Lots 'o letters...

[jasonw]

Found this while looking for some other stuff. Not sure if its been posted before but here it goes:

http://spec.lib.vt.edu/civwar/

http://www.vmi.edu/Archives/Manuscripts/Civil_War_Manuscripts/

[jasonw]

Re: Lots 'o letters...

While looking for some info on family that served in the 52nd VA I found this in VMI's archives.

Biographical Note Henry H. Dedrick, was born in Rockingham Co., Virginia,
1836 May 17, and was a farmer in that county until the beginning of the war.
He enlisted in the 52nd Virginia Infantry at Waynesboro, Virginia, July 15,
1861. The following is a summary of his service record: Present 11/1861-
4/1862; reenlisted 5/1/1862; wounded in action at Cross Keys, 6/8/1862
and Gaines Mill, 6/27/1862; AWOL 7/18/1862-4/19/1863; fined all pay
7/18/1862-8/1/1863; present 7/3-27/1863; AWOL 7/27-10/1863; deserted
to the enemy at Clarksburg, WVA on 10/24/1863, took oath and was sent
north; physicial description- 5' 8", dark complexion, blue eyes, dark hair.
After the war, Dedrick returned to Virginia and was a farmer in Augusta
County until his death there on November 10, 1921. He is buried in Sherando
Methodist Church Cemetery.
Date: 1861 Sept 29-30 Place: Highland County, Virginia
Dear Wife-
It is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well at
present and I am getting as fat! as a pig. I have had my health better since I
have been here than I have had since I have been in camp and I hope when
these few lines comes to hand they may find you and Willa in the same state
of health and all the rest of you.
I received your most affectionate letter on the 27 of Sep. And Dear Lissa you
don't know how glad I was to hear from you all and that you all was well. We
have had a big rain here, it fell on the 27. I tell you that we had a terrible
time of it, the water was very high. We had to move in a hurry, we had to
wade through water over knee deep and we had to carry all of our things out
about one hundred and fifty yards out on a hill and when we got all of the
things carried out it was dark and then we had our tents to put up after dark.
I tell you we had a wet time of it.
Dear Lissa you wanted to know what we had to eat. We have plenty of good
beef and some bacon and flour, sugar and coffee and rice. We have plenty to
eat we get some butter at times as we can get it, and as to the sleeping part
some times we have a very good place to sleep and some times we haft to
sleep on the ground wet or dry.
September the 30th. Dear Wife-- while I have a little more time I will write a
few more lines to you to let you know that we haft to march to the top of
Alleghany Mountain. We will go to [Heyners] tonight. I make so many
mistakes you must excuse me for I am so much bothered I can't write. Dear
Lissa I thought I would not send this I made so many mistakes in it, and
then I thought that I send it any how, I will save writing by it. I thought I
would wait a few days after I write this before I would write any more
Date: 1861 October 4 Place: Pocahontas Co. [West] Va
Dear wife-
It is with pleasure that I take this morning to inform you than I am well at
present and I thank god that he has spared me to write to you once more to
let you know how I am and how I am getting along. I have been getting
along very well so far and I hope when these few lines comes to hand they
may find you and your sweet little boy enjoying the same blessing of health,
and I hope that all of my friends is well, also [Anna].
Bridge is not well, he has not been well for two weeks, and Ephriam Sillings
has not been well for about three weeks. They both had the yellow jaundice.
William Offlighter has had the [ ] but he is well at this time. Me and him is on
guard today. A.R. Sillings his throat is right sore this morning, he didn't eat
any breakfast; Hiram Coyner is well and hearty, and all the rest of the back
creek boys is well; Billy Grass is well, he is put in as a blacksmith and when
we move he drives a sick wagon.
We left Strait creek last Monday. I received your most affectionate letter on
the 27 of September and you don't know how glad I was to hear from you all
and that you all was well. We are at this time on the top of alleghany
mountain, we got here on the 2nd of this month. The next morning when I
got up it was raining and it rained all that day. The next morning it was very
foggy we was late in the morning. About half past eight I was washing the
dishes and I heard the cannons one after another pop pop pop, and in that
time I had to drop every thing and run and get my gun and we all fell in a
line of battle ready to march to Greenbrier river. But we didn't get any word
until after twelve o'clock and we marched four miles down the mountain and
then we got word to stay there until we heard the report of the cannon and if
we didn't hear no report by five o'clock we was to turn back. And we didn't
hear any and we turned back and I tell you the boys all was keen to go.
They had a right hard battle at the river. I think they fought about four hours
