The following letter was written by Charles Lathrop Williams, SR. (1811-1886) of Nacoochee, White county, Georgia. Charles was married to Hannah B. Hollingsworth (1812-1887) in the mid-1830s. Charles mentions his son “Jimmie” being at home. This was James Hollingsworth Williams (1845-1909) who served in Co. C, 24th George Infantry. His headstone claims him to have been a captain but military records show him as a 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant, taken prisoner at Sailor’s Creek on 6 April 1865. He is buried in the Rock Creek Cemetery near Washington D. C.

The letter also mentions George H. Conley (b. 1841), the son of Henry Highland Conley (1798-1866) and Nancy Brown (1801-1881) of Sautee, White county, Georgia. George also served in the same company with Jimmie.

John Conley is also mentioned. This was presumably George Conley’s brother (1828-1890) who served in Co. D, 5th Georgia Infantry. George enlisted in August 1862 and was taken prisoner at Missionary Ridge on 25 November 1863. He was sent to Rock Island Prison in December 1863 but did not stay there long. He took the Oath of Allegiance to the US and joined the US Navy in January 1864. This explains why the family had not heard from him.

Finally, with respect to the slave sale mentioned at the end of the letter, this transaction was between Charle’s brother, Edwin Poore Williams (1814-1896) and Jerome England (1822-1890) who also served in the 24th Georgia Infantry, in Co. G—at least early in the war.

[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Greg Herr and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

Nacoochee, Georgia
June 28, 1864

Isaac Harris, Esqr.

Dear Sir—Your kind letter was received. We are at all times pleased to hear from our old friend. Your friends in the Valley are all well. We are now having a nice time for working out our corn and potatoes—also to eat our small grain. Corn is small but looks promising. We got in the weeds during the wet weather but are now mowing them down.

My wife and Jimmie also is at home. Went up to Uncle Conley’s on yesterday. He and George Conley leaves for the army on Thursday. Cousin Mother Richardson is at her mother’s. Left John all behind. He is now in the Yankee line at Dalton. She has not heard from him in a long time. We heard from John Conley this week. He is at Rock Island. It is a prison. Osa is in the army. Prior Pitner and family are all well. Sam Gibby is his farmer and poor fellow sick—old complaint consumption.

Jerome England sold all his negroes to Bro. Edwin. His sister Mrs. Boyd is staying with him. Our rye and wheat is well filled but thin. My little lot beyond my house made [ ] doz. I cut my turnip patch lot today. Both lots are good wheat. Oats soon and we have the nicest sweet potatoes here you ever saw and clean at that. We have 7 acres in sweet and Irish potatoes.

All my family with all the old friends sends their love to you. Yours truly, — C. L. Williams