Alfred W. Bell Collection
1.
Camp Coleman 6 miles from Asheville
Jany 10th 1862
My Dear Wife
I write you a hasty note tonight I arrived here Wednesday found all well. The boys had got up a little excitement about our time not going on but that is all allotted & we was sworn in today & the Maj. will have all those back biters & McDowells brought into camp. Old Silas wrote General Moore a letter & give me fits also wrote Maj. Coleman. He Coleman wrote him that his son would have to come to camps. You need not say anything about it to any body, but Maj. will send a lot of men in a few days back after them & then let them resist & they will get led. Well we will move in to Reems Creek Campground 3 miles from here next week & I want you to be prepared & kill your hogs & be ready to visit me very soon as I understand there is plenty of good families living all around in that vicinity so I will procure a good place for you & family to stay at I will expect you when I write you De said he would bring you at anytime. I expect to go to Raleigh next week & when I get back I expect to write for you I expect to go after my blanket & Jones money. Will Roanes clothing was lost on the first day & a little package that was marked I. Bates, see if it is at home. I am quite well have had no more fits. The boys all well. The Maj. batted his eyes and said he was very glad to get such presents & was proud of his relations. I believe was about all he said an done so you can inform (Rail?) or Alice which ever you think best. Ill close Ill send you some letters that probably will interest you. It is 10 o’clock & Ill stop. Write soon kiss my babes. I remain your loving husband.
A.W. Bell
Asheville Jany 12th 1862
My Dear Wife
I write you a few lines as I am here tonight on my way to Raleigh. Will take the hack at 5 o’clock in the morning & will be gone a week or 10 days. If I succeed in getting my claims allowed I expect I shall go home to pay them off. We expected to move our camps tomorrow but the Maj. has contacted those managers of the campground & they are opposed to us going there so we will not move to the campground. I was oppose to it anyhow. We will build shantys if necessary. We are about 5 1/2 miles northeast from town rather close for some of the boys are constantly wanting to visit town. I don't know what time I will write you to come, measles is braking out in camps some 3 or 4 cases broke out in camps & if this spreads I shall not bring my cubs here, though I should not run my children out of the way, but I had rather they were at home when they get measles. My camp is quite well no sickness. There is a detachment starting for there. (Tom Mc and the Dill’s. 10 armed men starts in the morning for Macon Co. keep this to your self. There is no cotton cards here. I will send some Almanacs back for N. G. Allman. I will try & git you some in Raleigh. I want you to tell Pa to tell Mr. Henry Addington that the business that he asked me to attend here for him about Wm. Addingtons bond. I saw Dr. Hillard & he informed me that he got it arranged here. Kill your hogs & have everything ready so if I write you to come that you can do it at once. Frank Poindexter is here & is writing to his family he is well except a cold. Ill close as it is getting late. I wrote you by Mr. Bristol who left Saturday with his wagon. You will get several by the boys that I send you. Kiss my cubs & think of me your self at night & leisure times. Your loving husband till death.
A. W. Bell
Jan. 14th 1862
Wolf Run Prince William Co.,Va
Dear Sister Mary
As I haven’t wrote to you since I have been in service I will endeavor to drop you a few lines this snowed night. The snow is 5 or 6 inches deep here and our company is on picket to night they will suffer. Mary I have nothing of importance to write to you. We are still fortifying here and I am a fraid that we will stay here in our tents this winter. If we do we will never see spring though the health of the regiment is good now. Lugin is the only one that has died since we come to this place. He died on the 12th. We all tried to get old captain to give him a discharge but he would not do it and now he says that he wishes he had. He is one of the meanest men in the confederacy. Pat Rone is very sick now he has the mumps and the liver complaint but not dangerous I don’t think. He can’t set up but what it makes him sick. He is in my mess and I am detailed to wait on him. I hope that they will send him to the hospital out of the cold tents. If they don’t send the sick a way they will all die to keep them in these old cold tents. Mike Gray has been complaining several days and I am afraid that he will get down. T. Drake is sick but not bad off. M. N. Russel is very sick but don’t tell his wife. I don’t think that he can live if he don’t get better and that very soon nothing want lie on his stomach. I will close for to work this is morning and I will finish. Russel is better this morning. He has the brain fever the doctor says he will get well now if he will take care of him self but our doctors don’t no much he cant set up but what he faints. Our lieutenants has not had their trial yet. Bill Allman has bin drunk ever since Christmas don’t tell it on him. He has nothing to do only to drink licker. Tell Pa if he would write to Bill an he might send him some money he had drawn 160 dollars and will draw that much more this week and more if he wants it if Beng comes to see us tell Pa to make out his account and send it and Bill can part if he will. Mary write soon I an Joe will. Tell Pa to write tell Fanny and Salley howdy and that I want to see them. No prospects of a fight here so give my best respects to all inquiring friends write soon. Yours till death S.H.H. Bell
Clayton, Ga Jany 15th 1862
Dear Mollie
I write a short letter inquiring whether Alf got his medicine I sent him, also to know for certainty whether he has gone into winter quarters near Asheville. Did Alf get well before he left? I learn his man that ran away from him I forgot his name was seen 3 or 4 days ago near this place going toward Bill Dillards, with a certificate form Perromeau proclaiming his disability to perform military duty. Of course it was forged and is worthless if genuine. I expect he is stalking about in the neighborhood and may be caught. Did Alf put out a reward or not? Write me the particulars and also state how you are all getting along and what Pa is doing. I wrote to Alf and tied the letter around the medicine vial but got no answer. From what John Ried tells me I reckon old Capt. Angel has reduced all of the boys to the ranks except the commissioned officers and they are under arrest. Every dog has his day they will give him fits should they all live to get home. I have not made that citrine ointment yet, can’t get the sheep suet but will soon. I am called today to go 8 or 10 miles to perform an operation on a child 4 days old, imperforated anus. Will go tomorrow, I am still lame not abel to do much in bad weather. My love to all write soon.
