1862: Virgil Hester Walker to Romulus Leedy Cox

A post-war picture of Virgil Hester Walker

This letter was written by 2d Lieutenant Virgil Hester Walker (1838-1928) of Co. K, 52nd North Carolina Infantry. Virgil was a 22 year-old school teacher when he enlisted on 28 April 1862. He was taken prisoner near Petersburg in the fall of 1864 and sent to the Old Capitol Prison and then to Fort Delaware where he was held until his release on 17 June 1865.

An extract from Virgil’s diary (mentioned in his obituary), reveals that, “I was captured by the 7th Regt. Maine Volunteers on 28 October 1864 at Petersburg, Va. Was taken to the Union lines, turned over to the Provost guard, in turn to the Corporal’s Headquarters, put in pen with all classes and conditions of men, many of the African race. Assigned to the old Capitol Prison at Washington D. C. Released June 30, 1865. Last lap of seven days trip home was made on a mule given by a Yankee soldier.”

Virgil was the son of Robert B. and Amy (Hester) Walker of Forysth county, North Carolina. He was married in December 1867 to Ellen Beatrice Breedlove (1840-1910).

Transcription

Camp French near Petersburg, Va.
December 7, 1862

Lieut. Cox,

I now seat myself to drop you a few lines in answer to yours which came to hand a few days past. I was glad to hear from you all and to hear that you was all well, but very sorry to hear of the death of T[heophilus] H. Luper. ¹

I haven’t any news to write—only we are here yet eating and drinking all we can get. They are all gone now but myself and twenty more—very lonesome times about Old Camp French. I should be pleased if it was so I could get to come to you all one more time for I am tired of staying here, but from your statements it seems you have having hard times there also. I have felt for you all many times since you left here but don’t doubt but you all are faring as well or better than we are. We have nothing but old tents to stay in. I hooked a stove the other day and put in my tent. I am faring some better now than I did before. The weather is very cold now for several days & last night was the coldest night we have had. I wished for your old long legs to throw over me but every time I would feel for them, they were not there.

I wish to inform you that we have lost two of our men since you left or they left last Thursday night. I did not think of such a thing. Major Perdue ² & [Meredith] Shores, ³ conscripts. Major has been pretending to be sick ever since you all left and has been after me to give him a furlough every day since he came. His excuse was that his old woman had lost her cow & calf and he wanted me to let him go home and buy her another cow and get his wife another baby and he would come right straight back & on that day he came to me with the excuse that he wanted to go home and get him some clothes and he said if I did not get him some, he should go home and get them himself. And I told him that I could not get them until we got to the regiment and his reply was that he could get them and he was not a going to freeze here any longer & that night Shores received a letter from his wife that all of the other conscripts that went from about there had come home and was not pestered & they turned to cooking up their rations for the trip and between midnight and day they eloped for some place, I don’t know where, but I hope they are in Hell—both of them long since. They both told me that night if they was to runaway that I better not come after them for if I did—or any of us—they would shoot us before they would come back with us. And that night just before I lay down, Shores come up to my tent and wanted to borrow my pistol to shoot a dog that had been eating their rations of a night and as luck would have it, I did not let him have it, and in a few moments Major come ad wanted to buy it and wait until he drew his wages for my pay, and as luck would have it, Damn them, they did not get it by none of their wise schemes. And all I want is to start to Wilkes [county] after them. I can shoot the dg that eat the rations & bring them back. I will be willing to risk myself one trip. Tell Captain to detail me to go after them & they shall come back pretty soon. But you or Lieut. [Junius W.] Goslin had better get the list and see what the number of their regiment was that they come from and write to the Colonel and have them arrested or it may put us to some trouble to get them again. But I would not give two cents a hundred for such men as they was. But they was so dissatisfied that I don’t want him to have the chance of getting his wife that other baby if he gets the cow.

Well sir, you wanted to know when I was at Marier’s last. I had not been in sometime when your letter came to hand and it put me in the notion to go and I went over yesterday and stayed awhile and if the weather don’t moderate soon, I shall put up winter quarters there this winter. But I shall try to hold on to enough stock to supply all wants in Forsythe. I wish you was here to go along to the Bank. You are not making anything on your money. I can’t keep money contented out of the bank, but the interest alone don’t amount to much.

And you also wished to know when I heard from my girl last. If you had stated which one, I could of told you. I heard from three of them last night & have heard from them all since you left. I received a letter from my red-haired girl last night. It brought me the glad tidings from afar. I have a small idea of taking a short Bush Furlough about Christmas if I don’t get off otherwise. She told me that she would prepare me a Christmas dinner if I would be sure and come and I wrote her that I should be sure to come but I had it like Grand Father always did if I can. She writes that all the girls are growing plum raving deracted since all the conscripts has left.

