The following letter was written by William Daniel Henry Covington (1842-1927), a farmer from Cleveland, Rutherford county, North Carolina, who enlisted in late December 1861 to serve in Co. I, 38th North Carolina Infantry. He and Jacob Childers of the same company (mentioned in the letter) were both admitted into Hospital No. 2 at Petersburg on 31 January 1862 suffering from illness. Though Jacob returned to his regiment before the end of March and was subsequently killed in action at the Battle of Ellison’s Mill (Mechanicsville) on 26 June 1862, William was sent home on furlough shortly after this letter (with proper authority). Muster rolls do not indicate when he returned to his company though he was certainly with them by January 1863. He was sent to a hospital again in June 1863 suffering from rheumatism and was absent without leave from 25 July 1863 to 25 October 1863 at which time he returned again to his regiment. Despite his spotty service record, he was promoted to corporal in 1864.

On 8 May 1864, when the 38th North Carolina was fighting in Scales’ Brigade in the Wilderness, he suffered a severe concussion and was admitted to Jackson Hospital in Richmond.

William was the son of William Horace Covington (1775-1861) and Mary Rincie Green (1811-1902).

Transcription

Petersburg, Virginia
March 29th 1862

Dear Uncle and Aunt,

It is with pleasure that I drop you a few lines to inform you that I am about well, hoping those lines may find you and family well. I am at Petersburg, Va., in the 2nd N. C. Hospital. There is only 12 of our company here and Jacob Childers just left. Uncle Howell is here. He is getting well. [Francis] Marion Hord is here. He has been very low but he is on the mend. I am going to the regiment in a few days if I don’t get no worse. I can’t get a drop of liquor here by no means at all. I have got use to doing without it and I don’t care now.

Tell Mother that I am about well. I am well treated here. I had rather stay here than anyplace I have been since I left home. I have no more news to write to you at this time. John Lattimore and Dick Wiggins is in the 1st North Carolina Hospital close to us. There is a Divins from the Burnt Chimney Company in the same hospital that I am in. He came here when Walker was at home.

You need not write to me until I get to the regiment for I expect to leave here in a few days. I will write you as soon as I get to the regiment. Then I will thankfully receive a letter from you at any time when you are disposed to send me one.

Your affectionate nephew, — W. D. H. Covington to his Uncle & Aunt.

Excuse this paper for it is cheap.