Bio
John’s cousin, Joseph (“Joe”) A. Shank (1843-1912)—the son of his Uncle George Shank— wrote a few of these letters. Joe served with John throughout the war in the 11th Georgia Artillery.
John wrote the letters to his friend, Col. Joseph Belknap (“J. B.”) Smith (1815-1898), the son of Joseph Nicholas Smith (1771-1857) and Polly Emerson (1784-1868) of Strafford county, New Hampshire. Joseph Belknap Smith (1802-1916) was a speculator and one of the founders of the Columbia Mining Company in Georgia. His papers are housed in the Duke University libraries. Found there are schedules of property belonging to the Columbia Mining Company containing lists of slaves and their values; contracts for hiring slaves and freedmen; land deeds; advertisement for an apparatus of Edward N. Kent for separating gold from foreign substances; correspondence of Smith and one of his partners, George Wood, about their copper mines in Tennessee; a ledger (1860-1873) containing valuations of the mine and mill properties of Smith and his partners and the amount of the Confederate soldiers’ tax and war taxes for some of the Civil War years. The J. Belknap Smith family and the William Fluker family rest in fenced-in graves in a small cemetery on the Wilkes County side of Little River, where once they crossed over for their gold-digging ventures.
Gold was first found in the Columbia vein in 1823 and from that time until the beginning of the Civil War, the property was worked continuously by private methods, on a more or less extensive scale. Just preceding the Civil War, 120 slaves were employed on this property in mining and milling 10 tons of ore per day. By 1830, when 6,000-10,000 people were engaged in gold mining, Georgia had become the foremost gold-producing state—a position it maintained until the late 1840s. This undertaking worked on a huge scale until the machinery was confiscated by the Confederate government during the Civil War and all the work came to a standstill. Also, about this time the mint was closed in Dahlonega. Many Southern miners had previously left in 1849 for the more lucrative gold fields of the west, namely California. Nevertheless, early postal records reveal that there was a post office operating at the Columbia Mines site until it was discontinued June 22, 1866, with Benjamin Brownhead serving as postmaster.
“J. B.” Smith was married to Jane Septima (“Sep”) Shank (1843-1912). They married on 27 April 1865. “J. B.” was a pharmacist, a farmer, and a miner. He was married previous to Sep and had children. Lived in McDuffie county.
Letter 1
Camp Cutts Artillery Battalion
February 5th 1863
Col. J. B. Smith,
My dear friend, on my arrival at camp last Monday night from Barnett’s Ford two miles west of Orange Court House to which place the section of our battery to which I am attached was sent on picket the day before, I found a waiting for me your most welcome letter. Nothing of interest occurred on our trip to Barnett’s Ford and back more than turning top side down one of our guns as we were on the way back to camp on Monday night in the dark.
Since I wrote you before, we have withdrawn our guns from the river near Rapidan Station and are now encamped about halfway between that place and Orange Court House and about two and a half miles from each. We came here on the 21st ultimo and the next day began to build stables for our houses. We built for our battery horses (67) four stables 30 feet square, of logs and covered with boards. We were three days in building. Since then, most of the men have built houses for themselves so we are now right comfortably fixed.
Most happily for us, just as we had to begin our work, Corporal Ward arrived with a large number of boxes which he had brought from our friends at home, so while we had work to do, we had plenty to eat and we still have some of it left on hand. Many of our boys are at home on furlough now and I guess they enjoy there “the fat of the land.” We have eighteen at home from our company and three of them are due here this evening. When they get back, I suppose three others will get off unless they conclude to grant no more furloughs but I hope they will not do that. However, it is reported that quite a number of troops are being sent from Gen. Ewell’s Corp of this army—supposed destination Wilmington, North Carolina. If that is correct, it may possibly be that the granting furlough will be suspended for a while though it is by no means certain. I guess Al will “astonish the natives” when he goes to eat at home for rations had been short for some time when he left and he was in quite good plight for eating.
They have begun again to give us our regular rations of one fourth of a pound of meat per day. For the last ten days though we have been furnished meal and no flour and it does not take well at all. Well, Colonel, a few more short weeks and again we must begin those long weary marches. It is with some unpleasant recollections of the past, and evil forebodings for the future, I must admit when I think of it, knowing the effect of heat, fatigue and dust upon myself. As to the future fortunes of this army though, I apprehend no fear, for under the leadership of its great General, if properly provided for, success will mark its course.
