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**SCTiger** · 08-11-2007, 06:06 PM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

Uncle Alex

As Johnie has wrote you all the perticulars and I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know that I can not forget my dearest Uncle soon. I have nothing of importance to write. Very little sickness in the neighborhood. Miss Jane Sloan (34) is very bad with pnuemonia that is Capt Faris's (35) Aunt. I suppose you have not heard the sad account that occurd in York Vill (36) yesterday. Mrs. Ann Gallbraith (37) hung her self I know not from what caus. I have not heard the particulars. Uncle I will hasten as it is verry cold and my finger are getting numb. I know you will laugh over this scribbling also the composition but I will try and do better the next time I write. I am with Aunt Martha to night. I assisted her in packing you and Uncle Sam a box of provision. I trust you will never like for any thing while you stay in reach of your friends. I have just read a letter that Johnnie received from you to day and I was glad to heare that you were well & stand camp life well. Tell Uncle Sam that Ros (38) is at Grand Father's this week-and she is quite well, I think she looks better than she did before Uncle Sam left. As for Aunt Martha she looks younger than I do. She says to tel you before I close that she will send some potatoes in Mrs. Barnett's (39) bag as she is going to send a bag of vegetables. I must come to a close as it is getting late but before closing I must tell you those guards at the bridge caught a Yankee last friday night. He said that he was a prisoner from Richman, he is now in the York jail. I must really close as I do not whither I am holding my pen my fingers are so cold. I would like to receive a letter from you and Uncle Sam soon. May God be with and bless you is the prayers of your sincere niece.

Mattie A. Hammond (40)

Columbia, SC Dec. 7th, 1861

Mrs. M. A. Fewell

Dear Wife

I am in Columbia to day looking up a uniform for our Company but cannot succeed in getting one. I can get the cloth but cannot find trimmings. Capt Meacham and Lieut. Avery (41) are with me. I Rec'd the box of provisions sent by Mr. Armstrong. I can't say I was hungry but as soon as it was open I commenced eating and eat too much and was not so well yesterday from the effect but am quite well to day and have finished my dinner with Capt. & Lieut. Our men are well. Say to Sam that we expect to organize into a regiment before next Wednesday.

Cousin John wishes to know if I want him next year. Tell him I want him to remain as it is uncertain when we will get off. Say to hom to kill some hogs as soon as he thinks best and not wait for my coming home as I may not get to come at the time I should like to come. I had a letter written to send to you by brother Saml and thought he had it until late in the day after he left. Say to Martha Hammond I am verry glad she wrote me a few lines in John W's letter. I have many friends at home. I should like to write to all but when the opportunity offers I always write to you or J. W. Our camp is pleasantly situated and as yet not offensive Tell Mary [that] Dan is well and like myself kept busy attending to the wants of his company. We got plenty to eat I. E. (that is) bread & meet and I this morning made a requisition for coffee, sugar, vinegar, bacon & c. You need not send us any coffee unless I write again. We have enough to do us next week. Butter we are glad to get. Don't send any unless some one is coming down as the opportunity for getting any thing from here to camp is uncertain. We have some arrangements by Monday. I will write Pa to day if I have time. If not let him and Mother know that I am well and doing as I do at home always trying to keep busy at something. Tell all howdy. I shall come as soon as I think I can leave camp and do justice to others. Write as often as you can.

Yours till death
A.F. Fewell

Columbia S. C.

Mrs. M. A. Fewell

Dear Martha

I have not time to write but a short note. I got safe to camp last night and came to Columbia this morning to get molasses & bagging which I send home to day. You will will have to pay the freight from here home when you get them. Our orders are to leave camp in the morning. There are some uncertainty about it. I am anxious to hear from home. Write to this place to morrow and if I should leave here I will inform you as soon as I can where to direct your letters to. You may sign your right of Dower to Jos Douglass (42) if he wants it as I have got the arrangement made that I was speaking about.

Saml Barron (43) came down with us in spite of all the arrangements I could use to keep him from it. He was musterd into service last evening. I hope this will find you all well I was tired last night and slept verry well.

