The following letter was written by 21 year-old George R. Scott 1840-1917), the son of McKinney Scott (1810-1873) and Martha [?] (1815-1850) of Fairmount, Gordon county, Georgia. After Martha died, McKinney took Margaret M. Acker (1828-1898) as his second wife.

It is claimed by the family that George and his younger brother, Aaron “Green” Scott (b. 1840) both enlisted at the same time in the 8th Georgia Infantry Battalion, Co. E. The Georgia 8th Infantry Battalion was organized with six companies during the early spring of 1862 at Savannah, Georgia. Some of the men were from Adairsville and Thornburgh, and Gordon County. They were on duty at Charleston, S.C. and the Georgia coast, until May 1863, when they were sent as a part of Gist’s brigade, from South Carolina, to the reinforcement of General Joseph Johnston at Jackson, Mississippi. They were in battle at Jackson in May and July and participated in the march to the Big Black River, via Yazoo City, for the relief of Vicksburg. 

After the evacuation of Jackson, they were transferred to the army of Tennessee in time to take part in the Battle of Chickamauga, in the siege of Chattanooga and the battle of Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta campaign, including the battles of Rocky Face, Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta (July 22nd), Jonesboro, and the winter campaign in Tennessee.

We learn from military records that George stood 5 feet 11 inches tall, that he had dark hair and hazel eyes. We also learn that it was while being held a Prisoner of War by the Department of the Cumberland, George opted to take the Oath of Allegiance at Louisville, Kentucky, on 12 June 1864 and he was subsequently “released north of the Ohio River” where he was to remain for the duration of the war by order of Major General Thomas. It appears that George was taken into custody as a prisoner of war in Georgia in the spring of 1864 having been absent without leave from his regiment for the better part of a year, having in his possession the Austrian rifle that was issued to him.

George married Mary Elizabeth Gibbs (1841-1932)—a native of Shelbyville, Kentucky—on 10 November 1864 in Floyd county, Indiana.

[The following transcript was provided to Spared & Shared by Peggie Bloodworth, a family descendant who believes the original letter has been “lost” since it was transcribed by her grandmother. Though I don’t normally publish letters without the original letter so that I can verify the accuracy of the transcript, I have made an exception in this case. As a consequence, I can’t verify the accuracy of the names mentioned in this transcript.]

Transcription

Camp Savannah, Georgia
February 9th 1862

Dear Father, Mother and brothers & sisters,

I this Sabbath evening seat myself to write a few lines to inform you that I received your kind letter and was glad to hear from you all [and that you were] enjoying the same like blessing. I have nothing of importance to write more than we are all doing about as well as could be expected. Some of the people from up there is a writing back that they have heard the city [Savannah] was burnt up. I can inform you that is a mistake though they are expecting a fight here every day. But they have not had any fights here yet—to say a fight—but they have had some little brushes here.

I can inform you that I have been at work here a throwing up breastworks preparing for the Yankees. I can inform you that I went down on the boat the other and I had the pleasure of seeing two Yankee vessels. I could hear them firing at our boys.

I can inform you that all the boys that went from our settlement are all well and seem to be in good spirits with the exception of Samuel Carter & Ephraim Moses & Scott Garrett & James [  ] in which is very sick. Col. Littlefield is very sick and General Lawton has throwed Maj. Reich out of office and put in John [W.] Gray of Cars as Major and it is a contrary to all of the Battalion. I can inform you that Lieut. Owens died last Saturday night—was a week ago. But I reckon you have heard that.  I can inform you that we are all put under General Walker. He bears down upon us pretty tight but we have seen an easy time so far. I had to stand guard last night in the rain all night. You must excuse me for not writing sooner for I thought I would wait till we received pay but we have received no pay yet though I think we will in a few days. The Captains and Lieutenants have drawn their pay the 4th of this month and they said we would get ours in 8 to 10 days—that is as quick as they can make out their pay rolls.

[Brother] Green received a letter from Minervy and Sarah the 5th of this inst. She stated in her letter that J. M. Scott would be at home in a few days. I was glad to hear that but had much rather see him but that is out of my power at this time. I would be glad to see you all [too]. So I will close. Write soon and give me all the news. I remain your affectionate son till death, — G. R. Scott

Direct your letter as before.