The following letter was written by Joseph Clark Addington though I can’t be certain whether it was by Joseph Clark Addington, Sr., or Jr. The Addington family was from Norfolk, Virginia, long occupied by Union troops at the time this letter was written in March 1863. For many years prior to the Civil War, Joseph, Sr. (1813-1880) earned a living as a school teacher in that city. He and his wife, Virginia Harwood were married in 1836 and had as many as ten children, one of whom was Joseph, Jr. who enlisted in Co. C, 6th Virginia Infantry when the war began in 1861. He was discharged for disability, however, in 1861, and I’m not certain what he did and where he was for the balance of the war though clearly he could not return to Norfolk after that city fell to Union troops. Another son of Joseph, Sr. was named John Howard Addington (1838-1862) who served in Co. E, 4th Kentucky, and lost a leg at Shiloh. He was taken prisoner there and died in Louisville on 12 May 1862.
While both Joseph Sr. and Jr. probably both had excellent handwriting, my hunch is that this letter was written by Joseph, Jr. (1842-1909) who worked as a clerk before and after the war.
Transcription
Richmond [Virginia]
March 23rd 1863
My Dear Friend,
I wrote to you at Goldsboro, North Carolina, some six or seven weeks since, but have received not a line in answer. The supposition which has since been confirmed was that it had not reached its destination. After writing my letter spoken of above, I learned that you were ill (or rather sick) and had gone home. I hope when this reaches you, it will find you enjoying fine health, &c. I hear from Mrs. Archer frequently through Miss Ada. Miss Lucy Gilliam who has been confined for some time is now at Pittsburg at her Aunt Emily Battis. Her mother is with her also. The last I heard from her was this morning through her father who has just returned from Pittsburg. He reports her quite well. Think she will soon be well.
Give my highest regards to all my acquaintances in your brigade—particularly Capt. Martin and Lieut. Lindsey, accepting a large portion for yourself. Excuse this brief note. Will write one more at length when I hear from you. Write soon. By so doing, you will greatly oblige your friend, — Jos. C. Addington
Address to Jos. C. Addington, Richmond, Va.
Spared & Shared 23 
I am doing research on the Addington family. Do you have evidence of John H Addington’s middle name as ‘Howard’. I believe it to be ‘Harwood’ his mother’s maiden name.
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Well I don’t make names up so I probably saw it somewhere but that could be wrong so if you have good evidence to the contrary, go with your inclination. Mother’s surnames were a common naming convention for the middle names of the children in those days as you probably know. — Griff
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