Dear Martha
in last night. I had bad weather, there came a gale while I was down on the bay. The bay looks grand in time of a storm, it is the most sublime sight I ever saw. The waves running very high & dashing & foaming makes it look grand. Our picket line is close to Yankees, I could hear there dru--- night as ----- I expected them out every night while I staid there but they didnt come, if they had I was reddy for them. My health is very good, we have 3 or 4 men rite sick with flux. The Capt got down to camp last Tuesday. I have had no letter from you since I left home acept the one the Capt brought. I dont look for any now till George comes. I shall start up to Pollard tomorrow. I want to go up there & git my money. If I git it I will send it home by express to the care of W.M. McAllister, Ft Gaines. I owe John Ward $140, I want paid out of it. I got my box you sent, the biscuit was about spoiled. I was mity proud of the bacon & butter you sent me. You must push the meat hogs as fast as posable, make all the meat you can. I want to hear from home mity bad. Write me all you can think of.
I wrote you jest as I started on picket 8 days ago. I got
I have bought a good many cow hid(e)s, if I can git the chans to send them home try to have the negros shoes made. Git them made good & strong. I will quit writing till this eavning. I start to Pollard in the morning, be gone about 6 days, I think I will meet George up there.
I shall have to have my old coverlet that I had with me in Virginia [It didn't get burned at Manassas Jct. after all] here this winter. I guess we will send someone home after a while to bring up blankets & clothing. There is lots of oranges down here.
I will (try) to send a box full to my babys when they ripe. My horse is not doing so well. I got him fouderd about two weeks ago, he hasnt done well since, tho he is in tolerable good fix. Webb the young man that staid at our house on his way from China Grove is dead. He died at Greenville Hospital.
If Ned is not gone tell (him) I would have writen to him, but I guess he is gone before this & I dont know where to write to him at. If he aint gone tell him to write me a long letter. I want to write to him if I new where to write. We dont git much news here from the Marines.
Hear that Brag(g) has whiped the Yankees at Ringold, if that is so I think they are well whiped. [Probably Chickamauga, Ga 18-20 Sept. 1863 and they were] I think it is the last big battle of the war. I think the war will be over by spring any how. Jim Howerton is pretty well.
I have wrote all I can think of. I may write you a few lines from Pollard. Be cheerful & hopeful & do the best you can til I come home.Yours as ever
Mike(Margin Note) Direct letters to Pollard Ala,Co E, 5th Reg Ala Cavalry, Care of Capt McRae
Dear Martha
come back here tomorrow eavning & start down to Camp Powell Wensday morning.
I left Camp Powell Saturday morning, got to Canac Station Sunday night, me & the Capt came up togather. We came around the head of Perdedo [Perdido Bay]. We found it 2 days hard ride to come that way. I found the letter you sent by George here. I have not seen George yet. He has gone up to Pollard, will be back this eavning. I shall go up to Pollard on the train this eavning &
George & those boys that came with him will go down with us. I am going to Pollard to try to git my money. I hear this morning that the paymaster is not at Pollard. I will not git my money, if I git it I will send it home by express to the care of W A McAllister.
However Capt McRae said perhaps he would want to use my money here & give me an order for the money at home. If he does then I will send you the order.
When you git the money I want you to pay John Ward $140, pay Sim Calk $50, pay Mrs Adams what I owe her, I think it is $13, she has my note. After paying the above, if there is more than you want to keep else pay it over to Clendenen. You may have to pay the fraight on the salt that Angus McAllister sends to Franklin. Let me know when it comes. You wanted to know about fatning spring pigs for meat. I want you to make plenty of meat if posable & I think if there is pinders [peanuts] & peas plenty you had better fatten every thing that will weigh 75 lbs. I wont the corn taken good care of. Save all you can to sell. Save plenty of black [eyed?] peas for seed. If you can, have the wheat ground fixed good and sowed when the rite time come. Find out what would be the chans to git 20 bushels of seal oats, the sort that dont rust & what the price would be. If they are not to high perhaps it would be well to sow the Fears field in oats this winter. I will write you again about that matter when my money comes. Pay Mr Burnam what he wants.
