38th North Carolina Infantry - Wounded at Mechanicsville, VA

Item CON-5764

Description

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


Camp Near Orange Court House, Va
This Feby 19th 1864

Mr. S. M. Ingram Dear friend, I seat myself for the purpose of dropping you a few lines to inform you that I am in good health at the present time. Major, I have no news that would interest you any at all. I hope that when these few lines come to hand they will find you in the enjoyment of good health. Major, I am sorry to state to you that James O. Hines lost the box of provisions he started with to us. I think he lost them through carelessness. I don’t see any other way he could have lost them. I would have written sooner but I was waiting to see if the box would come. I went to Orange to see if I could find it but it is gone forever. Major, you must write to me and give me all the news you have up in the mountains. Nothing more. Respectfully yours & etc., John Benoist

A few lines to Mason Garrett
Mr. Mason Garrett Dear friend, I will give you a few lines to inform you that you had better keep your bacon where the flies can’t get to it. For I tell you, if you get back here you will fare bad before you get foot loose. If they don’t shoot you they give you a Confederate watch to ware on your left leg, weighing not less than 12 pounds and the chain not less than three feet long, and perhaps something a great deal wore. So you had better lay close by the widow Kelly and mind how he makes tracks. I should like [to] see you all very much.
By the writer,
N. R. Kelly

Major, you must tell Beady Shepherd I have not forgotten her yet. Tell her she shall have a letter from me in a short time. Perhaps I will come myself on a furlough. John B.

Major, it would be a great pleasure to me if I could be with you up there in the mountains as I used to be, but it is nothing but war and trouble for me to see, but I hope it will end soon so I can come home and be with my friends. Nothing more at this time. I remain your friend till death.
John Benoist

Mr. David Grim Dear friend, I will drop you a few lines to inform you that I am well at this time. Hoping these few lines may reach you in due time and find you and family well. David, I have no news that would interest you. Times are hard here in this country but that you are aware of. We fight a little occasionally. We had a little brush the other day, bet we got off without much loss. We got a little corn bread and no meat hardly. It [is] hard times here David. I am sorry Hines lost the provisions you all started to us but it can’t be hope now. David, I suppose you are at home yet. I advise you to stay there. I think this unjust war will come to a close this year. I don’t think it can last much longer. Dave, you must write to me as soon as you get this and give me all the news. Tell Mason Garrett to keep a keen eye and lay in the bushes close. He will fare bad if they get him here. Tell Mason to lay close by the widow Kelly. She may perhaps be the best friend he can find. Tell Mason I will give him a piece of good advice to lay close and not let them get him. Tell him to lay close by the widow Kelly for if they get him here they will give him a Confederate watch to his leg weighing 12 lbs. Nothing more.

John Benoist