You stated about Bennett being barefooted and wanted me to write home for him some shoes. I received a letter stating that you had wrote for some and he was going to make them and send them by the Captain. Tell Lieut. Goslin that I will send him some tobacco as soon as I have an opportunity. I shall go to Petersburg tomorrow morning and I will get it and the first opportunity he hall have it. You must all take care of yourselves and not let the Yanks get hold of you until I come and then they are no danger at all. You must hurry and whip them out and come back. I have a good warm stove in our tent now and it isa very comfortable now to what she was before. If they are no chance for me to get off to come to you, I wish you would draw my money for me and send it up to me by the first passing if you please as I shall soon be out. I want enough to go to Marires at Christmas.

Tell Bennett to take good care of himself & if Father fails to send him some shoes by the Captain, tell him to write me word and I will send him a pair as soon as I can. I will close by saying to you to excuse my ill-composed lines as I have wrote in haste as I must write to my girl tonight.

Yours &c. — V. H. Walker

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¹ Pvt. Theophilus H. Luper died on 25 November 1862 at Blackwater River, Virginia, of disease. He served in Co. K, 52nd North Carolina Infantry.

² Major Perdue was about 30 years old when he was conscripted into Co. K, 52nd North Carolina on 30 October 1862 from Wilkes county.

³ Meredith Shores was 23 years old when he was conscripted into Co. K, 52nd North Carolina Infantry. He deserted in 5 December 1862. He later returned to the regiment was was wounded on 15 June 1864 near Petersburg.

1862-64: John Henderson Cox to his Siblings

John Henderson Cox

These letters were written by John Henderson Cox (1831-1909), a son of William Henry Cox (1788-1854) and Nancy Leedy (1797-1887) of Forsyth county, North Carolina. John was married in 1863 to Phoebe Adeline Bodenhamer (1830-1902).

John probably wrote most of these letters to his brother Payton Alexander Cox (1827-1887) who served in Co. K, 52nd North Carolina but spent much of the war on detached duty as a nurse at the Military Hospital in Wilson, North Carolina. Mentioned in the letter are two other brothers, Romulus Leedy Cox and William Henry Harrison (“Billy”) Cox who were with the same regiment in the field with Lee’s army in Virginia.

[My thanks to Stacy Cookenour and Alan Thompson who provided me with first drafts of this transcriptions.]

Letter 1

[Forsyth county, North Carolina]
October 30, 1862

Dear Brother,

Your letter of the 25 is at hand, also the letter by [Captain Junius W.] Goslen containing $150 all safe.

All are well today. Had a corn shucking last night. Finished mine and part of William’s. It turned out better than I expected. I think there are 150 bushels. Some of the hands guessed there were. I and John are plowing some today but I shall have Billy’s to get up which will hinder me. I will get done sowing next week if good weather. Plenty of white frost this week. 

I have not time to write much. My horses are nearly done eating. I shall have travel. I have worked very hard for the last few weeks. My hands are very sore. I shall commence school week after next. Mother and Phebe are cribbing corn. Adaline has a sore finger [and] can do nothing much. She has done but little out yet.

Grandmother sends her love to you and Peyton. I will close this short letter. I will write to you every 2 or 3 weeks. No late news from Billy. Write often and all the news of interest. I just now saw old John A. Gooden pass the road but did not speak to him. I expect he is from the camp. Tell Peyton to write as soon as he returns from Richmond. Old farm is in good deal better order than when you left. I will try and buy some corn soon as possible.

Excuse haste and believe me, yours truly – J. H. Cox

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Letter 2

[Forsyth county, North Carolina]
February 16, 1864

Dear Brother,

I will drop you a few lines this morning to let you know that we are all well. Hope these may find you and Billy so. I received yours in due time but did not send your things. I thought it best not to send them. I was fearful you would lose them and if you did, it would be a great loss to you. There is so much stealing on the railroad that it would be a great risk to send them, I think they are safe here and I would let them stay. You say you do not want them there but do it to please Satchwell. He would not pay you for items if you lost them. This is the sole reason why I did not send them and hope you will not think hard of me for doing so.

Had a letter from Rom on Sunday. Was well. On picket and will 4 weeks. Says he thinks he will be home about the 15th of March. Virgil [Walker] is at home now. I am cutting some cord wood. Have plowed a good deal. Will get done breaking in 3 or 4 days. Have planted some potatoes. Will plant more soon. Mother has sowed some seeds. We had snow yesterday—the first we have had. Been no bad weather since Christmas till now. I never saw such a time in the winter before. No one has died or married about here since I wrote you.

There has been a great talk of a convention with some but it is all shadow. I think a bad move though another enrolling here in March in this country. Some think all will have to go. No doubt they will be very tight this time. Look out some that have been exempt and detailed. I am looking for the conscript bill to 55 to pass. What think you of it? What to become of the farming interest? I fear famine will come. Hard work to make enough as it is. I hope the bill will not pass.