Your affectionately

A. F. Fewell

Notes:

34 The 69 year old aunt of Capt William Farries of Ebenezer, S.C. She died several days later.

35 William Farris was a farmer living in Ebenezer and a former captian in the state militia. Farris later served as a private in the 6th S.C. Reserves.

36 The County seat of York County, S. C.

37 The Yorkville Enquirer, a newspaper in York, S.C., reported that Ann Galbraith was 69 yers old when she died on Dec. 2, 1861, no mention is made of suicide.

38 Rosaline E. Fewell (formerly a Barnett) was the 20 year old wife of Samuel
McDuffie Fewell a.k.a. Uncle Sam

39 Lucinda B. barnett was the wife of Dr. David F. Barnett a private in Company E.

40 Alex's 23 year old niece Martha Amelia or “Mattie” Hammond; she was the daughter of Alex's sister Eliza who died in 1840.

41. Dr. Edward Tilman Avery enlisted as brevet 2nd Lieutenant of Company E on Nov. 26, 1861 and served until April 28, 1862 due to his having only one hand , he was exempted from further military service.

42. Joseph Douglass was a farmer living in York County, S.C. And a close friend of the Fewells.

43. Samuel Watson Barron became a Corporal in Company E. he was wounded at 2nd Manassas and later died at his home in Ebenezer, S. C. on December 23, 1862.

**SCTiger** · 08-13-2007, 07:47 PM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

Skipping ahead to page 97, and the Petersburg Campaign:

[Petersburg]

[Oct. 10, 1864?]

Dear Martha

A few hasty lines more to you and I will close-- I am sorry to hear that your health is no better but hope for the best. You must ride and not walk to Pa's and your Mother's and go every day. Somewhere until your health is better for I know how you feel when alone in your present state of health, and if you could get some person to stay with you when you are sick it would be better to do so although I know we have many kind friends who will do all they can for you- I have not seen Dan in some time but hear from him every day. He is well but never comes into the ditches, his business calling him to other places. I rec'd a letter from Sam yesterday saying that the Boys Govinor & Bob (356) were on their way home and well—we had a frost here Sunday night but the sun is verry warm to day. I sleep verry comfortable in our bomb proof only a little hard. You used to scold me for lying on the lounge without a pillow but that would be a pleasant place now indeed., but when will I enjoy that pleasure again perhaps sooner than we think for I do hope this war will close soon for we must all hope and pray. I want to see the children all and do in imagination. See them and you often both day and night. Give my love to all our friends.

Yours as ever

A. F. Fewell

write when you are able

Entrenchments near Petersburg
Tuesday, Oct. 11th, 1864

J. W. Fewell

Dear Son

I rec'd a letter from Thos. May and your mother on Sunday evening written on the 3rd Int. Also one from your grand pa which I shall not answer for a few days as I know he can see all the letters I wrote home. I was looking anxiously for a letter when these come to hand not having heard in several days from any of you. Your grand pa says he would have the red field corn gathered last week if dry but I suppose you did not do so as it was wet but suppose you are now done it and have hogs in the pasture. He also said you had gathered a good many peas- you can now save your corn as much as much as possible. I hope old Mr. Sturgis (357) is better yet I know from his age that he can't be expected to live long—If you have any idea when you will be called out you must try and let me know also where they will send you and into what kind of service as I see no Carolina papers and don't know for what purpose they are going to call you out and if in companies or do they mix you up with old troops. Try and find out if you don't already know—I am quite well and doing as well as one could wish under the circumstances being in the mud or dust all the time and not being able to keep clean. Wallowing about like hogs for when not standing we [are] on the dirt. It is yellow sand—I was on pickett Sunday night and slept none but yesterday I slept a little. Last night I had to work for about an hour and then got to sleep to four Oclock this morning, my bed being a hard one. I think my hunch bones will soon become so hard that I can sleep verry well but as yet I turn verry often, but then I have a dry place to sleep which is a great comfort here. Many of the men have to lie down in the mud or water on the banquet.
That is the place we stand on to shoot over the breast works in case the Yanks attack us. We have verry little Sharp Shooting now yet if you were here you would be dodging every few minutes. The balls whizzing make a kind of singing noise, you would think they were right at you and perhaps they are ten steps from you. The shells are the worst to scare, but the least dangerous as you have plenty of time to get out of the way, yet every one runs to a safe place if there is any near as soon as he hears them.