Many of the troops here have enlisted for the war and their patriotic example will, no doubt, be followed by most if not all the army, showing that it is willing hearts they fight. Of course some will have to be forced to fight but they will be the exception and not the rules. Lest you tire of this dull letter, I conclude by subscribing myself as your friend. — J. W. Shank
Letter 2
Camp four miles from Gordonsville, Virginia
August 27th 1863
Col. J. B. Smith,
Dear friend, in accordance with my promise, I will write you this morning. I arrived in camp one mile from Orange Court House last Saturday evening, which was just three days from the time I left Augusta. I was not in the best humor when I got there though, for I had bad luck on the way. I lost both my boxes at Wilmington and have not heard from them since. I wrote to the agent there to forward them to Richmond and I may yet get them. When I got to Richmond, Jesse let my bottle of cod liver oil fall ad break, which I prozed so much as a present from yourself and from which I expected to derive so much benefit. So you see the fates seemed to be against me.
On reaching camp though, I found most of the boys in good health and most excellent spirits. The fight at Gettysburg has not in the least demoralized them but on the other hand, this army would be glad to meet Meade’s army again in battle. This army cannot be whipped and it would do some of “those blue people” in Georgia good, and rebuke them soundly, if they could go through this army and see the spirit and determination that pervades it. Some men at home have actually begun to contemplate the probability of a failure on the part of the Southern Confederacy but no such idea is entertained here amongst the soldiers. If she does go under, the fault is not ours.
I believe no fight is expected here in some time. The army is resting and recruiting its horses. We left our camp near Orange Court House last Monday and came to this camp where we find good grazing to recruit our horses which are in a worse condition than I ever saw them. The horses [we] got in Pennsylvania do not stand service and many of them have “played out.” The men can get a few green apples now and we can buy green corn at 6.25 cents per ear.
We are going to have a big green apple dumpling for dinner today. I forgot to tell you before I left home that I could not get one bit of dried fruit in my box. So many little bundles were sent in that I got very little in for myself. There has been a religious revival in the battalion recently and several in the company have professed religion. We had a chaplain a few weeks ago but he turned out to be such a “slow coach” that he was petitioned to resign or “move his washing” and he agreed to do the latter. Lieut. Calloway of our battalion preaches to us but is nearly worn down at it. We have services twice each day. Some of those lay preachers might do good work here if they would come out an be men.
Hoping to get an occasional letter from you, I will close. Yours most respectfully, — J. W. Shank
P. S. I send enclosed a letter from Jesse to his mother.
Letter 3
Camp near Orange Court House, Virginia
September 29th 1863
Dear Mother,
I wrote you a letter a short time after I came out here but have not received an answer to it yet so I will write you another. This leaves me well. I am living with Lieut. Griffin now taking care of the offices’ horses. Mr. Shank’s mess had a servant and he hired me to Lieut. Griffin for two months. I want you to send me twenty dollars by mail as soon as you can. We have not had any fight much here since I got back here. There has been two or three little fights but our company was not in them. We have had some right cool weather here and there was a right good frost last Wednesday morning. Th nights are cool now but it is warm in the day.
We get a good peach dumpling to eat right often out here and plenty of sugar with it, but there are so many pretty gals out here we can hardly eat for studying about them. I wrote you before I would soon be married but there are so many pretty ones, I can’t male a choice. Tell all the gals they must not think hard of me for not calling on them while I was there for they hurried me off so soon I did not have time to see them. I will try and see them all next time.
You must be sure and write to me soon. Direct your letter in care of Sergt. J. W. Shank, Irvin Artillery, Col. Vutts’ Battalion, Richmond, Virginia
Your affectionate son, — Jesse
Letter 4
Camp near Welford’s Ford [Hazel River]
November 4th 1863
Col. J. B. Smith,
Dear Sir, as I promised to send you a drawing or representation of our new Confederate flag, I will now do so having failed to send it in a letter which I wrote to you soon after I came out, which, by the way, has not been answered—or at least I have not received a reply—and but for fulfilling my promise, I don’t know that I should now write for there is an utter dearth of news and in consequence, of course, must fail to interest you.
We have had a good long march since I wrote to you before but we did not have enough fighting to make it interesting. Our battery did not go further north than Bristoe Station. All the country I saw north of the Rappahannock is a desert waste, bring stripped of all fencing and nearly every house being burnt & no crops at all growing. Even the churches are tirn down by the enemy to build their bunks of.
We have now had two weeks of rest being encamped on the south side of the river near Brandy Station and 5 or 6 miles from Culpeper Court House. We have had fine grazing for our horses and they have improved some but other food for them is rather scarce.
I send enclosed a letter for Jesse to his mother. He has never received a letter from her yet and is very anxious to get one. He thinks probably she gets someone else than you to write them and they may not be properly directed and wishes you to say to her to be sure and have them correctly backed.
In the drawings I have sent you—Figure 1—1, 2,3, 4 is the battle flag proper which was adopted in the fall of 1861 after the first Battle of Manassas and has a yellow binding but when combined with the white to form our national flag the yellow binding is left out.