Tell Billy [that] Sarah and Leon are well. Lizzie can walk right smart. Can sing do do. You ought to hear her. I will not write more now. I hope you will get to come home soon. Write soon. Fail not. Your brother, — J. H. Cox

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Letter 3

[Forsyth county, North Carolina]
May 26th, 1864

Dear Brother, 

Yours came to hand yesterday. I now write you a few lines in answer. We are well as common. We have had no letters from Rom & Billy since the fighting commenced [and] are getting very impatient to hear. I have some little news from Rom by Will Hine who has just come home wounded. He saw Rom about the time he left so I learn. Have not seen him myself. Can’t tell what time he saw him. I hear that some of the wounded of the company are at Raleigh. Virge [Virgil Walker] is sick and [was] not in the fight, as usual. So I expected to hear.

I heard today that Hoke’s Brigade was gone on to Lee. If so, Billy is there. I do wish we could hear from them. I trust they are safe. I think we will get news from them in a few days. I hope you have by this. Gabriel Clayton and Sam James are killed—Capt. Gibson also, and reported Capt. Betting likewise. 

We have just had a hard rain, rather wet. Wheat and oats are looking nice. Wheat beginning to head. Most too thin on the ground, oats also that sowed last fall. Our corn is beginning to grow nice. Been over nearly all of it once. We have very nice potatoes.

All is going on as common about home. Some in the neighborhood are gone to the war. Stump Ogburn left this week. Dick Walker in the bushes. Everybody at home are trying to make something to eat. I hope and pray we will have a good season this year and have an abundant harvest of everything. I fear there will be great deal hard fighting yet about Richmond. Never was there such slaughter heard of in this country as has been there this time, but we have whipped them nicely so far.

Write soon as you hear from the boys & fail not. I will do the same. Excuse this letter. Mother sends her love to you. 

Your Brother, — J. H. Cox 

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Letter 4

[Forsyth county, North Carolina]
July 21, 1864

Dear Brother,

I have a few minutes now at noon to write you a few lines. I wrote you some time ago and directed to Richmond. I expect I ought have sent it to Petersburg. [I] will send this there. We are all in usual health [and ] hope your are. I received yours by Harrison and the paper. 

I am glad to inform you that Billy arrived home yesterday from the hospital at Lynchburg. He is poorest person I ever saw to be [standing] up. [He] will weigh about 75 maybe—nothing but skin and bones. I can’t see how he ever got home as week as he is. It’s a wonder he did not die but Providence provided for him. He has sixty days furlough. [He] said if he had stayed a few days longer [he] would have gotten a discharge but was afraid he would have gotten worse. I took him home this morning. I tell you he was glad to get home. I expect Martin is gone after him now but hope not as it would be a trip for nothing and cost him a good deal besides.

We are having seasons now—just had a fine rain. We have suffered greatly for rain—had none for about six weeks. Corn is injured considerably but it will come very much yet. Mine stood the drought well. I have been working it all the time. I have my wheat all in, about done cutting oats. [I] have had a pretty tough time of it, cut all myself. Oats are pretty good—made some 260 dozen. Have not stacked any of them yet. [I] will soon. They do will plow some more in the corn another week if suitable. Corn is small yet—some silks coming in mine. 

What is the news now? Any fighting going on? The rumor is old [Ulysses S.] Grant [is] dead. Billy said he heard he was as he came home. I wonder if it is the truth. I hope old [Jubal] Early will give them fits over Maryland. Hope what we hear is true. There are many reports in circulation.

I wrote you before that old Frazier is out in the bushes. Dave and Tom Whitcher are gone. No one knows where. These are all from about here. Tandy White is dead—died on the march to Maryland. 

Our hogs are in pretty good order [and] in the wheat fields now. Lost one of the big ones some time ago. Great many died about here. Some lost all they had. No less than 25 hogs died around here—all fattening hogs. 

Write me soon again. I have nothing more of interest to write. I will write you again soon. I wish you could come home and rest a while. I feel for you. Excuse mistakes.

Your brother – J. H. Cox

1864: Mary Evelyn (Wheeler) Cox to Peyton Alexander Cox

These letters were written by Mary Evelyn (Wheeler) Cox (1841-1936), the wife of Peyton Alexander Cox (1827-1895) who served in Co. K, 52nd North Carolina Infantry but who was detailed as a nurse at the Wilson Confederate Hospital in Wilson, North Carolina, when this letter was penned. Peyton and Mary were not married until 21 September 1864. Peyton was a teacher prior to the war and a farmer afterwards but he also seems to have practiced dentistry on the side and hence, was called “Dr.” occasionally.

[My thanks to Stacy Cookenour and Anm Melichar for providing me with first drafts of these transcriptions.]

Letter 1

Flat Branches, Forsyth County, NC
October 21st, 1864

Dr. P[eyton] A. Cox
Dear Husband,

Yours of the 10th & one of the 17th reached me today. The 10th date had been miss-sent. I was truly glad to hear you was in usual health with the exception of boils. I am sorry you cannot get shut of them. I am well [as are] all the rest of the family but little Lizzie. She was right sick last night & the fore part of the [morning] but seems considerable better this evening. It could also be I guess. 

