cannon every day. When you write direct your letter to Camp Anderson Jefferson County Ky care of I. O. Donnell. So nothing more at present but remaining your affectionate husband until death.
A. A. Harrison
P. S. Tell Martha, Jo is well
June 10th, 1861
My dear Daughter,
I received by your letter a few days ago the distressing intelligence of the death of your sister, Mr.s Pressley. It was truly as one bereavement and we all mourn with the mourners and deeply sympathize with them in this afflictive dispensation. I little thought when I saw her last looking so sweet and lovely and in the enjoyment of fine health that her sun of life would set so soon. We know but little of one brief existence here nothing certain but that Death will come. May we bow in submission to the dread mandate, and may we be quickened in our preparation for another and a better world. Give much love to Mr. McMillan, with my heartfelt sympathy for him under this affliction. I wrote immediately to Mrs. George and to Bettie directing my letter to Mrs. George. Addie wrote to Bettie too. Give my love to them both when you see them. Death is solemn. To lay a beloved friend in the silent tomb is a heavy trial, but Oh! there are much heavier trials than Death. There is a sweet comfort to the heart when we have good hope our friend rests in the bosom of eternal life. But, oh it requires fortitude, strength and heroism to battle with living troubles. --- Cold, bitter, long continued and ever recurring conflicts that lacerate the heart, writhe the spirit mortify the affections, and quench all earthly hope.
Notwithstanding, I have for months been in apprehension that David would volunteer. Yet, situated he is and as I am, [illegible] of his joining the Army has been, and is, and will be, a terrible trial to me. He joined the Washington County Company commanded by Capt.Willet, a fine young man, a graduate of West Point, an E. Tennesean, and a son of Col. Willet of old Salem neighborhood near Jonesboro! In the company Cousin Jos. Deaderick, 1st Lieutenant James G. Deaderick is Orderly Sergeant and Col. Cummings commands the Regiment. The 2nd Regiment of E. Tenn. They are now at Camp Cummings, the Fair ground. David graduates as I informed you in my last letter and I persuaded him to write his speech for commencement, but he had many acquaintences in this Regiment, was determined to go. Thought it his duty to go, having a full knowlege (sic) as he supposed of all the merits of the question, and desparing of any aid from his Father. He sold his Pistol, got $25 for it, paid some of his little debts and we are preparing shirts & [?] making him a [?] cap with crochet work. He is very serious and edliberate about it, and poor boy, he will be more so as the hardships thicken upon him. He was anxious to be drilled [smudge] he is not qualified for any appointment. This company has been well drilled, they have been at it for months.
I never had any taste for war - indeed have always had a most unmitigated horror of it as an evil worse than pestilence or famile - but, it is a more obvious fact that this war has been forced upon us by a most unrelenting bitter and arrogant despotism - I must meet it as other mothers are compelled to meet it. I could not expect my son with his ardent temperment to remain indifferent. And I trust and pray that God may protect him, and that he may do honor to the memory and virtues of his Revolutionary Grandsires. But there are considerations that make it very bitter, very depressing to my feelings. If he were a decided Christian, I could give him up with
[TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE] there is at least one missing page, as the letter abruptly ends here at the end of the fourth page. There are some added thoughts enscribedthroughtout the letter in the margins in a very small hand. These additional notes are as follows:
Has your Father heard Mr. Boggs speak? He ought to hear him by all means. I wish I could hear him. Adella was delighted with your Father. talks of him with the greatest affection and wants to see him. We all want to see him. Love to all.
Dear Wife,
You wrote to know whether you must sell that corn or not. I expect you had better sell it at whatever you can get for it if it is wasting and manage the best you can. I would like to be at home to manage for you. I want you to stay where you are at and be as content as you can. And put your trust in One who is able to guide us all through all our difficulties. I think if the Lord will spare me to get home once more I will do better than I ever done before. I never go to bed without a prayer at heart that He will permit me to see my lovely wife and children once more and if it is His will He is able to carry us all through all difficulties and if it is His will that I shall never see you again I pray that He will take care of you and the children. I must bring my letter to a close so nothing more at present but remaining your affectionate husband until death.
A. A. Harrison
P.S. You must write as often as you can and tell all inquiring friends that I would be glad to see them all. Be sure and take good care of our sweet little children. God bless their little hearts. Bardstown.
Wartrace, Bedford County, Tenn.
Apr 27,1862
Dear Wife,
I take my pen in hand to write to you once more to let you know that I am well at present and hope these few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. I read your letter today and was very glad to hear from you and to hear that you was doing so well. I wanted to be at home with you but I could not and so I had to try to be content. But I have watched every day for a letter for about ----- and was afraid to -----. I feel greatly relieved knowing you are now safe. I want you kiss the baby for me. Bless its little soul. I would give anything to see it. We are at this place yet. I believe I told you in my last letter where this place is situated. It is 55 miles from Nashville on the Nash & Chattanooga railroad. You can find it on the map. It is a rich country but not a very healthy one. We have had several alarms since we have been here. Sometimes we hear that the enemy are coming toward us with a large force and in a few minutes the regiment is formed in line of battle but so are getting used to it so it is no ----- more than setting down to ----- so often they get very ----- because they cannot get into a fight with the rebels. I expect we will leave this place in a few days for some place further south but I don't know exactly where. You had better direct your letters to Nashville until I write again. We will get our letters just as soon that way as if they were directed to the very place where we are at. One of our men, a German, was poisoned and died in about 15 minutes after he was taken sick the other day. Several others have been poisoned but got well again. We have to be very careful where we eat or drink in this country. Some of the Secesh around boast that if they cannot kill us one way they will another. Jo has been complaining but he is about well again. The rest of the Hardin boys are all well. Eliza wrote for me to find the baby a name. I don't know what you will call it without it is Susan Alice. However I leave it you to name it whatever you please so it is some pretty name. You must take good care of it until I can get home which I hope may not be very long. Tell Eliza & Melissa., Mother & Father & Bruce & Bet I would like to see them all and that they must write to us. Tell Aunt Sissy I would like to see her too and John & Kitty too. You must write as often as you can and take good care of yourself. So nothing more at present but remaining your affectionate husband until death.
A. A. Harrison
Camp NeareTarobor
Edgecome County N Carolina
Dear Father I seat my self this unpleasant morning to rite you a few lines to let you know that I am well and I hope those few lines may find you all injoying the same good blessing. I have nothing of importiance to rite to you at this time only we have left Magnolia the 11 and after two days hard marching we got on the cars at Dudley Station 8 miles of Goldsboro we rode on til we got to Tarboro. We got off then ane we had to march 8 miles below Tarboro. We are station out in the old field we have no tents with us and it has ben raining five days on us and it is as cloudy as it can be yet three of our Regiment that belong to our brigade is gone to Charleston they commence fighting day before yesterday. I don’t know but I expect we will go down there too. I got my box safe a few3 days be fore we left Magnolia. Our boys is all enjoying tolerable good health at this time. You can tell ant Jince that Cyrus and Samuel is both well. I hear Jonas is coming to our Regiment soon. I sent West on letter. I want to nois anyone sent it to him. So I will have to close my letter by requesting you to rite soon.
William A Elliott