I can give you no directions about the farm or the stock. You must be governed by circumstances. Your grand pa or Uncle William can always tell you what is best to do and if you have to leave home you must fix up the best you can. I must go on post as Vidette. Will finish again. When I have time.

(A. F. Fewell continues in the same letter but addressing his father)

Dear Father. Yours was received a few days ago saying you would send the boy Wash by Thos. May. I am verry thankful for your kindness to me indeed and hope that he may keep well and that I may be able to return him to you soon again, I am in hopes that this Campaign will close the war for I don't see what we are made to suffer so much for. True the people at home have not felt the war as yet only in their pockets. Some of them even think hard of that and talk as though that was the principal thing embraced in the war, but let any of them come here & try it and they will soon become to care as little for money as the soldier in the ditches who as soon as they get their money buy anything they want as long as their money lasts, not caring for price. I see men here perhaps that have but five dollars in the world pay $2 dollars a doz.for apples or one dollar for a quart of green tough beans. No shoes on & ragged yet full of life. Froze up last night and as soon as the sun shines and they get warm & forget they were ever cold or hungry in their lives.

I have no news to write. You get all the news form the papers sooner than I can give it. You have no notion how much work it has taken to place us in the situation we are in now in. If you could spend two or three days here in peace you would never regret the time so spent. I cannot give you but a notion of things here unless you could see for yourself, ditches and holes all along the lines. In fact every thing that a man can do to protect him from shell & shot---

I have had to stop writing several times in writing these lines to perform some little duty required of me. It is now 12 Oclock and the Lt. has just bot a qt. Of Irish potatoes and they are to cook for our dinner. I don't feel hungry and shall not cook them yet awhile. One thing makes all we eat sweet, is that we always wait until we get hungry enough to make anything taste good. They are shooting the parrot shell (358) at our batteries on the right about 200 yds from us for the last 15 minutes at the rate of one shell per minute. I f you were here now for the first time it would excite you but, I have become so used to it that it has no moore affect on me when at that distance then if it were boys playing with pop guns.

They are expecting fighting every day on our right and left but unless we are moved from here I don't think there will be any for us to do for hardly think the Yankees will attack us in the Center. Our ditch is just one man every—there I had like to forget this may fall into Yankee hands and they might find our strength here, So you must know we are thick enough not to fear them if they attack us in the ditches. My love to all.

Yours affectionately,

A. F. Fewell

356 These were possibly two slaves that Alex had loaned to Samuel M. Fewell. According to slave records kept by the Fewells, they owned a slave named Bob, born on October 8th, 1846. However, there is no record of a slave named Govinor.

357 George Sturgis wa an 84 year old planter and a close neighbor of the Fewells. He was in bad health at this time and died a few months later on April 4, 1865.

358 These were shells from the Parrot rifled cannon named after the inventor Robert D. Parrot.

**Clsinclair** · 08-14-2007, 07:33 AM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

I notice that they used the term, "Irish Potatoes" a good bit. My granny and my great grandmother always called all potatoes "Irish" even though they may have been grown in Idaho.

Greg, I am enjoying the letters. Mark Trimmier has about 100 letters written by a relative of his that was in the WBTS. He has some framed and displayed in his house.

Regards,
Claude Sinclair

**SCTiger** · 08-14-2007, 09:07 PM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

Thanks for the support Claude, hopefully we can get this valuable book republished. A search friendly CD version would also be great. You will like the line by Alex on eating fried chicken and pies in the trenches, also the fact that he can calmly write letters while being shelled by Yankee artillery.

