Company K, 11th West Virginia Infantry Volunteers
muster-in: August 31, 1862 at Ravenswood, Jackson
County
Killed-in-Action at the Battle of Lynchburg,
June 18, 1864
(1) Letter from Meadow Bluff, Greenbrier County,
West Virginia to his mother on May 21, 1864.
(2) Letter from Camp Piatt, Kanawha County,
to his mother on April 26, 1864.
(3) Deposition B, of George STEEL (57) of
Wiseburgh, Jackson County, a farmer. Statements of knowledge of Jane McPherson
& family, of the need of Thomas' pay for her support, and a general
description of the family history. Dated July 23,
1887.
(4) Deposition C, of Jesse McPherson, brother
and son of Jane. Excellent source of family informatiion. Gives the family
make up, deceased father, mother, Tom (now deceased), himself, younger
son William Jasper McPherson, and two sisters, one now married to Joseph
Provence. Stated the farm was owned free and clear, but the father left
no money for support. Both Jesse and Tom went into the army leaving young
William and farm hands (hires) to run the farm. Dated July 25, 1887. Jesse
was 42 years old.
(5) Notice of Death by commanding officer.
Letter 1.
"Camp Meadow Bluff
May the 21 1864
Greenbrire Co
Dear mother, it is with grate plesure that
i seat myself to right (write) you a few lin[e]s to let you [k]now that
i am well at the present hoping when this few broken remarks come to hand
that they may find you injoying the same blessings of life[.] i have had
a hard trip since i left ravenswood[.] we left camp piatt on the last day
of April and have bin on the march ever since.
Thomas McPherson to Jane McPherson "
Letter 2.
camp piatt
april the 26 1864
knawha Co West Va
Dear mother it is with grate plesure that
i seat myself to right you a few lines to let you [k]now that i am well
at present[,] hoping that when these few lin[e]s come to hand that they
may find you well and injoying the same blessings of life[,] we had a hard
time in the bote (steamships) there was one of our boys got drounded (Moses
Parsons) a bought two miles above point pleasant. the bote was going
so fast that we did not git him[.] we landed safe at camp piatt on the
25 this morning we ar[e] now pitching tents[.] it is raining now[.] we
expect to see some hard times this summer[.] i think that the next move
will be up the river[.] the vally is a live (alive) with soldiers. we are
going to the rail road. we have just begun to soldier[.] i got off at ravenswood
but jesse was not there. i wo[ul]d a liked to saw him. very well. you must
do the best you can. it will be some time before i will git home agane.
we have the rane when we stop[.] i wo[ul]d like to see you all very well.
well as i can not think of mutch to right i will bring my letter to a close[,]
so no more at present but i still remain yore affectionate sun until death
Thomas McPherson
Jbes B Ball is well. me and him tents to gether.
direct yore letters to camp piatt in care of Capt James Williamson to fol[l]ow
the redgiment. i have not got but one letter and i co[u]ld not reed it.
get john ball to right the letters. mandy cant right well a nough"
* Mandy must be his sister
Letter 5 (The notice of Death Letter)
Camp Piatt West Va
July 3rd, 1864
Mrs Jane McPherson
Madam,
I am under the painful necessity of informing
you that your son is one among the killed at Lynchburg Va June 18, 1864
about 3 o clock PM. We were ordered to advance on the enemy works, which
we did within two hundred yards of the entrenchments. We halted. Soon afterward
Thomas was struck with a musket ball above the left eye, and fell senseless
to the ground. We was ordered sometimes afterwards to fall back, which
was done, and our dead and wounded was left on the field.
Thus a good soldier ready and willing to obey
all orders is gone from among us. We sympathise with you, and mourn his
loss. But such is the fortunes of war. The papers in his case will be made
out promptly. There will be no difficulty in regard to his back pay.
Yours very respectfully,
Sgt David Somerville
for James W. Williamson
Capt Co K 11th West Virginia Infantry"
And so a good Jackson Countian lay on the fields of Lynchburg, giving his Country the ultimate price for freedom. I am not related to the above, but my heart had been touched by this soldier, son, West Virginian. I hope this small effort on my part will be remembered by all who read it, and let the memory of this young man go on.
John C. Dawson
Private Thomas McPherson Company K, 11th West Virginia Infantry Volunteers, buried in Lynchburg June 18, 1864 "May you rest in Peace"