13th North Carolina Infantry - Shooting Deserters

Item CON-10421

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages, written in period ink.


Camp near Petersburg, Virginia

September 8, 1864

Dear Mother,

Yours of the 28th of August has come to hand and it found me well and hearty. I was glad (as I always am) to hear you were all well. I was truly glad to hear your little negro had got well again.

I have nothing much to write to you this time. Everything is quiet here now. Only the usual shelling and sharpshooting which is a regular business every day. We have become so used to it we hardly notice it at all. There hasn’t been any fight here since our fight on the rail road which I told you about in my last letter. Calvin Grier is getting along with his wound very well. I think he will get well now if he has no bad luck. His father is out here staying with him now and I guess as soon as he gets able, he will get home.

I think you made a very good crop of wheat. I think you will have plenty to do yours. You made a good deal more than we did. I believe we only had 26 ½ bushels and that will not be near enough to do us. So, if you have more than will do you and wants to sell it. I will give you as much for it as any body else. I was sorry to hear your corn had suffered with the dry weather. But I hope you will make enough to do you. From all accounts from home crops is fine in our neighborhood and that is good news to me. I am in hope we will make a plenty of corn to do us this year if our wheat crop was light. You said you wished I was at home to go with Hettie to see you. I am sure that no one can wish it more than I do myself. But it is like you said, it is a vain wish but let us hope it won’t be much longer. Sometimes I think we will have peace by next spring and then again I think it is a thing almost impossible. But we can only trust to providence. I noticed in the papers that some of the northern states says they must and will have peace on any terms. And I hope they will stick to what they say, if there is any truth in it.

You wanted to know if I knew anything about John Jamison. I haven’t saw him but once since we came to Petersburg. But I heard from him about two weeks ago. He was well then. It is sad about him capturing a horse and pistol. Yanks hasn’t got to fool with him as he will take them in certain.

The weather is very cool here now. It looks and feels exactly like the fall of the year and I reckon it don’t lack much of it. I think last night came very near making frost. But maybe if I had been in a house it wouldn’t have felt so cold to me. They have taken up their last winter’s trade again and that is shooting men for deserting. There was one man shot in our Brigade yesterday and there will be one shot in our Regiment tomorrow. And another from our Brigade next week. All for deserting. It looks hard to see them tied up and shot but they know the consequences before they run away. And they have no business going. One poor fellow was accidentally killed yesterday evening. They were out on skirmish drill and in this drill they made out like they were shooting. And one fellow happened to have a load in his gun and he happened to sight right at a man and his gun went off and he shot him right through the head. He said he did not know his gun was loaded and I don’t reckon he did.

I have not seen Green since the second of this month. He was well and hearty and his wound was about well. It was a very slight wound but I have no doubt but it was pretty sore. I will close for this time. I have given all the news I can think of. I send my love to you all and I hope to hear from you soon again.

I remain yours as ever,

W. J. Thompson