THE LETTERS - Part
7LETTERS FROM MICHAEL AND EDWARD HOLMES, C.S.A, 1861- 1865
EDITED BY: GORDON W. HOLMES, JR.
January, 1995, Revised August, 2000
Camp Smith, Savannah, Ga., July 1862
(To Mat and the Family)
I thought I was surely well of the measles till yesterdasy, it was a cloudy wet day and the measles made their appearance on me as plain as ever. It's cleared off this morning & looks like Sept. It's cool & pleasant, the air stirring brief and is a very pleasant time. I will finish this in the morning and tell you how I am getting along. Dick has got the mumps. He took them yesterday. I hope he will get well soon. Tell Mama somebody has stolen one of my socks and I have an old one and if she sees any chance to send me one, to do it. I shall get out of socks before long anyway.July the 6th
My health is improving now again finally. If I can keep mending 2 or 3 days more as I have for 2 days I will be well. I have quit discharging blood, have not discharged any in 30 hours & my bowels feel like they are getting well & they are not moving more than 4 times a day. I think today I will be much better than usual. We have most pleasant weather here now I ever saw at this season. It's clear and cool and the wind stirring like fall of the year. I had almost concluded there was no Yankees about here till I heard them shooting on the 4th. There is plenty of cannon whether there are any Yankees with it or not. I suppose they fired some 2 hundred big guns at 1 o'clock at 2 or 3 different points. I have nothing else to write. Thomas Doswell has just this minute come into camp. I want to see him right soon. get my watch home.
I remain,
Ned
[Ned was elected 2nd Lieutenant of his company on August 6,1862]
Camp Costons Bluff,[Near Savannah] Aug. 10, 1862
Dear Mat and Viney,
I write you a few lines that leaves me about well except my mouth. I never was in such a fix with fever blisters before. I received a letter from you, Santanna just a few minutes ago. Alex Gamble is going to start home tonight. I will send this by him. I think my fever is broken entirely up. I have not had any since Friday morning so I feel as well as I did before I was taken. There is a deal good of sickness around ----- but they are also not dying as fast as they were ten or fifteen days ago. There is a heap of heavy shooting going on today in the direction of Fort Pulaski. I don't know what it means. they are fixing up a volunteer company right now to go to Wilmington Island, a place we have never scouted.
It's beyond Whitemarsh and from where we are camped and on the way to Fort Pulaski. I don't know what information they expect to obtain by going to Wilmington. It's all under the General of the Fort and they never expect to hold it unless the fort is retaken which will never be done for there is nothing here to take it with. Morris is well. Miles is getting well. John Nobles is right sick. Washer Nobles came into our company this morning to stay. I may get off home when Sim gets back. I don't know. Everbody has been here longer than I have. I will be there by the first of September anyway if I keep well. And I am not afraid of being sick anymore this summer.Love, Ned
P.S. Tell Mike if there are any of Cook's pills there to send me some. And I can manage my own cases.
[Ned's unit was engaged near Pocotaligo, S.C. on Oct. 22, 1862; whether Ned was there or not, he does not say. See 3/15/63]
Camp Young, November 30th 1862
Mama,
I write you a few lines that leves me powerful well. I never saw anybody mend as I have for several days. I am so fat you would hardly know me. I am afraid I will get too fleshy. I received a letter from Mike dated the 14th is the last word I have heard from home. It does look to me like as many as there are about home I would hear oftener than that. This is 4 letters I have wrote since that time. If there is no paper and stamps there I will send some to you in order that I may hear from home. The Gals used to write but they have quit. I reckon it's because I don't write appointedly to them. I don't have time to write much but I take time to write once a week to somebody at home. I know you see the letters I write Mike and that just as well as if they were directed to anyone else there at home.
I have bought me a suit of clothes. It cost me $60. You need not be in any hurry about my cloth. In fact if you have any patterns there you can make the pants by you may make them and send them by Sim and keep the coat cloth until I call for it again. I will not want it soon. I have a good coat. If you make the pants put a stripe on the leg.Try to get someone to write when you get this and let me know how pus is getting on. Ned
[On Jan. 31, 1863 the 25th Georgia Inf. was transferred to Wilson's Brigade, Gist's Division, District of Cape Fear, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia. It is assumed the Headquarters for this district was Wilmington, N.C. Ned is not specific about where he is writing from in the next several letters]
Feb. 21, 1863
Dear Mollie,
I write you a few lines this morning to let you know how I was. I have not got well yet. Never been so sick & I think I am on the mend now.
