1864: James Nunn to Nancy E. (Bingman) Nunn

This letter was written by James Nunn (1838-1864), the son of James Nunn (1802-1886) and Ursula Usey East (1800-1892) of Stokes county, North Carolina. James was married to Nancy Elizabeth Bingman (1845-1917) in May 1861 and fathered two children prior to his enlistment as a private in Co. H, 23rd North Carolina Infantry in October 1862.

According to his service record, James was killed at the Battle of New Market, Virginia, on 15 May 1864 when his regiment with others—including the young cadets of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI)—were ordered by Gen. Breckinridge to attack Gen. Franz Sigel’s army as they advanced up the Shenandoah Valley with the objective of destroying the railroad and canal complex at Lynchburg.

*One artist’s depiction of the VMI cadet’s charge at New Market where James Nunn of the 23rd North Carolina lost his life.*

Transcription

Greenbrier county, Va.
March 2, 1864

Dear wife,

I seat myself to inform you that I am well at this time and I hope when these few lines comes to hand, they may find you and the baby enjoying the same good blessing. I received your kind letter this morning which gave me great satisfaction to hear from you and the baby to hear that you was well.

I have nothing to write of any importance at his time. Only bad weather here and hard times and no prospect for it to get any better as I see. You said they had took some prisoners in North Carolina and hung them. ¹ They say there was sixteen left here the other night and went to the Yankees and they never catched them. Then they got one in the Droop Mountain fight and they shot him. Joe seen him shot before I got here. There was two [should] of been. One shot last Friday and he got away from them and cleared himself.

So I will bring my letter to a close to you. Write soon and give me all of the news from home. So I remain your husband until death.

— James Nunn

to Nancy E. Nunn

¹ The hanging incident referred to in the letter was no doubt the execution of Union prisoners at Kinston, North Carolina, ordered by Gen. George Pickett during February 1864. See “Cloaked Vengeance: George Pickett and the Hanging of Union Prisoners,” by Ron Soodalter.