Figure 2—A. B. C. D. is the national flag in which the battle flag A, b, c, d has the yellow binding left out. I do not know that I have the exact proportion of the battle flag to the national flag but it is the same as it was with the original flag—the “stars and bars.”
Please let me hear from you soon. Very respectfully, – J. W. Shank
Letter 5
Rapidan Station, Virginia
December 15th 1863
Col. J. B. Smith,
Dear sir, as we did not have a definite understanding as to how long I was to have the service of Jesse, I have given my note up to the first of January only, for the same, but being under the impression that I was to havethem longer of I chose, please let me know at your earliest opportunity if I am to have them next year and on the same terms, He is in good health and I have him comfortably clothed and an very well pleased with him and want him next year. Yours most respectfully, — J. W. Shank
$60 hire & usual clothes.
Letter 6
Camp near Rapidan Station, Virginia
December 21st 1863
J. B. Smith, Esq.
Dear friend, as there is nothing in camp to do today, I will try to amuse myself by writing, hoping you will excuse me for not writing oftener. It has been nearly a year since I had a letter from you and I did not answer so you acted right by not writing any more. I hope you will pardon me for being so negligent about writing.
There is nothing exciting in the army now. Our battery is on the out lines about 600 yards rear of the picket line. There are no Yanks nearer than 4 miles of us. The boys are all well. My health never was better than it is now. I hardly know what sickness is until some times I have neuralgia either in my hip or face.
We are enjoying ourselves finely now. We have pretty good huts with good brick chimneys. We sit around our fires as big as if we were at home for such life as we now live we will live a good while without a change in affairs. But my only hope is to fight until the Yanks are satisfied to let us alone. When I get ready to submit to Lincoln’s rule, I want to die and not live any longer. Some may say give up but I say never as long as any of us live.
We have been living pretty high for the last week of good things that the old folks sent us from home. You have no idea how the boys welcome a box from home. They had as soon see it as someone from home. I would like to see you very much if you could make it convenient to come up any time.
We are having some pretty cold weather. The ground is hard frozen this morning and will be all day. It’s cloudy and I think it will snow before night and I have got to stand guard in it tomorrow night as cold as it may be. The enemy has to be watched. Our camp is on the river above the railroad, about a mile from wood so you see we have to haul our wood or go without. We have only one wagon and it is kept busy all of the time. And if the weather gets bad, we will suffer for wood or make fences suffer, which is plentiful all around us. — J. A. Shank
You must write to me soon and let me know how you get along with the widows and old maids which are so numerous now in that neighborhood. I would like to be with them Christmas, if no longer. I must close. You must excuse my mistakes and bad writing. Your friend, — J[oseph] A. Shank
Letter 7
Army of Northern Virginia
January 29th 1864
J. B. Smith, Esq.
Dear friend, you kind favor of the 31st December was received many days ago but being lazy, I have out off answering it until now. I have no news that would interest you. My health is as good as I could wish for. All of the boys are well and in fine spirits.
We have moved our camp on the 21st from the river. Col. Cutts became uneasy after staying on the river 8 weeks for fear we might be captured, there being no pickets between us and the river and moved to this camp about two miles east of the [Orange] Court House. We have built stables and houses are better fixed up than we were on the river. Our camp is beautifully located on a branch at the foot of Quarles Mountain—fine water and plenty of wood.
The two armies are quiet on the Rapidan. Both seem to be preparing for the coming campaign. Our army is in fine spirits, pretty well clothed, but not so well fed, but the commissary is more liberal now than he was some time back. For a while, he did not give any meat but now he gives a little meat and a plenty of bread. We sometimes get a few extra things such as sugar, coffee, rice and molasses. Our company has got a good many boxes from home and we live well now—too good for a soldier.
If we were like Gen. Lee, we would not eat anything good. He refused to eat a fine dinner in Richmond because all of his army did not have the same opportunity to get as good a dinner. People at home should not get despondent when they lose a few things for the Confederacy. If they look at the losses our noble leader has met with, their sufferings are nothing to be compared with his. His home has been confiscated. His son is confined in a northern prison and still he is in fine spirits and confident of success. And whenever Bob Lee’s army gets to be a set of croakers, then people may begin to be despondent. All Lee’s army asks is to be fed and clothed and they will be content to do the fighting.
The weather has been remarkably warm for the last week—something similar to spring in Georgia. I am afraid if the weather don’t get cooler, we will have to fight soon. Up till now the weather has been colder than it has been in several years before. The ice on the Rapidan was 12 inches thick in the mill pond.
