The following letters were written by Pvt. John A. W. Hickey (1827-1863) of Co. E, 30th Battalion Virginia Sharpshooters. According to muster rolls, John did not enlist with the Sharpshooters until 12 February 1863. They also inform us that he died at Emory & Henry College Hospital, Washington county, Virginia on 30 June 1863. His cause of death was given as “Febris Remittens” or intermittent fever. An obituary published in the Abingdon Virginian (10 July 1863) states that John Hickey was in poor health prior to the war yet he attempted to volunteer in 1861 but was rejected as unfit. When he was conscripted early in 1863, however, he was accepted for service and ordered to report to Dublin Depot.
Hickey wrote these letters from Dublin Depot which functioned as a vital Confederate logistical and tactical point on the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. He wrote the letters to his wife, Margaret Elizabeth (“Betty”) Minnick Hickey (1830-1933) on the farm near Abingdon. They were married in 1847 and had three children at the time that John entered the Confederate service.
Letter 1
Dublin Depot
February 19th 1863
Dear Betty,
I seat myself on a stick of wood this morning to let you know that I am as well as common and as well satisfied as could be expected of one so little accustomed to military affairs as myself. I arrived here yesterday morning at 8 o’clock. I stood guard last night from 6 o’clock till ten and went on at 6 till morning again till 8 and have to go on at twelve again till two.
I like my company very well. They so far have treated me very kind and courteously. I am messed with John Minnick, John Vanhoose, the company commissary Ben Glenn, a son of James Glenn and second cousin of Poly Anne. There is a great many of this company from Washington county. The country around about Dublin lies very well—much better than the region I left. Dublin itself is a very small, muddy place with exceeding Big ways.
Everything is military here. You see nothing here but something that is intended to promote the interests of the war. If I could see you, I could tell you a great many things which perhaps will not pay to write. I gave Smith B___ some envelopes for you. If you [ ] some stamps today, I will send you some as there is none in Abingdon.
When you write, direct as follows: Dunlin Depot, Va. Co. E, 30th Battalion Sharpshooters, but instead of the word Sharpshooters, put S. S. Tell Haynes Latham that Jake Rhea is here, fat and saucy, and says to send him a letter. — John A. W. Hickey
Letter 2
Dublin Depot, Va.
March 29th 1863
Dear Betty,
I received your letter of the 26th this morning and was glad to hear you are all well. You said Kit was sold for one hundred and forty dollars. I want to know who got her and if the money was paid down. I want it paid out immediately to Leander Minnick or anybody else that I may owe a just debt to. If anybody refuses to take it, tell Mr. Caldwell to inform me of it immediately.
I want you to be careful of everything thats to eat. Don’t sell anything nor let anybody steal it for I will again admonish you that the times that tries men souls is just now dawning. You wanted to know if I had anything to eat. I will just say if you call bread and water anything, we have plenty. We have beef issued to us, but it stinks as bad as a dead horse. I cannot eat a bite of it and I don’t know what I am to do as the commissary says it’s eat it or starve. I believe I’ll starve. If you could send me something, it would be very acceptable. If you could get a box and send a ham of meat, some butter, molasses, pies, and sweet bread and chicken, I will remember you all for it. If you get it sent to the Depot, have it expressed to Dublin and I will pay expenses when it comes. Don’t cook anything that can be sent without.
I don’t know how long we will stay here but we will be apt to stay here sometime yet if officers tell the truth. I am well at this time though I have been very bad off with soreness in my shoulders and sides. [unsigned]
Letter 3
Dublin Depot, Virginia
June 15, 1863
Dear Betty,
I drop you a few lines to inform you of my whereabouts and health. I am not very well. I have had the diarrhea for several days though I have perfmed [my] duty all the time. The water here is so bad and we have nothing to eat but corn bread and fat meat.
We are at Dublin yet but I think we will leave here before long. Where we will go, I have no idea but it is more than likely we will go to Kentucky. But it is very uncertain. We may go somewhere else. Men are getting very tired of this war. They are deserting from the Army of the Potomac by scores.
As to my coming home this summer, it is very uncertain. But I will come home a day or two if I can. But you need not look for me till you see me. I would like to have some butter if I could get it and a cheese if you had it. You don’t know how hard the poor soldier has to live and if he buys anything, he must pay six prices and a man getting $11 per month can’t stand it.
Write soon. So goodbye. — John A. W. Hickey
[to] Margaret E. Hickey