Marion is very well, his horse was doing fine til last week, he was on picket & his horse taken the scowers which drawed him up some, but he is well now. Jim Howerton is well, Chandler is well, in fact our men is all well but 2 or 3. McWilliams is a little sick.Write oftin, if Ned is not gone tell him to. I wrote him the other day.
Mike
Camp near Chattanooga
November 8, 1863Lieut. Holmes [Assume Ned]
Dear Sir:
I send you by mail this morning the certificate from Capt Becan. I should have done it sooner by circumstances unavoidable prevented. I hope it is not too late to answer your purpose. I have no news. All is tolerable quiet about this place. Give my respects to all the girls. I would be glad to hear from you soon. Yours Respectfully,C. L. Thomas
Medical College Hospital, Savannah, Georgia
Nov 20th 1863
Lieutenant Michael HolmesDear Sir,
I seat myself to draft you a few lines which will inform you that I want to be transfered from my infantry Battalion to your Cavelry Regiment, I will furnish my own horse, and I want to join your Company. I want you to see the Col. of your Regiment and know of him whether he will receive me or not. I want you to write to me immediately and tell me how to manage. I belong to Col Pritchets Battalion and Capt R.A.Turnipseeds company, a Georgia Battalion. I want to get back to your Regiment and company.
I want you to do all you can to get me transfered. We are under Gen Mercer's command at Savannah, Georgia, my Battalion is nearly all Irish and I want to get from among them. When you write direct your letters to Col Pritchet's Battalion in care of Capt turnipseed. And I have had the intermittent fever for some time past but I am getting about right again. what I want.
I have no news to write you that interest you and so you must excuse my short letter. I shall remain your most obedient servantVery Respectfully J.M. Gancy
A few words to Mrs. Martha Holmes
Dear Madam
I write you a few lines which leaves me in delicate health. But I hope this will come safe to hand and find you (&) all yours well. Dear Madam I want you to be good enough to forward this letter right on to Michael Holmes and it will oblige me very much.J.M. Gancy
Lt Holmes [Assume Mike was at home]
Dear Sir I have nothing of interest to say to you about camp. We all continue well. We are having very cold weather. Lewis is still alive, but I fear will not live much longer, although at times reactions seem to take place. Lt. Newman failed to get the money for the men, the payroll was made out wrong. I regret it excedingly as the men are getting out of money. He drew his own pay to this date. The defeat of Bragg is a hard blow to us, but hope not as bad as we first heard. [Probably at Chattanooga, Tenn. 24-25 Nov. 1863] Get the proper officers after our deserting & skulking, if they dont spring back soon. Willy Bish Sateri & Jim Williams Thompson furlogh is out the 8th inst. Capt Hardaman is trying to have my company sent to his help. He so informed Newman. I fear we shall be ordered off --- If we get to Hardamans we shall have cabins & stables to build. Try to find out something about Bob Williams.
Very Truly yours
J McRae
(On Reverse)
I have ordered Ferris Green sent by my wagon. If you are about
Abbeville and can buy any shot do so. We might kill quantities of duck if we had guns (shotguns) & ammunition. Perhaps your neighbor Mr. Knight could let you have some.
Camp near Dalton, Ga., December 20th, 1863
Santannah, Vinie & Pus,
I have wrote 2 letters to mine (Minnie), one to Mollie and one to Live (Lively) since I got here. Now I write the balance of you -- one in order to try to draw some of you out on something. I have not heard from home since I left. I think it's time now to get letters from home. All that are presently here are getting along well. Dallas Averett, Washey, Sim, Thomas Fears, Culpepper, Strickland are alright. John Russell left here yesterday to go back. I don't know where he will go. One thing I do know, he is a mighty sorry boy & if he gets back there don't let him take up about you --- day. I think perhaps he may go back about Christmas to stay. He got so intimately acquainted with me I think he will be apt to stay there a good deal if he is let & I know him to be mighty shabby.