Brother Rom [Romulus L. Cox] has wrote you all the news in general, I guess, so I have not much to write. He wrote you last night, but did not have chance to mail today, so I will put this in with his. Momma’s cows has been out in [the] woods ever since last Monday. Hunted every day for them more or less, [but] can’t find. I reckon we will have to call out the home guard to hunt them up. Going to take a general hunt tomorrow if can’t find without.

The Post Office has been moved to Crises. It seemed quite handy to have the office so nearby. I was there a few minutes yesterday evening. It’s all the place I have been to around here. I have been wanting to go to see William’s wife but we have all been so busy making syrup & one thing or another, I have not got off yet. I guess William is with you tonight. I shall be glad if he can stay there with you. It will [be] a satisfaction to you both to be together & also to all the rest of us. Sarah & Leon is well. I guess deal was over here this morning. I heard no complaint. Leon called his Pa all day after he left. Lizzie got your letter today & took it to her Grandma & wanted her to read it. She took & told Lizzie [that] Uncle Peyton wanted Aunt Mary to kiss her for him. She came running to me & stuck out her mouth to be kissed. She has to see your [tin]type every day. Show her any other [and] she says, see Pate & kiss him. 

I have not got my stove up yet, but want it up badly. Momma sends you her loves & says write how William is & how he is satisfied. Says you must keep him there if you can.

The piece of cloth in loom I took it out & brought it home & will weave when I can. I have not gone to Guilford yet, but will go as soon as possible. Mr. Ogbern wants to haul another load for us. He is going to move Lancaster to Jamestown & haul for me as he comes back. I have not settled with him for what hauling he did do yet. I hope the old Dr. will get so sorry he can give you another furlough before long. I fear he will not, though he ought for if anyone in the hospital deserves furlough, it’s you. Do not work too hard. You cannot stand it to work like you have for the last 12 months. I dreamed the other night you had another furlough to come home. I wish you had. You know not how glad I would be to see you. 

Please excuse all imperfections in this scroll & accept the love & kiss of your wife.    

We have had no quarrel yet. You must think we are [a] quarrelsome set. Write soon & often. I am always anxious to hear from you. I have no news from my folks yet. I am very anxious to hear.

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Letter 2

Addressed to Dr. P. A. Cox, Hospital, Wilson, North Carolina

Flat Branches
Forsyth county, N. C.
November 14, 1864

Dear Husband,

I take present opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am well. I reached home last Saturday evening. Dock and Cooley went down after me. We drove the sheep. They drove very well. Got home quarter of an hour before the wagon. Tied two together. I could not find two of them. I hunted the neighborhood over. I hated it very bad about the one my grandma gave me. It was such a nice one.

[Your brother] Henderson brought two letters down to me when we came. One [was dated] October 30th and the [other] November 3rd. I was sorry to hear you had been sick. I hope you are in the enjoyment of good health. How does William come on? I hope he is improving. Today is his birthday. I don’t expect he has thought of it.

Lt. Romulus Cox, Co. K, 52nd North Carolina

[Your brother] Rom[ulus] just now stepped out & saw someone going from towards the corn crib. Thought it was Henderson coming. Henderson was sitting by the fire & all the rest was in the house. Rom has took his revolver, Henderson the gun, & gone to see if they can find who it is. Back. Can’t find anyone.

If I had the specie, I could have bought a good hog when I was in Guilford of Mrs. Betty Leonard. I have not seen Mr. Styes yet to see if he would spare one hog. Perhaps they will go to mill & I will get them to enquire. I got nearly all my stuff away from Guilford. I have 4.5 pounds of feed left. I got 8 pounds of peas but they was not cleaned good though. I have not got my wheat out. They are done. Mother says give her love to you and William & says if you can have any influence, to keep William there.

Sarah is well. Leon has a sore mouth which makes him cross. I was down there yesterday evening. His mouth is broke out in blisters. I guess the disease is prevalent in some places. Louisa has gone to stay with Sarah tonight. Cousin J. C. Butner is sick in some hospital. we did not learn what one though. Mamma says she is glad to hear your boils are getting well. You must come up and help us eat beef. We killed a nice fat beef last Friday.

Rom’s foot is not any better. He sent in his papers today to extend his furlough. He talks of going down to Goldsboro next week if he gets his time extended. He could have been elected Captain of the Home Guard if he had known it a week sooner. Then he would not have had to went back to Petersburg. Over half of the company voted for him & someone come in and said he would not accept the place so William Barrow was elected but he did not want to be. They have no 1st Lieutenant in the company. Rom says he will fall back to the First Lieutenancy maybe of they don’t get officers elected before he gets there.

I have not heard anyone say but I guess Barrow is the 2nd Class of Home Guard. I wish Rom could get in there for I do dread to see him start back to Petersburg. The soldiers—poor fellows—will see such hard times there this winter. Capt. Garland & Lieut. Walker is prisoners, I suppose. Walker wounded in the thigh. Esq. [Joseph A.] Davis was married last week [10 November] to the widow [Martha] Ledman.

