Thursday, 27th–I signed the allotment roll for my father to draw $10.00 of my pay at home. The division received orders to be ready to march tomorrow morning. We are to pack our extra clothing in our knapsacks, which are to be stored at La Grange. Our tents are to be taken with us, the quartermaster delivering them to us every night so that we will not have to lie out in all kinds of weather.

Thursday, 27th. Up at 3 A. M. and ready to march at sunrise. Went as advance of whole division. I had charge of advance, 20 men. Moved south till within a mile of Rhea’s Mills. Fed ourselves and horses at Gin. and went on. The scouts were in advance most of the time, saw no enemy. Got some nice apples at a house. Went into camp on the hill and went out as picket on the road to the south. Slept without fires.

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH BRIGADE.
November 27, 1862.

My Dear Mother:

I received your letter yesterday, and also one from brother by Mr. Gorman. I was very glad to hear from you, as I had not received any news from home in some time. He handed me the gloves also, which you sent by him. Nothing ever came in better time in the world. I had been trying my best to get a pair of some kind ever since cold weather set in, but could not, gloves such as you sent me sell for $3.00 in this country, and everything else in proportion. The last letter that I wrote home, sent to Richmond by Capt. John Grimes to be mailed, was from our Camp near Strasburg, Va. We left there on Friday, the 21st, and arrived here on Tuesday evening, the 25th, making a march of over one hundred miles in four days. It is the best marching that we have ever done, it’s because we are going towards home, I reckon, that the men did so well. There are hundreds of them barefooted and ice on the ground all day. General Hill issued an order yesterday requiring all the barefooted men to make sandals of raw hides with the hair on the inside. It answers the purpose very well. It’s a wonder the idea had not been thought of sooner, before the men suffered so much. Gorman says that Pat Simms will be here to-day with the things for the Regiment. I hope he will be, for I need my boots very badly, also my pants. I shall draw a pair of pants from the Regimental clothing, also a pair of shoes. I bought me a Yankee overcoat, a very comfortable one, for $12.50, a better coat than our men draw at more money. We are now on our way to Hanover Junction, some fifty miles off. We have stopped here to transport our sick on the cars ahead of us, though we have been here going on two days, a longer time than would be required for that purpose. We have no idea how long we will stay here. From what you write about your exchanging farms, I think you made a very good bargain. I wish I could be with you to help you fix it up. The boys are all well as could be expected. Virgil Stevens looks thin from diarrhoea. Tom Stith looks as fat as a pig. Buck Hansill is the same old “Buck,” though Marshbourns, that is Sam, is well and tough, Jim I don’t recollect having seen for some time. I really don’t know whether he is in the company or not. I did write to you and intended to send it by Ed Gordon, but he left just before I carried my letters up to the Company to give him. The next time any one leaves Wilson for the Company, please send me some kind of tonic bitters. I need something of the kind.

Give my love to all, and believe me as ever,

Your affectionate son,
WALTER.

Letters from two brothers who served in the 4th North Carolina Infantry during the Civil War are available in a number of sources online.  Unfortunately, the brothers are misidentified in some places as Walter Lee and George Lee when their names were actually Walter Battle and George Battle. See The Battle Brothers for more information on the misidentification.

NOVEMBER 27th—Some of the late Secretary’s friends are hinting that affairs will go amiss now, as if he would have prevented any disaster! Who gave up Norfolk? That was a calamitous blunder! Letters from North Carolina are distressing enough. They say, but for the influence of Gov. Vance, the legislature would favor reconstruction!

Gen. Marshall writes lugubriously. He says his men are all barefoot.

Gen. Magruder writes that Pemberton has only 20,000 men, and should have 50,000 more at once—else the Mississippi Valley will be lost, and the cause ruined. He thinks there should be a concentration of troops there immediately, no matter how much other places might suffer; the enemy beaten, and the Mississippi secured at all hazards. If not, Mobile is lost, and perhaps Montgomery, as well as Vicksburg, Holly Springs, etc.

One of our paroled men from Washington writes the President that, on the 6th instant, Burnside had but seventy regiments and the President seemed to credit it! The idea of Burnside advancing with seventy regiments is absurd. But how many absurd ideas have been entertained by the government, and have influenced it! Nous verrons.

