- 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]