I could not find an image of James but here is one of Luther Hart Clapp of Co. C, 37th Virginia Infantry (LOC)
The following letter was written by Andrew Haller Nye (1834-1918) from Monterey, Highland county, Virginia, where he was attending to his older brother, James Alexander Kincannon Nye (1833-1861) of Co. F (“Glade Spring Rifles”) of the 37th Virginia Infantry. They were the sons of John R. Nye (1797-1871) and Sarah McDonald Kincannon (1807-1878) of Washington county, Virginia.
James was married in September 1858 to Ann Eliza Byars. He died of typhoid fever while in the service at Monterey just two days after this letter was written.
Andrew later served in the war himself, enlisting in March 1864 to serve in Levi-Barr’s Light Artillery. He was taken prisoner at Sailor’s Creek and held until 1 July 1865.
Transcription
Monterey, Highland county, Virginia September 3rd 1861
Since I wrote last there has been but little change in James but I think maybe he is a little better this evening, though but very little. Some think he looks right smart better. I hope he feels better than he looks. He has taken so much medicine he has no appetite for anything. The doctors have been giving him some powders to sharpen his appetite. He asked Samuel Hutton 1 to let him taste his wine. I gave him two teaspoonfuls of it and he said it tasted good. I am in hopes he will begin to eat a little in a day or two.
Dr. Butler gave him a little roasted apple this morning. I do wish it was so I could get him away from here if it was but a mile or two in the country for there is a continual rattling of wagons here in town, though he don’t appear to mind it much.
P. B. Thurman 2 died night before last [and] was buried today. Dr. Gaines lost another child with dypyheria.
Dr. [Robert E.] Grant’s company (Co. H, 37th Virginia] arrived here today. They will leave for Greenbrier in the morning. Bush looks tolerable well. He drove a wagon from Staunton. Tell P. to keep my ch____ stopped tight and my cases where they will not get wet. I received a letter today from Staunton from men wanting to buy. I must close. No fight yet at Greenbrier.
Give my love to all the family and accept the same yourself. My best respects to the neighbors. Write soon and give me all the news. I haven’t received but one letter yet that Dr. [Christopher C.] Alderson brought me. I would write more but haven’t time. In haste, your brother, — A. H. Nye
1 Samuel John Hutton (b. 1838) enlisted on 25 April 1861 at a 2nd Lieutenant in Co. F, 37th Virginia Infantry. He was from Glade Spring, Washington county, Virginia.
2 17 year-old Powhatan B. Thurman enlisted on 5 May 1861 at Glade Spring, Washington county, Virginia, as a private in Co. F, 37th Virginia Infantry. He died at Monterey, Virginia, on 1 September 1861.
I cannot make out the surname of this soldier whom I believe served in the 25th Maine Infantry. This regiment mustered into service on 29 September 1862 for nine-months’ and was stationed at Camp Seward, Arlington Heights, Virginia, on November 4, 1862. The camp, located across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., provided defense fortifications for the city during the war. Camp Seward was named for William Seward, Lincoln’s Secretary of State and former rival for the presidency.
The print below is one of many that Rosenthal’s Lith., a printing company in Philadelphia. made of Civil War encampments. This one is signed L. N. Rosenthal. Louis was one of four brothers in the company. They were pioneers in chromolithograph printing. Soldiers probably could buy prints that showed their regiment.
Transcription
Camp Seward Arlington Heights November 15, 1862
Friend Hattie,
I take this opportunity to write you a few lines and let you know that we are all well and are having easy times as anybody could wish to have. Night before last we went up to a hotel and we [ ] paid our bills. I did not think that we were coming out here to be gentlemen and stopping about to hotels and wearing white gloves and such things as them. I thought that we were coming out here to fight. But we are having high [times], growing fat, ugly and black.
But how do you get along down in Soddom? You said that you had quite a party and I am glad to hear that parties are not quite all stopped yet. But Hat, to tell you the truth, I have not seen but one white girl since we have been out here—or at least what I call white. The rest of them are paddies and dutch girls. I was over to Washington and I saw one Northern girl and some talk with her. She belong in Bangor and had a brother sick in the hospital in this city. But enough of this.
Who do you think came to our camp today? It is Bill Noyes. 1 He says that he is a going back to his regiment pretty soon and that they have seen some good times and some hard ones, but he looks well now and he says when they heard from the regiment last, they had about one hundred and fifty members.
I must get my supper now for the rest have all got theirs and I shall lose it if I don’t go after it. So good [bye] till after supper.
Now I have had my supper and what do you think it was? I will tell you what it was—bread and [mo]lasses. What are you a going to have for Thanksgiving? I [hope] it will be something good. And I want you to eat all you can for yourself and then eat as much more for me. You wanted to know how Mr. Andrews was. He is well. If you only knew what he said about you, you would not have anymore to say to Henry. Shall I tell him to write or not? But [I must] stop for I have not got much more room to spare. How is Maine and the rest of the folks up to Pea [?] Village. Is Mandy at home? When you see Mandy, tell her that I should like to ask her a few questions. But enough of this. I must close now for I want to write a few lines to Lide. So goodbye till I hear from you. write soon. Excuse all [mistakes].
