- Part 2THE LETTERS
LETTERS FROM MICHAEL AND EDWARD HOLMES, C.S.A, 1861- 1865
EDITED BY: GORDON W. HOLMES, JR.
January, 1995, Revised August, 2000
Dear Mat as I have not got my letter off yet I will write a few lines this morning. It is raining so I will have to lie up close today. I am afraid to git wet yet I feel very well this morning. We have had a bundance of rain lately but our tents ar perfectly dry. they have not leaked a drop jest as dry as a house. We have straw a plenty in them to lay on so we sleep comfortable. Ours is the only tent in the Regment that is dry we ar hi(gh)ly favored in that respect. We have our comfortable quarters to the forsight of Mr. Teague only for him we would have come off half fixed up. Every thing is quite in camp this morning. Reports yesterday of the enamy in our front we hear nothing of this morning. I think they have decided not to move us from here for the present for the fact of our having comenced throwing up entrenchments yesterday. By tonite we will have our camp well fortifide & I think some body will git hurt before we ar driven back. I went over to see the Columbia Blues yesterdy which is about 2 miles from our camp. They had jest sent thirty odd of there 80 men back to the horsepital at Culpeper C H. Huse Odam was amongst those sent back they have nearly all got Measels. We expect a powerful army here in a few days. The intire Malatia force of all this part of Virginia is cold out which will make a powerful force. I think there will be an effort to pick up guns in Henry County to arm some of the companys now trying to be got up in our county. I want you to hold on to my duble Bare1 Gun. She may be needed at home. I think the citizens of the county would do well to gather up all the old rifles in the county & have them put in good fix if they should be needed they would then be redy. I am looking for a letter from Ned anciausly. I think he will write me whether we can make corn anough to do us. I am very uneasy about corn. If Esqn King dont git off today I will mail my letter. I think I will write a slip every day & mail twice a week...... ..is still raining I will close
Mike
Jimys health is pretty good, in fact I think his health is as good as it has bin for years. I shal write Mr Howerton in two or three days. If you are bothered about postage money let me no & I can buy stamps now & prepay letters. The reason I have not done it all the time was the failure of so many of my letters to git through. When I send them without paying, if they dont git through there is nothing lost. I have heard that it was hard for some to git money to pay postage.
(Rear side of paper on which following letter was written)
Bull Run Va July 23/61
Dear Mat
I have no paper so will write you a line on Minas letter. I
am well. The grate battle has bin fought. We have repulsed the enamy with
from 8 to 10 thousand loss. We taken 40 peacis of the finest cannon in the
world from them. Our loss was very heavy I dont no how much from one to two
thousand. Our Regment did not get a chans at them as they were retreating
when we arrived. It was an awful day in the history of this country. Both
parties fought with desparation. The enamy had one hundred and five thousand
men. We had fifty or sixty thousand men. They have retreated back towards
Washington. I dont no how long before they will return whether ever or not.
I think they will be a little cautious when they come back next time. The
4(th) Ala Regment was cut nearly all to peacis. We taken a good many
prisoners. I saw about five hundred of them yesterday they ar rough looking
chaps. I think I will git paper tomorrow. I will then write you a long
letter and tell you all about the battle. Jim Howerton had to go back to
Lynchburg on the acount of his health. I got a letter from him yesterday. He
is git along slow. I think he will have to go home. Rubin is at the same
place giting well Mike
(Front side) July 14th
Dear Brother This is a beautiful morning and all things is calm and still. While I am writing to you I wish you was here to spend the day with us and see your pretty little babe for it is the sweetest little thing you ever saw. Every body that sees it says that it is just like you and I think myself it is. Ther is no news stiring here at this time, no sickness at all that I can hear of. We get letters from yoy twice a week sometimes oftener and sometimes not so often. We did not get any letters Thursday but heard from someone that Jim had relapsed and was very sick but his Father has heard nothing of it and we hope it is just a false report. We have not had any rain this week through here though there has been rain passing nearly every day. There was a light hole below here Wednesday and it has been very coole ever since. I must close they are catching chickens for dinner and keeps so much fuss that I can not write. Excuse all mistakes and bad spelt words. I had forgotten to tell you we had a mess of green peas yesterday.
