The following letter came to me for transcription, author unknown. The sender and receiver appear to be “J. S. D.” and “E. D.” Names of soldiers mentioned in the letter were from Spalding county, Georgia, and regiments raised there included the 51st and 53rd Georgia Infantry. My hunch is the letter was written by Joel S. Duffell (1818-1866) who enlisted as a private on 4 March 1862 in Co. I, 51st Georgia. He was appointed 5th Sergeant in January 1862 and promoted to 2nd Sergeant on 1 June 1864.

Joel was born in 1819 and appears to have had a couple of different wives; he was married to his second wife, Martha Rice in 1855 in Henry county, Alabama. The letter was addressed to Liz who was undoubtedly the Elizabeth D. to whom the letter was addressed but I cannot account for her in census records. She may have been a wife, a sister, or some other relative. He does mention “Mattie” which could be a nickname for Martha. Joel’s father was no longer living in 1863 but the “Pap” might refer to his father-in-law.

At Gettysburg, the 51st and 53rd Georgia Regiments were brigaded together in Brigadier General Paul J. Semmes Brigade of Major General Lafayette McLaws Division of Longstreet’s 1st Corps. They took part in the fight on Rose Hill and on into the wheat field in support of Kershaw and Anderson late in the afternoon of July 2, 1863. On 4 July 1863 the Confederates began their retreat from Gettysburg and made their way to Hagerstown, Maryland, where this letter was scribbled in pencil on 8 July. The Confederates finally crossed the Potomac on the night of 13 July, delayed by high waters.

Transcription

Camp near Hagerstown
July 8, [1863]

Dear Liz,

I write you a few lines which will inform you that I am well at this time truly hoping these lines may reach & find you all well. Dear Liz, we have come back [with]in 6 miles of Potomac River. It has been raining for 2 or 3 days. I cannot tell whether we will cross back soon or not. We had a terrible fight at Gettysburg. I would be glad if I had time to write more but I have not. I wrote some days ago but have not sent it off yet. Two letters come for me some days past but have not received them yet. I trust God will spare me to see you all again—if not in this life, to meet you all in heaven.

I am sorry that W. J. Clements ¹ was killed but he is gone and many other poor fellows. Do the best you can. Kiss mother for me. Give my love to all who may inquire after me.

We have hard times now. I saw B. F. Mottes [?]. He was shocked by a [ ]. Crock Akins wounded in leg. ² Wiley Childers not hurt. ³ J. Brown ⁴ not hurt. Liz, I must close. Goodbye for this time. I hope to see you again.

J. S. D. to E. D.

I saw a citizen with this ticket. I copied it and will send it to you.

Peace Ticket for the Next President’s Election

Jeff Davis of Mississippi for President
Vallandingham of Ohio for Vice President
All Negroes to be sent South
Abe Lincoln to be sent to the Devil.

N. B. Liz, I will send you a present though it is a poor one. Yet it is the best I have. I will send it to itself though at the same time I send this letter. Liz, I will tell you something rather funny. Joe Weldon ⁵ says he is longing for eggs. He says if he was a woman and was in the [family way?] and longed for eggs as he does and was to have a baby, he says it would have a shell on it.

Liz, I want to hear about the draft. I expected to hear all about it in Pap’s letter but not a word. Goodbye dear Lizzy and Mattie

N. B. I started Pap a letter yesterday.

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¹ William J. Clements enlisted in Co. C, 13th Georgia Infantry in July 1861. He was killed two years later at Gettysburg. He was from Spalding county, Georgia.

² Possibly Private Elisha Clay Akins (1831-1906) of Griffin, Spalding county, Georgia who enlisted on 28 April 1862 in Co. A, 53rd Georgia Infantry, and was wounded in the right leg at Gettysburg. He was taken prisoner and exchanged in September 1863.

³ Wiley Thomas Childers (1842-1921) served in Co A, 53rd Georgia Infantry. He was taken prisoner at Knoxville, TN, on 29 November 1863 and spent the remainder of the war at the Rock Island Prison in Illinois.

⁴ The roster of Co. A, 53rd Georgia Infantry includes a “Private J. P. Brown.”

⁵ Possibly J. S. Weldon (or Welden) who enlisted as a private in April 1862 to serve as a musician in Co. A, 53rd George Infantry.