[Your brother] Henderson will have to leave in 4 weeks. Then we will be left without any man person. I wish you could come & stay with us. I think the Old Dr. [Solomon Sampson Satchwell] might let you. You have enough of hard work to rest awhile. Don’t work too hard. Please don’t.

Well now, I have took your scolding. It did not make me mad though as it has turned out. What difference does it make if I did not rent the Harras’ land. I could not have found anyone to rent to but McClwaine & he could not have sown a wheat crop. I would have rented before I left if I could have found anyone to rent before McClwain come. When he come, I was so sick I did not feel like entertaining any business transactions. I had so much to think of when we went to start & I was not able to gather up things was the reason I left to my Pa’s papers. Some of them ought to have seen [ ] I have them all right though now they left them to write J. W. Gordon’s. Pa’s passport was not worth one straw to him. Ray, instead of going to the Secretary of War, went to some Provost Marshal and pretended the Secretary sent him. He wanted to get Pa sold out of house & home & sent down here. I reckon if it had not been for Jonathan Harras, they would not got cross the lines. He pled like a lawyer to get them across.

There was a black woman—wife of one of Delphina [Eliza] Mendenhall’s Black man that was freed some time ago had sent a thousand dollars back some time & bought his wife went with them. Delphina wrote to Richmond & got a passport for her. Hers was alright, they said. And Ray got 25 bushels of wheat out of Pa and 22 bushels of oats for his & it no account when Dephina only had to pay the postage and got the pet pig too. ¹

I have the itch. I have nearly quit itching. I did not do anything to cure, only I eat two or 3 grains of sulphur as large as small grains of corn.

It is getting late. All have gone to bed but mother and myself. We are trying to keep the fireplace warm it looks like. May angels guard thy slumber, dear one, I close by hoping to hear from you shortly. I remain your affectionate wife.

Mr. [Joseph] Bodenhamer did not charge anything for the use of his wagon.

Rom opened your letter of the 30th of November. Was that the one that had the piece in it that you told me to burn? If it was, I will hush and say no more on the subject—only I will let you know I am all right side up with care, or would be, if you could be at home. Rom said he wanted to hear the news & knew it would be a week before I came home & allowed there was no secrets in it so he broke it open & red it. I can for my life tell which letter that was in but I rather think it was in the one he opened. Rom got a letter from Martin the other day. He was well.

Delphina Mendenhall
(Friends Historical Collection, Guilford College)

¹ Delphina (Gardner) Mendenhall was the widow of James Cameron Mendenhall who died in 1860. The couple were both Quakers and staunch abolitionists. In the 1860 Slave Schedules, Delphina was enumerated as the owner of 27 slaves ranging in age from a small child to age 60. If she was an abolitionist, why did she own slaves you might ask. The reason is that from 1777 until the end of the Civil War, it was against state law to free, or manumit, enslaved people in North Carolina. To work around this law, the Quakers organized a Manumission Society in 1816 that arranged for the ownership of slaves to be transferred to one of their members where they could live and work as “free men” though legally the property of the Quakers. James Mendenhall acquired as many as 40 slaves who were the property of his first wife, Eliza Dunn. Over time, when safe to do, so the Quakers made arrangements for these slaves to be transported out of the South and to freedom in the North. Delphina is credited with having manumitted fifty of her slaves.

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Letter 3

Flat Branches
Forsythe County, N. C.
December 15, 1864

Dear Husband, 

Your kind favors of the 7th inst. came safely to hand yesterday. Sorry to hear you was not well. You work too hard. I am afraid you cannot stand up under so much hardship. I hope your men is all better by this [time] & you can find more time for rest.

We are all well. Henderson started to the Army yesterday. He hated to go as bad as anybody that has went yet. I reckon Rom will have to leave about the first of January. I reckon then we will be left by ourselves. We will have to do the best we can.

Dear Peyton. I don’t want you to go in rags because you are married. If you do, people will say your wife is no account. I want you to go decent & tell the ladies your wife doesn’t allow you to wear them ragged pants. You wish to know what part I take in home affairs in the house. I knock around and brush up like I always did at my Father’s. When Louisa [has] a job of sewing on hand, I help her. I do not do much in the kitchen. I help wash dishes & such & do anything I think will help Mother along as well as I can. Sewed & helped Phoebe to fix Dock off all I could. I gave Dock some apples to carry with him. Adeline said I was too free-hearted.

I am very much obliged to you for the paper you sent. I am going to save it to write to my folks on as I have not heard from them yet. I shall write to Uncle Dix’s Coffin if I don’t hear before long to get him to forward to them. I reckon an old married woman like me don’t need a hat. I have bonnets enough & I have nice plaits enough to make a hat & I can plait together as well as anybody. I am much obliged to you though for your kind offer. If you can get some rice on reasonable terms & can get home, it would be very acceptable. I am very fond of it. If you get, be sure & get that the weevils is not in or has been in—it will taste strong.