Minnie
(Another Handwriting in Pencil)
Near Union Mills ford
on Bull Run 3 Miles from Manassas,
July 24th 1861
Dear Ned
I . . . . . from the 19th to the 24th the battle which was
fought & won on the 18th shrinks into utter insignificance when compared
with the GREAT BATTLE fought & won by our Army on Sunday the 21st. Ned
it is impossible for me to give you any correct idea of the Battle. Nothing
to compare with it has ever before been seen on American soil. First I will
give you a short sketch of the movement of our Regiment on the day of the
battle. When it commenced we were at the ford above named, on the south side
of the creek where we had lain all nite in an old field without tents. It
was a beautiful Sunday morning. The sun had just rose in site over a spur of
the Allegany Mountains when the stillness was broke by the soun of cannon at
the next ford three miles up the creek [McLains Ford] we were then
ordered across the creek at our ford and took a position near it in advance
of the army. It was reported that the enemy was approaching to force a
passage at that place. We remained not far from the ford til about 12 oclock
when it was ascertained the enemy was concentrating his forces higher up the
creek where the battle was raging, commencing three miles above us &
extending 5 miles up the creek. It was one continual roar of cannon &
small arms. Between 12 & one oclock our division (Brigade) of the
army composed of the 5th & 6th Alabama and the 6th Louisiana Regiments,
commanded by Genl. (Richard S.) Ewell, was ordered to advance up the
creek to attack the rear of the enemy's left flank. We marched in quick
& double quick time till we had come to less than a mile of the enemy,
where to our utter astonishment we were ordered to fall back and recross the
creek at the same ford and march up to stone bridge which is 8 miles above
where the struggle was going on most. We marched with all possible haste to
engage the enemy in front and military men say the march we made is not
surpased by any thing of the kind on record. I know one thing, I never was
so entirely worn out in all my life. We had arrived on the borders of the
battle field only to meet a second dissapointment, for about that time the
enemy had been utterly routed and driven off the field by our brave soldiers
led on by Genls Beauregard, Johnston & Jeff Davis in person. At this
time news came that the enemy, after being routed above, was falling below
to force a passage at the ford we had just left. By command, we faced about
and countermarched to that place. Tired and worn out we got back to the ford
at about 8 l/2 Oclock at nite and found everything quiet. Instead of the
enemy being there to meet us they were flying before our victorious troops
We that had blankets rolled up in them and slept as soundly as if we had
been in better quarters. I had lost all my blankets, but luckily for me, my
friend Jim Lightfoot had saved two and cheerfully divided with me. Monday
the 22nd which I recollected was my birthday, it rained constantly, which I
understand is common after so much cannonading. Tuesday was a pretty day, we
spread our clothes in the sun, and by evening had got every thing nearly
dry, and were well rested from our hard days march. Again we were ordered to
march across the creek Towards Alexandra about one mile where we are lying
today. So now you have our whereabouts up to the 24th Inst. I will now try
and give you some idea of the glorious victory which our army has achieved.
The enemy's force is put down at about 75 to over 100 thousand. I think they
left Alexandra with three divisions numbering each 35 thousand strong; they
of course did not have that number in battle, having left some at different
points on thier way out here. Our forces in the neighborhood amounted I
think to at least 50 thousand but we did not have more than 15 thousand
engaged at any one time. Our loss in killed and wounded is less than was at
first supposed and is altogather between 10 & 15 hundred. The loss of
the enemy is larger than was first supposed, and cannot be less in killed
than 8 to 10 thousand with more than that number wounded, besides between
one & two thousand prisoners. Our folks also took from 60 to 80 pieces
of cannon, the finest made. I have seen 36 pieces of it also several hundred
waggens with the horses and many thousand stand of arms. There never was an
army so completely route & demoralized. They broke ranks and fled by
every means, by roads & through the woods to Alexandra, scattering as
they went, thier guns, knap sacks & everything else calculated to retard
thier progress. They never even sent back to bury thier dead or to see after
thier wounded. Our folks after seeing after thier own dead & wounded
attended to all the wounded enemy who fell in thier way, and also continued
to bury thier dead until Tuesday evening when the stench became so great as
to forbid any thing more being done in that way, leaving hundreds whose
bones will bleach on the soil of Virginia as a monument of the madness &
folly of the northern people, and as a warning to future generations to
beware how they attempts the subjugation of a free people.
