The following letter was written by John William Duncan (b. 1830) who enlisted at Charlotte, Virginia, on 22 September 1861 in Paris’ Company Virginia Artillery (alias Staunton Hill Artillery). He was mustered out the battalion on 25 April 1865 at Durham Station, Orange county, North Carolina. Serving with John in the same unit was his younger brother Thomas Agee Duncan (1839-1927). The unit was divided into three sections: two served in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida near Savannah and the third in the Department of North Carolina. In May, 1862, they united in North Carolina and aided in the defense of Wilmington. One section was captured at Fort Anderson and the other two were assigned to B. C. Manly’s Battalion in the Army of Tennessee. Only a few surrendered on April 26, 1865. Its captains were Charles Bruce and Andrew B. Paris.

The Duncan brothers were from Marysville, Charlotte county, Virginia. Their parents were Jacob Agee Duncan (b. 1805) and Martha Eliza Wilkes (b. 1813).

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Wilmington, North Carolina
May 17, 1862

Dear Parents & Sisters,

I wrote you 11th inst. saying I would write again when we got in camp. Well we are in our tents again. We left Savannah Tuesday morning and got to Charleston Wednesday night and landed in Wilmington Friday morning and came from town 4 miles into camp with the other section yesterday. We are all in camp together. I am getting well of the measles and hope I shall soon be able to go on duty. I came through on the sick list from Savannah. I stopped at hotels and got such things as I could eat and had comfortable lodgings. It cost me some $6 or $7 dollars. I thought I had better spend a little money than run the risk of losing my life by sleeping out in the weather and it raining some of the time. I feel much better since we got in a colder climate. If think if the change of climate does not make me take cold, I will soon be well.

Bro. Thomas is about well and will be able for duty next week. Cousin Ed has got well and is now at the hospital at Wilmington waiting on Mr. J[ames M.] Austin—one of our mess. Mr. Austin has not got over the measles yet. He is quite feeble and in a state of debility, having night sweats and low fevers. He was not willing to be left behind and his trip made him worse. With good attention I hope he will soon be well again. He is a nice man. Not many of our men are very sick. Some complaining.

When we arrived yesterday, Mr. [Wood] Bouldin had left his section and gone to Richmond. He came in this morning & Lieut. [Andrew B.] Paris had some quite angry words about uniting the sections. The War Department ordered Lieut. Paris to connect the section so the company could be organized under the Conscript Act. I understand that Lieut. Bouldin wants his section cut off entirely from the company. Lieut. Paris has the most men in his section and if Capt. [Charles] Bruce resigns, Lieut. Paris will get the captaincy which does not sit well on Lieut. Bouldin’s stomach. I think Bouldin & Lieut. Gain are Capt. Bruce’s choice, but not the men who have the right to select their own officers to serve under during this long and distressing war.

We have got to organize by the 26th inst. Then we will be in for three years or the war. We will be granted furloughs to come home once during that time. The boys from our settlement are well. Capt. and Billy, Mr. [John W.] Eggleston & Mr. Marshall. I like the climate here much better than in Georgia. I do not know how we will fare yet. I did not see any corn bread in Georgia. I hear we will get it here. But I hope to [go to] Virginia. I heard Wednesday in Charleston that Richmond was in the hands of the enemy.

Mr. [Andrew J.] Middleton wishes to be remembered by you all. We are under Gen. [Theophilus] Holmes. I cannot say when we will get into a fight. I must close by asking you to write immediately as I. think it doubtful about remaining here long. I remain your son and brother, — John W. Duncan