Your friend, — Lewis [ ]
1 There were two soldiers by the name William Noyes who served in Maine Regiments that may have been the one referenced in this letter. One was William S. Noyes (1840-1911) of Saco, York county, Maine. He enlisted on 24 June 1861 as a private in Co. C, 5th Maine Infantry. He was taken prisoner at First Bull Run and confined at Richmond for a time. He then served as a hospital steward in 1862. The other William Noyes served in Co. E, 10th Maine Infantry. He was wounded on 9 August 1862 at Cedar Mountain, Virginia. He gave his residence as North Yarmouth, Maine.
I could not find an image of Charles Roberts and his older brother Tom who served with him in Co. C of the 94th OVI, but here is one of George and Samuel Detrick who served in Company A. (Library of Congress)
The following letters were written by Charles Roberts who was 18 years old when he enlisted in 5 August 1862 to serve three years in Co. C, 94th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). This regiment was mustered into service at Camp Piqua on 24 August 1862 and four days later, without uniforms or camp equipage and never having been drilled as a regiment, it was ordered to Kentucky, that state being then invaded by Confederate forces under Kirby Smith. But a veteran regiment could not have behaved better than it did in the affair at Tate’s ferry, where it was first under fire and lost 2 men killed and 6 wounded. With the exception of some hard work in the trenches in defense of Louisville, and a participation in two or three “grand reviews,” the regiment had a very easy time until the movement began which resulted in the battle of Perryville and the driving of Bragg’s Confederate army from Kentucky. Charles’ first letter was written from Camp Buell in Kentucky.
Charles’ second letter was written after the Battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge where the regiment played a prominent part, being in the grand charge upon the ridge. It was then with Sherman on his march to Atlanta though Charles was wounded on 14 May 1864 at the Battle of Resaca, Georgia, in the first battle of that campaign. He survived the wound to muster out with the company on 5 June 1865.
Charles was the son of wagon-maker Israel Roberts (1807-1883) and Elizabeth Coddington (1809-1861) of Brown township, Miami county, Ohio.
[Note: These letters are from the personal collection of Greg Herr and were transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Letter 1
[Camp Buell] September 21, 1862
My Dear Father,
I take this opportunity to let you know that I am well at present and hope you are enjoying the same blessing. Jim and Tom are well. I want you to send me a little money if you please.
I heard the bullets buzz anyhow at [the] Kentucky river and the bombs flew the next morning over our heads pretty fast. I seen the rebel’s cannons. There was a big force a marching on us and if [we] had stayed there for an hour longer, we would all have been taken prisoner. We marched six days and nights and when we stopped, was all give out. We camped in the woods and stayed for about four days and then we moved over to town and there we are yet.
We was drawn up yesterday and expected to move but we did not. We had an inspection today.
Send me all Kentucky money and in small bills. I like it pretty well. Anyhow, tell Aunt Mary and Lib to send me a letter. Tell Aunt Anna that she must not get mad because I have not wrote to her for I have wrote to nary but you. Tell her that I want her to write to me though. I was very glad to hear from you. Tell Charley Louis to write to me and tell me how he gets along. I think that them boys that fell out was scared more than they was sick. If you see Bill, I want you to tell him to write to me and let me know how he is.
Send me a letter as soon as you can. No more at present but write soon. — Charles Roberts
To Israel Roberts
Direct your letters the same that you did. September 1862, Camp Buell
Letter 2
The 1st of the month [December 1863?]
Dear Father,
I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present and all the rest of the boys is too and I hope when these few lines come to hand, that you will be enjoying the same good blessing.
We have had another big fight since I wrote to you but I come out safe. We charged Lookout Mountain in one day and the next day we marched [ ] and charged in [ ] and there [ ] and large quantity of prisoners. And the next morning we drawed 4 days rations and marched off after the rebels and we kept taking them in squads all along the road. We went on to Ringgold and there we stopped for two days. There we burned the depot and tore up the railroad and burned the ties and destroyed all we could. We got a pile of meat and honey and other things. There was not a boy got hurt in our company. All is well and so is [paper torn]….broke the [ ] in a little in this fight just showing them how we fight down here now days.
When you write to me, I want you to tell me where Billy is. I think that he has acted the shit ass. He hain’t wrote to me a letter since I come to war and if he don’t write to me pretty soon, I will forget I have a brother at home. just tell him if he waits for me to write, he won’t get one from me as long as I am in the army. If he hain’t got a better chance to write to me than I have to him, why I don’t know.
Give my love to all. Write soon. — C. Roberts
To Israel Roberts
1863
Letter 3
[May or June] 1864
Dear sister,
I take this opportunity [to write] you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I had the luck to get hit this time but it did not break no bones. It went through my arm and side. It hurt a little but it is a doing fine. I can go around all right. I am at a hospital at Jeffersonville [Indiana] and when you direct your letters, just put Jeffersonville, Indiana, Hospital No. 4, and when you get this, I want you to send me some money. Pap has got some of mine and you can send some to me for I han’t got no money to get anything at all. well i must close. Write soon.
— C. Roberts
To F. W. Stuart
All write.
Letter 4
General Hospital Branch No. 4 Jeffersonville [?], Indiana This is the 7th of this month [1864]
Dear Sister,
It is with the greatest of [pleasure] that I seat myself to [write] you a few lines to let you know how I am a gettin along. I can’t do much at the present—that is, as much as common.
We have had some big times ere since last I wrote to you. On Saturday last we had a big Lincoln meeting here. We had a big dance. The soldiers went in free and a big dinner and at night we had a torchlight procession and it was as big time in general that you know, but suddenly, afterward the drum commenced beating and the Rebs was coming and we [ ] and went down and got our guns. But we ain’t done yet and I don’t know when we will. I wish we would go and I know that we would have a good time. The chickens would not suffer. Oh no, maybe not, but I know that I would eat my share and I know … [illegible]
Well, I will finish my letter this morning. I got your letter yesterday. I was glad to hear from you. that money comes very handy for I ain’t been paid off yet.