27 November

       Mr Grimball returned from Camden with the box of silver which we now have up here and has gone to Charleston where he intends offering his services for Military duty in the Reserves, Captain Lesegne. He is under 65 & the Governor and Council have called out all men under 65 and of 16 to do Military duty. I have received 3 letters from him he was when last writing at the Bluff on a visit to Papa and the abandoned Plantation with the 13 old negroes left there. Our own soldiers are most destructive in their visits to houses left, and entered ours and helped themselves to what they liked. When this war does end the poor Planters on the Coast will be found in a miserable plight. Berkley offered Mr Grimball his stock to purchase a place to put the negroes on which he declined but it was very kind of B. He had just passed through another attack of fever.—A. & W. are at Fort Sumter, Lewis on Sulivan’s Island. John writes to Ella from Mobile that he has some pleasant ladies to visit there, and that the Navy is held in great repute since Admiral Buchanan came there which state of things he is enjoying.—

       The time & the war goes on and we hope in spite of every thing there will soon be a peace. At present not a ray of the quarter from which it will spring but the triumph of the Democratic party at the North, and the little success they have yet arrived at South: the Removal of McClellan is too in our favor. Burnside is represented as a man of Military education but urged on by the Abolition party at the North may be induced to hazard a battle which we think he will loose. The Lord is over all and in his hands we are, to destroy or to save.—

Wednesday, 26th–Nothing of importance. The boys had the laugh on our commanding general this afternoon when we were returning from drill; he was riding at the head of the division and when crossing the creek at a rocky ford he was thrown from his horse. The boys declared that the horse was O. K., but that perhaps the real cause of his ducking was Southern rum.

“RICHMOND, Nov. 26th 1862.

        ” . . . Genl. Johnston¹ got his orders only day before yesterday. He is to have command of the three armies of Bragg, Kirby Smith and Pemberton, but not West of the Mississippi, as I understand. He expects to get off on Saturday, and his wife goes with him.”

1. General Joseph  E. Johnston had been injured at the Battle of Seven Pines in late May 1862. Johnston was struck in the right shoulder by a bullet, immediately followed by a shell fragment hitting him in the chest. He fell unconscious from his horse with a broken right shoulder blade and two broken ribs. (Wikipedia, accessed 6/16/2020)

Wednesday, 26th. Capt. Welch came up with 15 men and Capt. Greenough with 50 men, increasing our force to 180. At daylight moved on south. Passed through Cane Hill and followed the Division train, which we supposed the rebs were after. Officers feared that they had run into the rebel camp at Dutch Mills. Found them on 3 or 4 miles. Went on with them 3 or 4 miles, then went on alone till within a mile of the mills. Then Major and Capt. Greenough went on alone and discovered two regiments in direction of Cane Hill moving north at a trot. We turned back by untraveled roads and reached camp at 9 P. M.

NOVEMBER 26th.—No fighting on the Rappahannock yet, that I hear of; and it is said the enemy are moving farther down the river. Can they mean to cross? Nothing more is heard of Gen. Corcoran, with his Irish bogtrotters, on the Peninsula.

The government has realized 50,000 pounds of leather from two counties in Eastern North Carolina, in danger of falling into the hands of the enemy. This convinces me that there is abundance of leather in the South, if it were properly distributed. It is held, like everything else, by speculators, for extortioners’ profits. The government might remedy the evils, and remove the distresses of the people; but instead of doing so, the bureaus aggravate them by capricious seizures, and tyrannical restrictions on transportation. Letters are coining in from every quarter complaining of the despotic acts of government agents.

Mr. J. Foulkes writes another letter to the department on his cotton scheme. He says it must be embraced now or never, as the enemy will soon make such dispositions as would prevent his getting supplies through their lines. The Commissary-General approves, and the late Secretary approved; but what will the new one do? The President is non-committal.

What a blunder France and England made in hesitating to espouse our cause! They might have had any commercial advantages.

November 25.—Just from the depot. The cars have gone to Richmond, filled with non-combatants from Fredericksburg—ladies, with their children, many of whom know not where to go. They will get to Richmond after dark, and many propose staying in the cars this cold night, and seeking a resting-place to-morrow. The feeling of desolation among them is dreadful. Oh, how I wish that I had even one room to offer! The bombardment has not commenced, but General Lee requested last night that the women and children who had not gone should go without delay. This seems to portend hot work.

Tuesday, 25th–Division drill in the forenoon and battalion drill in the afternoon, as usual. We had a practical demonstration during our division drill of the difficulty of drilling on uneven ground. While our column was advancing in line of battle by right flank, up hill and down hill, and across ravines and gullies, the line at times became badly broken; men occasionally fell into the gullies and had to be helped out; it became pretty exciting and even quite laughable, for there was always some one struggling to stay in his place in the line.

