These two letters were written by Henry D. Dewese (1827-1881), the son of William Marchant Deweese (17891858) and Nancy Allison (1787-1865) of Mecklenburg county, North Carolina. Henry was married to Laura R. Sloan (1830-1910) in 1857.

I believe Henry was a private in Co. C, 39th North Carolina Infantry. If this is the same soldier, he was with his regiment until late February 1863 when he was sent to a hospital by order of the regimental surgeon and then deserted in June 1863 from a hospital in Atlanta. There is no further record of him in the muster rolls of the 39th North Carolina.

These two letters, written in August and September 1864, inform us that he was returned to the army though we don’t know if he did so voluntarily or was rounded up by the Home Guard. Both letters are written from Camp Holmes near Raleigh, North Carolina.

Henry wrote the letters to his older brother, John Allison Dewese (1811-1870). In the second letter he attempts to comport his brother after hearing the news of the death of John’s son, George B. Dewese. George served in the 56th North Carolina, Co. K, and was killed in the Battle of Globe Tavern on 21 August 1864—the very fighting mentioned by Henry in his first letter.

Letter 1

[Camp Holmes near Raleigh, N. C.]
August 23, 1864

My dear brother,

It is with pleasure that I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time and hope these few lines may find you all enjoying that great blessing of health. I have no news to write at this time—only I am here at Camp Holmes yet. I do not know what they will do with me. The regiment I was assigned to is in Pennsylvania and the Yankees is got possession of the road between Weldon and Petersburg so they can’t get men off from here. They had a fight at Weldon yesterday. The report is that our men give the Yankees fits but the Yankees still hold the road. I don’t call that any gain at all. If they had run the Yankees back and took the road, that would been more like the thing, I think.

Well, I will close for this time by asking you to write soon and often. I will write to you again as soon as I find out what they do with me. Give my love to all the friends and leave share to yourself. Excuse this uninteresting letter. Nothing more but remain your brother till death. Goodbye for this time.

— H. D. Dewese

To J. A. Dewese

Direct your letter to Camp Holmes near Raleigh.

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Letter 2

[Camp Holmes near Raleigh, N. C.]
September 9, 1864

Dear Brother,

It is with pleasure I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I have not forgot you yet and to let you know that I have not been well since I have been here but I am better today than I have been for a week. I can knock around right smart today. I hope these lines may find you and family in good health.

I was very sorry to hear of [your son] George’s death but I hope he is gone to a world of peace and happiness. Dear brother, don’t grieve for him. Try to live prepared to meet him in heaven where parting shall be no more. I hope to meet all my friends in heaven if no more on earth. But I hope to get home to see you all once more.

I suppose you heard that the Yankees had Atlanta in Georgia.

Well, I have not much to write at this time. There is men coming in here every day and they send off every day so our crowd don’t increase very fast. They have sent about one hundred and fifty free negroes off since I come here.

Well, my friends, I think this war will soon end for they have deaf and dumb, and blind, and men with one arm and one leg, so there is no chance for me to get home. So I will close. Write soon and give me all the news.

Excuse this bad[ly] written letter. No more but remain your brother till death. Give my love to all the friends. Share it yourself. Goodbye for this time. — H. D. Dewese

To J. A. Dewese

Direct to Camp Holmes near Raleigh