I am glad that Jim has got home. I would not care if I was there too but I ain’t and so it is never mind. I will be there some time to stay if I live. You wanted to know whether my arm is well yet or not. It’s healed up but I can’t use it much yet and my side—it hurts me some, but I guess it will come all right yet.
I hear that our Corps is got back and I am glad of that. Maybe they will get to rest some for I think it is time. Well, I can’t think of anything more to write this time so I will close. I still remain your most affectionate brother, — Charles Roberts
I could not find an image of Garret but here is Joseph W. Bullington of Co. F, 25th Illinois Infantry. Like Garret, he was killed in the fighting before Atlanta in 1864. (David Hann Collection)
The following letter was written by Pvt. Garret Moore (1838-1865) of Co. C, 25th Illinois Infantry. Garret was the orphaned son of Garret Moore (18xx-1838) and Catherine Bailey (18xx-Bef1850) of Champaign county, Illinois. He had some older siblings but he was raised by others. In the 1850 US Census he was enumerated in the household of the Alexander Argo family. In the 1860 US Census, he was enumerated in the household of the James Swearingen family.
Garret enlisted on 4 August 1861 at Homer, Illinois, and was with his regiment in Rolla, Missouri, from mid-November 1861 until early February 1862 when they embarked on the campaign that would eventually lead to their first engagement—the Battle of Pea Ridge in northern Arkansas. Garret was seriously wounded at Kennesaw Mountain on 23 June 1864 and died of his wounds a week later at Chattanooga, Tennessee. His muster records indicate he stood 5′ 9″ tall, with brown hair and hazel eyes.
Transcription
Rolla, Missouri January 5, 1862
My old friend Achley,
I just received your most kind and welcome letter which I read with great pleasure. I was truly glad to hear from you. I wish you could be in camp with me awhile. I think we could have a good time although you seem to think that we have a pretty hard time. Well, it is partly true, but our berth is not as hard as you think it is. We have pretty good winter quarters and we drill two hours a day and the balance of the time we play poker and euchre and put the time in pretty well and we have plenty to eat—such as it is.
The patriotic image on Garret’s stationery
Perhaps you would like to know what we do here to eat. Well, we have plenty of fresh beef and flour and crackers and light bread and beans, rice, coffee, sugar, salt, vinegar, side meat shoulders and sometimes we get hams. We can buy eggs at twenty cents per dozen, butter 25 per pound, chickens 20 cents apiece, rot gut whiskey at one dollar per pint which is good enough for soldiers.
It is true [that] on a march, it is pretty hard on some of the boys but I have stood it pretty well until the 28th of December when I was taken sick with the intermittent fever and I was most down sick with the fever for five days and I got over that. Then I was taken with the m____ diarrhea and the doctor gave me turpentine. 1 I took a half pint of turpentine and I got so sick and weak that I could not hardly stand up so the Dr. wanted me to go to the hospital but I told him that I preferred staying in camp. Then I told him that his medicine was not doing me any good and he told me that he could not do me any good but he advised me to take turpentine so I made up my mind that he was a damned fool and I would not take any more of his medicine. Then I told him that the medicine that I had been taking would kill nine out of every ten men that took it so he thought I was a damn fool. He told some of the boys that I would die before one month. He told me I had better go to the hospital. I told him that I would not go to the hospital. Then the doctor left and I have not seen him since but I am not dead nor I am not a going to die for I am getting well as fast as a man can. I have been most down sick for twenty days but if the Lord is willing and no preventing Providence, I will be the best man in camp in one month. Our doctors hain’t worth a damn. There is a great deal of sickness in camp but I think the health in camp is better than it has been for the past two months.
We are under marching orders but I think that we will spend the winter here. There is four hundred men in this regiment that is fit for duty and that is all that can be got out on drill out of one thousand. no more on this subject now.
You said that you and Jack tried to get on a spree on New Years and Christmas and could not make it go off. Well, if I had of been there, we would of had some fun or I would of raised hell with the preachers. I would like to be at home awhile to see you and Jack and have some fun but I would not quit the service if I could, If you and Jack were with me, I would rather be here than at home for we have lots of fun. I think you and Jack had better come and go with us. We will have some fun when we get after them damned rebels.
Well, Jack, I have been looking for a letter from you for a long time but it has all been in vain and in your letter you offer an excuse for not writing to me sooner and oftener. Well, your excuse is a very poor one. You said that you was a poor hand to write. You write very well if you would think so. Now I am a poor hand to write but I can write so you can make it out. So can you, and I would be glad to receive a letter from you every week if I could. Now, Ach, you can spend one hour every week writing to me. It always does a soldier good to hear from his friends—at least it does me.