(Mike's handwriting)
July the 25th - Ned I have been writing for several days on any thing I cold git holt of & my scraps was rubed out so bad you could not read so I got Mr Teague to coppy some of them for me the rest I will send dont know whether you can read them or not. I want to git my letter mailed today. I have fixed up to go to the late battle ground today as I have not been over it yet. After I see the field good I will write you what I can about it. We still remain at the same place we were at yesterday and we may perhaps remain here for several days as we understand Jeff Davis thinks they will likely come to terms now and he is ancious to avoid the spilling of blood. They can stop the war if they chouse tell Martha I will write to her soon in fact this is intrnded for all my health is very good. I can write you more fully about the battle in my next as every day makes new developments.
Your Mike
4 Miles from Manassas Junction July the 26th/61
Dear Mat
As Jim Howerton came up to see us last eaving & is going
back to Lynchburg in the morning I have concluded to write you a few lines
to have mailed at Lynchburg. By having it mailed at that place I think you
will git it letters mailed at Manassas it is very unsertain whether you ever
git them or not. Jim did not come up with the vew of staying. He had not bin
able to hear one word from us after the Battle. He got so uneasy about us
that he could stand it no longer so he taken the train yesterday morning
& got to our camp yesterday eaving. His health has improved some since
he went back the last time. He will go back in the morning & remain till
he gits well. I have nothing to write today. I wrote Ned a long letter
yesterday. If you git that it is all the news I have to write. I write this
for feare you dont git the one I wrote Ned. We ar lying up perfectly quite.
We expect to march towards Alaxandra soon. There is no enamy nearer to us
than Alaxandra & the Federal army is said to be in a state of munity
& insorbordination & in a bad fix to meet the victorious Southern
army. I think the war is nearly at a close. The awful thrashing they got at
Stone Brid(g)e and other placis up & down Bull run taught them a leson
they will not far git soon. I was over the Battle field yesterday which
extends for near 10 miles up & down the creek. I was prepard to see an
auful site from what I had herd but the half had not bin told me. I must
have seen over 100 men lying jest as our sharpshooters had cut them down.
Our folks bered all of them they could. They first bered our own ded &
attended to our wonded & then they attended to all the enamy they could.
They kept on buring the enamy til Winsday nite when the stench became so bad
they were forced to quit. I could not help but feel sorey for the poor
fellows as they lay scaterd over the field. To think how they had bin
decieved they told them they wold have no fighting to do that we were only a
mob & wold run as they approched but in stid of finding a flying mob
they found a determend army of free men who were determed to do ar di &
in stid of flying before them they stood & cut them down by thousands. I
cant write you any thing about it wait with patients till I come home &
then I will take plasure in setting down & telling you all about it. be
cheerful & in good hart
Mike
Dear Mike
I shall rite only a few lines this morning inclosed with
Matts letter. I guess she wil give you the health of all as it is good. I
dont have much time to rite now. Gim is gone, left yesterday & there is
no one to hire that will do, so I will not say any thing about it but pitch
in myself until the crop is gathered, if you dont get home yourself.
Afterwards I am going to join the Army at any sort of cost. Crops is doing
very well, we have had abundance of rain last week. Gim went off with Oats
(William C. Oates). They was 120 in no. every one with red shirts. They
looked well & went off in fine spirit. Gim is a first rate boy. I wish
he had stayed. He got along well with your busines.
Yours Ned Holmes
[William C Oates formed a Company (Henry Pioneers) which was mustered into the 15th Ala Infantry also assigned to the Army of Northern Virginia. This Co. left Abbeville on July 27, 1861 and will be encountered later.]
Fort Mitchel
July 29th 1861
Ned
I rite you this to let you know that we have landed at this place Fort
Mitchel. We arrived yesterday about 5 oclock.
We met a fine crowd at the
river with waggons to move us up. We got up here & our tents up by dark.
We had a bad ride up the river, had to take deck passage, all got here safe
and well but me. I was lying down in the boat bout half a sleep under
the table with my head stuck out from under it when Tom Renfro [see letter
of 3/6/64] let a stick fall off on me and mashed my mouth flat as a
flounder. It swelled up rite smart but its all rite now. Ned, there aint no
arrangements made about giting letters yet. We will leave a Thursday, half
the Regiment will leave tomorrow for Richmond Va. I will rite to you as soon
as we git there. 2 more companies has just arrived here. One of the Eufaula
men got drowned last night as they came on. We got plenty to eat; or has so
far, such as meat, flour, sugar, coffee, rice all is rite evry way in good
hart can here the boys hollowring up fur us --- both boys. We have the
praise of the finest company in this Regiment. Nothing more at this time.
When we get stationed I will let you know and then you must rite me all the
news.