Most of the people predict great things this year. Many think the war will be closed this year. I don’t know what to say on the subject. I hope it may and that we may enjoy that peace for which we have been so long fighting.
We have various ways of amusement here. There is a theater in Wilcox’s Brigade and we have music on the violin and all it lacks to make it good is the ladies—the greatest things on earth. If it was not for them, I would not fight any more.
I must close. I hope you will excuse this poor letter. My hands is so stiff I can’t use a pen well, and besides I have to go in inspection in a few minutes and have written in a hurry. Give my respects to all. I hope to do better next time I write. Your friend as ever, — J[oseph] A. Shank
Letter 8
Camp Cutts’ Artillery
March 19th 1864
Col. J. B. Smith,
My dear friend, your letter of the 7th ult. was received in due time and but for the fact that I had written to you just a few days previous to its reception, I should have answered it earlier. The barrel and box that you said had started to us arrived two days ago. They were a long time on the road and the weather having turned much warmer, the sausage—as you feared—were spoiled. The flour and meal though were fresh and good—far superior to any that we have had since those “good old days” when we ate almost wholly from your own mills. You will please accept many thanks from myself and mess mates for these good things. And should it ever be your fortune to be placed in our situation, though away from access to relatives and friends of your youth, may you have found friends in the “sunny climes of the South”, even in Old Georgia, who will prove as true to, and be as mindful of you as you have been of us, and send you like tokens of friendship. You can imagine how much we appreciate the flour when I tell you that we have drawn nothing scarcely but meal for two months and even had it been all meal such as you sent us, would be quite a treat compared with the coarse, branny, unsifted meal that we get.
In the way of news, there is positively nothing in this quarter. Furloughs have been suspended for the present, but for what reason we do not know unless it be to use all means of transportation south of Richmond for bringing supplies as Virginia soldiers are still allowed furloughs and transportation as far south as Petersburg.
The weather has been remarkably dry for some time and the roads are in excellent condition. Hoping to hear from you again soon, I remain truly your friend, — J. W. Shank
Letter 9
Camp Cutts’ Artillery
May 1st 1864
Col. J. B. Smith,
Dear friend, your letters of the 12th and 21st inst. [ult.] have both been received, but coming in such close proximity, I had not time to answer the first before the other came so I will make one answer suffice for both. The boxes you forwarded us have not yet arrived but we expect them to reach here soon.
There is nothing in the way of news here that you do not get in the newspapers. The same old stale phrase, “All quiet on the Rapidan” is still current. Some of the Yankee cavalry did make a demonstration across the Roberson River a few days ago upon the strength of which our battery and Capt. Patterson’s of our Battalion had to leave our comfortable beds at 2 o’clock a.m. and repair to Barnett’s Ford, but everything soon quieted down and we returned to camp.
We have had fine weather for some time now and the roads are in excellent condition for moving armies. This army has been put in good trim. All extra baggage has been reduced to thirty pounds. Two divisions—[Lafayette] McLaws’s and [Charles] Field’s of Longstreet’s army [1st Corps] are near here and ready to take a hand in any little excitement that may come off here soon. I guess from the way the Northern papers foam over the Fort Pillow and Plymouth affairs, it won’t be wholesome in a fellow to be captured this campaign. 1 They now lift their hands in “holy horror” at what they term barbarity and ask when did they ever exercise such cruelty. To hear them tell it, they have been very kind to us and we had better desist from provoking them to acts of cruelty by way of retaliation. For them to talk of retaliation when they inaugurate the system is a farce which we can all understand and know how to meet.
It again devolves upon this grand old Army of Virginia to lower the enemy’s proud boastings. It knows its mission and will fulfill it by knocking the props from under their boasted chieftain and last great bubble Grant, and whipping “the finest army on the planet.”
As preaching hour is near at hand, I will close, hoping to hear from you soon. I remain, most truly, your friend, — J. W. Shank
1 Northern papers were filled at the time with reports of the “atrocities” committed by Rebel troops at Fort Pillow near Memphis, Tennessee, and at Plymouth, North Carolina, where Black soldiers were killed following their surrender.
Letter 10
Camp Cutts’ Battalion
May 2nd 1864
Col. J. B. Smith,
Dear friend, as I have finished a huge letter to Jess’ mother and as I shall direct it to you, I will let you hear once more from the Rapidan. All of the boys you know are perfectly well. There are only a few sick men in the company though there are more than we have had for some time back. Our company has about 125 men for duty at present—nearly as strong as some regiments.
We have had a very long rest spell here, not having done any marching in the last five months. It is true a part of the battalion have done a little fighting but my company has not fired a gun since we left Gettysburg.