I would like to know what you have done with your meat over what you want for your own use. how does my colt get on? I want you to notice the stable & not let it get muddy & I want him to run in the lot a good deal. Take care of the mule. I want my colt plowed right smart but I don't care for him to do heavy plowing. I should not be much surprised if I was to come home by the first of February. Though I don't know. If I don't come I will send about $4000 home soon & I want somebody to use it for me. I reckon Mike can.Write thick and long letters. Direct to Dalton, Ga.
Ned
January 17th, 1864
Mama,
Capt. Holmes got here yesterday. He told me you had started me a box but he did not know anything about it only Mr. Renfroe told him you had sent me one and if you sent mine like Renfro did his I will never see it. Renfro expressed Dallas's to Macon and no further & of course it never got any where else. That was the strangest idea that I ever heard of to direct a box to Macon & the owner in Dalton. I fear you sent mine the same way. If so I will never see it. If you have not sent me one don't do it. I expect to go home in 3 or 4 weeks or less time and I will need a pair of pants if I do get home. If I do get home I may not come back here any more but go to McRae's [The Cavalry Company Mike is in] company from there. I will be able to get a furlough before long I reckon. If so I will make the effort to resign at the time I get a furlough. This you will say nothing about to anybody but keep writing to me.Ned
[Dog River is on the west side of Mobile Bay south of Mobile]
Dog River Factory near Mobile Jan 20th 1864
Dear Martha
The Reg. has all gone on acept a part of our company; myself & the Capt with 46 men was on picket at East Pasgoula when the Reg. was ordered to leave. We came up night before last & was ordered to follow on, but that order has bin countermanded & now I dont know when we will leave. I think we will leave in a few days. Boatright with about 30 of our men has gone on with the Reg. George Roberts has gone on; Jim Howerton is here. The men are all well.
I dispatched you on yesterday saying we would start to Maridian Miss last night. At the time I sent the dispatch we were under orders to leave at once but in a few hours the order was countermanded & we are ordered to wait here for further orders.
You have heard no doubt before this of the death of McWilliams. It is a sad thing to think of, MC was as clever a man as I knew. He dide very suddenly, he got to camp from home about 2 hours before we started on pickett to Pascagoula. I was gone to town & did not git back till a few minets before we left & only had a few minets talk with MC. He gave me my cloths. He was looking very well but said he was tired from his trip from home & had rather not go on pickett until he rested a little. We left on Tuesday for Pascagoula & MC was taken sick with a chill on the Monday morning following & dide on Wensday. I think he had Conjestive Chill, he was insensable in few hours after he was taken & remained so til he dide. They sent word down to us of his condishion & Tom McAllister came up to see about him but he was dead before Tom got to where he was.
He has not bin bur(i)ed yet, the corpse is packed in charcoal in Mobile waiting for someone to come from home after him. It is imposable to send anyone from here with it.
Few of my acquaintances have ever dide that I hated to give up as bad as I did MC. I sinsearely simpathise with his family. It awful news for his wife & little ones. I regret very much he hadent staid home a few days longer but his friends & relatives had the proud sadisfaction of knowing he fell at his post where every man now aught to fall or free the country of Yankee dogs. I have no wish to survive the utter ruin of my country & subjigation will sertainly make us the most inslaved people on the face of the earth. Slavs for the detestable Yankees, death would be prefaberal.
I recv 2 letters from (you) on yesterday, one dated the 3rd Jan, the other 13th. I was glad to hear you was all well. The weather has bin so bad that I fear there would be a great deal of sickness in the county. The hogs waid (weighed) as much as I expected. You will have meat a plenty I guess. Make out on as little as you can & if you can spar(e) any do so after a while. Try to have the cows & hogs taken good care of especially the cows. I am sorry to hear the oats are kild, it will take more corn to do.