It tires me to write so I will quit. Ned
General Hospital, March 15, 1863
Santannah,
I received a letter from you a few days ago and will now try to write you a few lines. I guess I am improving though I don't seem to gather any strength at all for the last 5 days. In fact, I have not the strength I had 5 days ago though I am alright ----- with the exception I can lie down & feel as well as I ever did but get up to walk I am too weak yet.
I am treated mighty well here, though it is a tiresome place. My apetite has never been craving yet. I live principally on milk, mush, and soft boiled eggs. Capt. Holmes was up to see me yesterday. He told me the Reg't. was under orders to be ready to march at any time with 5 days provisions cooked to go to Pocotalley where I suppose the Yankees are landing though I guess they will land but a small force.[This is confusing in that a Federal landing was made at Pocotalingo, S.C. to capture the Charleston and Savannah R.R. This raid was thrown back on Oct. 22, 1862, possibly Ned is confusing his dates]
How are you getting along planting ? You must have mighty pretty weather now. It's nice here. Let me charge you not to plant your corn too thick though Mike will attend to that. I don't think there is any chance to come home. there is noone getting furloughs here now. I am tired to writing. I don't hear from home enough. I don' get as much as one letter a week from the whole of you. I think I have better paper at home in my trunk than you write on.
Ned
[The following is an incomplete letter about Ned's watch. The watch and his colt were his prized possessions. From another letter it seems that he may have sent his watch home. R.M.G.]
If I had not got rid of it (his watch) I don't think I would have had it 2 days longer. I think some Yankee [Meaning any scoundrel] would of stolen it out of my pocket when I was asleep. I slept with it in my pocket while I was in there. I think it got out that there was a mug in the General Hospital that had a good watch. I think I had 50 barters & never was offered more than 75 dollers or a watch about like Nelson's & 40 dollers. Then some of them would tell me it was not pure (gold). Some would come in & inquire for the sick man that had a watch to trade. I never knew how it all got out. I got afraid it would get stolen when I was asleep.
Lieut. Odom resigned & left for home yesterday. I am sorry of that. He is a mighty good man. All of the officers are mighty good to me. We have 2 vacancies now in the company for Lieut. I will write tomorrow again.E. Holmes
[Some time between March and July,'63 the 25th Ga. Infantry was transferred to the Dept. of Miss. & East La. These units were transferred west to assist Vicksburg]
Camp in the Field, June 25, 1863
Santannah, Viney & Pus
I write you a few lines to let you know where we are & how we are getting along. We have not moved from our camp where I wrote you before & I dont know when we will. Times seem to be softening up a little. I am getting to beleive now that we will hardly be engaged with the enemy at Vicksburg. The time is past that I thought the fight would come off. In fact, I think they must be about satisfied at that place as their loss has been great already. I have wrote to everyone now since I left. I don' know that you have got them. Have not heard from home but would like to hear. I am on duty today -- can't write anymore. write soon. Direct to Jackson, Miss. Be sure to put the Company & Regt.As Ever,
Ned
[Mike returned to the Army in June, '63 and joined a cavalry company which he indicated became Company E, 5th Alabama Cavalry. Due to prior service he was probably elected Lieutenant at this time. Mike says to direct letters to Co. E, 5th Ala Cav. in both Sept. & Oct. 1863. The Record indicates the 5th Ala Cav. was in Tenn. during this period. A detachment of the 5th Ala Cav was engaged in an action at Barrancas, Fla on Sept. 9th 1863. Mike's company was probably a part of this detachment. (He seems to confirm this in his letter of 9/15/63) Ned writes him in April, '64 as Co. E, 6th Ala Cav. This detachment was probably transferred to the 6th Regiment in Dec.'63. (Note: Capt. McRae is fearful of the company being "sent off" in his letter to Mike on Dec. lst, 1863) The 6th Ala. Cav. was organized Aug. lst, 1863 at Pollard, Ala. s0 it may be logical that Company E from the 5th was included as Company E of the 6th]
June 17th /63
Camp near Montgomery
Dear Martha
[We assume Martha is his wife whom he addressed as Mat in letters from Virginia]
As Boatright [John M.,lst Sgt. Co. E] is going to leave for home this morning, I write you a few lines. My health is first rate. the health of my Co is very good accept some measels. I have got no letter from you since I left. I want to hear from you very bad. I dont know when we will leave, we may not leave for a month. I guess the corn looks well. Write to me how the Old Ladys folks are gitting on. If we stay here for a month or two I will try to come home for a few days. How is my big Baby coming on. Write me every thing.Yours as ever
Mike