The weather is very good. The days are warm and the nights are pleasant. We have no fires—only to cook. There has not been any rain now in a week and the roads are in the best condition you ever saw. There is no excuse for a general moving an army now. If Grant feels able to move, he can do it at his own will. We are not anxious to shake hands with him, but if he puts himself in the way of Lee’s ragged rebels, he will be apt to go nearer Washington than he now is with many of his men left behind and he may lose many of his stores and much ordnance before he gets away. I don’t say these things in a boasting way but I believe if Grant attacks Lee, he will get one of the biggest whippings he ever carried from a battlefield. Grant let Polk whip him at Belmont and I think he will have to take one from this army.
No doubt you have heard by this time Longstreet’s Corps was here. I will tell you the strength of our army as well as I can so you can judge how we stand compared with the Yankees. Hill’s Corp has about 27,000 men and Ewell has about 25,000, making 52,000 infantry and artillery. There are about 16,000 cavalry and Longstreet has about 12,000 now. You can judge from the different corps how many men we have here. I get these from the commissary department by proportioning each division with ours. Our division has 9,000 men and there are 5 full divisions in this army and one that is not which makes in the 2nd and 3rd Corps, 52,000 and the artillery thrown in which is about 5,000 men. There are about 16,000 cavalry making in all 68,000 and the 1st Corps makes 80,000 besides many new regiments that are coming.
Colonel, our mail is very irregular coming through and after we get letters that you mail the same day three days apart. That is, John will get a letter mailed the 23rd of April on the 28th and I will get on the 30th which shows to me that someone opens the packages that you fix up. I hope you will understand me what I mean and please let me know if you mail all letters to this army direct or to Augusta.
I don’t say my estimate of the army is true, but it is tolerably near it. I merely mention it to show you how strong the army [is]; don’t take it to be the true estimate.
Colonel, if you can get resolution of Colston’s Brigade at Savannah in regard to Brown’s message, I will be much obliged to you if you will send them to me. I will close. Give my respects to all. Your true friend, — J[oseph] A. Shank
Letter 11
Mount Pleasant or Archer’s Bluff, Virginia
July 2nd 1864
Col. J. B. Smith,
Dear friend, your kind letter of the 11th of May was received a day or two ago and although it was old, it was read with much pleasure. I have no news of any note to write more than all are well except. Lt. Griffin. He has been complaining some for the last two days with rheumatism but he is much better today. There are some sick men in the company. How many I am unable to say [but] not many judging from the men I see daily on the lines.
We have to fight a little most every day and work nearly every night so you see we are engaged nearly all the time but it so happened with us we have men enough to rest every other day. Things are quite different with me today compared with what they were a year ago today. One year ago we were at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Today we are at Petersburg, Virginia. We had a hard fight one year ago and may have another today, I am unable to say as we have fights nearly every day that passes. Our late battles have been successful. We have taken many prisoners and 19 pieces of artillery which will make back those lost by the 2nd Corps at Spotsylvania Court House.
Our Corps is called the tail end of the army but we have done more here than any other in the army. Besides the guns and prisoners we have taken a good many horses from Yankee raiders. Nearly the whole of those captured have been by Mahone’s Division—as good a division as there is in the army & formerly was Anderson’s. [William, or “Little Billy”] Mahone is a small man, talks very fine, and is ugly enough to scare any set of men that did not know him. He is very sociable and will talk with a private as quick as he would with a Lt. General. He is much liked by his men.
The enemy has shelled this town a good deal. There has been some women killed—mostly black women. I have not heard of any man being killed yet. Our battery has to fire on the battery that fires on the town but we don’t do much with it as it is a good works.
No one from our neighborhood has been hurt yet. The casualties in our battalion are heavier here than they were at any other point we have fought at. Our company has lost two very fine soldiers here. They both were good men. Gus Cleveland from our county was killed on the 24th of June and Corporal Cumming from Louisiana was killed on the 28th, both by pieces of shell. One was struck in the back and the other in the face. The other two companies have lost a man each and there has been some 8 or 10 wounded—mostly slight except one or two. We get a plenty to eat and are doing pretty well.
I must close as my stamps are out. I shall have to frank my letter. Your affectionate friend, — J[oseph] A. Shank
My regards to all. Write when you can.
Letter 12
Near Petersburg, Virginia
July 17th 1864
Dear Mother,
As I have not written to you since I left winter quarters, I guess it is time to write you one. We have had a right hard time since we left winter quarters—especially myself, for I was taken sick soon after we started with a very bad cold and cough and had right smart of fever and did not get over it for a month. The white men had to be on the lines most of the time so they could not do much for me and there was no where for me to go but stay with the army. So I toughed it out and am now entirely well.