I want you to git the balance of the money from Scott for the corn as soon as posable & pay it over to Clendenen. I think there will be a heavy tax on all moneys in sirculation soon & I want that money paid if posable before the tax is levied. You said you didnt know what to do with your lard. If you have more than you want to use, try to swap it for thread & cloth or sell it for money & pay the money on my debts. I want to pay every dollar I owe by the 1st of July.
Write me how much there was of the cotton & what you got for it. Tell Mr Burnam to take special care of the seed, be shore to keep them dry. Write me how my poney comes on. Tell Mr Burnam to plow him when necesary but not let him be hurt. If Ned comes here he will have to ride him.
Mrs Adams has my note for $13 I want it paid when convenient. I have some money but I guess we will be on the march now for some time & I might need what money I have befor I have a chans to draw again. I think Jim will be home about the 1st of March, that is nor sertain he will git off that soon.
I can make out very well for cloths for the present. If you can git any wool procure anough to make me some cloths next summer. I dont know why you dont git the letters I write. I did not send any letter by Newman. The reason I did not was I had sent one the day before he started by Lewis Holmes & I have wrote regular every week & frequently twice a week. I wrote you last week from Pascagoula. I want you to write me oftin. I dispatched you yesterday to write me at Maredian. I think we will go there soon but I want you to write me one letter to Mobile & one to Maredian so if we stay here some time I will git a letter here or if I go on there will be one at Maredian for me. It wont take you long to write two letters as short as you write them. I will write you again when ever we start, but til you hear that we are gone write one letter to Mobile & one letter to Maredian at the same time & then I will git one whether I go or stay. I got a letter from Ned the other day, he was well. Have you got Abram this year? I have not heard how is my Baby coming on. Sorry to hear of the death (of) July Ann.
I have just come from headquarters, I learn there that we will likely leave tomorrow. I dont think we will, if we do I will write you in the morning. I close for today.Yours as ever
Mike
Dog River Factory Jan 24th 1864
Dear Martha
I jest recevd a letter from you dated the 19th. It is very strange you dont git a letter from me. I have wrote once a week & sometimes twice. I sent a letter by Lewis Holmes, did you git it? I dispatched to you to send your letters to Maredian, Miss. I then wrote you to send one letter to Mobile & one to Maredian. I then wrote again to write to you that you need not write to Mobile, that we would leave for Meredian the next day, but that order was countermanded and we are here yet & I dont know when we will leave. We are ordered now to go out to Halls Mill [Further down Mobile Bay, west side] & await further orders. I want you to write me a letter every week, one to Mobile and one to Meredian till you hear from me again. We may stay here several days yet or we may leave in a few hours. I want to fix to git a letter go or stay.
My health is very good, we have a few sick men. Bert Calhoun went off to the hospital this morning, rite sick. I am so sorry you dont git my letters. I know you want to hear from me. I will keep writing bestare to. Write as I direct one letter to Mobile & one to Meredian till you hear from me again.
Tell Mrs Chandler Seab is very well, he has not had a letter in some time. He wants her to write as I have directed you to write, so he may git a letter here or at Meredian.
I will send this letter by Mcwilliams Negro, Mr Patman came on this morning after the remains of Mc(Williams) home. I guess you will git this letter pretty soon. Write to me oftin & long letters, write all about everything. Have you got Abram this year? Mr Patman is waiting I must close.Yours as ever Mike
Tell Mr Burnam, Marion is well. Tell him to plow my pony but to have him ---- fat so if I want him here he will be in good fix.
Mike
Camp near Dalton, Ga. February the 3rd, 1864
Santannah,
Write you a few lines today to let you know that I got a letter from you dated January 12th by Flemings. I believe that I could not read and it's very near the case with every letter I get from home wrote with pencil. I wish you would write with pen & ink. Some of you wrote that you had no pen & ink but I notice that they are backed with ink.
