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and a pound and a quarter of Beef to the man per Day. The meat is Boiled up and brought to us in large iron Boilers. The Flour is roughly make up with water & hastily baked and after it gets cold it is as Tough & clamy as Sole Leather. The only way I can chew it is to boil it soft.
I have bought me a light frying pan which I stap to my back and carry with me. I put my meat and bread in together and boil it soft and find it quite a healthy diet, though by no means palitable. This Section of country is nearly level, with a deep rich Soil, though in many parts Stony. The forest is heavy (though the undergroth has all been cut out it consist entirely of Oak Hickory and Black Walnut. neither Poppler Chesnutt or Chinquinpin are found here. it is well cultivated and very productive. There Seem to have been heavy crops of wheat raised this year though the corn is parched up with the long Drough which has prevailed here until the dust has been almost Suffocating. I do not think however the farmers devote much of their attention to corn. as to water, it is (Strong?) lime Stone which suits me finely. it is very Seldom that you see any runing water here, but their well water is exelent. you find no Small Springs that is good, but occasionaly large fountains like mill ponds gush from the Earth, which is the finest water I ever saw. There is one well here which alone Supplies 2 or 3 Brigades with water. a guard is put over it, and as men come after water they are made to fall in line and wait until it comes to their turn. there is always hundreds waiting. There is certainly a strong efort now being made to settle this dificulity by a compromise, or Treaty, but it is conducted with So much Secrecy that I am not able to tell you much about it now, but I cincerely hope it may result in the Speedy Termination of a war which is killing, wounded, maiming and destroying a whole generation of men.
The Battle of Sharpburg though a costly one to us, is the heaviest blow we have yet Struck the enemy. it is (true?) we did not rout him as we did at Manassas on the 30 of August and take his arms and (Commissaries?) as we did on that occassion but we fough three times our number. we fought them on their own Soil and piled up their dead in Such fearful numbers that their own people for the first time had a chance to see what one of McClellan's "Great Victories" cost them in men. I am deeply pained to say that on the day before the Battle of Manassas, our Capt was taken violenly sick with Typhoyd fever. he was put into an ambulance & carried carried on with us to Leesburg, when we established a Hospital & left him. the yankees while we were in Maryland made a cavalrey raid into that place and we have understood captured him, but this has been _____ and we have not heard a word from him since. I am uneasy about, for I have seldom come across men I liked so well. It is also now asertained that while we were in Maryland some of our Boys that would not keep up, and would straggle about, (hunting something?) to eat have been captured by the yankee Two or three from our company have (ben?) captured in ___ way. Both armies ar now lying _______ I can not tell what ______ be made neat. Mr Ross (my mothers Brother) calls on me occasionaly and I enjoy his yarns finely. his health has been bad though he is ___ now. all the accounts I get from Franklin ______ crop as most distressingly light. tell Sallie to take the best posible care of hers (if she has raised any, for I have no idea it can be bought next spring
continued
There is no probability whatever that I will have an opportunity of coming home ths Side of Christmas (& if I do, I shall only have time to tell you all howdy). but the Land belong to (Sach?) Helms & Jim will be for rent again I suppose and their negros hired you will please attend to it. Mr John Saunders rented their Land this year for $20.00 the ___ I think is in Sallies hands he was to have the customary price for all the rails he made & put up. Collect & Settle with him. Mr. Hamlett also owed them $80.00 dollars if he has not paid it collect it and pay their Taxes and if the boys need clotheing or anything of that sort let their mother have enought of it to furnish it and loan the (Bull?) out. as to any of the rest of my Buisness you and Sallie will have to do the best you can for the present and in the orderings of Gods just providence there may be a happier day in store for us hereafter. I still insist that Sallie Shall Sow a crop of wheat at the Knob, even if Takes her until Christmas. When you and Sally writes to me again let me know what Beef and pork is likely to be worth and whether you think there is grain enough raised in the neighborhood to do it. as Stock is So high I think it would be good policy for Sallie to part with all her cattle but what She is Satisfied She can winter, though I think it would be best to keep her hogs. This Seems to be a great apple country and the most inferior ones are brought into camp and sold very for ___ fifty cents per dozen. I crave them all the time and can hardly keep my mind off of your pippins. if you had some of your Buckinghams or Pippins here they would sell very readily at $1.25 per dozen. I expected to find this a great cabbage country but I have not seen a good one in all my Travels. The Beef we get is of a Superior quality but owing to the maner in which it is Buchered up it has nothing of the genuine Beef taste about it. I have already spun this letter out to an unreasonable lenth, & must now close it. Sallies & Jules Desolate and lonesome condition is a source of perpetual anxiety to me and you can counsel her, and speak Sootheing words unto her, for the sake of your absent though would be Dutiful Son
C. S. Prillaman
June 11th 1863
Rockamount Franklin Co Va