There has been some terrible fighting at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania C. H., Cold Harbor, and around Petersburg. The muskets and big cannon roared tremendously and the men were killed and wounded by thousands. I took good care to keep myself out of the way of the balls. We have been here now four weeks and are well rested by this time. It is powerful dry and hot though. There has not been enough rain to lay the dust since we have been here and it was real dusty when we got here. Our men and the Yankees shoot their cannon here every day. You must not all get scared of the Yankees at Atlanta. I send howdy to you and my sisters and to all my friends my best respects. I have not heard from you all in a long time. I would like to hear from you all. You must be sure to write soon. Your affectionate son, — Jesse
From Jesse to his mother.
Letter 13
Near Petersburg, Virginia
August 5th 1864
Col. J. B. Smith,
Dear friend, it has been a long long time since I got a letter from you; not since I left winter quarters I know, but Joe tells me you say you wrote me two letters to which you received no reply so it must have been the fault of the mails for I did not receive yours, and on the other hand wrote you two or three after the last I got from you. Hoping the mail may not prove so unreliable again, I will write you another.
Today is the Sabbath and even Grant seems disposed to respect it, not a gun having been fired that I have heard up to this hour (11 a.m.). There was a considerable little fight across the river Friday evening but you will get all the particulars of that in the papers before this reaches you. There has been less shelling than usual on our lines for the last week. Our company now mans seven guns of which four are 10-pounder Richmond Parrotts, two are 30-pounder Parrotts, and one is a 3-inch Yankee rifle. They are scattered along a line heretofore occupied by our battery, four of Capt. Ross’ guns and four of Capt. Penick’s—the two latter having been moved to other points.
Grant and his army have “played out” and “all is right” in this department. If Hood can bring Sherman’s campaign to a head as Lee has brought Grant’s, we will be “all right side up with care,”—at least for some time to come. We get all sorts of rumors from there. One was current in camp yesterday that some Yankee cavalry were lurking near Barnett Station on the Georgia Railroad but not much credence was given to it.
This army is now reaping some of the fruits of Early’s success—fresh beef that he captured in Maryland and Pennsylvania being issued to us every alternate day. The summer has been so dry here that vegetables are scarce. Nearly all the green apples have been eaten and black berries are all gone.
Gen. Lee is again granting furloughs at the rate of 2 to every 100 men. Two of our men—Eli Smith and Toby Norman—left about a week ago and I guess are now seeing a fat time. I guess you will see Fee at home before you see this as he was to have left Richmond for home yesterday morning on sick furlough, so says Irvin’s negro boy John who saw him there the day before. He is a lucky fellow to get furloughs, this being the third time he has been home. We want to give Jesse a furlough the next time any one from our company gets a furlough and will take him along and bring him back.
Write to me as soon as you can conveniently. Your friend, — J. W. Shank
Letter 14
In Line of Battle Near Petersburg, Virginia
August 9th 1864
Dear Colonel, your kind favor of the 28th July was received a few days ago which was read with much pleasure. I have no news of any interest to write you more than we are well and getting along finely. Tom Shank thought he would try an experiment blowing up flies yesterday morning, but did not succeed so well, he poured powder on fire, and burnt his face and right hand. He is not badly burnt. The Dr. says he will be well in a few days. It is not a bad burn by any means. His eyes are not hurt. The experiment is not a very dangerous one, but it don’t pay to get the fuzz scratched of to kill a few flies.
The fighting has nearly played out here. There may be a few more mines sprung a charge or two more made on our lines, but I don’t think there will be another general attack here. The opinion of most of the men (in the army) is the plains of Manassas will be stained with the blood of many men fighting—one for liberty, and the other for money. One side will be the flower of the South: on the other the officious of the world. There will be some heavy fighting in the [Shenandoah] Valley this year.
Grant has well nigh played out. He is the only man that has ever fought as this army wanted him to fight. The morale in the army is as good as it ever was (except in (Wilcox’s Division). I don’t know what to think of them. Wilcox is a good officer and one that I liked, but his men don’t have any confidence in him. He has two North Carolina Brigades, one South Carolina (Gregg’s old Brigade), and Thomas’ Georgia Brigade. The North Carolinas Brigades are pretty good fighters, but the other two are not and I think the fault lies in the Brigade commanders.
This army is not as well fed as I like to see for there is hardly bread enough issued to it. Meat and coffee rations are sufficient, but seven pints of meal is not enough for a man in one week, when Negros used to get 16 a week, and say they did not get enough to eat. The weather is very warm and vegetables are hard to get.
2½ p.m. As I have taken a good dinner, I will try to finish my letter. I have heard no news since morning. There was a heavy explosion at half past 12 in the neighborhood of City Point—supposed to be one of the enemy’s boats that had run afoul of a torpedo (in the James). I hope it was Grant’s whole fleet. If it was not a boat, it was a magazine of some sort for there was a good deal of powder used in the explosion. We have had some rain today and hope we will get more.