and a half, they say that we lost four and twenty one wounded. I don't know
how many the yankees lost, they say that they hauled eighteen loads away
after the battle and they had four wagons hauling all the time they was
fighting. Mr Slow from Waynesboro was down on the battle field this morning
and he says that they had hot times down their for certain. He says that the
cannon balls tore up the ground all about there. The yankees is now on the
top of Cheat Mountain and I heard that General Lee had whipped them at
Huttonsville the same day. If he whipped them as bad there as they was
here I think they had better quit and go home and stay there, but we look for
another battle at Greenbrier river every day. We think that General Lee will
drive them on us, they haft to whip us at Greenbrier or they will haft to whip
old Lee and go the other way. I have saw the yankee tents on the top of
Cheat Mountain.
That is all that I can say for this time. Dear Wife I have no money to send to
you and I don't know when I will get any and if you want any you must try to
sell some rye if you can spare it, and if you can't spare it you must try and
sell one of the calves and get what you can. You must try and do the best
you can while I am absent from you, but I hope and trust that I will return
again safe and sound. And if I should not return no more I hope that we will
meet in heaven and there to meet to part no more for ever and ever. I want
you all to pray for me that I may get there and I will do all I can to meet you
all there. I thank god that he has made it so plain that I can just see how I
am placed. Dear Lissa I want you to write to me as soon as you can and I
want you to let me know how you are getting a long and how all of my
friends are getting along. Well my Dear wife I could write more but I don't
think it necessary and so nothing more but remain your affectionate husband
until death. So fare you well to you all for this time. I have one more word to
say I want you to kiss my sweet little boy for me
Henry H. Dedrick To his Dear Wife
Hiram Coyner told me to give you all his best respects, he is well and hearty.
He told me to tell you all that he had his health better than he had for years.
Tell Aunt Rebecca that he wanted her to write him a letter and send it to him
Direct your letter the same way you did before
Date: 1861 Oct 20 Place: not given Includes letter on reverse from
Hiram Coyner to his brother and sister
Dear Wife-
I have [received] your most affectionate letter. I will send you a few more
lines to let you know that I got it. I had wrote a letter and sealed it up and I
tore it open again. Dear wife I was glad to hear from you. You don't know
how much good it done me when I got it. I received it with ….
[Continue with personal news; most words illegible]
Letter of Hiram Coyner
October the 20 1861
Dear brother and sister-
I have an opportunity to send you a few lines to let you know that I am well
at present, and I hope these few lines may find you all enjoying the same
state of health. As I have an opportunity to send you a few lines in with H. H.
Dedrick letter I thought I would do so, as I have sent two or three to my wife
and I have got no answer yet I thought I would try it in his and see what is
the matter. Give my love to aunt Rebecca and Amanda and all of my
inquiring friends. We have good preaching here and prayer meeting regular.
As it is getting dark I have to close my few lines and so nothing more at
present but remember your affectionate brother until death
Hiram Coyner to brother and sister. I want you to write to me
Lissa you will please hand this to John or Beck & oblige Hiram Coyner
Dedrick to his wife Date: 1861 October 4 Place: Pocahontas Co.
[West] Va
Dear Wife-
I have an opportunity this morning to send you a few lines by Walter Lewis
to let you know that I am well at this time and I hope when these few lines
comes to hand they may find you all are well and doing well. Bill O. is well he
is agetting breakfast. The rest of the creek boys is all well with the exception
of Rice and [Bridge]. They aint very well at this time. We have had some
hard times here. We have had some snow here, it is a snowing here now. We
have rain or snow every two or three days and it is most impossible to get
provisions here for all the soldiers.
We have moved in our cabin and we have very good times now. We can do
almost as well here as we can at home. All of the soldiers have left
Greenbrier River. They come up here yesterday. Some of them will stay here
with us and some of them will go to Staunton. I am on guard. I have stood
one tour and I tell you it is cold.
I wrote this above before daylight this morning. I heard while I was on my
post that our regiment and four other regiments was to stay on Alleghany
this winter. I saw Jeremy Falls last night. He was well. Give my love to all my
friends. Lissa we drawed our money yesterday and I will send you fifteen
dollars in this letter. I will send you five more in this which will make twenty
dollars in this letter and I will send you seven dollars by Lewis, that will make