Met
[This letter was among Michael Holmes' papers and sent to Ned. Met was obviously a member of Co G, 15th Ala. Inf. Regiment. This trip up the Chattahoochee was further described by Oates in his book. A close check of the members of Capt. Oates' company as listed in his book does not quickly indicate who Met is. Mike has referred to him previously; the context tends to indicate he's an employee. Ned has mentioned a Gim in his letter of July 28. See Mike's letter of Oct 15, 1861.]
Near Manassas Junction July 29th/61
Dear Mat
As we ar lying up resting & I have a good chans to writ I
have undertaken to write you this eavning. Everything in camp is perfectly
quite nothing new since the Battle of the 21st which no doubt you have heard
a great deal about. I wrote Ned all about it that I could. I have wrote you
since I was on the Battle field so it leaves me with not much to write you
at this time on that subject. We ar lying up at this place at ease. I
dont no which way we will go when we moove. There is a rumer that we will be
sent down on the east of Va. I place no reliance in that. I wish it was so
we could stand the winter there much better than we can here amngst the
mountains. There is a grate many troops moving towards Alandra every day. My
own opion is that we will follow soon. The Linconits ar all driven in on the
Potomac & I guess they will stay there for some time if our army will
let them. I have no ida they will attack us soon not perhaps before Oct. if
they ever do they have got to organise another army before they can moove
upon us again for the one they had is completely torn to pieces with the
loss of nearly all of there aquipage & munitions of war. You would
hardly believe me if I was to tell you the vast quntity of camp equipage
arms & c we have taken from them. I no that it is so for I have seen it
myself. I will mention only one part of camp equipage to give you an ida. We
taken seven thousand axas that brought along to cut new roads with. they
intended to remoove evry obsticle that might present itself & level the
country before them to Richmond. There was every thing els in the shape of
camp tools preparation such as spades shovels pick axs even a blacksmith
shop well fixed up on wheels. They also had a sulky in which they had fixed
a fine telegraph wire one end of which was left at Washington. As the sulky
rold on the wire was let out & by that means they kep up communication
with Washington. The ida of defeat had
never enterd there minds. There
had come out with the army a good many ladys & sevrl senators &
members of Congress came down to Centervill three miles from the Battle
field to have a grand party after there victory. They had brought along 20
buckets of shampain for the acasion. Our troops got it all & one member
of Congress [New York Congressman Alfred Ely] was taken prisoner.
When they started to run they throwd away evry thing that they had about
them. The road for miles was covered with knapsacks haversacks guns pistols
together with there ded bodys lying thick where our calvery had cut down the
flying fugatives. The longer I stay here & the more I see of the war the
prouder I am that I came to meet them on the border. I would sooner offer up
my life here tomorrow than to live to see the hirelings of Lincoln invade
our happy State. It is horable to think of the outrages they commit on the
defenceless peple through the country where they go. They kill & drive
off the stock go into privat houses take what they want brake up &
destroy the balance & most of all the black harted dogs dont respect
female vurture. Where is the woman that would not be willing to give up
husband son ar brother to drive back such a hard of savages. Thank God
they ar driven to the banks of the Potomac & while I write a report has
reached the camp that they have fled from Alaxandra. I dont think it is so.