It turned awful cold here last night after a severe storm that stripped nearly every bit of it's roof. no news here. Now & then a case of smallpox in the brigade. No more in this Regiment yet & don't think will be. I would like to know how you have arranged about making a crop. There is some little talk of our going to Mississippi shortly. I don't think we will though. I am going to try to come home in the course of one month. Don't know that I can do it though. I want some of you to write me exactly what sort of disposition of the box you sent me. I guess there has come fifty thousand boxes to this Army service since I have been here & mine & Paluses are the only ones I have heard of being lost yet. If it was express & you have a receipt to that effect you can get pay for it by notifying the express agent at Fort Gaines that such a package was los & showing him the receipt that he gave for the box, in ninty days from the time he gave you the receipt. After 90 days the receipt is out of date I think. I fear you never expressed it. I can't imagine what has become of it. you wrote me that Capt. Holmes would bring me a box. The Capt. says that Mr. Renfro told him that you had sent me a box but did not tell him how it was sent. Take care of my colt. Dont let him stand in mud. Write often. I received a letter from home 3 or 4 days ago.Ned
Camp Dalton, Ga.
Feb. the 8th 1864Mine,
I mailed a letter to you this morning. Lieut. Odom starts home this evening so I write you a few lines more. I am well today. Have been sick a little for a few days. Lieut. Odom has got 20 days furlough. I think I will go home when he gets back. Me or the Capt. one will be there if the furloughs are not stopped. I think I will go though so I will not send any money. If I don't get off I will express you 4 or 5 hundred dollars the first of March. So if I don't come look out for it after the first of March. If I express it I will direct it to Fort Gaines, Ga. in care of Mount, so you can tell Mount to look in the express office for it.
I think I will be at home by the 10th of March but not certain. Take care of my colt with your work.Ned
Mama
I write you a few lines this morning that leaves me alright. We have been out on a working party 3 or 4 days. We left camp to stay 10 days but we were ordered back very unexpectedly & we are now expecting to leave here every hour to go to Mississippi. They are moving troops as fast as possible & its our time next. ---- says we will leave here tomorrow morning -------- ---------we are sure to move in one or 2 days so you need not look for me I don't reckon. It is freezing cold here all the time. If we don't leave I will write again. You direct your letters as usual. I got a letter from Mike a day or two ago. He was not well.Ned
Friday, the 21st
We have no orders to leave yet. It's sleeting hard this morning. Write soon. Ned
Camp near Midway, East Tenn March 6th / 64
Dear Grandmother & Aunt
After a long delay I proceed to rite you a few lines whitch leaves me very unwell at present. I have bin very sick today tho I am able to state my desires that these lines will find both of you well and enjoying your selves, if this is any enjoyment at home.
I have bin very hard run for clothing this winter but I am very well clothed at present. I am very thankful to Pa & Ma for sending me shoes & clothing.
Grandma I am very thankful to you for the socks you sent me for I was very hard run for socks when I received them. I have reinlisted for the war as long as it run any way, I am determined to stick it out or fill a soldiers grave. Both armies in this department is lying still at present. Today is a beautiful day, the first sabbath in March. I guess they had a fine time at Judson (Church) today. I wonder if we po soldiers are remembered in the prairs at home. Sometimes I resolve to do better, but I cant hold out long at the time tho I no I ought to be a better boy but a camp life is a hard one. I would have ritten sooner but I had no paper & envelopes. I will close. Will you be so kind as to rite me often & I will try to do the same. I hardly ever get a letter from home. I will close & remain your obedient Grandson & nephew.A. B. Skipper
P.S.