With these few remarks, I will close hoping to hear from you soon. Give my love and well wishes to all my friends, to Jack [ ] and by the grace of God you must keep a share of my well wishes for yourself. No more at present. Your ever affectionate friend, — G. W. Moore
— to J. A. Smith
1 Civil War soldiers often complained that the treatment surgeons prescribed for diseases was worse than the disease itself. Most soldiers, like Garret, refused to go to hospitals for fear they would never come out alive. Oil of turpentine was often prescribed by physicians for the treatment of typhoid fever during the Civil War. Turpentine oil-soaked rags were also used to wrap wounded to stop the spread of gangrene. It was used less commonly, I think, for the treatment of diarrhea as it only induced bloody vomiting, dehydrating the body further and compounding the problem. Large doses probably resulted in liver damage.[See Oil of Turpentine: Sheet Anchor of 19th Century Therapeutics by Vincent J. Cirillo, January 2021]
I could not find an image of Thomas but here is one of Samuel Taylor McFadden who served in the same company of the 32nd OVI (Ancestry.com)
The following letter was written by Thomas J. Jackson (1840-1862) of Co. A, 32nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). Thomas enlisted as a private on 12 July 1861 and rose in rank to corporal before he was killed in the Battle of McDowell (also known as Battle of Sitlington’s Hill) on 8 May 1862 at McDowell, Virginia. In the engagement, the 32nd OVI had six men killed and fifty-three wounded. Thomas was buried at Grafton, West Virginia.
Thomas was the son of Jesse Hendrix (1816-1898) and Mary A. Warren (1815-1891) of Augusta, Carroll county, Ohio. Thomas’s father was a shoemaker by trade. At the time of the 1860 US Census, 19 year-old Thomas will still living at home with his parents and working as a school teacher. Carroll county is in northeast Ohio about 50 miles due west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
To read letters by other members of the 32nd OVI that I have transcribed and published on Spared & Shared, see:
Patriotic stationery used by Thomas for his letter
Beverly, Virginia December 16, 1861
Miss Haskey,
When I carefully read your last letter, I perceived from the tenor of your writing that it was aggravating to some, for you to write to me. If I thought it would lower you in the estimation of your friends or bring disgrace on your family, I would not write another letter. You did not say whether you was opposed by writing to me or others. I interpreted it to the former. Please enlighten me as to which it is in your next. If it should be from the fact that I am a soldier battling for the rights of our common country, I feel sad for the one that may say so.
As for what other country gossip may say about our writing, I place no stress on it. All the letters I have written heretofore to you have been merely friendship. If this mars their feeling, they will have to recover as best they can. I have met with opposition heretofore. It always has a tendency to excite a person and makes me more attentive to such matters than I otherwise would be. Please state the particulars and then I shall be better prepared in the future to meet emergencies and know how to devise means to escape opposition.
The letter that you and [my sister] Birtha wrote, I read and then showed it to the other boys. It contained some grand suggestions. yet for all you said about us boys having a bother, I do not believe you meant what you said.
You will see from the heading of this letter that I am at Beverly. On yesterday morning three companies from the regiment left the mountain. Also there was nine detailed out of the remaining companies to go along for the purpose of building quarters at the aforesaid place. Jim Watson and myself are the only ones of the Augusta boys that was detailed. We had a very tiresome walk. The woods are extremely bad. It was with difficulty that we made the march. I do not think I ever was as tired in my life. I could hardly navigate. We (five of us) slept in an old saw mill in a small rom the sawyers occupied. Today we set our tent and will probably commence to work tomorrow. The remainder of the regiment will be here in a few days.
I do not think we will stay long. I think we will either go to Buchanan or to Ohio. There are a great many in the regiment that are unfit for duty. Our boys are all well and are in good spirits.
Oh yes! there is one question I want to ask you. Did you write to Hen[ry A.] Jackson before he wrote to you? Some of the boys told him that he wrote first and he denied it. I will make the same request of you that you did of me—that is, to destroy the letters you get from me and not let any person get hold of them.
Sam McClellan has gone home on furlough. Henry Chain is here at Beverly. He arrived on last Monday. All the things that he brought for us boys are at Webster. I suppose you will have some grand times at school this winter. I hope to hear from the school before long. Write as soon as you can conveniently. I shall wait with eagerness to hear from you again.
Direct to Beverly, Randolph county, Va., in care of Capt. [Jackson] Lucy, Company A. With much respect, I subscribe my name as your sincere and lasting friend, — T. J. Hendrix
The following partial letter was written by Daniel Patch (1841-1862) of Co H, 8th Maine Infantry to an unnamed friend regarding his observations, expectations, and reactions about contemporary events in his life as a soldier. Notable is his rendering of a story about an African American soldier who “came across” his old master on the battlefield—a poignant and distinctly unusual event: “he up with his gun sys he to his mastar i have took of my hat to you Hundreds of times and now i want you to take yourn of to me if you don’t i blow your dam brains out and he did take it off.”
I could not find an image of Daniel but here is Sgt. James Henry Hobbs who also served in Co. H, 8th Maine Infantry. (Andrew Garton Collection)
Although the first part of Patch’s letter is missing and its precise date and location are unknown, circumstantial evidence points to the time and place being the Fall of 1862 in the coastal southern region of South Carolina (most likely Hilton Head or the surrounding area). Elements of what eventually became the 1st SC Volunteer Infantry, Colored, were first organized in the Department of the South by Gen. David Hunter at Hilton Head in May of 1862 (and without official approval from Washington) by recruiting freed male slaves from the Hilton Head area, where Patch’s Regiment was present for at least some of the time. This was a period of frequent small skirmishes between Union and Confederate forces in the area and the 1st S. C. were known to have soldiers involved in some of these, so that it would not be surprising for a black soldier to come in contact with his ex-master (as either a Confederate soldier or sympathizer). It would also be quite possible for Patch to know about the event described in the letter since both the 8th Maine and 1st S. C. were located near each other, and, for that matter, as Patch himself mentions, multiple 8th Maine soldiers had already transferred to black units as officers. Finally, Patch is known to have died of typhoid on 11 December 1862 in a Port Royal Hospital so the letter would have to have been written prior to that time. Disease was particularly a problem for troops stationed in Southern coastal areas, with 11.6% of the 8th Maine soldiers, including Patch, dying of illness.