Tuesday, 25th. Went over to see secesh but they had gone. Shattuck went on detail as chief of commissary. Capt. Seward said I must make out morning reports after this. Major Purington received orders to proceed at once with his command to Evansville. Blair’s Battery practised with artillery–shell. Major and detachment started out on a scout, an odd old genius on a white horse as guide. Went by a byroad. When 4 or 5 miles from Cincinnati, crossed a byroad where 400 or 500 had passed. I had charge of advance. Before going a half mile, saw two “butternuts.” Wheeled and ran like fun. Followed about a mile and learned from a family that 4 or 5 had passed not more than ten minutes before. Reported back. Followed most of the time at a trot. When we had gone two miles, we struck the main road and here the rebels fired at us from the brush. I had 20 men. All wheeled but 3 men. Soon rallied. Moved on a few rods and saw 15 or 20 in line by the bushes ready to fire. They fired and we in line fired in return. Soon Major sent word to reload. While reloading the rebels crossed the byroad to the main road. We followed a few hundred rods and were ordered to halt. Soon some of the 3rd Wis. came up, and passed dismounted. When 5 or 6 rods ahead a volley was poured into them, wounding two. Two days after, we heard that they were 400 of Quantrell’s men and that they ran to Cane Hill, also that 4,000 went over the mountains. Also that we killed two men. Bivouacked without fires.

NOVEMBER 25th.—Fredericksburg is not shelled yet; and, moreover, the enemy have apologized for the firing at the train containing women and children. Affairs remain in statu quo—the mayor and military authorities agreeing that the town shall furnish neither aid nor comfort to the Confederate army, and the Federals agreeing not to shell it—for the present.

Gen. Corcoran, last year a prisoner in this city, has landed his Irish brigade at Newport News. It is probable we shall be assailed from several directions simultaneously.

No beggars can be found in the streets of this city. No cry of distress is heard, although it prevails extensively. High officers of the government have no fuel in their houses, and give nearly $20 per cord for wood for cooking purposes. And yet there are millions of tons of coal almost under the very city!

Washington County Historical Society version (1965)¹

Nov. 25—Today I heard that Southern troops were at Mina’s house so I went over and found the house full of soldiers. They wanted all the food she had, but she told then that all pigs, hay and corn had al’ready been taken. Marmaduke promised to pay her, but all she got from his secretary was $10 in Confederate money. It is now generally known that our men folks are in the Northern camp and we may as well be prepared to have all our possessions taken by the Southern troops. Mina and I agreed to stay 14 days longer and then to flee with what little food we have left. Nani is opposed to the idea because it is too cold for the children. And Fritz might return.

The Arkansas Historical Quarterly version (1947)²

Nov. 25

I heard that some supposed Southern soldiers were at Mina’s, and I went to her. The house was full and everybody was calling for something. Already they had taken all the hogs, hay, and corn. Marmaduke promised to pay for everything taken, but his paymaster offered us only ten dollars in Confederate money, which is really worth very little. Now it is generally known that our men are in a Northern camp, and for that reason we know we must expect to be plundered. In the evening robbers came to my house and took all the meat, bread, and apples. Mina and I have managed to hold out fourteen days. With our provisions gone, we must flee from here. Nani does not want to leave. She thinks the weather is too cold. But we have now lost our property; and I fear that Fritz might come back. An even worse fate might overtake us here.

1. Lemke, W. J. The Hermanns of Old Hermannsburg: Washington County, Arkansas. Fayetteville, AR: Washington County Historical Society, 1965.
2. Memoirs, Letters, and Diary Entries of German Settlers in Northwest Arkansas, 1853-1863.  Selected and Translated By Clarence Evans, Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. Vol. VI Fall, 1947 No. 3

Monday, 24th.—Everything on train at 8 A.M. On our way to Tullahoma.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Monday, 24th–We draw rations now of equal parts of meal, flour and crackers, and in amount equal to a one-pound loaf of bread. We have no means for baking bread, so each man turns over his flour and corn meal to the company cook, who boils it into a mush. Then at the noon hour he calls out and the men go and get their portions. Some of us fry the mush with a little bacon, which makes a very palatable dish. But I cannot understand why it is, that with a railroad open to our base of supplies, the quartermaster cannot draw full rations of crackers for the men.

Monday, 24th. Read 15 or 20 pages in “Hastings.” Made the details. Got my horse shod during the afternoon. Rebel Captain and 25 men with flag of truce came in with sealed orders for Gen. Blunt. Some shrewd fellows they say.

NOVEMBER 24th.—Fredericksburg not shelled yet; but the women and children are flying hither. The enemy fired on a train of women and children yesterday, supposing the cars (baggage) were conveying military stores. The Northern press says Burnside is determined to force his way, directly from the Rappahannock to Richmond, by virtue of superior numbers. The thing Lee desires him to attempt.

The enemy are landing troops at Newport News, and we shall soon hear of gun-boats and transports in the James River. But no one is dismayed. We have supped on horrors so long, that danger now is an accustomed condiment. Blood will flow in torrents, and God will award the victory.

