Camp Bolow Fredricksburg, Va.
Jan 19th 1863
Partly Confidential
Dear Mollie,
I this morning seat myself to write you a few lines, not in answer to any letter or letters that I have rec’d from you as I have not had a line from you or any person except a short letter from Pa, by Charlie for a considerable time. What is the reason you write so seldom? Have you forgotten that you have an absent brother who is ever anxious to hear from home and friends? Sometimes I think I ought to treat you all in the same way. I am not the only one that is so much neglected, it is the case with the whole of Co. H. it scarcely ever hears from Macon by letter. We used to get letters pretty often, but since those conscript companies have left, Co H. has been forsaken and I expect nearly forgotten.
I can rather look over your negligence as you have a husband to write too, but there are other of my friends that have not the same excuse and they need not expect a line from me until they are more prompt in writing themselves. I used to have one corespondent that was very punctual in writing and whose letters were welcome visitors and always met with a ready response, until a few months ago, when for some reason unknown to me, she for it is a lady, stopped the correspondence entirely. I was sorry to loose a corespondent and much more a dear friend and thinking perhaps her letters might have been lost on the way wrote several times but failing in every instance to get an answer I finally quit myself. You know who I speak of and perhaps know the cause of her silence. If you do will you do me kindness to inform me what it is, not that I will try to remove the cause, for I have done nothing to deserve such treatment and as it is not the first time she has treated me so. I can not over look it. We expected to have left these camps this morning for N.C. as we have been under marching orders for several days and rec’d orders last night to be ready to march at day break this morning, but sometime during the night the order was countermanded. I cannot tell whether it was countermanded for good or just deferred for a few days but I hope the former. We are comfortably situated at this place and I hate to leave it and set out on so long a march as that would be and that in the dead of winter. I do not want to leave Va. to go to any other point we have been here until we have become climatized and now to leave and go to some other climate I fear our health would not be so good. I have enjoyed the best health for the last 3 months since I entered into the service. I am fleshier now than I ever was in my life, weigh 160 lbs., 15 lbs. more than I ever weighed at home. It is quite a still time here at present. The Yanks stay on their side of the river & we on ours. Some think they are preparing for another advance by this route and that soon, but I see nothing to indicate such a move. I think they found this too hard a road to travel before to attempt it again. We would be glad to have them try it again. We are much better prepared for them now, than we were then. I would certainly give them a worse whipping. I was very glad to hear from Melville once more and that he was in the south, I do not see why he has not written home before this. I hope we will hear from him again soon. If I knew his address I would write him immediately.
I will quit for the present, hoping you will be more prompt in writing in future.
Your Brother
Mike
Clayton, Ga., Feb. 6th 1863
Dear Alf,
Your note by mail was rec’d and in reply I will say that the Citrine ointment is the remedy if the bowels are opened and the diet lessened. As to the handkerchiefs, I have sold all but what I saved for my own use. I have been offered a dollar each, but don’t need the money. I send you 2 of them, to feed the "calves" with, with care they will do you until, "Lincoln" sends us a supply. I also send a box of Citrine Oint. You will apply it night & morning, lightly wash the sores with tepid water & catile soap, if any matter accumulated its proper any how.
No news I am lame with rheumatism, always get so just before a big battle, but the cloudy weather having passed away, I am better, big snow here, 8 inches deep, very cold, cant get out much. Write me when Sam starts & tell him to save my onion buttons. I will come down when it fairs off. Love to all, How is Lieut. Smith getting?………Ben
Franklin, N.C.
Feby. 23rd 1863
Gov. Vance
Dear Sir,
I desire that you instruct me whether or not dried fruit can be removed from this state to the state of Georgia for the purpose of distillation. I know that it cannot be distilled in this state, as there is an express prohibition against it. Now the question with me is whether the party moving the fruit from this state to another is liable or not. I am of the opinion that the party is just as liable as if the distillation was made in the state, for the fruit was bought for the express purpose of being distilled, but when a law was enacted forbidding its distillation then in order to evade the law the fruit was moved to the state of Georgia just across the state line and then distilled. Now it is evident if this state of things is not stopped, that the law prohibiting the distillation of fruit is rendered entirely worthless, for the high prices of brandy will cause all fruit to be run out of the state and be converted into brandy and our suffering soldiers in the field will have to suffer in consequence of the evasion of a law, passed expressly for their benefit.