Dear Farther I will Rite the few lines to you to let you know how I am getting on I am sick of this place as it is the last place in Gods ____. I have had a Could ever since I have bin hear) I ___ with Col Turnbull for a month but I assueur you it is the last month that I ever keep a bar for any man or any price though Turnbull is a Gentleman I wold not keep his bar for $50 a month to be (confined?) to that motley (Iris?) hoo (always?) kanker a round a bar. I want to be at home (tenning?) to my buisness hunting (farming?) tell A. H. to work my corn and (H. H.?) that I will be at home the first July if God in his mercys will permit it tell martha that I want to eate ___ biscuit & fried chicken with her once more Thomas H. Helms came hear on the stage last Sunday he looked very bad thier is al grate deal of sicness in this Neighborehood scarlet fever princelly P Hale has lost five of his family withe it I will send this By the first chance. With my best Respect to the famaly, I Remain as ever &c
Isaac Prillaman
Fredericksburg Dec 28th /62
Dear Father
being being far from home shivering on the banks of the Rapahannoc and missing the company of those with whom I have been accustomed to Spend the Christmas holidays I will bore you with another letter On the evening of the 26th of this month our Regiment recieved orders to go to Town on Pickett. We moved down to the bank of the River at the lower end of the Town of Fredericksburg and distant from our camp about four miles. we were on one Side and the yankees on the other. up to that time up to that evening our picketts and those of the enemy had been alowed to talk to each other across the River and visit each other for the purpose of Traficing. The yankee very willingly gave six pounds of coffee for a plug of Tobaco. but on the evening that we came here Genl Longstreet Sent an order round prohibiting any conversation or entercourse with them whatever. This was done to prevent the yankees from getting into our Secrets through the indiscretion of Some of our Soldiers. They keep Talking to us but we do not answer them. Our Brigade and division left us yesterday and we have not been able as yet to asertain where they have gone. Some say to Guinea Station, Some Say to Hanover Station near Richmond, and others Say to the coast of North Carolina which is most likely the case. We will be kept on Pickett here a few Days and then follow our Brigade. There was a great Stir in the yankee camp yesterday and it is certain they are making a move in Some way. Only 3 companies Stand Sentinels at a time. Our company stood night before last, yesterday, and last night we were relieved and fell back with the rest of the Regiment a few hundred yards to the lower Turnpike and lay down on the road to Sleep. the night was cold and chilly. about midnight I was startled by the crying of children. It was a number of women who before the fight had left here and Since that time, finding no Shelter elsewhere had returned to their homes, but last night had notified to get out of Town by Day as the yankees would Burn it at that time. many of them had their little children with them who was so severely pinched with the cold that they were crying. We had Some little fires kindled up along the road by which these poor little Sufferers warmed themselves and then followed their unfortunate mothers in Search of a Shelter. It is now Ten oclock and the yankees has not commenced Shelling the Town nor do I think they will, as Genl Stewart has crossed the River and they will have enough to do to get away with out gratifying their Fiendish desire to Burn down this Town. if all our forces fall back as I think they will (for one rail road cannot afford Transpotation for Such an army as this) Genl Lee ought and I think will Burn it up. The yankees Should not be allowed to winter in the Houses. (remaining pages missing)
Camp Lee May 22nd /64
Dear Farther
I shall endever to inform you of the sitution ___ myself and Brothers as near as I can George Tinney went down to the city day before yesterday and saw one of the fifty seventh hoo told him that one of the Prillaman was killed but it is not so for Capt Dyer past hear yesturday hoo saw Chris after the fight & George nor Chris nether of them was hurt & Both was well But ther condition know is unknown to me know the Grate battle is know going on beteen Lee & Grant ther was & insesant roar of artilery all day yesterday & this morning the cars are fetching lods of wounded me to Richmond the yankees & Rebbels all in pile some of them ar shot alto peaces this morning we were cald up & assined to the 36 I have got seven to go with me I shall not go before any bourd hear for thar all Rascals I my health is as good as Cood be expectted I dont think I can stand camp life long I am Going to stick to them till my health fails them I am going to ___ them I have not heard from home since I left the 2 weks that I have Spent in camp seams like years to me I have not Drew any blanket yet I take the cold eart_ for a bed & the blew canopys of heaven for a covering you neade not rite to me till I get to my Regt I cant tell when that will be for we will be ____ hear till Lee & Grant knocks it out I send my Respect to all of the familly (so?) now (more?) at presant but Remain your ____
Ike Prillaman
Oct 11th 1863
Camp 57th Va Vol near Kinston North Carolina
Dear Sallie
My last letter left me at Petersburg under marching orders but our point of destination was not at that time known to me. but on the evening of Monday ___________passing through Weldon, Edgefield, Rocky Mount, Mount (Airy?) and Goldsboro to reach (my new?) place on the 8th inst. On that day I wrote to my Father and would be glad if in some future letter you would let me know whether it came to hand or not. We are now near 200 miles (nearly?) south of Petersburg on a low flat poor and I fear unhealthy country. fever and ague is very prevalent among the Soldiers here, but as the warm _______________ suffer with it. large quantities of sweet potatoes & Cotton is ____ here, but for a fuller description of this Section os country I refer you to my last letter to Father above refered to.
