Tag Archives: camp life

16 August 1864: “Tell her I had rather the ladies of K__ + C__ would not marry until I return.”

Item Description: Letter dated 16 August 1864, written by K. Johnston to his mother. He gives detailed advice about the work around their property back home. Item Citation: Folder 2, Confederate Papers, #172, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of … Continue reading

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25 April 1864: “I will let them rot and not disgace this Sheet by a recital of thier traitorous iniquities”

Item description: Chauncey Brunson Welton (1844-1908), a soldier in the 103rd Ohio Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army, wrote to his mother, Julia A. Welton, from camp at Bulls Gap in eastern Tennessee. His letter relates how his regiment had recently left … Continue reading

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24 April 1863: “Every day serves to increase my anxiety to exchange my present service for some other less laborious and equally necessary branch.”

Item description: Letter, dated April 24th, 1863 from Ruffin Thompson to his father, William H. Thompson.  In it he recounts details of camp life and his failed attempts to transfer to a less physically taxing position. Item citation: From folder … Continue reading

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12 April 1863:”…the yankees run up the white flag, set the boat afire and took to the swamp…”

Item description: Letter, dated 12 April 1863, from James Augustus Graham to his mother.  He describes camp life, an engagement with a Union gunboat on the Coosaw River, and his regiment’s potential involvement in the engagements occurring near Charleston. From … Continue reading

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28 March 1863: “I drop you a few lines to give you the sad news that brother Calvin is dead.”

Item Description: Letter, dated 28 March 1863, from Corporal William H. Proffit during his service in the Wilkes Valley Guards (Company B, 1st North Carolina Regiment).  In this letter Cpl. Proffit informs his family of the death of his brother, … Continue reading

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20 February 1863: “Possibly we may go to the railroad and ride to the seat of war – probably our legs will furnish transportation, as has been the case ever since we landed in this state.”

Item description: Letter, 20 February 1863, from Ruffin Thomson, 18th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, to his “Pa” (William H. Thomson). More about Ruffin Thomson: Ruffin Thomson was the oldest child and only son of William H. Thomson and Hannah Lavinia Thomson. He studied … Continue reading

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18 February 1863: “Of the colored race those the nearest white are the most to be pitied they look kind of sad as tho they do not like the position they occupy”

Item Description: Letter, 18 February 1863, from Silas Everett Fales, a soldier with the 42nd Massachusetts Infantry, to his wife Mary. Fales wrote from Bayou Gentilly and then New Orleans, about army life, the climate and bustling activity in the … Continue reading

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1 February 1863: “I have had the itch – and feared to write lest it should be imparted to you from the paper…”

Item description: Letter, 1 February 1863, from Leonard Henderson to his mother Mary Henderson. The letter describes Henderson’s affliction with what many historians colloquially call “camp itch,” a mysterious skin disease that plagued countless soldiers during the war. Many now … Continue reading

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21 October 1862: “Gen. Stewart was quite a favorite at Gainesville, especially among the ladies.”

Item description: Letter, 21 October 1862, from Cicero Adams to his wife Mary. More about Cicero Adams:  Cicero Adams was the husband of Mary Hughes and son-in-law of John H. Hughes, all from the Edgefield area of South Carolina. Cicero, along … Continue reading

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17 October 1862: “I, who always tryed to shirk everything in name of work, had to hatch up something to do, so I hit upon the plan of making a set of chessmen, I have whittled out quite a number out of Black Walnut…”

Item description: Letter, 17 October 1862, from William H. Broughton to his father. More about William H. Broughton: William H. Broughton mustered into the Union Army on 4 August 1862 and was later made captain of Company D, 16th Maine … Continue reading

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