Camp 6 Miles West Montgomery Ala
June 28, 1863
Mrs Martha Holmes
Madam
By the request of Lt Holmes I write you a few lines to inform you of his whereabouts. He left yesterday evening at one hours notice with the Company for Cahawba Ala. He did not have time to write you and asked me to say to you to continue to write and direct your letters same as before. I suppose there was about two hundred of the Regiment left yesterday evening for that place. I have no idea when they will be back. We have right smart sickness in our Company, mostly measles. I am left here to look after our men & horses not fit for service, but I hope it will not be long before all will be able to rejoin the Company.Respectfully
Pvt Coe[Probably later Lt. Coe]
Near Selma 4 oclock July 6th/ 63
Dear Martha
We leave here in five minets. I supose for Demoplus Ala, from there dont know where we will go. The rumor is that the Yankees are threatning a raid in that direction. We onlv take about 20 of our best men & horses, the balance will sta; here. I am first rate & egar for the fray. Tell Mr. Burnam, Marion came in this morning. He is well, I wont let him go for fear he might git wet & relapse from the mesals. tell Mrs. Chandler, Leab goes with us, he is a11 rite. Kit McLaed is all rite & goes. I will write again the first chance. We only had one hours notice.Yours in hast
The advance is starting
Mike
Capt McRae is in fine & pals send his wife word we are gone [The above is the first reference to Mr. Burnam who is also a family legend. Benjamin Burnam was 56 when he enlisted in Mike's company. Mike considered him too old for service and told him to go home. Mr. Burnam said that he didn't have a home to go to; to which Mike responded, "Then I'll send you to my home". Mr. Burnam arrived in Wesley with a letter of introduction and became overseer of Mike's plantation. The story is that he made Mike a wealthy man while he was gone.]
Camp near Maredian Miss July 17th 1863
Dear Martha
I thought I would have wrote you on yesterday but I had jest came off gard & had the headache but I am very well this morning.
I dispatched & also wrote to you as soon as we got here. I have had no letter from home since the 29th. Capt. McRae got a letter on yesterday, written on the 8th, Mrs McRae wrote that Alic had bin up a few days before. He said all was well & crop good. I think I will git letters today.
I look for the men we left at Selma up today. When they come I think I will git letters. We have some sickness besides measels. Kit McLaed has bin sick 2 days with fever but is better this morning. I think his fever is broken up. We have 2 or 3 other cases, none bad.
The last news we have from Jackson (Miss.) the fight was going on. Our folks was holding their ground but I fear they will have to give back. I saw a man from the 25th [Ga. Inf.] Reg who left the Reg wounded on Sunday morning. He said Ned was well on 10 oclock Sunday. I think I will git a letter from Ned today. The rumer is that we leave here soon for Columbus Miss. That place is 50 to 75 miles above on the Mobile & Ohio RR & rite on the Ala line. It is fine country about Columbus & I will be glad to go there. Direct letters to Meredian til you hear from me again. By the time you git this foder will be redy to pull. Tell Mr. Burnam to save all he can. I dont recon Rose will be able to pull foder tho you will know best about that. I want her taken good care of. (It) is time now to look out for the hogs, you must try to rase plenty of meat.
I have drawn no money yet, dont know when I will. I will send home some money as soon as I draw. You must look out for the best chans for salt. We have heard nothing from Boatright & Newman since they left. I think they will be back soon. I want to see them come, I know then I will hear from home. Tell Mr Burnam I havent heard from Marion since we left Selma. I look for him to come up today. From the signs of the times now I think the war will be apt to close up by Christmas. The Yankees are evidently making there last powerful strugle & if they fail, if they fail to gain very desided & telling advantages over us I think it will put a stop to the war. If Lee is sucsesful in his Pensyvania campaign you will hear a howl from the North for peace. If on the other hand Lee should be defeated & his army scaterd they will sertainly over run us which would nesasary compel1 us to give it up. But I have confidence in Lee, I think he will accomplish what ever he undertakes & I think he will make the Pensylvania Dutch feel some of the horows of this war before he recrosis the Potomac. That is the quickest way to end this war, Make Them do the sufering--- write sertom every week.I will write again soon
Yours as ever Mike
[Ned's unit advanced to the Big Black River 25 miles west of Jackson, but after the surrender of Vicksburg on July 4th they retreated east to Jackson, Miss. and dug in. The city was under seige for the 8 days, Ned mentions. Gen Johnston retreated east from Jackson on July 15th and Sherman learned how to use fire]
Camping in the Field, 35 or 40 Miles East of Jackson, Miss.