twenty seven dollars. I want you to take care of it for me. If you need any
you must take as much of it as you want. I drawed $63.85. I paid $6.50 for
my coat and $6.00 for a pair of boots that I got from Smith, and I paid Lewis
$20.00 and [illegible] 35 cents. I wrote you a letter some time ago and I
have not got any answer from it yet. I want you to write soon and let me
know how you are agetting along. If you have anything to send me if you
have a chance you may send it and if you don't have any chance it don't
make any difference. I have more to write but I have not got time to write.
Write soon. So nothing more but remain your affectionate husband until
death. So fare you well my Dear. H. H. Dedrick to his Dear wife. Lissa, I don't
want you to lend out one cent of it to nobody on occasion at all.
Mary E. A. Dedrick to Henry
Nov. [?] 1861
Dear Henry- I packed up a good many things, preserves and one thing and
another and took them over to Grasses and he told me he would take them
and I went over there the next day after he started and he hadn't took them,
and this letter was in the satchel, the reason you didn't get it sooner. We are
well. It is agetting late and I must go to the office yet. May my kind saviour
protect you. Yours truly, M.E.A.D.
Date: 1861 Dec 9 Place: Alleghany Mountain, Camp Tip Top,
Pocahontas Co., [West] Virginia.
Dear Wife- It is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to inform you that I
am well at present. But I have had the mumps for better than a week. They
did not hurt me much. I kept myself close and I hope when these few lines
comes to hand that they may find you and the little boy enjoying good health
and all the rest of my friends.
Dear Lissa I received your most affectionate letter that you wrote on the fifth
and the sixth on the eighth and I was truly glad to hear from you and to hear
that you all was well and doing well. Dear wife you wrote to me that you
wanted to know if I had received the letter that you wrote to me the 22nd or
not. I received the letter that you wrote on the the 21, the next day after I
wrote that letter that Mr Lewis brought you, and I answered it the 1st or the
2nd of this month. I thought that I would wait a few days as I had sent one
by him and I had wrote one on the 5th to send it by Mr. L. Falls. He was
coming to Staunton to bring some horses in and then he was coming home
to see them all, but as other orders come he did not get to come and he
returned it to me today. I get to see him and David Kennedy nearly every
day, and James Trusler. They are all well at this time. James Trusler is
working with Grass in the blacksmith shop. All the rest of the creek boys is
well.
Dear Lissa I wrote to you to send me some pants the first chance you get
and the rest of them that I wrote for as I am nearly out of pants. There is a
great excitement here today. They don't seem to think that we [will] stay
here long. Some of them seems to think that we have to go to Winchester
and some thinks that we will go to Staunton, but I don't know how it will be
for there is so much news in camp. We expect a fight here of before long.
Captain Long came to our cabin a few minutes ago and told us to be in
readiness. You must excuse my bad writing as I am in a hurry and have no
time to spend and bad ink and paper.
Dear and Dearest wife, you wanted to know if I was trying to get religion or
not. I have been tryhing and I intend to try all that I can, but I tell you it is a
hard place here in camp. I will tell you more about it the next time. You will
please excuse me for this time, so nothing more but I will remain your
affectionate husband until death. God bless you. H. H. Dedrick to wife.
Dear Lizza I will write a few more lines to let you know how our scouts come
out that went down at Greenbrier River this morning. They come across of
some yankies and they killed two and took two prisoners and none of our
men hurt.
I saw David Kennedy a few minutes ago. He is well, he told me to give his
best respects to you all and that he was very sorry to hear that Uncle Sam
had lost his children. He told me to tell you that he had wrote Lizza a letter
but he had not sent it, and he was glad that I told him that she was dead and
would not send it. Hiram Coyer and Ben Wright has left here. They left
Thursday night and David Robertson and Frank Bush left last Wednesday
morning. They will fare badly I think.
Tell all of the folks how I am and give my love to all my inquiring friends. I
must bring my scribble to a close. May god bless you all. You will please
excuse my bad writing for I have bad ink and bad paper and it is dark. I have
some paper nothing more but remain your affectionate husband until death.
Fare you well. H. H. Dedrick to wife, write soon.
Date: 1862 Jan 9 & 12 Place: Alleghany Camp Tip Top
Dear Wife-
I take this opportunity this morning as I have time to inform you that I am
well at present and I hope when these few lines comes to hand that they
may find you and your sweet little boy enjoying good health and all of my
friends the same.