Page 99

[Petersburg, Oct 13, 1864]

[Last portion of a letter written to Martha Fewell]

Some of the men went over and bought 3 or 4 lb and sold us 1/2lb for $.3.00. Now wont we have a treat. We will have soup for dinner as that saves both bread and meat which we can sell and buy such little things as we want, yet I spend money. I have spent for oil cloth canteen [359] and tin cup tent & coffee about sixty dollars of my money since I came here. I have to buy a paper every two or three days for that is the only way we can get any news from the world out of the trenches, I hope you are all getting along finely at home. Encourage the negroes to do the best they can and let the boys J. W. and Sam attend to the feeding of the stalk. Also Dick must learn to feed the calves and sheep. I want Sam and Fanny to write to me and Dick must learn to write so that when John W. has to leave home they can write to me often. And Martha you must write a few in their letters if you are well enough. You must not dispond, but keep cheerful and I hope this may be the last year of the war. I need not say how I wish to be with you for that you know it is impossible therefore we must not fret. I do hope that your health may be better. Oh! How I long to hear of your being well again and able to attend to your duties for I know you are not now able to see to anything but take all as easy as possible and hope for better times soon.

I recd' a letter from Sam and William a few days ago I believe before I wrote last.

I have been Videtting that is standing behind our breast works and watching the yanks for one hour. I have this to [do] once a day. I can see them all about their lines but we just look up and then take our heads out of the way again for they will shoot at us if they see us for a minute—they are just now commenced shooting again so our men will keep low. There is no danger scarcely unless one exposes himself and you be may be sure I am careful—I tried to write on this paper with pen & ink but could not—I have good paper at Dans quarters but none here. Mr. Wallace (360) is here. He told me he saw Pa as he came out and that all were well, I may write to him if I have time . Tell Brother William I shall answer his letter as soon as I can but he must not wait for an answer. You don't know how bad I want to see you & the Children and all the rest at home. My thoughts are all there only when asleep, reading or on duty. I read all I can in order to store my mind we such things as we aught to think most about for death is certain to all and how soon we know not. So either in camp in battle or in bed let us strive to be prepared. We have a good & moral company and many good tracts to read, I wish I could send you one I just read. My love I hope you may be able to read this long letter.

Yours

A. F. Fewell

Page 100

Entrenchments

Sunday Oct 16th, 1864

Dear Martha

Yours by Thos. (361) I rec'd yesterday evening and I have come out to where Dan is to day and must return this evening by 4 Oclock. Your fried chicken and pies came all right and although I thought I was getting plenty to eat I had like to eat too much last night for it was so much better than any we get here. I have not looked at my box yet and don't know what you have sent me only from your letter as I have barely time to write before the mail leaves this place. I feel verry much like I was at home eating the good things from there.

Thos. tells me you are all getting along as well as you can. I am very sorry that you lost one of your hogs but if they don't take any more they won't hurt us bad, but then you may lose half. Yet you must not fret if they only leave us enough to live on we can't expect more now.* Pa wrote about selling some of them shoats, you and him can do as you think best. If the corn is short and they get in good order on peas and you and he think best to sell to do so but, the money only as far as you can spend. It is of verry little account.

I have not seen Wash yet. He went to see David Barnett just before I came out but will be back in a few minutes. He is anxious to see me and would have went to the trenches yesterday if they would have let him. I hope he may be of some service to me but not not much while I am in the trenches. If I could only have had him there on yesterday he would have saved me from the hardest job I have had since I came here. I was one of six detailed to carry in timber to make a bomb proof for the company. We had it to carry about one mile along a narrow & verry crooked ditch. The timber was 20 feet long and the logs about 14 in across. I carried one and tried and did help some at the second but my shoulder had become so sore that I could carry but verry little and it so sore this morning that I can scarcely bear the weight of my cartridge box on it. This may not happen again in six months that I have such a hard piece of work. We rested about every hundred yards but it makes me sore all over, but then with good health there is nothing hardly a man can't stand. I eat verry hearty and am as fleshy as usual only badly sun burnt. I have had no chance to get an oil cloth for John William but shall get one the first chance I have of a good one. This is looking verry well and will I think do as well as any One in a few days. He thinks he will be careful and if he is not every one even a Stranger if they see a man exposing himself cautions him about keeping his head down, I did not receive the letter sent by Rev Dixson (362) until Friday evening.

