These poignant letters were written in the camp of the 38th North Carolina by 29 year-old Confederate soldier Elijah Whicker (1835-1865) of Co. D. The 38th North Carolina was attached to BG Alfred M. Scales’ Brigade in MG Cadmus M. Wilcox’s Division of LTG A.P. Hill’s Third Corps. At the time that Elijah wrote these letters he was with his regiment in the defenses of Petersburg. He died on 13 January 1865— just two months after writing his family, “I would like the best of all things to be with you all and be a free man….I would rather be anywhere else that I have ever been or ever will be on earth than to be in this army…I often dream of home. Sometimes everything seems so plain that I believe I am at my home till I wake up to find myself in camp sadly disappointed.” No details of his death could be found.
Elijah Whicker was a farmer from Deep River District in Forsyth County, North Carolina. He was married to Frances J. Thomas in 1859 and together they had a son named Moses Newton Whicker (1860-1940).
Letter 1
Camp near Petersburg, Virginia
Tuesday evening, September 6th 1864
Dear Father, Mother & Sisters,
I am in tolerable good health and hope this will find you all [in] enjoyment of good health. I am better this evening than I have been for some time. I am on picket today and expect to remain till about nine o’clock tomorrow. Last night we had a heavy rain. I did not get wet today. It rains sometimes. I have T. L. Campbell’s blanket with me. He is not on picket today. We drew some coffee and two spoonfuls of sugar the other day.
I looked for a letter from you all today but if it came, I was not there at camp to receive it. I have received but one since I left home. J. Newton Campbell wrote to T. L. the other day that he had heard from you all the day before and you was well. The weather is damp and chilly today. Fodder here is not ready for gathering. Crops, I think, are light.
Yesterday morning just before daybreak our Brigade had orders to be ready to march. We all gathered up and stood ready till about noon. We were told to go back in our tents.
Atlanta has gone “up the spout” is all the news I hear. The Confederate men say that Atlanta is of no importance now. I would like the best of all things to be with you all and be a free man. I have nothing good to write. I want very much to hear from you. I want you to write long letters and often. We are a great ways apart but not separated in heart. I am as ever yours truly, — E. Whicker
Camp near Petersburg, Va.
Tuesday evening, September 6, 1864
My dear wife,
I am able to be on duty this evening. I hope this will find you and Newton both well. I am on picket this evening. It is a rainy, chilly time. Nothing new around here as I know of. The heaviest cannonading I ever heard was the other night. It was on our left. Some of it was shelling Petersburg.
Jane, I cannot tell the joy it would give me to be with you and Newton this evening, and enjoy a comfortable fireside and warm supper. T. L. Campbell is well. I often dream of home. Sometimes everything seems so plain that I believe I am at my home till I wake up to find myself in camp sadly disappointed.
I mailed a letter yesterday morning and if I can get this mailed in the morning, I hope it wil reach you next Saturday. I have written several and I hope you have received most of them ere now. Letters come from High Point here in two days. Write long letters pretty often and I will, if I get them, be thankful for each line, yes word. Tell Newton to be Par’s good boy. Tell him I love him and would gladly embrace him. I want you all to the the very best you can. Eat some good peaches and think how well I would like to be there and help you. Hoping to get a letter from you all very soon, I remain your affectionate husband, — E. Whicker
Letter 2
[Letter 2 was transcribed back in 2014 and published in Spared & Shared 4. It bears the date 12 November 1864. The link to that letter is 1864: Elijah Whicker to family.]
Letter 3
Camp near Petersburg, Va.
Friday evening, November 25, 1864
Affectionate Father, Mother, & Sisters,
I am in common health, and hope this will find you all in the enjoyment of good health. My eyes are not any better now. Many of the soldiers are suffering from the smoke in their eyes. We burn pine wood. Altogether it makes a bad smoke and affects all our eyes more or less.
I received your kind and very interesting missive under date of 19th inst., and 23rd. It gives me the most exquisite pleasure to hear from you such a short time ago, and hear that you were all well. I am pleased to know that Mr. Crutchfield is at home doing so well. Write the first opportunity where you are sowing wheat this year. 36 barrels corn is a very good crop for the season you had.
You have the particulars of the men who started west not long since, more explicit than I have. There has been many reports about who of them were killed and who went through, Mrs. W. M. Freeman seems determined to do her share towards populating the Confederacy. Jonathan Freeman is at the hospital nearly all the time. To hear him tell it, he never was a war horse. I see no chance of a furlough soon. Put up the iron vise and use it if you need it. Do as you think best about drawing anything for Jane as a soldier’s wife. The authorities have forced me into it and I don’t see as it would make it any more binding upon me any manner. We are fixing a sort of a shanty for 8 of us to quarter in. We are yet working on the breastworks. I worked on them 4 hours today. Won’t have to work till Monday.
I would like the best in the world to be at home with you all at Christmas, just a month off from now, but do not anticipate that I shall enjoy that pleasure so soon. Much is said at present about Georgia leaving off from the Confederacy. J. E. Clayton and H. Preston & others are, I am glad to know, getting their finger in. I have nothing to write that would interest at presemt. Receive my love for each of you and believe me as ever truly yours, — E. Whicker
Elizabeth, dear Sister, I am pleased to receive and read every word any of you write. Every word comes from our home speaks of home and seems yet a connecting link. A letter is indeed a tongue that speaks for those who absent dwell. Yours, — E. W.
Camp near Petersburg, Va.
Friday evening, November 25, 1864
My dear wife,
I am in common health and hope you and Newton are both well. I gladly received your kind letter of 19th inst. The weather is very cool and we have to carry our pine limbs near a half mile. My linsey shirts you sent me receive the praise of all. They are a good thing. I wear a cotton shirt under. That is the way most of them are worn. My coat is the one I drew at Raleigh. It is not a very good one. I expect to draw a short tail sometime. Do not make yourself uneasy about my clothes now. I have not seen any snow here. I don’t think it best for you to try to send a box by Express. It costs too much. Tell Newton I love him yet and I want to see him.
We draw corn meal now. I have much to say if I could see you. I am as ever yours truly, — E. Whicker
Spared & Shared 23 