21st July, 1863
I write you a few lines as I have not written before since the 5th of this month. I reckon you would like very well to hear as no one has written since I have. In the first place we have not had time to write, next place we have no material to write on. I accidentally found this half sheet and paid fifty cents for it. So I can write today if I can get it off.
We are camped in the woods 35 or 40 miles east of Jackson. I wrote you on the 5th that we would be apt to cross the Big Black but we fell back to Jackson and remained there 9 days, and 8 days of the time both day and night, not one moment intermission during that time. Besides we had several pretty warm fights. I can't tell what the loss is on our side nor of the enemy. Our regiment had one tight fight for a little while but not much damage done on our side but strange to say their's was. Zack Bell was wounded badly in the foot, the only wound our company received though there were 3 or 4 others glanced with balls. Our brigade was held in reserve all the time til the evening we left.
One of our regiments was sent out to skirmish and the Yankees were too much for them and the 25th Ga. Regiment was ordered to reinforce them and then when we had the fight we were not put in the breastworks at all though we went in front of our breastworks when we had to fight. Zack Bell was wounded as we went out over an old field to attract the Yankees who were in a skirt of woods.
He was soon found and carried into Jackson City and left at a private house where he will get every attention needful. It's true he is in the hands of the enemy as we retreated from there that same night though he is just as well off as if he were in one of our hospitals. The Yankees will parole him just as soon as he gets able to travel. I think we have 4 or 5 men in the possession of the enemy. The rest of them were sick and left on the road as we were falling back from the Big Black & the Yankees were only one day behind us all the time. In fact they were right with us. Our Cavalry fought them all the way from the Big Black to Jackson. Jim Cummins was left on the road & no doubt they have him. There was no chance for him to escape that I know of at all.
I have not seen him since about the 1st of July & the enemy is in posession of the country where he was left though assure them that being a prisoner is not death by no means. I believe when I wrote to you before that I had never rec'd a letter from home, I have rec'd 4 since that time. The last one I rec'd was on Sunday yesterday week. One week ago & at the time it came to us the Yankees were throwing about 25 shells a minute. We were lying in an old creek run that had gone dry so we were not much exposed. We got one Major killed in our brigade when a shell shot his head off & several wounded & 6. The men in the creek run & in the breastworks were not much exposed. Our line of breast works was 8 to 10 miles long. They reached from Pearl River on one side of Jackson to the same on the other. I don't know what made [Gen Joseph E.] Johnston retreat from there. It looked to me like we could have whipped them. Though I reckon they did not intend to attack us there. They made several faints on our breastworks but were driven back every time. Our folks charged them one time [July 12th] from our breastworks & ran into them & took 3 stands of colors that was very fine. I lost everything that I had with me. I had one blanket & had to throw it away. I can't tote anything. I have 2 shirts , 1 pair of pants & drawers & thats as much as any body has. I would have sent a dispatch home but Gen. Johnston would not allow any private dispatches sent off while there was any prospect of a fight. I don't know where we will go now for a stand. We are moving on back everyday a little though I think we will not move today. The army of 40,000 men can't be moved fast. I reckon our wagon train is 18 or 20 miles long besides the infantry artillery. I dont know where to tell you to direct to now but the best though I will tell you to direct your letters to Meridian, Miss., 25 Ga. Reg., Walker's Div., Wilson's Brigade & I will be apt to get there. There will be a man shot in this brigade at 6:00 P.M. today for deserting his regiment 29 Ga. I will see him shot. I learned from your last letter that Henry is riding my colt. I particular charged him not to do that as he is too young to tote him & I know that he is poor yet so I don't want Henry to get on him yet awhile.
Dick Knight, Miles, A.T. Morris, Culpepper, Thomas Fears are all well. I got a letter from Mike about the same time I did from home. He was at Selma, Ala. If every thing gets quiet here I shall make an effort to resign in about a month. I don't think they will follow us any further. If they do Johnston will fight them some where after a while. If I succeed in getting out when I make the effort, I will come home before joining Mike's Co. I am not going to try til everything gets easy here. Has Luke sold my buggy yet ? Tell him I will write him before long. Write often.Ned
[In an envelope Postmarked Pollard Ala Sep 8,1863 - DUE 10 (Stamped) Addressed: Mrs Martha E. Holmes, Ft Gaines Ga, From: Lt Holmes, Co E, 5th--]
Conac [Canoe] Station Sept 7th 1863
Dear Martha I got to camp last night, my Co is on picket about 60 miles from here. I shall go to them tomorrow. I think it likely we shall stay down there several months. They say it is a nice place. I got here without any trouble.