There is stirring times here. They have ordered all detialed men into the ditches. Some of them are not pleased with it but even some of the sick that looks as though they should be in bed are sent to the ditches and if Grant attacks us now he will have a hard road to travel over our breast works. But from deserters that come in they say they wont charge our works but then if they are ordered to come they have to make the trial—I must soon come to a close of my letter as the mail boy will be here in a few minutes. There is no news here and I write again in a day or two. I must write to Brother Sam for I fear he will have to go into Service as they are taking out all detailed men, yet I hope he may manage so as to stay where he is. I do hope to hear of you being better soon. As to my coming home dear that is out of the question now. It is useless to ask if I am able to do duty and I think it my duty to remain for if there is ever any chance, for us now is the time to do all we can—They throw a few shells at us almost everyday, they sent two in the vicinity of our quarters yesterday.

I have made arrangements about Thos. yet messing in the company but shall as`soon as I go back this evening. I am in hopes the Lt. Will take him into our mess. Cherry I know will have no objections. The only difficulty will be his sleeping, but we are always some of us up. Not an hour scarcely night or day but someone of us three are on duty.

I want to write to all at home but can't do so. Sam I rec'd your letter. You say you found your knife and that your pig is growing fast. You must not make it out grow mine. If you do I will think you are partial. I want you and fanny to write as often as once a week. Martha you must not think too much about saving`at home and get what you need by selling flour peas or anything you may have to spare. Give the negroes all the encouragement you can to attend their business.

Give my love to Father & Mother and your mother and all the rest of our relations. I can't write to all yet I think of them. My dear take care of your health and may God bless you and the Children in my daily prayer.

A. F. Fewell

* The hog didn't die of disease, "they" in this case mostly refers to the Confederate tax collectors who were taking forage and animals from farms, Alex talks about selling the surplus before it's confiscated as tribute. By selling off the farm products and converting them to cash, he can avoid the total loss of confiscation.

359 This is perhaps the canteen that Alex brought home from the war, see illustration. (Later on in the thread G. Deese)

360 This was possibly James A. Wallace who was sick frequently during the war.

361 Robert Thomas May (called Tom) arrived at Petersburg Va. On October 15, 1864, and two days later enlisted as a private in Company E. he was accompanied by the slave named Wash who would serve as Alex's bodyservant.

362 Rev. Henry Robertson Dickson was minister of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. After the`war he became a` teacher at the Yorkville Female Academy and a minister in York, S.C. In 1875 Dickson moved to New York to preach and died there in 1877.

**SCTiger** · 08-18-2007, 08:27 AM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

101

Petersburg

Wednesday Oct 20th, 1864

Martha

I have recv'd no word from home since Thos. Came but looking for a letter certain to day from some of you. I have but little to write as it [is] the same thing over & over here every day. Thos. & myself are both well. He wrote yesterday and I suppose give all the news as he is verry careful and I think will continue to be so. I had the good fortune to get him into the same mess with myself. I rec'd a letter from Brother Sam on Monday and from what he writes and the way they are carrying out the orders here I am verry fearful he will have to go into active service although he is not able to stand it. They are forcing every one into service here from the quartermaster & commissary departments. Also all detailed men no matter what they are detailed for. And I hear that the orders are that detailed men at home have been ordered to report. I hope this is not so for they have taken already to many men fro the farming interest of the Country.

We have no fighting since I wrote to you but, are expecting to hear of it everyday. We don't think the center of the line will be attacked yet no one knows and we are making preparations. Our company has moved about 100 yards to the left on monday and we lost our old quarters. The company are now in the hole made by the blowup and are sleeping on hundreds of negroes every night (363). The place is a bad one indeed. The smell at times is quite unpleasant. The Lt's say we will not go in unless positively ordered to do so. The men are verry thick there now a good many of them just roll up in their blankets and lie down on the banquet.