It is no doubt Genl Picketts intention that our Brigade Shall remain here until spring if the movements of the enemy will allow it. We are at present in Tents, but we found Winter quarters raised and nearly furnished. Which we are now at work on & will comple them in a few days. They consist of long parallel rows of Huts built with pinie logs & covered with pine boards, closely chinked and daubed with neat little Brick chimneys and they will also be floored. Armisteds Brigade has Spent one very Severe Winter and Two Summers in the open air with less comfort than is usualy provided for horses, and I think it very considerate on the part of the President to give us some rest, and put other Troops in the field who never saw a Battle field, but I have very little confidence in our rest being of long duration. On my way from Weldon to Goldsborro in order to enjoy a look at the country I went upon Top of the cars and the wind Blew my cap off while the Train was running at full speed. I was certainly in a Bad Box as I was on duty that day and had to be about head quarters frequently. I took it bare headed that night & next morning borrowed a (Gum?) of Capt Heckman which was So large that it made me look like a "Snow Bird under a sifter" but I have now bought me a nice little hat & had to pay only $4.00 for it. The quarter Master of this Regt has purchased Some nice material for officers clotheing which will be furnished me much cheaper than you can afford it. I will get the material and have it made for about the same that it will cost me to have one made in Franklin. I wish you to sell the cloth you gave me for the benefit of yourself and Julia. if you do not find a Market for it in your neighborhood perhaps your Pa can exchange it in Danville for Something you need . The quarter Master furnished me a large heavy Blankett for $6.50 Lieut Ward has Two and we sleep very comfortable, I intend to get another one.
As I passed through Petersburg I had the pleasure of Seeing Genl Picketts Lady. She is not hansome but looks modest & Genteel. One of her old neighbors tells me that She is not wealthy. The Genl is decidedly fine looking and Thirty Seven years of age. While we were at Petersburg a great religious revival Sprang up among the Soldiers and a great number of converts were made. We had preaching every day in camp, and at night in the City. I attended Church in the City almost evry night a great many Ladies attended and I am sure they are the finest Singers I ever heard. Our fare is Tolerable. We can get fine Sweet potatoes for $4.00 per Bushel. They are much longer and finer than any I have ever Seen before. We also get Some "Sorghum" or home made molasses which is very fine. We are stationed on the Nuese River not more than Sixty miles from the South Carolina line. This River is navagable for gun Boats and we may have a hot time of it this winter though it is not immediately threatened at this point now. The North Carolinans are universaly called "Tar Heels" and the inhabitants are generaly in this part of the state pale thin & swarthy. Some of the Boys speak of marrying a Tar Heel girl "for the war or six Months" please in your next letter let me know whether you have any objection to my taking on one upon those liberal Terms. The weather for some time past has been fair mild and beautiful, but this morning is cloudy, damp, & chilly with a prospect of rain. I am still in command of this Company which is recruiting very fast. I now have 40 men present though there is only thre or four of my brave comrades who went into that charge with me at Gettysburg now with me, but I most cincerely hope they will, or at least that some of them will get back again, for I shall respect them to the last hour of my life. four recruits have joined my company since I came back, Mr. Ed Philpott Mesiach Turner and Clark P. Turner of Henry Co Va and Mr. (Wondare?) of Rapahanoc Co Va. A few minutes after I closed my last letter to you, yours of the 30 Sept came to hand. The only one I have recieved since I left home. I was glad to hear from you, and hope to enjoy that pleasure again soon. I was very glad to learn that Brother Flem had been heard from again, and in your next I hope you will let me know where he was at the time he wrote his last letter. my health is very good at this time, and my Finger is improveing though is not well yet. I regret that I am not able to be as I promised at the altar of our marrage to be, your companion and your protector, but I am discharging the highest duty a citizen owes to his country, but my anxieties for you are constant, and evry effort of my head and heart would if it were in my power to do so be so directed as to secure comfort and happiness for you, and I hope you will appreciate the good motives that keeps me here, and squeeze through the best you can, looking forward hopefuly to that happy day when we shall meet.
