The following letters were written by Dr. James Ogburn Norton (1825-1862), a native of Iredell county, North Carolina, who came migrated to Bedford county, Tennessee, with his parents when he was a child. His parents were William Norton (1801-1888) and Marsha Ann Beall (1804-1873. James was married to Eliza Priscilla Davidson (1833-1884) in 1854 and by the time of the Civil War, the couple had four children. In the 1860 US Census, James was enumerated with his wife and children in Hawkerville, Franklin county, Tennessee, which is located on the eastern boundary of Middle Tennessee on the southern border of the state. This area of Tennessee was strongly secessionist before the war—even threatening to to secede from Tennessee and join Alabama if Tennessee did not leave the Union.

James entered the Confederate service as a 1st Lieutenant in early November 1861. He was mustered into the Capt. Elijah H. Ikard’s Company of the Tennessee Volunteers. They were eventually designated as Co. F of the 32nd Tennessee Infantry. Lt. Norton was among the 528 members of the 32nd Tennessee that were taken prisoner on 16 February 1862. They would eventually be imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio, where they suffered through hard times. Though he tried to reassure his wife that he would be alright, Lt. Norton was one of the first officers to die at Camp Chase. His date of death is given as 4 March 1862. See also letter dated 24 February 1862 from Norton to his wife.

Norton’s muster rolls indicate that he died on 4 March 1862 while in captivity at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio. A biographical tribute to Lt. James O. Norton appears on the Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery website.

Letter 1

Alto [Franklin county, Tennessee]
November 13th 1861

Dear Mother,

I write you a few lines to let you hear from us. Eliza has been very sick again. She took cold I suppose by the door blowing open at night and had two chills. She is better again. She was doing very well till then & is sitting up again till I began to fix to start which put her to bed. I will go again this evening but the probability is that we will finally all come home if we cannot get arms. There is some fifty or sixty men from our regiment out trying to get guns. My time was out last night & I will stop at Father’s tonight from nine till four o’clock if I can arrange it so if we stay & G. N. want to join us, tell him to write to me often if I stay.

Direct your letters to Mitchellville Station, Tennessee. Care of Capt. [Elijah H.] Ikard. My love to all. Kiss dear little Sallie for me. The baby keeps quite well. Yours as ever in haste, — James O. Nelson

I forgot to write by mail as went off very early & did not return in time.

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Letter 2

Chattanooga [Tennessee]
November 15, 1861

Dear Wife,

I wrote you a small note last night (on the cars) which you may not get. When I arrived at Nashville, I learned that our regiment had marching orders so I spent the day in Nashville & as much of the time as i could at Dr. Abernathy’s. They were all well. We left Nashville last night at half past 8 o’clock, arrived at Chattanooga this evening, put up our tents & eat supper & commenced writing. Mrs. Abernathy gave me a snack which I divided with Capt. [Elijah H.] Ikard and that has done me till supper tonight. Some of our men took on raw bacon in a hurry. We have had no sleep for two nights but I do not feel much tired tonight.

We had two extra trains to bring us here which took two days and one night. There are two companies of our regiment left at Linn Bridge & two companies are left at Running Water Bridge & six companies are here. There are some two regiments here besides ours—or one is out on a scout. These regiments have been here but a few days. They have taken about fourteen prisoners (Union men) which have to take the Oath of Allegiance or remain prisoners of war.

The people are very much pleased or those in favor of the South. The ladies, men and children wave their hats [and] handkerchiefs at us all the way here since we left Stephenson & seemed very much pleased. We have the man that burnt the bridge a prisoner (so they say). There are five bridges burnt & that is the cause of us all being sent East Tennessee. We are 54 miles closer to home than we were at Camp Trousdale.

I want you to try to be satisfied and not allow yourself to fret at little things. There will be trouble enough. Do the best we can. I know you cannot bear the things I can, but I want you to do the best you can to take care of yourself and not allow yourself to grieve on my account. I am in good health and hope to remain so. If I get sick, I will let you know or come home. I will come anyhow as soon as I can. Capt. Ikard want to come very badly & will as soon as he can leave. Write soon and let me hear from you. I hope to hear that you are doing well and reconciled to your fate.

The drum is beating for roll call and I must close. I will write again in a few days. God bless you and the children. from your devoted husband, — James O. Norton

Direct your letter to Lieut. J. O. N., Chattanooga, Tenn., Care of Capt. Ikard, Regular Tennessee Volunteers