Wash came into the trenches yesterday evening to see me and I do think he was the worst scared person I ever saw. At first every bullet that would whiz over his head he [would] duke down and dodge and say “won't they hit me.” he had been verry anxious to come out previous to that but he was anxious to get out again. I don't what he would have done if they had commenced shelling us for they scare the most of us. I don't look for him in soon again.

You want to know how much Salt I owe Mary Ann. I don't owe her any but I want her [to] get as much as she needs weigh it, and charge it to the estate. She will want perhaps 150 0r 200 lbs perhaps moore. Dan was well yesterday evening and sent me in some my provissions. You don't know how good they were to me. I have eat but little meat since I got the molasses. Yours have been scorched a little. The ones Thos. Brot of your mothers are fine—John Williams mentions about sending butter. I know you forgot for I found none in the box but then the box was opened somewhere on the train and the butter may have been taken out. Thos. Could not tell. I am just eating an apple, oh how good they are and knowing where they came from, how thankful we aught to be for such kind friends. They are shelling us in the morning. There has been three fell in from twenty to 50 yds of me since I was writing the last ten lines. Lt & Thos. Are both in the bomb proof with me. I feel excited always when they are coming but hope to escape. Then fell another fell, it did not burst.. You can see the men running and dodging in every direction. None hurt nor is there much danger unless they are compelled to stand still for they can see them long enough to dodge them. It [is] the pieces that sometimes fall on them that they are dodging from. I will close for the present hoping to hear that you are well. Do write often as I am anxious to hear from you at home.
My love to all the Children and friends.

A. F. Fewell

363 In July 1864, Federal soldiers dug a tunnel from the Union line to a position under the Confederate line known as Elliot's salient. Here they stopped and stored 8,000 lbs of black powder and made plans to break through the Confederate defenses and take Petersburg. On July 30th, the charge was set off and the resulting explosion left a hole 170 ft. long, 60 ft. wide, and 30 ft. deep. Over 270 Confederates were killed or wounded from the explosion, including some from the 17th S.C. Infantry. However due to incompetent leadership (the generals in command were in a bombproof behind the Union lines) and failures to make the proper preparations for an advance, the Union troops stopped in the crater fromed by the explosion and did not press their advantage. The Confederates soon organized a fierce counterattack and some 4,500 Federals were killed, wounded, or captured; the Southerners had about 1,500 casualties. The “hundreds if negroes” that Alex F. Fewell refers to were Negro troops of the 4th Division that had been killed and buried in the crater.

**SCTiger** · 08-25-2007, 09:38 PM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

102

Entrenchments near Petersburg
Oct 27, 1864

DearMartha—I wrote to Brother William on yesterday and having a little spare time to day I devote it to you hoping that you feel better this morning. I am quite well and have just finished my breakfast of light Bread Coffee & molases. If I could only have plenty of molases here I could do finely now. We have very good bread and I am very fond of it.

Tom and Dan are both well. I have not seen Dan for some time as I can't get out to the wagon yard. Therefore I have not tried on his coat and can't say how it will fit, but as soon as I can go out I will try it on and let you know how it fits me. I may get out on Saturday. Wash is doing very well, he comes in every day or two with something for me—I rec'd a letter from Brother on day before yesterday. He don't know what they will do with him. I can feel for his situation of mind how harassing not knowing what day he may be ordered away but I hope that he may get to stay where he is for he cannot stand service, though that will make no difference now that they are ordering all into service. John William I have not got that oil cloth for you and fear I cannot as they are scarce and the winter coming on all that have them want to keep them but I shall keep on trying . I suppose you have put in your wheat by this time, have it well ploughed in and as soon as you get done the wheat you had better sew part of your oats. Have that ploughed in so as not to have the furrows running straight up and down hill and try to guard against making washes. And in the red field you will make them open that ditch from the mullberry tree so as to keep the water from running across the hill below it also the one above the spring as it filled up this summer and washed considerable across that piece of land. You must make them be careful of fire both about the house and in the fields. I am glad to hear that you were so fortunate as to have part of your shoes made before Mr. Brown closed his Shop. You must be saving of leather as possible for we won't have any for another year. There is 2/3 of a hide at Finleys (364) that if you have not got it, must be ready. It is a good sized hide of the Old Black Cow & will be upper leather. Let me hear from you are doing and how the negroes are doing. You must make them mind you and each one attend to their respective duties. I suppose you have moved the cow pen, don't manure that sand hill too strong for we want it for potatoes and then it soon sinks in the sand. When you manure all that we had sown in oats moove the pen into the stalk land. You must have your potatoes well put up [but] not too many in a hill and either cover with plank or board as to keep the water off the hills. Let them eat as many as they can now and if they are good and you have moore than you can save, then sell some if you can get a fair price for them or feed them to the hogs. Two bushel of potatoes are nearly equal to one of corn for fattening hogs. Sam is your calves and sheep in good order—you must salt and feed them as soon as the pastures are done. I must close now for the present and shall add some in the morning perhaps if I have time.