As Bryant has left a short space I will ask each of you except (accept) all my best wishes. Bryant is a better boy than he was when he first came into service. At times he is very bad but when I tell him about it he haulds of(f). I just ask him what his mother told him & how proud she would be if he would do better it cools him down very quick. Bryant is a very tenderhearted boy although he is pretty rude I keep him in the mess with me. I think if his Ma would write to him often & good letters it would finaley brake him from his rude ways. I ashure you I shall do the best I can for him. I will close. I am yours most obedientlyTom M. Renfro
[The previous letter was among Mike Holmes' papers; although I do not know the family connection. These men were both members of Company G, 15th Alabama Inf. Regiment as described By Col. Oates in his book (page #676 h 704). Their unit was in East Tenn. with Longstreet's Corp. during winter-early spring of 1864. Tom Renfro was or had been Company Commander of this unit although Oates seems to think he was disabled, at Chattanooga, he was obviously with the unit March 6, 1864.]
Dear Mike
I wrote you on the 10th directed to Gadson. (Gadsden, Ala) Since, I heard your at Montevallo (Ala). I wrote you all about your crop that I could and the prospect is no better yet. Its cold today and raining all the time. Its too cold for corn to come up. I fear you will never get a stand of corn. They had plowed up about 15 acres when I got home & still has no better weather to come up than the first had. your plantation is in good fix if you had a stand.
I have never seen such a spring as this. The woods is as open as they were at Christmas. Your folks is all well. Thorn Howerton got hurt pretty bad last Sunday by his mare falling with him, tho he is getting all rite again.
I will start back to the company on Tuesday as I will be at Ft Gaines on that night. I wish you had got home before I left. I have nothing more to write, I wrote you all I could think of on the 10th.
Mr Burnam has planted the Grace field in pinders, its in good fix if they will come up. The Old Ladie has got all done in her fields that she can do at the present. They will go to plowing in hers in a day or 2, her stand is bad.
My colt has come out mitly since I left. He will make a good horse. I would Mr Burnam to take him and plow him and rest your Ala mules, but I dont think he will do it. Your black mule is not going to hold up to finish this crop. I dont think my colt can plow every day, but he thinks he is troublesome. I think I will hire Allic from Mrs Roberts 2 months to help Teroc with your crop. She wants to hire him for that time.Ned
(Margin Note) I am going to make the old lady pay for him. Write to me at Dalton (Ga) I will be there on the 23rd.
[This was in an envelope addressed: Lieut M. Holmes, Co E, 6th Ala Cavalry, Clanton' Brigade, Montevallo, Ala (Postmarked Ft. Gaines, Ga, Stamp missing)]
Dear Mike
I wrote you on the l0th, on the 15th but dont know where to direct letters. Its reported here now that you are gone to Va, but its not believed. I wrote you on the 15th & directed to Montevallo & will send this to the same place.
The weather is awful bad. We had frost night before last, this morning its raining and cold. The corn cant do any thing awful bad stands every where. They are plowing in your corn & I think it ---- a bad idea for its cold & raining change to frost when it clears off. If the weather dosnt change, but the grass is coming so it has to be plowed. The wheat crop is very promising at present. I consider your wheat very good. Here at home the old Ladies is nice also but I fear it will git bit tomorrow night. your farm oats are all kild with the cold in January. The last oats you planted looks very well. You have got some mity pretty pigs here.
