The following letter was written by 18 year-old Henry Stokes Figures (1844-1864), the son of William Bibb Figures (1820-1872) and Harriet Stokes (1826-1900) of Huntsville, Madison county, Alabama. Henry’s father was a leading figure in Huntsville and served as editor/publisher of the Hunstville Southern Advocate.

Henry first enlisted as a private in Co. F (the “Huntsville Guards”), 4th Alabama Infantry in July 1861, rising in rank to Orderly Sergeant. In July 1862 he claimed to have participated in the Battle of Manassas, Seven Pines, and Gaines’ Mill. Henry the following letter while serving in the 4th Alabama Infantry.

Sometime in May 1863 he was transferred into the 48th Alabama Infantry and commissioned 1st Lieutenant. He was made adjutant of the regiment soon afterwards. He was killed on 6 May 1864 in the Battle of the Wilderness while rallying the men in his regiment. His body was wrapped in his blanket roll in lieu of a coffin; a makeshift wooden cross marked the spot. His sister, Mattie, wrote later, “Kind hands carried him from the battlefield, and laid him to rest, in an orchard under an apple tree, in full bloom, which cast its rosy petals near his head.” Henry’s father went to Virginia two years after the War to retrieve the body. His remains are in the family plot at the city cemetery.

Henry also fought at Fredericksburg, Chicakamauga, and Gettysburg where he wrote his sister that his regiment (48th Alabama) charged up the mountain for two miles, when it became so steep that we could not go any farther. We then fell back and charged it four successive times but could not take the heights. The enemy were upon the top of the mountain – the steepest place I ever saw in my life. . .killed and wounded in our regiment…Captain Leftwich, Tom Lanier, Jim Duff…Tell Mr. Leftwich that I have his son’s sword and will send it to him as soon as I have an opportunity.”

Transcription

Camp near Culpeper Court House, Va.
November 13th 1862

My Dear Ma,

I will try and write you a few lines by Mr. Winston who is going home this morning. He came out to see his son who was wounded in Maryland, but went home from Winchester. ¹ I wrote to you by him. I received Pa’s letter & answered it about the 1st of November. I was very sorry to hear that you was sick & I am in hopes that you are now entirely well. Mr. Elyin & McCallaghan came out with Mr. Winston. The former told me that you were a great deal better. You don’t know how glad I was to hear it. Give my love to all at home & kiss the little ones for me. I was very much disappointed in not getting a letter from one of you by him.

I have not yet got my clothes from Henry Weeden for I think we will fall back to Gordonsville very soon. All our baggage that was at Gordonsville & other places has been sent to Lynchburg. We had a very good snow three days ago. 

I seen an Advocate the other day that had my letter in it. What made Pa publish it, I can’t see. All the boys laid it on me, but I would not own it.

Col. [Pinckney Downie] Bowles sent up a petition to the Secretary of War the other day signed by all the officers of the regiment for our regiment to be transferred to Gen. Forney’s Brigade at Mobile. I don’t know how it will succeed but live in hopes. The 11th & 2nd Mississippi Regiments that were in our brigade are transferred to Gen. Joe Davis’s Brigade in Richmond. He is the President’s nephew. Two North Carolina regiments are in their place—the 54th and 57th. I must bring my letter to a close.

I remain your affectionate son, — Henry S. Figures

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¹ Edmund Martin Winston (1837-1928) was an unmarried 22 year old mechanic from Huntsvile, AL when he enlisted as Private on 26 April 1861 in Company F, 4th Alabama Infantry. He was present with his Company in engagements from First to Second Manassas, VA in 1862. He was severely wounded in action on 17 September 1862 at Sharpsburg, and “left in the hands of the enemy.” His arm was amputated, and he was discharged for wounds on 8 November 1862.