Yours

A. F. Fewell

364- James Finley operated a tannery in Ebenezer.

**Emmanuel Dabney** · 08-26-2007, 05:25 AM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

Mr Deas,

What would it take from us or someone else to get this book back in print at least on a small scale?

Thank you for sharing these letters.

**Charles Heath** · 08-26-2007, 03:24 PM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

I wrote to Brother William on yesterday and having a little spare time to day....

Em,

The first line of that last letter reminded me Bill Watson is in the print on demand publishing business, and could be a good mechanic for just this sort of get 'er back in print projects, as recently seen with Gould's camping book. We may have an underutilitized resource in our midst, and one with a nice preservation bent at that.

**SCTiger** · 08-26-2007, 03:42 PM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

Mr. McKintosh has retired from the SC State Archive and is currently revising and adding to the book, hopefully we will see an offering this year, I will keep you posted and I will pass on this information to him.

That whole part about doing specific things on the farms, moving the pens, covering the potato beds with boards, he really was an expert farmer. I am also amazed by the fact that the slave Wash, is dodging bullets along with the soldiers and risks his life to see Alex every other day. The fact that he is a private and bunks with the officers is also intriguing, it suggests to me that he had a lot of social stature outside his rank, because he was a private that owned an estate and slaves.

Learning a lot from these letters. I will type up the next one tonight.

**SCTiger** · 08-27-2007, 04:10 PM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

103

Entrenchments
Friday October 28—64

Dear Martha—as I said yesterday I write a few lines this morning though but little time. I have had my breakfast and the Sun is up. Tom and myself quite well only we want sleep. We mooved yesterday about one mile to the right of where we were and have a better situation and good bomb proof again. There was considerable fighting on our right yesterday but we can't hear from there and don't know the result. I hope favorable (365), the Yanks charged the lines last night in fifty yards of where we left yesterday and took about 100 yds of the line and held it for half an hour when they were drove out again. It seems that Wise's brigade (366) occupies the ground our brigade (367) held yesterday and that they are not considered good troops. About dark, 150 Yanks came across without difficulty and captured a few of their men. How many is not yet known. We had only one killed and the Yanks three., so one of [our] say who has been there this morning. Wise's men were surprised I don't think they could have served our Regmt. In this way. In fact I am certain they could not. There was considerable excitement all along the lines and we were in line of battle three times during the night and expecting an attack. Everything quiet this morning and I don't think they will attack us here. They, the Yanks have find out where we are and they won't charge us if they can help it for this Brigade has a good reputation here. It rained last night, everything wet & muddy this morning, but cleat & not very cold—I slept but little last night but feel bright as a new dollar this morning. I wish I knew how you were & how the children are this morning. How I should like to have the pleasure of doing what I have often done, wake up the Children and call on Martha to get up [saying] it was almost sun up, and I hope to enjoy that pleasure again and perhaps at no distant day for I do think this winter must wind up the War. Dan was well yesterday. I had expected to go out there tomorrow, but won't get out until they become more settled on Our right. The fighting yesterday appeared to be about three miles to our right and the report is that we drove them [out] yesterday. They were first successful until we were reinforced. The firing was tolerable heavy, but we can't say much about it being so far off.