Although the striking confrontation described in the letter between the black soldier and his ex-master may be apocryphal, other references to such an occurrence exist, although none found by me are clearly tied to the letter’s description. In any event, the confrontation was striking enough to Pvt. Patch to include it in his letter home.
Daniel was the son of George Washington Patch (1809-1896) and Elizabeth Call (1816-1902) of York Village, Yorm county, Maine.
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Richard Weiner and was transcribed and published on Spared and Shared by express consent. Likewise, the research and description of the contents was provided by Richard.]
Transcription
…and I expect to [see] some fighting before a great while and we are liable to fight everyday for the rebels on the other side of the river from us and they drive us off the island but they are afraid to try it for there is [too] many for them. There is 5 or 6 regiments and two batteries and one horse cavalry here and an expedition besides and they have got [authorization] from the government to get up nigger regiments here and they are going to get up 6 regiments of them here. And they have got two regiments [al]ready and we think the reason they are getting them up for is to keep them for the standing army to guard the forts after the war is over and they can stand the climate better than our folks can. But their officers is white men. We have had our 2nd Lieutenant and one of our sergeants go in one of their regiments and the niggers has the same [pay as] our soldiers—13 dollars a month—but they [have] them for five years.
Some of them will [fight] well for a squad of them was attacked by a few rebels and the niggers shot one of them prisoners and one nigger came across [his former] master. He up with his gun, says he to his master, I have took off my hat to you hundreds of times and now I want you to take yourn off to me. If you don’t, I’ll blow your damn brains out. And he did take it off and the nigger took him prisoner and brought him to Hilton Head and they put him in prison.
And so I give my love to you all and I will write to you as often as I can [and] let you know how things are and what happens. And I would like for you to write to me if you please and let me know [about the war] besides [what] is going on for I don’t hear about it here. They won’t let [us] have the papers and the reason is I think that the war is going to close soon and they don’t want us to know till we are discharged. And we get a mail as often as 2 or 3 weeks.
This is from your friend — Daniel Patch, 8th Main Regiment, US Vols.
The following letter was written by 39 year-old Rebecca Ann (Gustine) Minor (1813-1887), the daughter of James Parker Gustine (1781-1818) and Mary Ann Duncan (1790-1863). Rebecca was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, but raised in Philadelphia. She married in 1829 Capt. William John Minor (1808-1869) and lived most of the time in Natchez at the family residence they called Concord.
Minor owned three sugar cane plantations: the 1,900-acre Waterloo Plantation in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, as well as the 6,000-acre Southdown Plantation and the 1,400-acre Hollywood Plantation in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. However, as an absentee plantation owner, he did not live on those plantations. He hired overseers to make sure the slaves were working on the land. He corresponded via mail with his overseers regularly, sending them precise instructions while living in Natchez himself. Moreover, his sons lived on the plantations part of the time. From 1855 to 1861, his son Stephen lived on the Waterloo Plantation until he joined the Confederate States Army; in 1862, his other son Henry took over.Another son, William, lived at the Southdown Plantation and also managed the Hollywood Plantation.
He served as the second President of the Agricultural Bank in Natchez, Mississippi. He was well connected among the planter elite, and visited planters Duncan F. Kenner (1813–1887) and Henry Doyal as well as the McCollums, the Cages, and the Gibsons. He read De Bow’s Review and kept a diary. Politically, he was a supporter of the Whig Party. He was in favor of tariffs on sugar, which meant more profit for domestic sugar producers like himself.
During the Civil War of 1861–1865, he supported the Union and opposed secession, as he believed that would be bad for the sugar industry. However, he was arrested by Union forces with his son Henry in Houma in 1862; they were released a week later in New Orleans. Meanwhile, Unionists stole sugar and molasses from his Hollywood and Southdown plantations, under the false pretext that it had been deserted, even though overseers and servants were there. Minor was on friendly terms with Union Generals Benjamin Butler (1818-1893) and Lorenzo Thomas (1804-1875), whose forces protected Concord (his Adams County, Mississippi, plantation) on September 29, 1863, and on March 10, 1864. Both during and after the war, Minor asked for reparations for the financial losses he had endured due to the theft of commodities by Unionist forces, to no avail. By 1863, he had realized his slaves had become unwilling to work; they also killed hogs and sheep.
