The following letter was written by William H. Hall, a 21 year-old farmer from Orange county, N. C. when he enlisted 1 September 1861 at Fort Macon in Co. G, 27th North Carolina Infantry. William appears to have been with his regiment most of the war but did not survive it. He died of consumption (tuberculosis) at Petersburg on 28 July 1864.

The 27th North Carolina saw action in the war at New Bern, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, and then in the Wilderness, at Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. At Sharpsburg, the regiment 63% of the 325 men engaged in killed, wounded and missing. Two of the Sharpsburg wounded are mentioned in this letter. William wrote the letter to a comrade names James who was at home in Orange county at the time. He too may have been recovering from a wound received at either Sharpsburg or Fredericksburg.

William was the son of Nelson Parish Hall (1817-1902) and Nancy Robinson Bowles (1820-1856) of Little River township, Orange county, North Carolina. After William’s mother died in 1856, his father remarried to Martha Caroline Taylor.

William’s composition and handwriting was above par and we learn from this letter that his comrades came to him to forge the General’s signature on their passes.

Transcription

Wilmington, North Carolina
May 1st 1863

Dear friend,

I received your kind letter yesterday and was glad to hear from you once more. You will see by the heading of this that we are over more in the Old North State and you may guess we are glad little souls if we can get to stay. I suppose we have been ordered to Kinston but the order is countermanded. They had a skirmish near Kinston a few days ago and orders were sent to Gen. Whiting (the military commander in this vicinity) and he requested Gen. Hill to let him keep us here if possible, and, I suppose his request was granted conditionally.

They had commenced issuing furloughs when we were ordered to Kinston but they have suspended furloughs until the Kinston affair becomes more settled. I hope that won’t be long for I will get to go home in the second class, and you know I am anxious to see my sweetheart. Jim, I received a letter from her today (Mollie) but for the sake of everything sacred, I want you to keep everything I tell you about that a profound secret. She writes as sweet as a lark can sing.

We are looking for you to come down soon. Lieutenant [Stephen] Dickson wrote to you some time ago to come down and get your discharge but we have not heard whether you received his letter or not. You can get a discharge whenever you will come after it. Capt. [James Y.] Whitted’s resignation has been accepted and Dickson is now captain. We elected Robert D. Patterson 3rd Lieutenant yesterday. Tom Whitted ran against him and got 22 votes and Uncle Bob got 37. Tom Whitted is the most disappointed fellow you ever saw. Uncle Bob & John F. Thompson came to the company last night and Walt Thompson came with them and brought some brandy and we have a gay crowd today.

We are encamped about two miles below Wilmington on the [Cape Fear] river. We have a beautiful situation but we have little shade except the arbors we have built in front of our tents.

[Lafayette] Merritt is about to get a discharge on his wound he received at Sharpsburg and Bill Shields had the ball cut out of his hip day before yesterday in Wilmington. He bled very much but is doing finely now. He will start home on a furlough Monday.

The names of the recruits we got from Molette Bat. are viz. Blalock, Forrest, [William] Gattis, Mitchell, Pickett, Hughs, Thomas, Pearson, & Merritt. Walt brought Wils[on] Brown as a substitute for Tip Lipscomb but I think it doubtful about Dickson receiving him.

Our company numbers 75 now present. Our boys have their own fun running the blockade to townevery night. They write their own passes and I assign the General’s name to them and they go through every pop. Sam Dickson ran for 3rd Lieutenant yesterday and got three votes.

I understand Evans Turner and Miss Emma Nichols are to be married soon. I say goit Boots but don’t touch mine.

I shall close. Write soon & direct to Wilmington. I am as ever your true friend, — Wm. J. Hall

P. S. We just did miss going to Tennessee. Gen. Walker received orders to report to Gen. Johnson with his command about two hours after we left Coosawhatchie. That was as close as I want to come at that during the war. Yours, &c. — W. H. H.