I have wrote moore than I had expected and my gun is to clean up and inspection comes on in a short time, but I must write and then work the harder. I rec'd no word from you since Leon Massy (368) left but we are looking for Jack Garrison (369) to day when I hope I get letters. The mails are going to be verry uncertain now for awhile as they have taken all the P. O. employees and put them in the trenches. There is no Sharp Shooting in front of this place in daylight. I can see the Yanks walking about on level ground in our front. So is our men and none shooting. This looks strange to us to see a Yank and not shoot at him, but this is the rules on this part of the line from day to dark, then both parties commence firing. You don't know how I want to hear from you. Try and get some one to write every
day. Children howdy to all.

Good by, as ever yours.

A. F. Fewell

365: On October 27th, 1864, Grant attempted to capture the Southside Railroad outside of Petersburg by using Hancock's II Corps and Warren's V Corps on a concentrated attack. However; a gap formed between the two corps and Hampton's cavalry along with infantry support forced the Federals back at Hatcher's Run. Grant's attempt to encircle Petersburg were temporarily stopped.

366: Henry A. Wise was Brigadier General ; in charge of the 26th, 34th, 46th and 59th Virginia Infantries.

367: General William H. Wallace was in charge of a brigade (formerly Evan's) consisting of the 17th, 18th, 22nd, 23rd, and 26th South Carolina Infantries and the Holcombe Legion (ten infantry companies and four cavalry companies). The action described by Alex Fewell was only one of many skirmishes that took place during the winter months at Petersburg, however; no major battle occurred until February, 1865.

368: Leon Massey was 4th Corporal of Company F, 17th S.C. Infantry. He was later promoted to 5th Sergeant and received a bounty because he was under 18. Massey was killed on April 1, 1865 at the Battle of Five Forks, Va.

369: John Joshua Garison or “Jack”, the son of Peter Garison enlisted in Co. E on April 24, 1864. He was captured near Petersburg on March 25, 1865 and went to Point Lookout Prison in Maryland where he remained until released on June 22, 1865.

**Clsinclair** · 08-27-2007, 04:49 PM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

"But from deserters that come in they say they wont charge our works but then if they are ordered to come they have to make the trial"

I guess they were exchanging deserters. Things must have been really bad on the Federal side for them to desert to the Confederate lines. Then I am sure the Federals had their share of Confederate deserters. Proves that war was not good for either side with some thinking that things were better on the other side. Lt. Hiram Hancock (my ancestor) of the 17th Regt. Company I never made it to Petersburg. He died of Consumption January 3, 1863.

Claude Sinclair

**SCTiger** · 09-04-2007, 08:32 PM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

Disaster! My hotel house keeper threw out the last pages of the book that I copied, so no more letters for now. Alex survives the war, so don't worry about that.

I spoke to Mr. Mackintosh about the reprint of the book this week and he states that he is currently revising it and adding more pre and post war material. He was also pleased that many of the members of this forum wanted to purchase the book, the original publication was limited to 500 books and he printed them mainly for family and friends. I am currently trying to find a inter-library loan in the meantime, so that I can finish the last 10 letters up to February, 1865. When the book is available or for sale, they fetch a hefty price. If anyone has a copy.....

I feel like this book and the 270 plus letters would greatly expand our knowledge of the war and South Carolina Confederate soldiers. The Petersburg Campaign letters alone are worth the reprint. I know that many of you would benefit from the reprint. Just think, there are many books and letters like this that have not been published that would greatly aid this hobby and our understanding.

**SCTiger** · 10-03-2007, 06:51 PM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

Here are some pictures courtesy of the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum:

***Canebrake Rifle Guards*** · 10-03-2007, 07:39 PM

Re: “Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

I'll buy a copy, let us know when its reprinted.

Greg Starbuck

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“Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

“Dear Martha ..."Alexander Faulkner Fewell letters

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