We have a lark in our town now, who is thus engaged. His name is H. W. Nolen, he has some two or three hundred bushels dried fruit is moving it just over the line into Georgia to be distilled. Now I ask that your Excellency will instruct me in the premises. I belong to Gen. Braggs Army 39th Reg N. C. T. was detailed to come home and enroll conscripts, acting under the authority of Gen. Pillow, but have some difficulty. My authority is disputed. Our senator from this district says there was a contract made between the Confed. Gov. and your Excellency in furnishing conscripts; that the Government of N. C. would furnish them when called on, in her own way. Of this fact I desire information. I have made the inquiry in regard to the fruit, believing it to be my duty as an officer.
The same Mr. Nolen had been and is now carrying on the shoe & boot business and it is evident from the high prices that he is charging twice the percent allowed by law. He has petitioned I understand for the appointment of Post Master in order to exempt himself from the army. He further alleges that he has a government contract and claims exemption.
The citizens have been very much enraged at his course, having completely monopolized the shoe business. He bought up all the leather he could, made it into shoes and sold them to the citizens and soldiers at high figures, they being compelled to buy. He has been speculating in brandy and infact in everything he has been engaged in extortioning upon the poor wives of soldiers in selling them shoes at astonishing rates. It does not seem right when the women of the county are doing their full duty in the cause of our independence, in providing for our brave troops, sacrificing their sons upon their country’s altar, it does not look right that the Yankee Pet, should be permitted to extortion and amass a fortune off of those who are defending our rights, when the country is demanding and is entitled to his services, it should have them. I saw in a Georgia paper, where the editor was commanding the policy of your Excellency in putting into the service, those who are charging over 75 percent. This policy of yours needs no comment and if pursued, will prove a blessing to the state and I am confident that Mr. Nolen has charged much more that the percent allowed and I am in for placing him in the army it will be sanctioned by almost all who know him.
I am very Respectfully Yours
Alfred W. Bell
Capt. Co. B 39 N.C.V.
(Answer)
I have no power to prevent his distilling the fruit in Ga. But I should be very glad if he would submit proof to the enrolling officer for the dist., of his selling shoes & leather for more than 75 percent. He can be brought up a standing on that very quick.
Z.B.V.
Clayton, Ga., Aug 5th 1863
Dear Sister,
I will give you 2 or 3 of the best receipts. 1st Creosote & teaspoon full lard, 2 ounces well mixed makes a No. 1 oint. 2nd " Truphine Acid" teaspoon full well mixed in 1 ½ ounces of lard, makes a good oint. We have plenty "Tarlphenie Acid" in the store, we have 2 kinds, the aromatic Szilphanie acid which look red, but the sulphenie acid is clear acid, very strong, which is the kind used. Anoint once or twice a day with either of the above, will cure, anoint only the sore places, or where it is broken out a very strong solution of Salamomiac, 1 oz a table spoonful to the half pint of water is a good remedy, wet the affected parts twice a day…. cleanness is all important in the disease. I succeed with the sulphur oint, melt the sulphur & lard together in half tea cup of lard and a piece of sulphur the size of a hickory nut, when it begins to get cool stir the yellow of one or two eggs, keep stirring until cool, sent with cinnamon drops, anoint every night for 3 or 4 nights don’t change clothing until you are done with the oint, then wash off all is right. I have nothing made up, You can get a bowl and a spinning (?) shaped stick to stir with and make any of the above ointments without calling on a Dr. for his mortor & pestle. They are fighting near Petersburg, Va. so a man says who came from there(?) into a fight I guess. I start to S.C. to see some patients, the business is busy.
Love to all & Yours as ever, write me often
Ben
(To Mrs. Mary Bell, Franklin, NC
Clevelan, White Co., Ga
Oct 1st 1863
Capt. A. W. Bell
I saw Capt. Hedricks passing through with a lot of government beef cattle. He instructed me to have the cattle gathered up & dispose of them as best I could that he lost in Haywood, Jackson, Macon & Rabun. I have written to persons in all those countys to get the cattle up & either sell them or let me know, so that I can send for them. I have to provide for 2 or 3 companys here & beef is hard to purchase here. Capt. Hedrick said he had sent word back to the various countys that he had lost cattle an to have them got up & taken care of by the confederate officers. He said he had sent you word by your brother to get them up & send them on by some fellow that was there getting up beef for him. If he has bought any I am to have them. Let me know at as early as you can as Samey is coming back soon. I wish to get him to assist me.
Yours,
John H. Logan
a q m CSA
PS give my best respect to your family, Uncle Wilkey & Joe.