Yours as ever
B. Washington Bell
I am writing to Jimmie Robinson to night. You may send this letter to Alf when you write him. I want him to write soon.
Raleigh, N.C. Jany 18th 1862
My Dear Wife
I write you a few lines, as I have nothing else to do to night. I landed here Wednesday evening. I came for the purpose of settling my business with the state. The expenses of my company had not been paid & I thought it my duty to try & have it settled if possible. I have succeeded in settling it pretty well though they would not allow me anything for my cups, knives, forks, candlesticks, wash pans and a good many such things. I think I have got if so arranged that I can save myself the money. They paid us off in treasury notes payable 1865. I don’t know whether our merchants will take them or not but it was the best that could be done. Well I have succeeded in getting 100 overcoats for my boys & 100 caps. I could get plenty of clothing if I needed it but we may be ordered here soon. I don’t want to load my boys down with clothing. They are drafting men here they are drafting every third man out of the malitia in this county. They are grumbling very much about it. They are drafting merchants & bankers out of their business to be in readiness to go with such arms as they can git. We have talked to the Governor & Adjt. General to get us away from Asheville & let us go in place of those drafted men but they seem to think that we may be needed in East Tenn. but would see what the convention says about it so I don’t know what they will do with us.
They are looking Burnsides Fleet to attack Newbern or Washington on our coast. There is a Yankee fleet laying off Cape Hatteras now there is a good deal fears of their attack on our coast in a day or too. If I thought they would have a fight there in a day or too I would go down & see them fight would like to take a hand if I had my sharpshooters along. I think we could do the yanks considerable harm with our rangers.
I have bought me & my officers a military over coat & am having me a suit made. It will cost $34. pretty high for clothing but we are required to uniform our selves so we have to foot the bill or quit being officers. I also have made the arrangements to have my officers suits made for them some paid. It is the best we could do anywhere now. I tried at Salisbury & see men from Richmond & they say $40 is the honest price. That is what they asked us but by getting several suits they put it at $34. I guess I shall be at home soon to settle off all the claims that the merchants have against the state for my company. By a tight squeeze I got $ 90 for the (?) I brought form home an I got the promise tomorrow. I had the bill a good deal higher but they scaled me down. I have tried here for cotton cards for you but cannot get any. I will try in Salisbury as I go back. I will remain there one day. I am having 6 officers caps made there for my officers. I will leave here Monday night. I could leave sooner but my clothing is not done yet. I think that I shall be very nice when I git my new clothes on. You must not be alarmed when you see an officer visit your house dressed up in uniform. You must not run off when you see such a gentleman for it may be I who comes. Have your hogs killed now, as it is very cold get your salt from Jule. I see a few men here that I knew that man Davis the clock fixer that Lyle give chloroform & I extracted a tooth for is here. He is after a sick brother here will start home with him in a few days. We are backing the members to the convention here now, they meet Monday next. I have nothing else to write now. I would like to hear from Sam & Joe. I sent their letters to you. I shall try & have them transferred. Coleman will assist me. I talked to the Adjt. General about it he says it has to be done through the government. I have written to them & shall expect an answer when I return. I shall also expect several letters from home. I will write the boys from here also Beng. My respects to friends kiss my children for me. I remain your loving husband. What does Silas say now since his weak son is sent for by Coleman? I guess I am the bull dog of Macon now. I reckon Silas wishes there was two hells for me now.