Jim had a very bad cold on the but he is all rite now. Say to Mrs Chandler that Seab is well. If Capt McRae sends a man round on the railroad, I want you to send me a piece of bacon & some butter. I want you to write me oftin. direct your letters to Pollard Ala, 5th Reg Ala Cavalry care of Capt McRae. There is several of the men a little sick, none sick bad. Kit McLaed is on picket; Marion Burnam is on picket, I guess (they are) well. I will write you again when I git to the picket post.Yours as ever Mike
A few lines for Ned
You must write to me how you are gitting on with your men. Did you buy that mare for me. I find things in our Reg in bad conditions, horses look bad, no management about nothing. The worst managed Reg. in the servis. I think officers nearly all gone home, men not bin paid. I could git my money by going up to Pollard, dont think I will go now. I will wait another month for my pay & then draw 6 months at once. I have got nothing to write. I will write you when I git down on the co(a)st. My horse stood the trip down very well.Yours as ever
Mike
The Congress of the Confederate States has past an act to make the soldiers to send letters home without prepaying the postage. I shall send mine hereafter without paying. Not that I am scarse of money but for the reason that if you dont git my letters there wont be nothing to pay. You can git money anough to pay postage, you will have to pay the postage on all the letters you mail to me and pay for all you git from me. I have written you twenty letters you never got, now if you dont git them it wont cost you any thing.
Mike
Dear Martha
I write you a few lines this eavning that leaves me well, the men are generally well. Jesse Gardner has bin very sick with disentary but is better today. I think this is a very healthy place. We were out on the bay last night. The news came in yesterday eavning that the Yankees had driven in our pickets. We wint down to the bay 10 miles and lay in line of battle all night expecting to have a brush with them at daylight, but when daylight came no Yankees came. The truth is the pickets had got sceard & run off & I dont believe the enamy had bin there atall. I begin to want to hear from home. [Lt. George] Newman has gone up to Canoe Station, will be back in 2 days. From this I think he will bring a letter when he comes.
I guess the Capt started back this morning. It will take him 10 days to git to where we are. I will send this letter up to Canoe Station in the morning. It wont be mailed til the 17th. We will have a regular courier to go to the station & back twice a week to bring our mail.
I dont know how long we will stay down here. We are on detached servise here & it is unsertain how long we stay. Tell Mr Burnam, Marion is well, his horse is mending. Jim is well, in fact all the boys from our neighorhood is well. My horse is in fine fix tho he was a little sick last night, nothing serious. Write me all about how they are giting along with the work & how the hogs ---- I want those sows & pigs to have all they will eat.Write oftin & long letters. I will write once a week.
Write where Ned is
Yours as ever
Mike(Margin) I have no stamps, you will have to pay for letter Did Ned buy that mare for me I will send money home 1st Oct I think
Dear Martha
Newman came down from Canoe Station this eavning & brought down some letters. I did not git one. I am very anchus to hear from home 10 day today since I left. My health is very good, our men are all giting well we have no men now --- that is sick much. McWilliams has bin rite sick but is up. Gardner has bin quite sick but is nearly well. I am well pleased at our situation, we have a nice healthy place, light duty. We have had two alarms this week which cause us some trouble tho we havent seen a Yankee yet. I have had a pleasant time today. I went down to the bay to fish. It is about 10 miles from our camp to the bay. We went down this morning to draw the sain but had bad luck. The wind was blowing pretty stiff & the bay was so rough we couldnt fish to much advantage. We only caught a few. When the weather is good we can catch as many as we want. When we can git a sain they frequently catch 100 lbs at a --- Perderdo Bay [Perdido Bay forms the state line between Ala. and Fla. east of Mobile] is a beautiful seen [scene]. The bay is about 2 to 8 miles in width & as clear as crystal & most fish that I ever saw in all my life. I will send this letter up to Canac Station [The old rail road station is referred to on old maps as both "Canue" and "Canac"] tomorrow to mail. I will write one a week. You must write oftin. I want to hear from Ned what has become of Capt Holmes men. Did Ned buy that mare for me. Tell Burnam that Marion is well, horse mending. Tell Mr Burnam not to go into servis till he is obliged to, not to volunteer nor substitud. rite me how Mothers folks is giting on. Write me every thing you can think of.Yours as ever
Mike
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