The Rev. A. Gray has not been round to see us. Has no appointments out yet. It is getting late. All gone to bed & sleep but Mother & myself. She is knitting. I am writing by torch light at that. We killed a hog the other day. If you will come home, you can have some cracklin’ bread. I wish you could come & spend the Christmas with us. I want you to come home & do some work on my teeth before long. I have two that pester me when I eat. I will quit for the night.

May angels guard thy slumbers. A kiss & good night.

December 24th. I hasten to finish this as Rom is going to town. I missed getting the bag of Ingrum this evening to you. Rom was to go after it. He had to go & take Dock to town so Ingrum sold it for less than he had engaged to me at 3 bushels of corn, 2 gallons of syrup. I sold 3 yards of my factory cloth yesterday. Three yards per bushel. We are all well. I will close hoping to hear from you soon. I remain your affectionate wife.

Mother wants to know if Wm. has drawed any clothes yet. Wants him to stay there if you can possibly keep him.

1862: David Hadley Pickett to Jeremiah H. Pickett

This letter was written by David Hadley Pickett (Piggot), the son of Jeremiah Piggott (1801-1880) and his wife Hannah Stuart (1805-1881) who were members of the Holly Spring Quaker Society in Randolph county, North Carolina. David was married to Eliza Catherine Spoon (1840-1920).

David wrote the letter to his brother, Jeremiah H. Pickett (1834-1892) who was carried on the roster of Co. B, 52nd North Carolina Infantry as J. H. Piggatt. Jeremiah was conscripted into the Confederate service on 1 October 1862. He was not discharged until 20 March 1863 at which time he was finally able to raise the $500 exemption fee required of Quakers—who opposed violence—to be excused from military service. The $500 was used to pay a bounty to some other person who would take their place in the military. Apparently a limited number of Quakers were excused from military service even though they did not pay the $500 fee if they agreed to work in the salt mines of North Carolina.

Following the war, Jeremiah lived for a time in Indiana, in Iowa, and finally in Graham county, Kansas where he died in 1892.

Transcription

Addressed to Jeremiah H. Pickett, Franklin Depot, 52nd Regt., Co. B, under the care of Capt. [Jesse W.] Kyle, N. C. Troops

[Alamance county, North Carolina]
December 30, 1862

Dear Brother, who I often think of and regret that I have not wrote to you before now, but I know not where nor how to direct my letters for you. Perhaps it is very uncertain about this letter by what the rest of our folks tell me. I was down at home and at father’s last Sunday. They was all well and I do hope that you may enjoy the same blessing. Simon is at home. He or others has sent on money to keep him from going but he told me that he had not got it fixed right yet and he was uneasy about it. Some of the Friends, he says, is so strict about Holly Spring that they won’t give him a certificate yet. He says he is a going to see about it soon.

The officers are hunting down there some yet but none about here. Abel Moffitt ran away from them at Asheboro. Hiram and Fismuis and Macon’s boys are all out in the bushes. Calvin Hays is in a contract at Simon Allen’s. They caught him when going home and took him to jail but he ran away from them before they got him to the railroad and is at work now I suppose. I am at my father-in-law’s. I board here and work in a saltpeter contract at Michael Richard’s with 4 other hands. It is a slow business. I think that I will move my family up here for awhile. I fear we will have a very scarce time even here yet.

If I knew you would get this letter, I would write more particulars than I do. David Chamness is at work on the railroad. I saw him not long since. He says he has wrote several letters to you which he thinks you never received. He seems very much concerned for you but I don’t know much about what they all will do yet about sending money to you. You know I can do but little more than my influence. I do want you back very much indeed. O, that you was with some of us at work in a contract. Simon told me last Sunday that father had promised to try to bring you back after Christmas if Simon gets clear, which I think he will. Mother has been to Chamness’s & Eli Coxe’s and so on, doing all she could but I don’t know how she has done yet. Chamness will do all he can. He has 200 dollars and plenty money can be borrowed. He says he will stand your security any time for the money. Father said they was going to write this week so they can tell more than I can about this matter.

Simon says your hogs is doing very well. Them 3 pigs is very nice indeed and all the others. O, that you could come back and see them.

O Jeremiah, I have often wept for you and prayed for you amidst all our troubles. I do hope I may soon see you at home again. May God provide for you and protect you. O that you could have some of my victuals or some of pleasures here, I would share your troubles if I could. O that I could help you or divide with you until we should die together. I do hope to meet you on earth again, my brother. If not, be sure of heaven. Please write to me soon. Patterson’s Store, Alamance county, N C.