Father & family is well & friends generally. We have given the yanks hell in Georgia. I hope Bragg will destroy Old Rosecrance & his army. Charleston holds out & I hope will continue. I think the Yanks are beginning to think that the south cannot be conquered. I long for peace but only as a free people am I willing for this war to stop.
Yours,
J.H. L.
Camp Bruen Meridian, Mis. Oct 8, 1863
Dear Captain,
I rec’d your letter by Lt. Anderson and wad glad to hear from you, but by your letter & Anderson I learn you to be in rather a painful condition. I am sorry it is so for I know there are a great many things going on in Macon that are very disagreeable with you and a man of your pluck. It must be miserable that you have no better a way of helping yourself than you do. I think if you was with Co (could not read, letter torn) you would be obeyed much better than you are in Macon, no doubt you would be much better pleased your self. I hardly know what to think about our home folks turning out to partaking and encouraging desertion from all accounts they are but very few Patriotical citizens in Macon more who I thought could of held to south until the last have lost all faith & say come home child and letting them go. I am union mad & believe it is right, you speak of men disserting that you was not thinking of. I was surprised so very much for I can tell you I do not think they was a loyal soldier among them, Co B was in the fight and did her duty, all fought like heroes but P. Mason, Jas. Meton, E. Talent. was cut pretty bad & Thos. Lou poor fellow hardly got to fire a gun until his brains was shot out. Sarg. West came very nigh being captured two or three times again he will go before in spirit of the devil, Capt. we done a great deal harder fighting at Chickamaga than Murfreesboro. Jo Mason reach camps and appears like he will make a great deal better soldier than Peter did. Co is small but better men do not walk than the (?) part of Co B. John Lou, John Henry poor fellows was severely wound but I am in hopes both will get well, they was both doing their duty but I cant trade one man than another all do well except the above names and but A.G. Young run like the very Devil from the start, Capt. I hope you will soon be relieved and will have the pleasure of meeting your company we would ge glad to see you at anytime but if you had a (?) to (cant read this sentence or the next) I would rather you would stay for I know you would delight in doing so excuse my short and bad letter Hensley Moore is coming home on furlough I am going to send (cant read this last line) W.T. Tippett
Walhalla, Jany 31st 1864
Dear Mollie,
We have arrived safe here at dark, all right so far, Berry & I wrote to Richmond my bid is (11) eleven dollars less than any body say nothing to any body. I sent my saddles bridles, blankets, saddle bags & sack back, there is no indigo at the drug store here I’ll get Beng to buy for you & Sallie. I leave at 2 o’clock in the morning no news here. I got Mr. Abe Moores sack of things for Jackson Moore, send Mr. Moore word. I have nothing to write at this time. Joe Clark, N.C. Norris & D. Guy has not come. I want the home guards to get them. I think I would put Andy to making rails & Banks to cutting out the fence row at the upper end of the clearing of Fords fence. Robert Slagle said he would pull the wagon wheels as soon as he got able to work, so you had better see him, have the fence as soon as the rails are made, have all those trees cut in site clearing & split into rails have all the rails made form one gate to the other to keep your cows off the wheat also the outside upper fence repaired. I probably may write you again before I get to camps. I will close hide those things that I told you to. Kiss my babys, goodbye…….Alf
Camp Dog River 6 miles south west of Mobile Ala
Feby 25th 1864
My Dear Wife,
As Jesse Bird of my company starts home in the morning on furlough & it is time for me to write you again I proceed to do so. I have not recd a letter from you yet. I am very anxious to hear from home. I seen in the Mobile Paper a few days ago that the Yanks has made a raid into Macon, but Thomas’s Indians bushwhacked them so that they turned back 20 miles below Franklin, captured Capt. T. P. Siler but he made his escape. Last evening our Adgt. came from NC & saying Simpson told him that Franklin was burned down. I hope its not true though it makes us very uneasy & we all are very anxious to hear from home.
As for war news I have but little the Yankees that run us out of Miss. is now running back to Vicksburg & I hardly think we will fight here yet for awhile, though I now hear the cannons at forts Morgan & Powell some 25 miles, below this place. They have been shelling ever since we have been here & for the last few days very heavy, its said that those forts are very strong and inpregnable.
We all are ordered to Mobile today on general review. I hate the trip to walk 12 miles just for a Gen. to see us there, the blisters on feet is the result. We are fairing pretty well rations are rather short but I hear no complaint or grumbling. My boys are all up nobody sick 2 are complaining of belly ache, to much sweet potatoes.