Because of General Order No. 12 imposed by Union General Nathaniel P. Banks, he was forced to pay them wages. Slaves, who had gotten used to working “under the threat of punishment,” were not motivated by their salaries; as a result, Minor tried to reduce their wages if they failed to work. By 1865, Minor paid one third of the crop profit at the Waterloo Plantation to his slaves. He signed a work contract with his slaves at the Southdown and Hollywood plantations whereby they agreed to work ten hours every day except for Sundays and received specific hourly wages as a result. Moreover, Minor agreed to clothe, feed and house them all. Minor was a supporter of Abraham Lincoln, whom he called “the most conservative & ablest man in the Washington Government.” He deplored his assassination, as he believed Lincoln would have been fair to Southern agriculturalists. [Wikipedia]
Transcription
Cherry Grove [Plantation] 1 July 13th, 1852
My Dear Son,
You will no doubt be much surprised to hear that we are yet in Adams county. Major [James Pierre] Surget invited us down to recruit the health of the family and he has shown us every kindness and attention. Little Frank is now recovering. He is gaining slowly his strength and is fed some six or eight times a day. Just as Frank 2 became convalescent and your Father had left me for Waluter [?] taking George Morton, and Celey Halley was taken sick with violent fever and a threatened inflammation of the stomach. I thought my evils would never end. He has however recovered having been skillfully treated by Dr. Foster. He had 12 leaches applied on his stomach and at the same time Indy was sick so that I only had Betsy and Jim Black to assist in nursing. And Kate 3 still has her screaming fits—which alarms Major Surget very much. Night before last she screamed so long that he was fearful she would go in convulsion. He ordered her a bath and with salt in it stood by, saw her put in, and then had her rolled up in his flannel gown—Kate screaming all the time. After she came out, she insisted upon Hally’s getting out of his bed for her to sleep in and then ordered the sheets to be changed. I wish only John and yourself were here.
Cousin Catherine 4 is still my favorite. She is a fine girl. I fear John will be too late. I think my prophesy will yet be fulfilled. The last of the fortunate family of S[urgets]—-will be the choice. I would rather have her for a daughter-in-law to any one I have ever seen. Her Mother and her Father I have admired more than words can express. You must see Major Surget in his family to find out his amiable qualities. I see new virtues in him every day.
We dine tomorrow at the Hylands, next day at Mrs. Denny’s, and this Friday go over to Dr. Jenkins to roll nine pins. I hope on Thursday morning your Father will return. The health of the plantation is much better. Miss Sarah Surget is a great belle. She has very pretty eyes and I am very much pleased with her. She will soon be married. Jane J. Anderson [ ] match with Dr. or Mr. Ralston has created a great sensation. Only think the marriage ceremony was performed at Richard Chitard. They had written to Henry Chitard to present them to be married at Minorca. Henry refused. I regret Richard had not sent them off. I could fill your sheets with much news but I have not the time as I must write to Aunt Sarah.
Tell John I saw Miss Dunbar this morning. Also Dr. Jenkins who gave me the news of him. I hear of his presenting bouquets to Ladies and that he is a favorite among the fair sex. I will write to him very soon. Only imagine me moving about when the thermometer is at 96 on the galley. I am more than ever anxious to return to Natchez and should not regret (excepting parting with Mr. and Mrs. Kenner) that I never return to Waterloo.
My dear son, I must scold you. you ought never to write anything that is vulgar. Now I think Mrs. Woodman’s message was decidedly so. I am sorry to find you paid this disagreeable and foolish woman any attention, and I fear she has paid court to you and flattered you. Madam Montgomery is not a Lady. She received too marked attention from gentlemen. I wish you to improve in your style of writing. Take pains with the penmanship and the style must be pure to please me. Recollect I am not able to give you a copy—but you have education. Take every advantage.
All have retired with the exception of William and Catherine. They are alone in the parlor. If William was only older, it would do. William rides out with Kate. They spent the day at Magnolia—Mrs. Denny’s place. The gentlemen have not returned from Black River. It is thought there will be no fighting.
Remember me to all friends and do let me know how Mrs. Charlotte Davis is. Tell Grandma Gus I will write to her the very first leisure moment and also offer my sincere congratulations to Aunt Matilda and to Mr. C[harles] P. Leverich on the birth of their daughter. How much pleasure it would give me to see them all. Goodnight. With most affectionate love, ever dear son [and] believe me to be your sincerely attached Mother, — R. A. Minor
1 Cherry Grove Plantation is located five miles from Natchez in Adams county on Second Creek. The mansion was built by Pierre Surget (1731-1796), a French planter, in 1788, over 2,500 acres of an English land grant, granted to him by the Spanish government. As such, it is one of the earliest private residences in Natchez. After his death, his widow Catharine (Hubbard) Surget expanded the grounds of the property. By 1850, the house belonged to their son James Pierre Surget (1785-1855), with sixteen house servants in residence. Cherry Grove has been in the continuous ownership of the same family since 1788 and has remained always a working plantation. It remains in the family of Surget descendants. Cherry Grove Plantation is today one of the best preserved and most complete plantation complexes in the Natchez area. The original plantation residence constructed by Pierre Surget and his wife Catharine burned in the mid-nineteenth century, and the present picturesque and architecturally significant residence was constructed about 1865 by Pierre Surget’s grandson James Surget, Jr. The form of the house, which consists of a residence constructed upon a fully raised basement with a central five-bay block and flanking single-bay wings, has the regionally early single-pile plan with rear “cabinet” rooms enclosing each end of a rear gallery recessed under the rear slope of the roof. Likewise, the facade of the central block features a gallery that is recessed under the front slope of the roof. These features suggest the possibility that the present house may have taken its basic form from the earlier house which burned. The original flanking wings with octagonal bays and gable-end balconies represent the concession of the builder to the popular taste of the 1860s. The collection of plantation outbuildings is exceptional and includes an unusual tenpin frame alley building with attached late-nineteenth century gymnasium, smoke house, detached kitchen building, corn crib, stables, privy, sheep stalls, and barns. Hand-hewn cypress troughs for feeding and watering the stock are rare plantation survivals, and the plantation cemetery containing the graves of Pierre and Catharine Surget and their descendants is located within sight of the main dwelling house. The plantation gains added significance from its long history of family ownership. Pierre Surget, originally a seaman by trade, was the patriarch of the Surget family in Natchez, a family that formed one of the largest planting dynasties in the entire South. Pierre’s son Frank was described by one contemporary historian as the most extensive landholder and successful planter in Mississippi.