I shall start back tomorrow or I will stay at the depot tomorrow night. Write me to Dalton if you get this, I dont know where to direct.Yours as ever Ned
[Mike's unit, 6th Ala. Cav. was assigned to the Army of Tennessee, CSA, in April '64 and fought in the same campaign as Ned's unit from May 15th thru July 4th, 1864. Whether they ever encounter each other is not known. Ned's unit is now part of Stevens' Brigade, Walker's Division, Hardeels Corps., Azmy of Tennessee, CSA]
In Field, May 16th, 1864
Direct to DaltonSantannah,
I write a few lines this morning that leaves (me) alright. We are only Walker's Division & one division of cavalry in line of battle on the Oostanaula River 2 miles below Calhoun not far from the railroad 22 miles south of Dalton. Can't tell much about affairs; I only know there has been some awful fighting at Resaka 15 miles south of Dalton. This Division was sent down here on Friday last to guard a ferry on Friday night. We were sent back to another point on the river near Resaka when the enemy was trying to affect a landing. We remained there til dusk Saturday night at which time we were ordered to the battlefield in the center when the enemy was making a heavy drive on our lines. The right and left wings of the Yankee lines were driven back but the center held its own. We made out until we got on the edge of the field & we got orders to come to this field 2 or 3 miles below Calhoun. We got here early yesterday morning & found a considerable quantity of Yankees across the river. Walker [Maj. Cen. W.H.T. Walker, Division Commander] put one brigade of his men in the woods & got them badly whipped in a very few minutes & then the whole division fell back a mile and a half & took a new position on a large creek [Oothcaloga Creek] where we still have a fight in less than 4 hours I reckon. At this time there has not (been) but one regiment of our brigade [Stevens Brigade] fired against. We have been part of the reserve. The battle commenced early Saturday l/2 past 2 and never stopped til 9 in the night, at which time we left them & I don't know anything more about it only they have been fighting all the time.
As Ever,
NedP.S. Tell Mike I wrote him 2 days ago.
[Following document was found among Mike Holmes' papers and inserted here as chronology is assumed: Ned was killed on August 8,1864 during one of the battles around Atlanta. His body and personal effects were returned to Wesley and his remains interred at Judson Church.]
List of Notes & accounts
Belonging to Lt E HolmesNote on Capt Fulton
Co A 25 Ga Reg $150.00
Note on Capt G.W. Holmes
Co E 25 Ga Reg $100.00
Note on Lt Odom
Co E 25 Ga Reg $50.00
Note on RE Knight
Co E 25 Ga Reg $10.00
Note on Tom Fears
Co E 25 Ga Reg $10.00
Note on G.B. Cannon
Co E 25 Ga Reg $10.00
Note on J.N. Anderson
Co E 25 Ga Reg $10.00
Note on G.M. Bolin
Co E 25 Ga Reg $10.00
Note on G.W. Lewis
Co E 25 Ga Reg $10.00
[The following letter was among Mike's Papers. It had no other date, but Feb. 19, 1865 was a Sunday. It is assumed to be from
Martha's (Mike's wife) Mother ; Harriet W. Roberts]Dear Daughter
Morgan Geo(rgia) February the 19th,
I have been looking for a letter from you every week for two months and I have failed to get any. This being a gloomy Sabbath I make the attempt to write you a few lines hoping that you will answer as soon as you receive. I want to hear from you all very much indeed especlialy Mr Holmes(Mike) and George(Roberts). I have not heard anything from George since he left. I have nothing of interest to write, we are all well and hope this will find you all enjoying the same blessing. This is the 3 letter I have written to you and I have not received but one. Mothers never forgets children but it looks like they forgets for why because they are old and cannot last long. I am full of trouble one is gone and I do not expect I shall ever see Mike and George any more tho I pray and hope for their return. It looks like we are a ruine(d) people what is in the hands of the people we cannot get without three times the worth of it. The cotton that is made and spun in our own country is selling from 24 to 38 a bunch.
You will give my love to the family and reserve a portion for
yourself. Your Mother if it is convenient you had better get that pot and spider (frying pan) from Sally the rust will ruin them. Mary can use them as she has to cook her meals there is one iron there I left them up stairsover
(Margin) You will send this note to your neighbor Grace. Let me know who is Capt of the Grays there is no card in this country.
February the 24
I wrote the other side and there was so much rain that I could not get to the office before I received your letter and then I thought I would write more the day yours came to hand.
We received one from George, he was well except cold. Mike was well except piles. George said he wanted den? But it looks like that I have done more for him than I am able and that I aught to have something to live on in my old age. I shule have tried to come over but I did not want to see my childs and there was not any pleasure in seeing his box buried. The times is such that I have no doubt that we will be subjugated and it looks like death any way and I have been reconciled to his death. I shall ever feel greatful to think that he has friends to fix him up and bring him back where I can see the place where he is lying.