Be cheerful & of good cheer I will shurly be home when my time is out
& hope by that time our country will be forever freed from the grasp of
the northern tyrant. I got a letter from you & one from Ned last
Saturday by the McAllister Boys. Those boys that came up to join Smith
[Capt.T.T. Smith, Henry (Columba) Blues, Co. K] got here safe and ar
all well. I had not had a letter from home, before in some time & what I
have got is very short. None of you has wrote me yet whether we will make
corn anough to do us. Nother whether we would (make) plenty of peas to
fatten our meet. If the pea crop is good I want hawgs anough to finish
making our meet bought at any price. Write me all about how much corn we
will make how the pea crop is how much meet the hawgs we have will make and
all about every thing that I want to no. Tell Met that I recvd his letter
was sorey that he was going off but dont think hard of him. I guess you will
have to git along without any one. I no of no one you co(u)ld git that would
do any good. Ned can make the best arangments about that matter. You may
knit me some socks. I dont care whether wool or cotton. I have sent to
Lynchburg after shirts & c for feare I cold not git them from home in
time. Jim Howerton has gon back to Lynchburg to stay till he gits well ar is
discharged from the army. He was peart when he left. I must close
Mike
4 miles from Manassas Junction July 30th/61
Dear Mat
As I learn Esp King is going to git off home again in the
morning. I will try to git off a few lines by him. This is two letters I
have wrote to you this week & one to Ned but it (is) very unsertain
whether you ever git them ar not. The mail araijments ar very bad. I have no
news to write as (I) wrote all the other every thing. In camp perfectly
quite. There is no fighting that we heare of any where. The health of our
company is very good. My health was never better, I want . . . . to heare
from every thing about home very bad. The letters I got from you and Ned by
the McAllister boys contai(ne)d nothing that I want to no. I suppose you had
wrote me about the corn in some outher letter that I never got. I want every
thing in the way of foder peas and in fact every thing that will do for food
for horses. Save corn for I fear we have not made plenty. If the pea crop is
good I want Ned to by hogs at any price to make us anough meet. I have sent
to Lynchburg for me two over shirts & two par of drawers. I was afraid I
co(u)ld not git them in time. I have lost what I had. I think M Teague will
be home by the 12th of August. He will stay perhaps a week. I will send by
him for what I want. You will have time to fix up after he gits there. You
can have me 2 ar 3 par of socks knit. I dont care whether wool ar cotton. If
there is no active operations going on I will come home at sircuit court. I
shall not leave if there is a prospect of gitting a fight. I dont think
there will be much more fighting soon as I think the thrashing the black
harted scaps got at Stone Brid(g)e will sadisfy them for some time.
I am
going to have a map of the Battle field drawn showing the whole field &
the posions of both armys. I will send it to you as soon as I git it fixed.
I shal have to stop writing to listin to Henry play the fidle & now
while I write it is after 9 oclock there is at least 25 of the boys singin
some Y note some by hers & in every conceivable time besides Henry
playing Arkinsaw Traveler.
Write to me oftin & long letters.
Mike
4 Miles from Manassas Junction August 2nd/61
Dear Mat
As I think Mr. Teague will start for old Henry in the morning
I write a few lines. I have wrote you 3 letters lately. I have herd nothing
from home since the 21st. I am looking for a letter from home aciously. Mr
Teague will stay at home 8 ar 10 days. Try to see him about the time he
starts back and send me all the news about home. You can send me a few
little tricks such as socks & any other little tricks you want to send.
I dont want any heavy cloths at this time.
I have bin to the Col. this
morning. He has promised to give me a furlow to come home in Oct if the
servis will by any means allow it & that will be as soon as I will need
heavy cloths. I want you to knit or have it done one par of good thick
woolin gloves & send me. Tell Ned if he has not worn out his overcoat I
shall want to git it from him when I come home as I dont think I will be
able to by as good a one in the Southern Confederacy. Keep every thing
mooving about the plantation. There must be some newground cleard rite soon.
I want the orchard sowed in rye in Oct. Tell Ned I would write to him but he
will see Mr Teague & he can tell him more than I can write. The health
of the company is very good. I think our hardest time is over. My health is
very good George is well so is Orin. I got a letter from Jim Howerton
yesterday. He was mending and will be here in a few days. I dont think he
will be able to stand the winter though he may stand the winter better than
he has the summer. I hope so
Mike
I have sent to Richmond for the dailly Enquirer A news paper printed at Richmond. That paper will keep you posted as to war matters. You can git it from the office twice ar three times a week. Tell Met if he is not gone to go ahead if he wants to I shall not think hard of him. If Met goes off and you can git along with out any one try to do so. If the cotton crop is good they must take a even start picking out. They must have cotton panses fixed in time and every thing redy. I want to heare how the hogs looks how much they will make whether there will be peas anough made to fatten them how many bushels of corn we will make how many potatoes was planted whether they looks like making any thing. Write me what they have bin doing since they finished laying by & in fact every thing. The last seaveral letters that I have recieved from home has bin very short & uninteristing as to how things were gitting on. I suppose you had wrote me some long letters which I never got. Tell Ned to write me a long letter. Mr Teague starts in a few minets. He thinks he wont stay over one week at home so if you see him you will have to go to Abeville some day while he is there. If you dont have the chance to see him I guess Ned will go out to see him any how.