J. W. [Shank] says he has never received your letters but will write soon. Excuse my short and poorly written letter. My pen gave out and I had to finish with a pencil. Give my respects to all. Your affectionate friend, — Joe S[hank]
Letter 15
Camp of Irvin Artillery near Petersburg, Virginia
September 21st 1864
Col. J. B. Smith,
My dear friend, it has been a good while since I wrote you last but you must no conclude therefrom that I have forgotten you for notwithstanding there are many things that I would have submerged beneath the “Lethean wave,” yet I hope I may never be so ungrateful as to forget a friend.
To the last letter I wrote you in winter quarters, I received no answer and during the early part of the campaign, we were kept so busy that I did not write.. Since we have been at Petersburg, I have written you a letter, to which, also, I got no response so I conclude to write you again.
The boys at home on furlough have given you a more accurate account of our situation than I could possibly give you on paper. We still occupy Fort Mahone and it is no very comfortable situation since we have to bring our guns out every night and take them back every morning under a continuous picket firing which has been kept up ever since our pickets were driven from a portion of their original line in our front some three weeks ago. We have had three men wounded, neither of them wounded dangerous, but each one will, I suppose, get a furlough.
We are enjoying the luxury of fresh beef which Gen. Hampton transferred from Grant’s commissary to ours.
The weather here continues warm and dry—very fine for Grant to attack if he feels so inclined. But he knows to his chagrin this “Old Army of Northern Virginia” which is a sore obstacle to his possessing Richmond.
I guess Lincoln is sorely puzzled whether to risk his election on the fall of Atlanta or to go further and make his election sure by crushing Lee’s army, or in that attempt to lose all by an utter defeat. I think his safest plan is to risk it as it stands for if he attacks us, he is—to use an army phrase,”gone up a spout.” But what does it matter with us if he is elected. He will fight two years and if he is not [elected], the war horse McClellan comes in and he will fight four. So it is war anyhow. So we have nothing to do but fight on as ever. They will tire of it some day. They are not as unanimous North as they were two years ago and that want of unanimity must increase until it becomes so great they can no longer make war and then will come our time.
Those “ulterior consequences” that McClellan mentions, we will calmly meet and he too will get more tired even than he did in ’62 when he “changed his base” so suddenly and he will have to change his base (his letter of acceptance) before he is done with rebels and seek shelter under a peace policy just as he did under his gunboats in ’62.
But as this is already too long, I must close. We are having some chills and fever in our company at present. No other news of any interest. Hoping to get a letter from you in response to this. I remain with much respect your friend, — J. W. Shank
Letter 16
Petersburg, Virginia
October 3rd 1864
Mr. Smith,
Dear sir, as I am off duty today, I will write you of our whereabouts and things generally, but more particularly to let you know the lady that wanted the draft board.
I landed in camp last night a weeks ago all safe. We had as pleasant a trip as railway accommodations will afford these war times. We had a breakdown this side of Columbia, South Carolina, that was not very agreeable at thetime, but would do to laugh at afterward.
We will have a lively time with the Yanks no doubt before the close of many days. There is troops a moving nearly all the time. The most of them are moving to our right. I suppose by that the big fight will come off in a few days on the Weldon Railroad.
The same proud spirit that was visible at the beginning of the war can still be seen here. The spirits of the people have not abated under our lates reverses. A proud air of defiance can be seen on every countenance. The spirits of the soldiers are indomitable. I have heard nothing of going back into the Union, and being in the lines of the Yanks since I got to Petersburg. Theboys are looking finely and are in good health.
The young lady that wished the draft board is Miss Mollie Campbell. I am very sorry I did not think to give you her name before I left, but probably you have found out about it before now.
As my paper is full, I will stop. Give my regards to all and accept the compliments of your friend, — W[illiam Baxter] Shank
Letter 17
Battery 37. Petersburg, Defenses, Va.
October 9th, 1864
J. B. Smith. Esq.,
Dear sir, as I promised to let you hear from me occasionally, I will try and give you a few lines today as it is cold and windy. I have no news of any importance. All are well and getting along finely. We have but little to do now since we left Fort Mahone and came to this place. But we worked enough at the old fort to have a little rest, if there any such thing as rest these days. Judging from all appearances, I think our rest will be of a short duration. Grant seems to be very uneasy and is moving around considerably adn looks as if he would like to fight in a few days. He knows his master Abe wants him to do big things by the first Wednesday in November, and he knows Lee will not let him (if he is able, which we all believe he is) so he is in hot water and does not know what to do. If we get a few men in the next month more than we have, all will go well here.