Your Loving Husband A. W. Bell
6.
Jany 26th 1862 Head Quarters 1st Battalion NC
Camp Coleman NC
My Dear Wife
I arrived back from Raleigh last Wednesday eve. found my boys well except a few cases of measles & bad colds. I had quite a pleasant trip to Raleigh got my business pretty well arranged I wrote you the night before I left. I gave it to Dr. Roane to give to some of my boys that started home next morning. I also wrote you from Raleigh I hope you get them both, though I recd two letters when I got back from you & Mat & you did not say anything about getting a letter from me. I am not well I have a bad cold & sore throat. I feel quite poorly to day. I took some medicine last night & this morning. I hope when it gets to operating Ill feel better. Its reported & I fear that Gen. Zollicoffer has been killed & his forces cut to pieces. I hope its not true
Wood McLoud landed in Asheville last evening. We have sent a horse for him to come down & see us. I sopose he will come. He sent us word that he would come if we would send for him. The boys that have saw him say he looks pretty well. He is on furlough I am anxious to see him. I will send you two hundred dollars by him if he comes. I shall send 150 in $5, $10,$20 bills, 25 in ones 20 in twos & 5 in changes also some postage stamps. I expect you will need some money to pay for the pork that I engaged from Jess Cochram. The possibility is that we may be ordered from here soon. If so I shall not write for you to come as I shall have to go home very soon anyhow. If we remain here & we will know in a few days I think. I will go home & then I will bring you & babes back with me. I hope you will be contented a little while longer as I will be at home soon an then Ill know what to do. Tell D Cunningham to buy that pistol from Norton for me. Wood has come & we have eat diner. He wants to start back to town so I will close. I will write you again soon. The mail that was due here last night from Franklin has not come yet. I expect a letter when it comes. Kiss my babys for me & think what I would do for you if I was there. I know I should kiss you several times for writing me so punctual. Tell the babes to take good care of Jeff Davis . I think he is fine stock. Ill send Roanes cushion by first chance. Where is Will Roanes clothing? He has not got them yet. Send them & the bundle by first chance. Give Matt my best respects, tell Liza howdy, write soon & off times. I am very nervous & Ill close.
Ever Your Devoted Husband
A.W. Bell
Franklin January 30th 1862
My Dear Husband
I received your letter by Calvin McLoud, was very glad to get it I assure you for I had begun to think that you had forgotten that you had a wife and children at home. I had determined not to write you until I got a letter if it was a year. I received the letter you wrote before you started to Raleigh also, the one you wrote while you were there, but I thought you ought to have written me after you got back knowing that I had heard the report that you got were ordered off and not knowing whether it was so or not. I kept hoping that as long as you did not write that you would come riding up but I looked in vain. Calvin did not bring me your letter until this morning and I dreamed last night that I got a letter from you and that you had also come home which I hope will prove true.
I got the money you sent which come in good time although I was getting along pretty well without it. Mr. Cochram brought me the pork yesterday and I got your Pa to pay for it. He brought two hogs it come to $13.50. I paid your Pa this evening out of the money you sent. Ben wrote your Pa today that Barton was at Clayton and spoke of coming down here. I guess he would like for me to pay him some money and if I knew that you wanted me to I would do it.
I do not know what your men are going to do with the men they were sent after, go back without them I recon. I wish they never had been sent for, as it is sure to end in a big fuss. They would have Dee go with them and in the place of going sober as they ought to have done they had to have whisky and get drunk Dee with the rest of them and he has been drinking ever since. I would not have had that to have happened for forty such men as was sent after. I think you ought to come home and persuade Dee to go to war it will be the best thing that can be done. Mashburn says that he got drunk while he was gone with you. I am afraid that you had it on the road and by so doing gave him encouragement to drink. Henrietta seems to be perfectly miserable and I think she would be glad for him to join the army hoping it will do him some good. Every man on Sugarfork is mad at him for going to help take them boys and I think some of them have made some threats, he carries a pistol that shoots seven times and I look for him sometime when he is drunk to kill someone or someone to kill him. He was in town today but I did not speak to him. I did not tell him about that pistol for he was drunk. There is a big scrape up in town. McCoys negroes have been stealing meat for Loves negroes. McCoy has whipped his negroes and made them tell all about it. They have got Bet, Ange, Celia, Mandy, Anter and your Pa's man Tom all in it and there is no telling how many more will be before it is done. I understand he says that there is about 600 pounds gone and that he intends to have all his meat back and then have the last one taken to the whipping post. I watch my smokehouse pretty close.
