The following letter was written by Charles Lafayette Osborne (1834-1920) of Transylvania county, North Carolina. He enlisted at the age of 27 on 8 September 1861 as a private in Co. E, 25th North Carolina Infantry. He was promoted as ordnance sergeant in May 1862 and appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 23 July 1862 and 1st Lieutenant one week later. The 25th North Carolina served in Gen. Ransom’s Brigade of Gen. Longstreet’s Corps. The regiment fought at Antietam and near the famous stone wall on Maryes Heights at Fredericksburg. Charles was present and accounted for until 10 February 1865 when he was transferred to the 65th North Carolina (6th N. C. Cavalry) because of his inability to “stand infantry service in the summer season.”

Charles was the son of Jeremiah Osborne (1802-1890) and Mary Rebecca Fletcher (1807-1887). He was married to Mollie Killian (1841-1924) in August 1863.

Charles wrote the letter to his sister-in-law, Mariah (Merrill) Osborne (1831-1914)—the widow of Joseph McDowell Osborn (1832-1859).

[Note: I have spelled Charles’ surname “Osborne” because that’s the way it appears on his headstone but it might also be found in records as “Osborn.”]

Transcription

Pamlico Station, Lenoir county, N. C.
Camp Ransom
April 6th 1862

Sister Mariah,

Having some leisure hours, I take the pleasure of penning you a few lines hoping they will safely each you and find you enjoying good health, and getting on prosperously in this time of pressure. I have hither to been neglectful in writing to you together with other friends, but it has not been by any design or ill will on my part, but nearly neglect.

If I know my heart, I feel interested in your prosperity, love you as a sister, because you was married to one of my best brothers and has ever treated me with respect. I hope if there is any disrespectable feelings existed between you and any of us that they may be quickly obliterated and erased from memory’s page, and crushed into oblivion to appear no more. This is no time nor place to harbor malice, nor any others, but on the other hand, we should unite our efforts and double our diligence in trying to advance our great redeemer’s kingdom and to prepare for eternity.

To give you a detail of our travels and the many trials connected with a soldier’s life would consume more time than I have to apply in writing, and would also task your patience to read it. But let it suffice to say that a soldier’s life when understood is laborious, confining, and not at all to be desired, but for the sake of defending an invaded country against a hoard of notorious vandals.

Our regiment has not yet had the chance of testing courage on the battlefield and I see no greater probability now for it than that which has formerly existed. We have frequently been ordered to different parts of the state (and even out of their state) where a fight was pending, but always get there too late to see any bloodshed, but we cannot tell what another day may bring forth, under such critical times.

Our regiment has recently been united with some others in forming a brigade under the command of General Ransom. We find a great many soldiers here, some infantry, some cavalry, and some artillery, and with their drums, bugles, and brass bands together with the constant chattering of mischievous soldiers, would present quite a terrifying aspect—especially to those who have never witnessed such a scene.

We are now stationed close to the Neuse River about thirty miles from Newbern, though we have troops along the road to Goldsboro. Our pickets go daily near Newbern and occasionally pick up a Yankee or a disloyal citizen. This is a fine country and susceptible of producing almost any sort of grain. The bottoms are extensive and rich and possessed by good farms. Water is tolerably good and the weather is moderate.

Provisions are scarce and high. Salt is hardly to be purchased at any price. It is quite evident that poor people will soon begin to suffer.

Most of our regiment have enlisted for the war and are getting several recruits. The fight at Newbern is not yet definitively reported. It is rumored that our side lost near few hundred and the Yankees about fifteen hundred but I suppose without accuracy.

How does Person enjoy himself since his second choice of married life? I suppose well. I must close. Let us here how you are doing. Letters directed to Goldsboro will come to us. Give respects to all my friends. Fraternally, — C. L. Osborn