— D. B. Puckett

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1864: Romulus Leedy Cox to his Relatives

Lt. Romulus Leedy Cox, Co. K, 52nd North Carolina Infantry

These letters were written by Lt. Romulus (“Rom”) Leedy Cox (1834-1924) of Co. K, 52nd North Carolina Infantry. Romulus was a 27 year-old school teacher when he enlisted as a 2nd Lt. in April 1862 to serve for three years with the “Fighting Boys” (Co. K) from Forsyth county. Reportedly, “Rom” was with his regiment at Gettysburg (in Pettigrew’s Brigade) but he was shown as absent from the company in August through October 1863, home on furlough and sick (suffering from ulcers). By the time this letter was written in January 1864, Rom had been promoted to 1st Lt. and, as anticipated, he was able to go home on furlough shortly afterward, returning in time for the summer campaign in Virginia whereupon he took command of the company in an “acting” capacity. On 21 August 1864, at Globe Tavern near Petersburg, he suffered a gunshot wound to his left foot and spent the remainder of 1864 at home on furlough recovering from his wound. By March 1865, he was diagnosed as suffering from nephritis.

Romulus was the son of William Cox (1788-1854) and Nancy O’Leady (1797-1887) of Winston, Forsyth County, North Carolina. After the war he married (1866) Susan Elizabeth Barrow and then purchased the entire estate from the Barrows in 1873. From then on it was known as the Cox Plantation and increased in size to 1000 acres. Embracing all present day Pine Brook Country Club.

There is a letter offered for sale at the Historical Shop (item #21004) that was written by “a confederate doctor” (unnamed) who was at Petersburg to visit the boys in Co. K, 52nd North Carolina in late July 1864. It mentions Lt. Romulus Cox and Capt. Goslin of Co. K in the following paragraph: “I halted a day with [Lt.] Romulus at Petersburg and he was in camp a mile from the depot and near the extreme right at battle. I found him in the entrenchments on the bank of a large ditch. He was dirty but cheerful but poor of flesh. He has gone through enough to kill any ordinary man. Captain Goslin is unfit for service as his nervous system is shattered. I fear he suffers from incipient paralysis. There are few officers left in the regiment. They are on duty day and night.”

Letter 1

[Letter 1 is from the private collection of Jim Doncaster and is published by express consent.]

Camp of the 52nd North Carolina Regiment
Near Orange Court House, Virginia
January 18, 1864

Dear Mother,

I write you a line tonight by Robert W. Moser—as he is going home on a furlough—to let you know how I am getting on. I am in usual health at present. Trust this may find you all enjoying good health. I have been looking for a letter for several days from some of you but have failed to get it so far. I wrote Henderson a few days ago. I received a letter from Martin tonight. He was complaining somewhat of a cold but I think he he has the blues more than anything else. Miss Maria C_____ has gone to Georgia to spend the winter and perhaps the spring. He will think that a long time for her to be absent from Madison. I expect he will have to go to Georgia for his health next spring if Miss Maria don’t come back before then.

I haven’t any news to write of interest. We have very comfortable quarters now and are living tolerable well at present. I would like to be at home to help you all eat vegetables such as sausage and hogshead &c. I think I will get to come home sometime this next spring.

Capt. Goslin is at home now on furlough. Lt. Walker will go as soon as he gets back. And then I think I can make the trip. This is Sunday night 11 o’clock. Had plenty of visitors today—Lt. Fulp, Nat. Terry, and several of the boys from the 21st Regiment. Has been quite warm today to what it has been heretofore. Not much snow on the ground now.

I must close as tis getting late bed time. Take good care of your sheep. If any of them are out yet, had better have them looked up soon. Have them salted pretty often and they will do better. I want Jim to have salt every week. Please see that he gets it at least once a week. I wrote Billy Feyton yesterday. Pay Adeline one dollar out of the money I sent home for those chestnuts she let me have. I forgot to pay her before I left for them. Kiss Lizzie and Rom for me. I would like to see their little faces tonight. Excuse this paper. Will do better next time. You must all write soon.

Your absent son, — R. L. Cox

I sent Capt. Blackburn’s overcoat to Henderson by Dewitt Tuttle. Take good care of and send it to his mother the 1st chance.

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Letter 2

Flat Branches, North Carolina
October 21^, 1864

Dear Brother,

A line to let you know how home affairs are going on. Everything is straight and going like usual. All are making molasses. Everything is smeared and stuck up about right. Will have 60 or 70 gallons in all. Have 37 made now. The most of it is very nice.

Henderson is about half done sowing wheat. He works Mollie’s horse to the Cane Mill and keeps the others plowing. Albert is here yet. I have been looking around for some good wheat ground for you but can’t find any that will pay to sow. Mollie thinks the rest of her land will be enough for you and her. I can put your horse out for his food at Willie Lawson’s for 12 months if you want him put out that long. I don’t know of any other place I could put him for that length of time. Good many about here would take him till they get them sowing wheat. I know of no chance to swap him for a mule or horse colt either. Will have use for him here a week or two yet. Mollie has two or three loads of one thing or other yet to be hauled. Will go tomorrow or next day after her sheep. 

Billy can give you all the news of the county better than I can write it to you. I was sorry he could not get his furlough extended. I want you to do all you can to keep him there. He is not able to stand camp life yet. If you and him can stay there I will be satisfied to go back to camp as my foot gets well. I think I shall try for an extension again. 

