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To Whom It May Concern:
With Gettysburg approaching rapidly I could not help but post this description I recently found on a research trip to the University of North Carolina's Southern Historical Collection (this reference comes from the Joyner Family Papers). I am sure most everyone on the list has seen the famous image of the "three Confederate prisoners" at Gettysburg and hopefully read Jim Schruefer's excellent analysis of the picture at "Blue and Gray Marching." This quote adds an interesting dimension to the discussion certainly.
Algernon S. Joyner served in the 15th NC and was transfered to Company K of the 32nd NC on 4 July 1862. He served with the 32nd at Gettysburg and was severely wounded in the head near Snicker's Gap, VA on 18 July 1864; he died shortly after receiving this wound. Algernon maintained a steady correspondence with his parents often asking for particular clothing items. On 30 July 1863, near Madison Court House, VA, he had this to say:
"You wrote to me about clothes I will give you a list of what I have on hand and you can see whether I need any or not. I have the pants you sent me by Jasper cut off half way between the knee + ankle to keep them out of the mud a hole in the right knee as large as my hand + all the buttons off except three one blue flannel shirt taken at Gettysburg 1 pr socks taken at the same place. I have neither coat nor jacket, as for shoes I have the remains of a pr of [strike] cloth ones drawn at Kinston which I have marched at least five hundred miles in so that now there is scarcely any top or bottom to them. I had clothes enough when we started from Fredericksburg but I threw away my knapsack before we went into Md. I suppose we will draw some clothing shortly as our quartermaster has gone after some for us now. Do not trouble yourself to get any for me at least until you hear from me again . . . I could write almost a book of our trip in Yankeedom if time and space would permit but this is my last sheet of paper + I shall have to cut my story short . . . The citizens were frightened almost to death and would give us bread butter + milk in abundance whenever asked it . . . Since the fight at Gettysburg we have had an awful time – we have been marching as I said before nearly all the time hardly having time to cook our rations and sometimes failing to get any."
While this was written nearly a month after the battle, a time spent mostly marching, it offers some invaluable information and is quite specific in its content. Rarely do I encounter anything quite like this letter referencing a soldier's appearance after a big fight. I hope it is interesting and/or useful to some of the list members. Thank you for your time and attention.
Cheers, Jim Broomall
With Gettysburg approaching rapidly I could not help but post this description I recently found on a research trip to the University of North Carolina's Southern Historical Collection (this reference comes from the Joyner Family Papers). I am sure most everyone on the list has seen the famous image of the "three Confederate prisoners" at Gettysburg and hopefully read Jim Schruefer's excellent analysis of the picture at "Blue and Gray Marching." This quote adds an interesting dimension to the discussion certainly.
Algernon S. Joyner served in the 15th NC and was transfered to Company K of the 32nd NC on 4 July 1862. He served with the 32nd at Gettysburg and was severely wounded in the head near Snicker's Gap, VA on 18 July 1864; he died shortly after receiving this wound. Algernon maintained a steady correspondence with his parents often asking for particular clothing items. On 30 July 1863, near Madison Court House, VA, he had this to say:
"You wrote to me about clothes I will give you a list of what I have on hand and you can see whether I need any or not. I have the pants you sent me by Jasper cut off half way between the knee + ankle to keep them out of the mud a hole in the right knee as large as my hand + all the buttons off except three one blue flannel shirt taken at Gettysburg 1 pr socks taken at the same place. I have neither coat nor jacket, as for shoes I have the remains of a pr of [strike] cloth ones drawn at Kinston which I have marched at least five hundred miles in so that now there is scarcely any top or bottom to them. I had clothes enough when we started from Fredericksburg but I threw away my knapsack before we went into Md. I suppose we will draw some clothing shortly as our quartermaster has gone after some for us now. Do not trouble yourself to get any for me at least until you hear from me again . . . I could write almost a book of our trip in Yankeedom if time and space would permit but this is my last sheet of paper + I shall have to cut my story short . . . The citizens were frightened almost to death and would give us bread butter + milk in abundance whenever asked it . . . Since the fight at Gettysburg we have had an awful time – we have been marching as I said before nearly all the time hardly having time to cook our rations and sometimes failing to get any."
While this was written nearly a month after the battle, a time spent mostly marching, it offers some invaluable information and is quite specific in its content. Rarely do I encounter anything quite like this letter referencing a soldier's appearance after a big fight. I hope it is interesting and/or useful to some of the list members. Thank you for your time and attention.
Cheers, Jim Broomall
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