2 Francis (“Frank”) Octave Minor was born in 1847.
3 Katherine (“Kate”) Lintot Minor was born in 1849.
4 Catherine Surget (1834-1926) was married first to James Gustine Minor (1839-1860) in 1853. She married second John Duncan Minor (1831-1869) in 1855.Catherine’s collection of letters are housed at the University of Michigan.
I could not find an image of Kelly but here is one of Spencer Young of Co. C, 3rd Arkansas Infantry (Find-A-Grave)
The following letter was written by John A. Kelly of St. Louis, Missouri, who enlisted at the age of 24 as a private in Capt. Christian’s Company L of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry. “The Third Arkansas gained a reputation as gritty, tenacious fighters, and always seemed to end up in some of the most hotly-contested parts of the battlefield—the Sunken Road at Sharpsburg—the Devil’s Den at Gettysburg—and consequently suffered a high casualty rate.” In November 1862, the 3rd Arkansas was brigaded with three Texas regiments of the Army of Northern Virginia where they would remain until the end of the war as an integral part of “Hood’s Texas Brigade.”
Kelly enlisted on 13 July 1861 and was appointed musician two weeks later. By the fall of 1862 he had been transferred to Co. A and was listed as a private on the muster rolls. Muster rolls indicate he was admitted to General Hospital No. 14 on 14 October 1862, and subsequently given a furlough to travel home a couple of weeks later. It appears he made it as far as Marie Saline, Ashley county, Arkansas (where he had enlisted) before returning. Muster rolls also indicate he was absent following the Battle of Gettysburg and Chickamauga, presumably in hospitals recovering from his wounds though it does not state where. He was reported back with his regiment by June 1864 and was with them until the surrender at Appomattox on 9 April 1865.
Kelly’s letter was addressed to Lt. Col. W. H. Smith who was serving as Superintendent of Army Records for the State of Missouri. It was written in response to a notice placed in the Daily Richmond Enquirer on Saturday, 5 November 1864 which read as follows:
To Missourians Having been entrusted with the care of Missouri army records, I desire to place therein an impartial personal record of every Missourian who has enlisted in the Southern cause. It is due them, it is due their friends. To Missourians in the armies of Virginia—of whom, I have it from good authority, that there are not less than three thousand serving in organizations from other states than their own—I would say, your cases I cannot reach unless you will send me the following information, over the signature of your officer: Name, rank, age, nativity, occupation, when and where enlisted, term thereof, your town or post office, in what battles engaged, when, where, or how wounded. Officers commanding companies in which Missourians have served will greatly oblige and facilitate my work by sending me such information of deceased soldiers, and by assisting those who yet live to give to posterity a record of their noble deeds. Address me at Columbus, Mississippi. — W. H. Smith, Lieut. Col. Superintendent of Army Records for the State of Missouri
The Daily Richmond Enquirer, Saturday, Nov. 5, 1864, Page 2
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Jon Dickinson and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Transcription
Richmond, Virginia November 5th 1864
Lt. Col. W. H. Smith Dear Sir,
In looking over this morning’s paper, I saw your notice to Missourians in Army of Virginia, and being a Missourian I hasten to present my case before you. I was born in the city of St. Louis, Mo., in the year 1837 and am now (27) twenty-seven years old. I enlisted in a company made up in Ashley County, Ark., on the (13) thirteenth day of June 1861 for the period of the war, and am with the few that is left of it today. Have been in battles and skirmishes too numerous to mention. My left arm was broken by a minié ball at the battle of Sharpsburg, September 17th 1862. I was shot in the hip at the battle of Gettysburg July 2nd 1863, and had the muscle of my right arm torn out by a fragment of shell at the battle of Chickamauga September 19th 1863. Both my arms are crooked.
I have not heard from my relatives since I have been in the army. They live in St Louis. If you could inform me how to get a letter there, I would [be] under a great many obligations to you. I have written by flag of truce three times and received no answer. At the time of my enlistment, I was steam boating on the Ouachita river.
As to my character as a soldier, I will only say that I have never been under arrest or absent without leave an hour since I have been in the army. I will leave my commanding officer to say whether I have been a good and faithful soldier or not. With great respect, Colonel, I remain your obedient, — John A Kelly, Co. A, 3rd Regt. Arkansas Vol. Infantry, Gregg’s Brigade, Field’s Division, Longstreet’s Corp., Army of Northern Va.
The Brigade is known as the Texas Brigade in this arm. It is composed of the 1st, 4th, 5th Texas and 3rd Arkansas Regt.
Approved, — W. D. Scogin, 1 Lieut., Commanding Co. A, 3rd Ark.
1 William D. Scogin was 27 years old when he mustered in as 2nd Lieutenant in Capt. Tebb’s Company A of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry on 15 June 1861. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 18 September 1862, the day following the Battle of Sharpsburg and was acting as commander of the company prior to the Battle of Gettysburg. William’s record indicates that before the war he had lived in California and that he intended to return there after the war.
