(excerpt) April 9. . . . The sham battle of General Hardee’s Corps took place on Thursday, and was witnessed by a large number of ladies from all parts of the State. There was a party of them at Gen. Hood’s for several days and the evening after the battle we had a dance at [...]
(excerpts) March 21, 1864 “. . . I have just returned from a ride with some of ‘the staff’ looking at the country. I think Gen. Hood is quite anxious for a fight and I have no doubt will distinguish himself whenever it does come. He brought a carriage up from Atlanta when he came, [...]
“DALTON, Jan. 4th, 1864. “My dear Wigfall: “It is necessary to recruit this army promptly to enable it to hold its ground against Grant’s forces. Remember that it was unable to move forward even before it had been weakened by the defeat of Missionary Ridge, and Longstreet’s march into East Tennessee, and the enemy strengthened [...]
(excerpts) “Dec. 15th, 1863. “I have passed many anxious months lately, in this siege of Charleston. My only child and son was at Fort Sumter, a First Lieutenant in the 1st Regular Artillery Regiment. He passed through the first attack in April safely—though occupying a post of danger, but, on the 17th of August, in [...]
“BRANDON, Dec. 14th, 1863. “My dear Wigfall: “I see in the newspapers reports of resolutions of what is called the Mississippi campaign. One of them calling for the correspondence connected with it. “Let me suggest that the campaign really commenced in the beginning of December, 1862—and that my connection with it dates from November 24th [...]
(excerpts) CHARLOTTESVILLE, Nov. 26th, 1863. “. . . We hear to-night that the Army is to move, it is thought to Fredericksburg. “The news from the West has made every one look very blue—and I should think Mr. Davis would feel very uncomfortable with such a weight to carry. . . . What is to [...]
(excerpts) MERIDIAN, NOV. 12th, 1863. “My dear Wigfall, “I received your letter of the 2nd yesterday and tried in vain to find the person who brought it. It was left with Col. B. S. Ewell A. A. G. by a contractor on his way to the Trans-Mississippi Country. . . . I congratulate you with [...]
(excerpt) Charlottesville, October 25, 1863 “I hope you will be able to pay us a visit at Xmas in Richmond. We are looking forward with much pleasure to the winter, in spite of the prospect of having nothing to eat nor wear! We hear to-day that Genl. Hood is doing exceedingly well and would be [...]
In a letter written by my father… he says: “Davis is still in the West and is not expected back for a week or ten days. He seems determined to sustain Bragg and Pemberton, cost what it may to the Country. John A. Wharton of Texas has been lately made a Major General of Cavalry. [...]
(excerpts) “CAMP AT BUCKLAND. “Oct. 19, 1863. ” . . . We have had another fight to-day. We marched from between Gainesville and Bristow Station before day and passed that station and Catlett’s and then up the Warrenton road which we left about half way between the two places, taking the road leading to Buckland [...]
(excerpt) “CAMP AT MANASSAS, Oct. 16, 1863. “Dear L., “I wrote to Mama on the 13th a few lines which I hope she received. We have been marching every day since. We fired a few shots day before yesterday, but were not replied to. One of the best soldiers of the battery, however, was mortally [...]
“CAMP NEAR FOX’S FORD, “RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER, Oct. 13, 1863. “Dear Mama, “We are once more on the campaign. We had a running fight day before yesterday fighting all day. My little grey was killed under me at the first position we went into. The battery lost four killed and wounded, three of them from my [...]
(excerpt) “RICHMOND, Sept. 12th, 1863. “Dear General, “I am on my way to join Bragg, but have some hope that I may not visit your friends at Camp Chase. If I should get that far in the enemy’s country, however, I hope that I may be able to bring your friends to see you! . [...]
“HD. QRS. COV., DIV. A. of N. VA. “Dear General, “I regret very much that a state of affairs, so different from what you expected, exists here. Instead of ‘no active operations’ you suppose, we are in a fight nearly every day and on the 4th especially Halsey’s1 gun was particularly engaged at Fleetwood and [...]
(excerpt) CHARLOTTESVILLE, July 22nd. “As you see this was written before I had heard of the return of our Army to Va. . . . Your father returned on Sunday from Richmond and says young Lee told him he had left you well two days before. We came here on Monday. The people in the [...]
“CAMP NEAR LEETOWN, “JEFFERSON Co., Va., July 18, 1863. “. . . I wrote a short note to Papa from near Funkstown on the other side of the river on the 9th inst., though I have very great doubts as to whether it ever reached you. The battery is in very bad condition as to [...]
(excerpts) “ORANGE C. H., July 16th, 1863. “It is some time since I have written to you, my dearest son, but the uncertainty of your getting letters make it almost useless to write. The note you sent in pencil by Mr. Winston came yesterday and was thankfully received. ‘Tis the only tidings we have had [...]
“CHARLOTTESVILLE, July 15th, 1863. “My dear Wigfall, “Hood and myself came to Staunton together and he remained there under charge of Darby. He is doing well and his arm will be saved. All he needs now is good nursing, together with cheerful company and generous living. He proposes to pay you a visit if he [...]
(Excerpts from a letter written just after the battle of Gettysburg, on the march—dated July 7th, 1863. Camp near Williamsport, Maryland.) “Dear Papa, “Since the 13th of June, inclusive, there has not been a day on which we have not marched. Our battery and two guns of McGregor’s were with the cavalry, Fitz and [...]
“ORANGE C. H., June 27th, 1863. “. . . I was very glad to get your note of the 18th June, and only wish I knew where you were now. We are all an anxious set of women at present. Mrs. Gordon (J. B.) leaves to-day for Winchester to try and hear something of her [...]
(excerpts) RECTOR’S X ROAD, June 18th, 1863. “Dear Mama, “I have written L. twice in the last two weeks and the reason I did not write you after the fight (Brandy Station) was that you were so close (Orange C. H.) I did not think you would feel uneasy at not hearing from me. The [...]
(excerpt) May 17, 1863 “I send you, with our letters, a pound of candy and a box of Guava jelly which was given me. I know you have no sugar, and I have no doubt that although you will laugh at the idea you will nevertheless enjoy the sweets. Mrs. McLean (Gnl. Sumner’s daughter) has [...]
(excerpt) “I have just come up from witnessing the funeral procession of dear ‘old Stonewall.’ I never saw a more solemn scene and hope never to see another such. This morning early I went to the Governor’s and saw the body lying in state. He looks perfectly natural, more as if he were asleep than [...]
(excerpts) RICHMOND, May 15th. ” . . . Lieut. J. called to see Mama and delivered both the letter and the overcoat. The letter was by far the most welcome of the two, as we had heard so little from you since the battle. . . . Though your first letter written by moonlight on [...]
(excerpt) May 11th, 1863. “We are all saddened to the heart to-night by hearing the death of our hero Jackson! In addition to our own irreparable loss, it will put new life and courage into our cruel foe. It will cause mourning all over our land and each person seems to feel as if he [...]