Mike
Dear Mat
In my outher letter which is sealed up I forgot to say I
wanted you if you could to put up some good Brandy Peaches if you can &
save them till I come home. There is no peaches in this country nor nothing
else in the way of fruit. I have not seen a watermelon this year peach nor
nothing else. If you dont put me up some brandy peaches I will not git a
peach this year. Tell Mr Howerton I would have wrote him but Mr Teague can
tell him more than I can write. I want him to write me when he can. Lige is
about to start no more
Mike
August 8th/61
4 Miles from Manassas
Junction
Dear Mat
I write you a few lines to let you heare how I am giting on I
am very well the company is Jenerly well. Jim Howerton is here. He came back
saverl days ago his health is about the same if any thing he is better than
he has bin. He keeps up all the time. Every thing is perfectly quite. I
think we will moove on toward Alaxandra soon. We ar now in the rear of the
army. From what we can gather from Northern papers I think it will be severl
months be fore the Yankee army can rally from there defeat at Bull Run
sufishently to give us battle again so if we dont attack them there will be
no more fighting for some time in this quarter. I have not had a letter from
you in three weeks nor any one els accept Mr Howerton. I got one from him
about a week ago.
We got a dispach from Columbia yesterday saying Tom
Armstrong was elected sherff but said about any one els. Tom is sick at
this time. He has had an attack of cholic but is better this morning. I have
nothing to write that will interest you. I hope I will git a letter from you
today. I guess Mr Teague got home last nite and you got a letter from me.
Write to me Write to me often. I would like to git a letter from home once a
week at least. Capt Smith got a letter from Tom Chambe(rs) the other day. He
is a prisnor in Washington Citty. He says he is well treated. I guess he
will be exchanged soon & git back to camp. A good many of the letters we
git is directed rong. They ar sent to the 1st Regment. [This unit was
frequently referred to as the First Rifle Regiment, while in State Service,
before being assigned to Confederate service] Ours is not nown as the
1st it is the 6th Ala Regment. Direct your letters to
Manassas Junction
Cear of A.C. Gordon
Capt of the Henry Grays 6th
Regment Ala Volunteers
I must close
Mike
Henry County Ala August 4th 1861
Mr Michael Holmes
Der Cosin I take this oppertunity of righting you a
few lines to let you know that we are all well at this time and also I saw
your Mother and wife last night. They were all well and gitting along very
well. They are in as good spirits as coed be expcted under the exiting
sircumstancis. They are getting along very well with their buisness. Their
corn crop is cut short by the droutt but I think they will make unuff to doo
them. The prospects for peas and potatos is the best I ever seen in this
country. Mike you have got the sweetest little babe I ever saw. I want you
to come home as soon as you can and see it. We will all be glad to see you
and here you tell all the ups and downs you and your company has past
through since you left Old Henry.
Mike, everything seems to move in
smoothly in this country as yet. Both Negros and white people have behaved
themselves very well up to this time. The war spirit yet prevails in Old
Henry yet, Irwin has nearly made his company up. [Irwin's Invincibles,
Co.E,25th Georgia Infantry Regiment, this unit was assigned to the Army of
Tennessee CSA] Mr Stokes and Mr Teague is mulling up another in
Abbeville. They have some 25 or 30 in it at this time. Mike I want you to
rite to me as soon as you get the chance. I --- be glad to see you all the
connections of all the boys is well at this time so far as I no, health is
very good in this country up to this time. Cotton crops is very good tho it
has bin almost too wet for it. Mike taking all things in consideration an
there will be as much made in Henry as ever has bin urey year since I have
bin here tho the drauth cut the corn in some places honte the peas and
potatos will make up for that. Mike, rite as soon as you can and give me the
news. The letters we git from you all is all the reliable news that we git.
There is but very little atention paid to newspapers here now. Perty nere
evry paper givs a differant statement in regards to battles that has bin
fout. Mike you must excus me for not riting to you before. I have riten to
nerly all the boys and intend to rite to the ballance of them as soon as I
can.
Mike our election coms off tomorrow and Parrish will be
elected by a large majority, it will be a hard pull between Reynolds and
Price. George Roweberts will beete wavely bad at peucoles. John is badly
busted sertin and not many that cares, more glad than sorry. Mike give my
best respects to my South Carolina relations and all the rest of my friends
that is in camp with you. Nothing more at present, only Remains your
affectinate cosin tell both Excuse my mistakes
John M. Boatwright
[John Martin Boatwright came to Henry County with Mike and settled near Wesley. He is buried at Judson Cemetery and his tombstone indicates he was a Sergeant in the 6th Ala. Cavalry, C.S.A. a unit of which Mike was later a member. His Great Granddaughter is Willie Mae Boatwright Grandberry who has assisted greatly in this transcription]
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© Copyright 03/14/2003
by Carolyn
Golowka
Last Updated: Friday, March 14, 2003