Tell Billy Charlie brought me the transportation alright, also a letter to Sarah. One third of the home guard left for Goldsboro today and all the petition and detailed men left for Camp Holmes. 155 left in all the county—was a pretty heavy call—one or two more will take all the men from Forsyth. Good many of them have gone to the bushes. I am afraid Doc will have to go yet. If he does I don’t know what will become of home. I think the intention now is to take all the able bodied men in the service as soon as can be done.

I will soon have to close for want of a light. Write me as soon as you get this and let me know what Billy will have to do, stay there or go on to his regiment. I will close for this time. Excuse this badly written letter. Your brother – Romulus L. Cox

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Letter 3

Flat Branches, North Carolina
November 7, 1864

Dear Brothers,

A line this morning to let you know that we are all well at present and are getting along as usual. Nothing new to write at present. Only I had the good luck to get my furlough extended again. Will stay at home till about the first of December.

My foot is not any better now than it was when you left home. Mary is down at her Uncle William’s this week. She went down last Sunday. Henderson went down after a load of corn and she went with him. He will go down this week again after her sheep and other little tasks that has not been brought yet. Henderson is not done sowing wheat yet. [There] has been so much rain for the last 10 days [he] could not plow a lot. I will go down to old man Day’s and look at his ground. If any of it will pay to sow in wheat [I] will rent a few acres if I can for you though Cooly is not here now to plow it in. Perhaps I can get him to come and plow a few days if I rent the land. 

Well Billy, your family is well and all are here now. Lee is as feared as each have gathered the corn at your house but it is not all shucked yet. Will be about 75 bushels in all. Have sowed about half of the wheat you wanted sowed. Will sow the other as soon as the ground will do to plow. 

Mike and all the other senior reserves have been called [and] are now at Wilmington. [They] left two weeks ago. Not many men left here now to do anything. 

Captain [Junius W.] Goslen and Lieutenant [Virgil] Walker are both prisoners [Goslen captured Oct. 27 at Burgess’ Mill, VA and Walker captured May 21 at Spotsylvania] and a good many others of the regiment also were captured in the last fight [Burgess’ Mill]. Lieutenant Huske [James Will Huske, Company B] was killed. Captain Austin [Milton S. Austin, Company E] lost an arm. Lieutenant Hill [Joseph Cornelius Hill, Company A] wounded in thigh pretty badly; no one hurt in Company K that I have heard of.

I will have to close. I see Charles Osburn coming now. Will send this by him to mark at Winston. Henderson made 75 gallons of syrup, all very nice. You must excuse this badly written letter and write me soon. Charlie tells me he has just heard that Matt Osburn was badly wounded four days ago in foot and thigh both. All send their love to you both.

Your brother – Romulus

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Letter 4

On line five miles west of Petersburg, Va.
February 12th 1865

Dear Brother [Peyton],

I am back in camp but not well. I left home before I was well enough. I was quite unwell yesterday. If I had known before I left home what I do now, I would have stayed two weeks longer at home but I will do the best I can. Hope this may find you both well. The boys are in tolerable health but are very low spirited and tired of the war. We have to carry all the wood we use on our shoulders half or three-quarters of a mile but we must hope for better times than the present.

I want you to be sure and keep [brother] William there as long as you possibly can. If he was here, he would not live long the way they are exposed. Lt. [Robert D.] Gorrell was wounded last Sunday of William’s company. Wick Ogburn was captured & some others [but] did not learn their names. Was but one man killed in the 52nd. None wounded.

I haven’t time to write much this time. The mail will soon go out. I wrote Mother yesterday. I left Henderson very sick with measles. I hated to leave him very bad but could not help myself. I am not certain but what I will resign and go to the cavalry. A good many of the officers are doing so. Write me soon and often.

From your absent brother, — Romulus

I will write you again soon. Try and get to go home soon and see them all. Maybe the Dr. will let you.

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Letter 5

Camp of the 52nd Regt. North Carolina Troops, Va.
February 18, 1865

Dear Brother,

I write you a line to let you know how I am getting on. I am some better off than I was when I wrote last but am not well yet. I am not doing any duty yet & will not until I get better. Hope this may find you and all the rest well. I have been somewhat uneasy about you ever since I left you but hope you have got well by this time. I haven’t time to write you a long letter this time. A very busy making out pay roll. No news in camp. All the boys are pretty badly whipped about this time. All are low down on the war situation.

I want you to keep Albert at work all the time and keep a close lookout and not let him be taken off. I want him sent to me as soon as he gets that wood cut. The Negroes will be put in the army soon. I can keep Cooly to wait on me. Gen. Lee says all negroes who have been in the army cooking will not have to take up arms. The Bill has passed to consolidate regiments and brigades. If they consolidate our regiment, I think I will resign and go to the cavalry.

You must take good care of yourself and write me soon and often. Kiss Lizzie for me. Take good care of all the stock. Don’t let them get [ ]. Give them salt often. I will send some [ ] in a few weeks. Nothing more this time. Your brother, — Romulus

I wrote Mother last week. Hope to get a letter soon Would like to hear from you all today very much.