To walk in loves delightful flowers
And rove the Fields of endless peace
make your wants known to me & if I cannot relieve you I can at least sympathise with you. write to me and be assured of the unalterable attachment of
C. S. Prillaman
L L
P. S. Direct your letters to Kinston N.C. Co "B" 57th VA Vol Burtons Brigade Picketts Div.
[I believe this to be a letter from Fleming Prillaman]
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Continued from 4th pag writing hastily
Sin quiet is restoord I will give you Sum furtherr particulars of our fight on the 25 + 26 I am not Capable of doing Justice But will do as nearly Justice as particality will allow
1st I will give our position on the South Hill of the roan oak river is our Batterys 5 in no. 3 on the rite of the Bridge + 2 on the left of the (Same?). the Enemy formed on the North Side on the Hill in a wheat field in fair view of each other our Company was intrenched on the Bank of the river betwen the 2 great monsters of death when we could distinkly see evry shot fired from the opposing Cannon which (Presented?) Such a Sublime Senorry to the Eyes of our Boys that it kept me + Capt Powell Busy to keep them from Jumping on the works to See the tigers Hurling forth thar fire and missels in the face of each other. the East End of our Entrinchment Extended near the Bridge when the Enemy Shelled furiously many Shells Exploding ___ on us one Strikeing near to Lee (Walter?) + Several So near that I could hear the misels Sing tribble Tenor and Bass. We was order to not fire til Cald for But one Lieut___ that was Sent to Command Capt Vaughns Company of Reservs from Pittsyvania on seeing a yankey Capt Cone dashing down on the other Side of the river When He Swore He would Shoot and did (Spary?) away and off tumbled the grand yankey Capt. ___ now lies with 2 other yankey officers that was killed By one of my skirmishers. tha advanced on us for varously Estimated at from 3 to 8 thousand no Sooner than they Commencd planting their Batterrys ours opened on them with a terrific fire doing Considerable Execution. By Striking Medical (Train?) ordnance trains taring it Smash in fair view of our Boys which animated them greately. Exasperated the yankey So they made a desperate Charge on our men on that Side of the river which mad it nessary for them to be reinforsed from our Brestworks on this Side of the river which was very (ingenious?) for the reason the Enemy Battery and tearing things to p____ses about the Bridge which Crossings By no means desirable with the Cannon and ____ Balls Holling whirling and Sing But the urgent nesesity of _____of our B___ Heroes who was doing the greatest fighting that the ___ no of man Ever was to do against as great odds our Commander )Farrinhott( ___ son (Restored?) 3 different Companys to reinforce the other Side of the Bridge before we was ordered one or two Companys declaring the orders unreasonable only (two?) Companys went till we got orders the moment Capt Powell received orders the word was given (forward?) march which obeyed By evry man that was not legally Excused when we Started Capt Vaughns Company followed us and formed Clost to us we was on the Extream left above the Bridge and before I Could possib__ advanc Skirimishers the Enemy attack us in open field Capt Powell formed on the left of the Bridge as quick as was posible the officer that Commanded on the left (past?) me how many Commisiond officers in our Company ______ none. But my Self able to Stand up He then Commanded me to advan__ Skirmishers which I promptly obeyed I had not time to Post them till the Enemy Charged on us in the dark Such a time I never witnessed officers from Richmond + Danville that Had been on many Battlefields Commanded us and asserted that they never Even on the greatest Battles that this war had up Experienced did not Surpass this engagement for despiration during the time engaged. the Enemy has Eighty ___ men lying in Sight of us now at general Imbodens farther in laws House it was his farm the yankey formed their line of Battle on __ Enemy on Sunday morning after we whiped them. they Burnt up the depot with a great many of their dead in it they left a good many on the field they Couldnt get away for our Skirmishers Shooting of them when they Cam after their dead our Boys would Spang away at them
F Prillaman
son
Do George Prillaman
PLEASE NOTE: I stopped updating the web page around 2001, but I've continued to work on my project. My family history is now in Word document format, with the goal of publishing it once I consider it to be as complete as I'm going to get it. While I'm greatly indebted to those who have assisted me in my research, I'm finding that the demands of everyday life don't allow me to consistently respond to email inquiries. So, I'm offering my most up-to-date volume for sale, at a price of $19. For those interested, it is at 118 pages right now, printed by a laser printer on 8.5x11 32-lb./98 brightness paper, and wire bound. The table of contents, revision history, and index are available at the following links. To order a copy, please email me at [email protected], and I'll send it within 3 days of payment. If you indicate the family line you are interested in, I'll send you a new bound copy if and when I update my research for that line. Thanks,
Jay
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