As Sherman walked into Atlanta, so would Grant like to walk into Richmond. And he would so do if he had anyone else to contend with besides Gen. Lee and his veterans. There has been two pretty considerable fights since I have been back. One we were partially successful in. The other we were entirely successful. In the first fight we lost some ground and a little artillery. How much, I don’t know. Only one piece here at Fort McRea. How many at Fort Harrison we have never been able to find out. Grant says 15. He says we had only 300 men at the fort and at the least calculations, it would have taken 135 artillery men for 15 guns and there was only 165 infantry men left. One Battalion that was at the fort had over 3600 men in it, and it was separate from the artillery. So by his own accounts, we make him out a lie one way or another. His loss, he says, is about 5,000. Ours 800, so he can these forts be a litle loss to us and a heavy one to himself?
The last fight which was last Friday, we drove Grant 4 miles, capturing 10 pieces of artillery and a great many prisoners. Hood’s old division did the fighting under Lt. Gen. [George T.] Anderson. Our forces are getting to be small. We are fronting Grant with 100,000 with about 60,000 and this may be an over estimate of our troops. If we could only get him to fight us with his whole force at one point where Gen. Lee could superintend our troops fighting, Grant would get a good, decent whipping. Our troops are in fine spirits and confident of success as ever.
If I get forgiveness for this letter, I will never try another on Sunday or a windy day.
We get tolerably good rations of beef now but would like more flour if we could get it. We got one day of beef and one of bacon.
Colonel, you must speak a good word for me among the girls and keep them from running off when the Yanks come down that way. You must excuse bad writing for the wind blows so much grit on my paper, my pen will not write well.
Write when convenient to your friend, — J[oseph] A. Shank
Letter 18
Petersburg, Virginia
November 7th 1864
Dear Mother,
As I have not written to you since I left home. I thought I would let you hear from me once more. I am well and hope you are enjoying a singular blessing.
Send my socks first chance you have. Tell Mr. Bussy’s girls howdy and that I would have written to them before now, but the girls of Petersburg occupy my attention so as to give me but little time to think of them.
If you want me to come home Christmas, you will have to let me have a part of this year’s wages to pay my way. You must let me know what you will do about it.
I want you and Mr. Smith to send me a box as soon as you can. Put in some sorghum, peas, butter and meat of any you have.
Having no other news, I close. Your affectionate son, –Jesse Day to his Mother
Colonel, you will excuse me for not writing you a letter. I have no news to write. We are well and getting along as well as could be expected. The weather is cool and cloudy. Yesterday morning we had a “pretty high frost” as we term it at Petersburg, ad thick ice.
The barrels of flour arrived a few days ago for which you have the thanks of your friend, — J. A. Shank
Col., please send this to Jesse’s mother as soon as it is convenient. Nothing more at present. Your true friend, — J. A. S.
Letter 19
Reserve Camp, Lane’s Battalion
December 6th 1864
Col. J. B. Smith,
My dear friend, I saw Jess a few days ago and he told me he had hired himself to Lieut. Early of the 48th Georgia Regiment. He showed me a letter which Lieut. Early addressed to yourself and which he said he would send you, in which he promises to pay Jess $30 per month and clothing for the year. As Iam responsible to you for him when his time with me is out, I wish you to let me know as soon as possible if I must turn him over to Lieut. Early or send him home. Mr. Hyman of our company tells me that Lieut. Early is a very nice man.
I believe there is no news here of much interest. Capt. Wingfield will send up a detail of three of his sergeants today to go home to get them horses. They will be back in about two months and then your humble servant will go home to try his hand for a horse. If you see any “lying around loose,” please let me know.
There is an old man going through the army collecting money to construct a “bird of art.” He says if he succeeds, he will soon have enough of them constructed to drive Grant’s army out of Virginia. Each bird is to carry one man and one shell which he is to drop on the Yankees as he flies over them. He is either a “mad man” or a “humbug” and is making a great deal of money out of simple soldiers. I heard him speak yesterday and am satisfied that his theory of a bird’s flight is absurd.
I wish I had time to write you a longer letter but the mail is waiting. Please let me hear from you as soon as possible. Very respectfully, — J. W. Shank
Letter 20
At Home
February 30th 1865
Colonel,
You will please accept my kindest thanks for the jug of whiskey you sent me. I shall have some glorious drinks over it. I send you the jug back as it is just as convenient to empty it now as anytime. Do not harbor any regrets at not giving me an egg-nog yesterday as I only take them at morning and night, so you see I am not behind. Again, thanking you for the whiskey, I remain as ever your friend, truly, — J. W. Shank
Spared & Shared 23 