The following letter was written by George Gates (1838-1892), a native of Rochester, New York, who enlisted in July 1861 as a private in Co. A, Chicago Light Artillery. Prior to his enlistment, George was married to a woman named Rosa and working in Chicago as an omnibus driver. For the Chicago Light Artillery, George was assigned duties as a teamster and harness maker. At the time of his enlistment, he was described as standing 5′ 10″ tall, with dark hair and hazel eyes.
Besides noting George’s physical characteristics, they might have also have noted an overactive imagination for in this letter to his aunt in Rochester he claimed that he was detailed as a “scoute and spie” by direct authority of Gen. “Cump” Sherman himself, making his way by himself through Rebel territory in both Mississippi and Arkansas, and when taken prisoner as a spy in Little Rock, bribed his way to freedom. The owner of this letter informs me that George wrote another letter in February 1863 relating a similar tale of being captured in Jackson, Mississippi, taken to Vicksburg, and escaping by similar means carrying a detailed map of the Confederate fortifications. This map appears to look much like the map that appears in Harper’s Weekly on 7 March 1863 so it was no doubt available in military camps prior to that date.
In the History of Battery A, George’s name is only mentioned in conjunction with a letter that he wrote to Maj. Gen. Sherman from their camp near Kennesaw, Georgia, on 25 June 1864, in which he identifies himself as “a private of Battery A, 1st Ill. Light artillery” and offers the gift of a bridle and collar to the General as “a token of the high regard and esteem which all soldiers entertain towards you as our commander.” No mention is made of a former acquaintance. The letter was only acknowledged in the Battery history because of the General’s response in which he accepted the gift and praised the Battery for their service.
It is my impression that Gates was otherwise not looked upon favorably by his comrades in the Battery for after his name appears what was probably a nickname (“Gen. Debility”) implying he was probably “playing off” most of the time. Following the full reprint of Sherman’s reply to George’s letter, the author of the Battery history wrote, “Poor Gates did not do well after he war, but led a dissipated life in Chicago, dying in that city, in 1890, a homeless wanderer on the streets” —not a very kind thing to say about a comrade in arms, even if true. [See History of Battery A, by Charles Bill Kimbell, 1899]
[This letter is from the personal archives of Richard Weiner and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Transcription
Co. A, Chicago Light Artillery Camp at Memphis, Tennessee October 5th 1862
To my Aunts and others,
Your kind letter just came to hand and I was glad to hear from you and all of the folks.
On the 29th of August, I was detailed as a scout and spy for Maj. W. T. Sherman. I have been to Hernando, Senatobia, Cold Water, Holly Springs, Tupelo & Iuka, Mississippi. Also to Little Rock, Arkansas. The Rebel Gen. [Thomas] Hindman had me under arrest for ten days as a spy but I bought the Rebel Captain John McGraw, 1 Officer-of-the Day, for seventy-five dollars to pass me out of the lines and gave me a pass so as not to be retaken by the bands of guerrillas that is in the country between Little Rock and Hopefield opposite Memphis.
I arrived at Memphis Friday the 3rd of October. I learned many interesting particulars of the condition of the Southern armies and General Sherman says when I get recruited up again that I must go to Vicksburg and other points of interest to our armies. It is not pleasant work but I am willing to do anything to benefit our cause. I will start on Tuesday next and trust I will have as good luck on this job as I did on my last.
I rank as Captain 2 and get the same pay and all my bills paid by the government. I was shot at by guerrillas three different times but I was not hurt. I had one horse shot under me at Iuka, Mississippi.
1 I have not been able to find any Capt. John McGraw (or MaGraw) in the Confederate Service in Little Rock (or elsewhere)in Fold 3 Military Records.
2 George Gates entered the service of Co. A, Chicago Light Artillery as a private and mustered out in 1864 as a private. There is no indication in his Fold 3 Military records that he was paid anything but a private’s pay.
I could not find a war-time image of Levi but here is one of Ben Pratt, Co. F, 64th New York Infantry
The following letter was written by Levi Leverett Carr (1842-1900) of Randolph, Cattaraugus county, New York. The letter is not datelined but it was undoubtedly written not long after he was released from Andersonville Prison. Levi enlisted at the age of 19 in Co. B, 64th New York Infantry—the “First Cattaraugus Regiment.” According to family tradition, “In company with H. D. Litchfield of Randolph he was taken prisoner in front of Petersburg on 17 June 1864, and together they spent 10 months and 20 days in the loathsome prison pen at Andersonvllle; when the northern men were turned loose in April, 1865, Mr. Carr carried his comrade out upon his back.”
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 10 officers, 109 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 3 officers, 50 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 5 officers, 124 enlisted men; total, 18 officers, 283 enlisted men; aggregate, 301; of whom 1 officer and 31 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.
Transcription
Addressed to Miss Livonia Carr, Randolph, Cattaraugus county, New York [Envelope may be from earlier correspondence]
[April 1865?] Livonia,
If I don’t gain weight soon, I shall soon sleep in my grave. But the grave has no sting to me. You don’t know how I suffer and I never shall live through another such a time. But Livonia, it seems to me that I have been hurled into the well and through the world and I shall be chased out but I do have that trust in God [that] I shall be at rest.
My mother has worried herself almost to death to think I am sick. I had a spell the other morning that I was numb and cold, my hands to my elbows, and my feet to my knees cold and numb and crooked. You don’t know how mother was so frail. I am so tired. You can excuse my short letter for I have got to go to bed. Write all about the folks. — Levi
Many folks has been here everyday for a week till today. — E. J. Monroe
Spared & Shared 23 