Another letter from Gen. Whiting says there is every reason to suppose that Wilmington will be attacked immediately, and if reinforcements (10,000) be not sent him, the place cannot be defended against a land assault. Nor is this all: for if the city falls, with the present force only to defend it, none of our men can escape. There is no repose for us!

Nov. 20—Six miles on saddle, twelve on wagon, five on foot.

Nov. 21—Wagon and ambulance to Mt. Crawford. Spend night in Baptist church with fifty or sixty sick men. Pray with them. All seem to feel. Many happy. Almost all of them Christians.

Nov. 22—Take stage at 3 a. m. Pass Willow Pump—a curiosity. Some one had planted a willow post near a gate on the roadside to discharge the water from an underground pipe, the willow sprouted, made quite a tree and still discharged the water. Such a blessing to thirsty soldiers. Take cars to Staunton and reach Richmond.

Nov. 23—Miss Wilmington train at Weldon and go on to Raleigh. Hear sermon at M. E. church and greet. several friends warmly. Call on Mrs. Seaton Gales and pay her $250 from her husband. Lovely woman. Children all sick with scarlet fever, and her husband far away. Sleep on parlor floor in W. T. Bain’s hotel.

Nov. 24—Pass Goldsboro and Wilmington. Leave cars at Brinkley’s. Walk to Dr. Buie’s. He gives me buggy to Capt. Jo. Green’s. He gives me a good horse and saddle to D. D. Allen’s.

November 23.—Poor Fredericksburg! The enemy on the Stafford side of the river in force; their cannon planted on the hills. Day before yesterday they demanded the surrender of the town, which was declined by General Lee. They then threatened to shell it, at nine o’clock this morning; but it is now night and it has not been done. It is hourly expected, however, and women and children are being hurried off, leaving every thing behind, except what they can get off in bundles, boxes, etc. There is no transportation for heavy articles. The Vandals threw a shell at a train of cars filled with women and children. It burst very near them, but they were providentially protected. A battle is daily expected. In the mean time the sufferings of wandering women and children are very great.

Sunday, 23d– Nothing of importance. We had general inspection this forenoon and in the afternoon the boys were permitted to remain in their tents—some were reading, some writing letters home, while others were mending their clothes.

Sunday, 23rd. In the morning commenced Macaulay’s “Warren Hastings.” Kept still during the day and commenced to feel like myself again. Had a good visit with A. B.

NOVEMBER 23th.—The cars which came in from the North last night brought a great many women, children, and negroes from Fredericksburg and its vicinity. The benevolent and patriotic citizens here had, I believe, made some provision for their accommodation. But the enemy had not yet shelled the town.

There is a rumor that Jackson was to appear somewhere in the rear of the enemy, and that the Federal stores which could not be moved with the army had been burnt at Manassas.

Yesterday the President remitted the sentence of a poor lad, sentenced to ball-and-chain for six months, for cowardice, etc. He had endured the penalty three months. I like this act, for the boy had enlisted without the consent of his parents, and was only sixteen years of age.

J. R. Anderson & Co. (having drawn $500,000 recently on the contract) have failed to furnish armor for the gun-boats—the excuse being that iron could not be had for their rolling-mills. The President has ordered the Secretaries of the Navy and War to consult on the propriety of taking railroad iron, on certain tracks, for that purpose.

Washington County Historical Society version (1965)¹

Nov. 23—Last night I took the children over to Nani’s and stayed with her. Tonight she is with me. A group of Northern soldiers stopped and I gave them a letter to my husband. Three hours later General Marmaduke came with several thousand men. I let the rebels look into my empty flour bin and told them I had been cooking and baking for their men all week and would have to keep my little remaining food for my children. So they didn’t get my hidden meal, but did take pigs and chickens. At night I took faithful Nero in the room with us.

The Arkansas Historical Quarterly version (1947)²

Nov. 23

Last evening the children and I went to Nani’s; tonight she is with us. In the evening Northern soldiers came up, and God be praised, our men had got back safely into the Northern camp. Nani entrusted a letter to the soldiers; yet they were hardly away before it was reported that they were disguised Southern soldiers. We went to a neighbor’s house and there were assured that the men were really Northern soldiers. Hardly three hours later General Marmaduke with several thousand men came up. I let the Rebels look into a nearly empty flour barrel and told them that I had been giving away flour all the week through and the little amount remaining I must keep for my children. They did not see the flour I had hidden. They took some hogs and chickens. That night I let my faithful dog, Nero, come into the house.

1. Lemke, W. J. The Hermanns of Old Hermannsburg: Washington County, Arkansas. Fayetteville, AR: Washington County Historical Society, 1965.
2. Memoirs, Letters, and Diary Entries of German Settlers in Northwest Arkansas, 1853-1863.  Selected and Translated By Clarence Evans, Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. Vol. VI Fall, 1947 No. 3