I expect when you hear from me again William will be gone or preparing to leave and I will be without any to take care of me in my old age it is the last thing I ever wanted to see. I received a letter from your neighbor Grace the other day wanting old Sally to wait on his family and tend his patches. I think that an other ---- night had put him up to it. There is another call for soldiers if they don’t volunteer there will be a draft the 4 of March. I am well with the exception of cold.
William and Mary has gone to Monroe and will return in the morning My love to all name the babe Alice [Named Mike’s next daughter Georgia]
and hug her for me. Answer soon I would like to hear what Mike say’s about coming home[This last letter was published in another compilation of Letters from soldiers during the war. The following letter was also the last letter published in In The Land of the Living, Ray Mathis; Troy State University Press]
April 1st 1865
Camp 6th Ala Cav Near Evergreen, AlaMr. Howerton
Dear Sir it becomes my painful duty to inform you that your Son James was wounded last Saturday the 25th of March and fell in The Hands of the Enamy & lived untill the next tusday morning. That is what I learn from Mr Bloodworth who saw him dy I would a Telegraff to you only it was imposuble for his body to be go(t) write'a way he is 7 miles below Pollerd. Your Son Tom is all write. Our Regment was Cut All to Smatt(ers) thare was 25 priseners from our compny in cluding Capt McRae & Lt Coe. We under Stand the Enemy is Moving in the dire(c)tion of Blakelly near Mobile....
[This letter was written by Lt. George Newman of Abbeville and describes the death of Jim Howerton and the capture of Capt McRae and Lt. Coe. He does not mention Mike who was 1st Lieutenant of this company. Mike had been reporting on Jim's condition to Mr. Howerton & the family since they enlisted together in the Henry Grays in May '61. They were brothers-in-law and had served in three different units together. By all rights, Mike should have written this letter if he was not wounded or captured. This particular skirmish took place along the Escambia River in Florida. The old railroad junction Pollard is near present day Flomaton, Ala.
The following is an excerpt from the Official Records, Series 1, Volumn 49, Part 2, Pages 119-120
On the 25th instant (March) we met a brigade composed of the Sixth and Eighth Alabama Cavalry, under command of Brigadier-General (James H.) Clanton, between the Escambia and Canoe Creek; charged and drove them in all directions, capturing General Clanton, who was severely wounded, 18 other officers, and 101 enlisted men, 1 battle-flag, belonging to the Sixth Alabama Cavalry, with a number of horses and arms...... T J Lucas, Brigadier-General, Commanding
The 6th Ala Cavalry surrendered May 4, 1865 at Citronelle, Ala.]
Mike returned after the War and continued farming and other businesses at Wesley, Franklin and Otho, Ala. and Ft. Gaines, Ga. Mike and Ned's mother, Martha Patsey Thurman Holmes died in 1869 and is buried in the family plot at Judson Church. Ned had never married; but Mike's children were:
Virginia Holmes Holley, 1861-4/23/1933
Georgia Holmes, never married, 1864-1906
Edward J. Holmes, 1866-9/16/1937
Alexander McAllister Holmes, 1869-10/30/1912
Alma (Alabama) Holmes, never married, 1872-7/20/1956
Hinton Craddock Holmes, 1874- l/11/1952
Annie Holmes McHae, 1877-11/16/1966Mike named his daughters after states in the Confederacy until "Annie" who was to have been named Carolina; but the Governor of South Carolina, I understand, was following the same practice so Mike stopped. Mike died Sept. 20, 1886 and is buried in the Family plot at Judson Cemetery, Henry County Alabama. Martha E. Roberts Holmes died Dec. 6, 1910 and is buried next to Mike.
This compilation was provided by Gordon W. Holmes, Jr. in January, 1995 and edited with additional information in August, 2000. I am the Great grandson of Michael Holmes (1827-1886), the Grandson of Hinton Craddock Holmes (1874-1952),and the son of Gordon W. Holmes (1914-1985)
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