1st Alabama Infantry - Captured at Island #10 and Port Hudson - Camp Douglas POW

Item CON-6703

Description

Two Confederate POW related letters. Original Civil War Confederate soldier's letter. 4 pages war dated and written in period ink. Also included is a letter written to the soldier while he was a POW at Camp Douglas (Includes envelope addressed to Camp Douglas).

First Letter:

Vicksburg, Mississippi
September 24, 1862

My Dear Wife,

I am free once more and you know not how my heart leaped for joy when I once more set my foot on the soil of my native South. I have enjoyed uninterrupted health ever since I have been a prisoner. I have suffered all the petty annoyances that could be put on anyone that was in prison. My greatest trouble was in not hearing from home. I wrote home letter after letter. But got no return answer which notified me that my letters all miscarried. I received two letters form you through Colonel Baker and the one you wrote to Captain Locke. You cannot imagine how it buoyed me up when I received them. Very nearly every man in our company received letters from home occasionally. Henry got one form his wife all before I got any. And I had many strange thoughts. We arrived here yesterday evening nearly starved and it was night before we got anything to eat. When put on the scaffolds and the word given to fall to, you never saw such a rush in your life. They knocked down all the tables and in the scramble, I got the seat of my pants torn out. So I am out at, but my coat hides it. We are better off now. We draw and a lady of this place cooks our bread free of charge. God bless the women. They are the stay of this war anyhow. The ladies of Memphis, when we lay there out in the river, came down to see us and would throw apples and tobacco on the boat to us. And because they would not throw the “blue bellies” anything, were driven off at the point of the bayonet. How our blood boiled at the sight. Whenever you hear of the prisoners of Camp Douglas getting into battle, you will hear of no prisoners being taken on either side. There were some desperate fighting men among them before they were taken. And their courage was not diminished since their imprisonment. Among them are some ten or twelve one armed men who left their arms at Fort Donaldson, their right arms at that, who say they have not yet been satisfied with the Yankees they have killed. I met Mr. Robert Ferguson at this place who came fifty miles out of his way to see me. He says you were all well when he left home. Told me that our little Sallie was dead. It falls very hard on me at this time. But we can say with David she cannot come to us, but we can go to her. She is better off than her poor parents. He says he thinks Willie went off with Rives artillery. I am glad he went in that branch of the service. As it is much lighter than this. He also loaned me money. A think I have not had since I was captured. I had to pay one dollar for a cotton handkerchief. Such as we sold for 12 ½ cents, shoes from twelve down to five. I am out of drawers but I have become so handy that it will make little difference. Reverend Henry is very fleshy. More so than I ever was. He came very near dying at Camp Randall. Give my love to all our kinfolks. Tell them all to write. That they know not how cheery it is to hear form the absent. Tell your father to write especially. I heard it was reported that I was drowned trying to make my escape. Not so. Enclosed find a letter received from New York which I want preserved. My poor wife, I feel yet as I felt when I left home that I will survive and see you again.

Your Husband,
A. H. Beauchamp

Direct your letters to Jackson, Mississippi



Second Letter:

Office of David Wagstaff
Grocer and Commission Merchant
78 Cortlandt Street
New York

July 18, 1862

A. H. Beauchamp, Esq.
Care Colonel Tucker
Camp Douglas, Chicago

I am receipt of yours of the 8th and enclosed please find some postage stamps as requested, 33 stamps. I will at any time be pleased to do for you anything that lies in my power and you will write to me as often as you need anything that I can conveniently send to you as I hold it a duty to do to others as I would that they should do unto me. The supremacy of the law I am bound to obey and at the same time feel that any desire of yours convenient thereto will be permitted to you. I send you now and then a newspaper. Do you receive them? If so, they will give you all the stirring events of the times. Wishing you good health and trusting that you will enjoy as far as possible yourself. Believe me to be,

Fraternally yours,
David Wagstaff

P.S. I have some few friends in Chicago which if your officer will allow it and you should desire, I will forward your address to them and in case of sickness or need, you can communicate with them. Shall be pleased to hear from you at any time. W.