Will Roan’s clothing was not brought back here. De said they were found and left at McClures I think it was and they said they would send them to him. I will send the other bundle and Will’s comfort by some of your boys if they will take them. Mary Jane is in town now visiting. She gets letters from Frank he is in Chattanooga now. Marion Lowry is at home sick with fever. I think she said Frank said in his last letter that he thought perhaps they would be sent to Kentucky. He writes to Mary Jane often and long letters as much as eight pages sometimes. Why can’t you write your wife that way? You have no idea how pleasant it is to a woman who is left at home to get good affectionate letters from her dear husband it makes them think that they are loved and remembered by the dearest friend they have on earth. A man has no idea how lonely and bad their wife feels especially when they are left in the condition some of us are when they are naturally low spirited fretful and pevish and everything goes wrong with them and they feel like they had no friend who cared anything for them. I study all day about you and wonder where you are and what you are doing and if you are well and when I go to bed at night I wonder if you are lying on your hand cot and if you love me well enough to be thinking about me and wishing that you were at home with me or if you are satisfied to do without me and think that some other woman will do you just as well. I hear so much about how some men do that I sometimes fear that you will become hardened and do like the rest and then again I think that you have been to true to ever be guilty of the like. You must pardon such thoughts for it is natural for women to have their doubts and fears. I know you have always told me that you would think how would you feel it you had such as that to encounter with yourself. I will close for tonight as Matt has been in bed long since and it is getting quite late. I did not get to sleep much last night Sallie had a high fever and was very restless last night. I think it was only cold that made her so. The children want to see you bad and often talk about you but there is another who wants to see you worse than they do, who dreams of you every night and if you were here she could tell you her dreams. I would give all I ever expect to be worth if you were at home and was going to stay. I shall look every day to see you come. If I do not get a letter by Saturday mail I will think that you are coming of certain. Good night my dear husband. I will go to bed now and dream of you.
Your Devoted Wife
Mary
Head Quarters Camp Coleman
Jany 30th 1862
My Dear Wife
I write you a few lines. I have been very bad off with sore throat & stiff neck. I was taken last Friday, have been very bad off. Dr. Warren & Roane have attended me very close. They have purged me and blistered my neck & I feel much better this morning. I have not been confined to my bed but have had a pretty painful spell. Dr. Warren thinks it complicated my rheumatism & will now treat me for it. He thinks I will soon be well. There is between 20 & 30 cases of measles in my company, though its a very mild form all able to go & eat so none are suffering much. Some won’t go on the sick list for it. Some does their duty all the time & don't seem to care for it, though as soon as I find it out I take them off of duty. I am very glad they are having the measles here & they are so mild. I have this morning recd letters from Joe, Saml & T Drake & the boys. I also got one from Lieut. Allman. Emlous is sick but not dangerous. Pat Roane has mumps Matt Russel is sick that is all that is sick in the camp. Math was getting a discharge when the boys wrote & will be here in a few days. Jack Dryman is also discharged. Dogan died on the 12th. Angel is treating the boys a little better. W. Bird & J F Curtis has been transferred to Clingmans Regt. Angel offered Samul a transfer to my company but he advised him to stay as his time was nearly out & the hardiest time was over. The boys are oppose to his transfer for fear that Joe will also ask for a transfer & they want the boys to all stick together & go home together. I wrote you by Woot McLoud & sent you two hundred&five dollars or I sent you 200 I loaned Woot five, which he will pay you I think I shall come home before long I have got a lot of money for our people
I expected a letter from you last night but got none. I suppose my boys is having some difficulty in arresting those traitors & deserters the Maj. will write Lieut. Bird this evening & if those toreys resist their arrest he will send force enough to wipe out the overt act. Maj. has investigated their cases & says that they shall come all but Dills, he will be excused.
Maj. will not let them off if they do resist he will show those brag daises & torys that they shall behave their selves & not interfere with his orders.
The Maj. has recd orders from the Adjt. General to hold himself in readiness that his command might be order to Western Carolina or East Tennessee so I expect we will be ordered off soon. We are very willing to leave the Buncombe War & go to Jeff Davies War. Where is Beng? I wrote him from Raleigh.
Did you kill your hogs? Have you got salt enough to salt your pork? Has Cochram Jes brought the pork that Reid and I bought off him? Has De Cunningham sent Will Roanes clothing? If he has not, send them & the bundle that I left by the mail to be left at the post office at Asheville Directed to me. You will pay him and Ill make the boys pay you. Tell De to go & buy that pistol for me. I understand he has two & if so to buy both if he can $20 dollars each. Tell him to attend to this as several here speak of writing back for them. Ill close give my best respects to Matt & inquiring friends. Tell Liza howdy, kiss my babys, give Jeff a piece of bread & think of me & what I would do for you if I was there.
Ever your husband till death
A.W. Bell