I would send you 8 or 10 hundred dollars but the old ishue has to be funded by first April or it looses 33 ¼ cents in the (?) so I will post pone drawing until I can get the new ishue which will be in April I reckon. I will send you my watch as it don’t run to do any good & it would cost 20 or 25 to have it cleaned here. I send your pen stock but I keep your pen, the stock wont hold the pen good. There is a gold pen in my tool drawer, it was to limber for me, but probably you can write with it. I send you a snuff box also that I think you will like and it will be so handy to carry in your pocket.
As for our furloughs & I think they probably will come, it may be some time before it may be in a few days. Jes Birds furlough was sent up only 3 days before the Companys was & his got back yesterday, so ours may come soon. If the yanks have not been in Franklin I should like to be there with Co B, we would make some of them bite the ground. Should my bid for the mail contract be accepted you must have it certified to by the Post Master & county court clerk that is a copy and send it to me, but I hope I will be there soon so I can attend to it myself. If I am not to tired this evening I will write some more, If I can think of anything else to write as for your farming operations must be the (?) and do as you think best. I wrote you the other day your Cos. Joe Gray is here, I see him every day, he is camped in a few steps of my tent. He wants a transfer to my Co, so he can visit you he inquired of you & your father & family I think him a cleaver fellow. I close my love to all kiss my babes often for me & believe me ever your devoted & true husband until death. Good Bye
Alf W. Bell
Feby 26th 1864
Dear Wife,
I have nothing to write this morning only I am very tired from yesterdays march. I think we marched about 18 miles my feet is very sore this morning some blisters. I think we have 8 or 10 thousand men here. The cannonading was very heavy yesterday but none this morning at the forts. There is to be 3 men shot at town today for mutiny. I will not send you any money now until I can get the new ishue. I don’t think you have any on hand or I would say for you to pay it out on my debts, as I don’t wish to fund any at present. I think if Pa has any on hands he had better pay it out on my notes to J. L. Robinson also your Pa if they don’t want to fund. I have wrote Beng the same.
I will write you again in a few days as 2 of my Co I will start home then as Jesse is about to start I will stop, write soon & often direct Mcnair Brigade Frenches Division. My love to all kiss my babes often for me I remain ever your devoted husband………A.W.B.
Camp near Polland, Ala
March 17th 1864
My Dear Wife,
You very kind & welcome letter of the 6 inst by Capt. Crawford came to hand yesterday morning, found us at this place we had just got here in the night & Capt. C. got here a few hours afterwards. We was all glad to see him & hear from home. We was glad to hear that the people at home had all escaped the Yankees so well by fleeing to the mountains & staying there until the women & children ran the yankees back. We think the home guard of Macon should have a flag presented to them by the ladies for their gallantry. I am glad to hear that you think that you can get along & not suffer for something to live on. I think if Banks had staid until he had paid what he owed that it would have helped you out greatly. I think I will be at home before long & probably the gentleman will then wish he had of fulfilled his promise to me. Col. Coleman has promised when those companys that have been gone on furlough returned that others should go & Co K from Jackson County got in last night & I do hope we will get off soon. Mark & Dick Bryson & (? ?) Jas are here the boys all look well & our boys are generally well, Lt. Anderson is about well Lt. West is a little sick this morning with flux I believe is about all that is complaining in Co B now.
As for me not trying Mr. Penland for corn, you can tell him that I asked him several times about corn & he would say that he was (?) (?) would have more to spear the last time I said anything to him was the time I asked him to let me have hay which I told you about. I think he is close & selfish, but you can tell him that he has a son in Co B 39 NCV that would divide his rations with me or anything else he has. I hope the time in not far off when we will not have to beg & pay for a little corn. I think our prospects very flattering & that peace & southern independence is near at hand, God grant it. If Eve wishes to be sold, tell Dee to sell to Mr. Abe Moore or Ledford, don’t be afraid of confederate money new ishue probably you can trade her to Leon or Uncle Jefary for that land try them first or get Dee to for you, give any price for it that you think we can pay & live afterwards. I want the land bad. We will move about 3 miles from here this evening to a river to camp. I don’t know what we are sent here for as there is no enemy about here, but reports say that we have come out here to organize a new division & then go to Kentucky, which the late report I don’t believe we have 8 or 10 thousand men here & about here. I think as this is a good healthy place & convient is the cause of us being sent here & easy for transportation any ways I have nothing to write this time so I will make my letter short for as I promised to write you once a week when I could I thought I would write you must do the best you can & manage our home affairs according to your own judgement. I will write as usual my love to all kiss my sweet babys often for me & believe me ever your devoted husband until death……Alfred