We have a great deal of sickness here at this time. James Lewis is very low
with the erysipelas. He had the sore throat in the first place, he is very low.
His face and head is swollen up, that his eyes was nearly shut and his face is
a s black on one side as it can be, but he is a little better this morning, but I
hardly think he will get over it. William Offlighter is not very well at this time.
All the rest of the creek boys is well.
Hiram Coyner & Wright is out of the guard house. They only was in the guard
house 12 days. They did not punish them any but kept them in the guard
house at night and made them work in the day under a guard. Little Tommy
Offlighter sends his love to you all. He has been well. We have bad weather
here, we had some snow this week and it is raining here this morning and it
is very foggy too, but it is not as cold here as I thought it would be out here
in the mountain.
Jan 12. Dear Lizza I will send you a few more lines. I wrote some of this a
few days ago and I have been at work on a regular detail. We have to walk
five miles morning and evening. We are making clapboards. I don't have to
stand picket or do any other duty as long as I am on a regular detail.
It is very warm this morning. We are all well this morning. Mr. Lewis is
better. Mr. Grass has been very sick, he has been sick two or three weeks
but he is on the mend. Dear Lizza I received the [word omitted by
author]you sent by Dr. Drummons yesterday and all the rest of the things
which was ten apples and twenty cakes and the sausage and the hickory nuts
that you put in my pants pocket. Tell mother and Amanda and Carry that I
am much obliged to them for their kindness and I got the bottle of whiskey.
James McDaniel give it to me but did not tell me who sent it to me, but I
think you sent it to me. I was very glad to get them and also I am much
obliged to you for them. I have not seen Dr. yet. I had no chance. Mr.
McDaniel [said] to me last night if I wanted to send you a letter that I had
better write last night, but I didn't have no candle. I send my pants back. I
will tell more the next letter as I have no time. Give my love to all. Nothing
more but reamin you affectionate husband until death Henry H. Dedrick
Date: 1862 Jan 22 Place: Camp Alleghany
I received you most dear letter on the 19th and I was very glad to hear from
you, to hear that you was well. I hope when these few lines comes to hand
they may find you and the baby well and all the rest of my inquiring friends if
there be any. I find that there is but few in those [these] days, every man
that is now at home is for his self and they take every advantage of them
who is now in the army serving their country. I do hope that it will be our
time next.
Dear Lizza I want you to give me some satisfaction about my rye. I want to
know if you have got it all thrashed out if you have not made use of it all. I
want you to take care of it and your corn. If you have any you must keep it
for grain is a going to be scarce after while. I want to know if you get any
thing from Mrs. Ellis or not and I want to know how much you have got from
him.
Dear Lizza you wished to know what we wanted with so many clapboards.
We have a stable to build, large enough to hold one hundred and fifty horses
and we have some cabins to build yet, but I don't know how many.
I am well and hearty. William Offlighter, George W. Offlighter, E. W. Sillings,
Hiram Coyner, J. W. Padgett, Benjamin Wright, Lewis Phillips is all well and
hearty. James, Lewis and William Grass is on the mend, they all send you
their best respects. The health of our Regt. is very good at this time. Dr. J. S.
Myers has been elected second lieutenant in our company. He is well.
Dear Lizza I would like very much to see you and your sweet little boy about
this time. Some says that we will get furloughs after while. If any of our
company gets furlough I will. Captain Long says that he is going to try the
first of next week and see what he can do for us. There is twelve married
men that has not been at home. He says if there is any chance for us we
shall go.
Well, as I have no news of importance I will close for the present. I have not
yet give up trying to meet my lord. I remain your affectionate husband until
death separates us. From your husband.
M. E. A. Dedrick
Date: 1862 Feb 2 Place: Camp Alleghany
My Dear Wife-
I received your most dear letter this evening and I was truly glad to hear
from you and to hear that you and your little boy was well and all the rest of
the folks. I am well but I have not been very well for the three last days. I
have been out about 5 miles from camp all last [word omitted] making
clapboards for to cover a stable. I don't know when we will get done making
them. I expect we will go out in the morning again. William Offlighter and I
stays close together. He is well at this time. We are very well satisfied at our
work.
I have not been on guard nor on picket for more than a month and I am not
very sorry of it. We have a bad way to sleep at night but we would rather do
that than to stand picket in the cold and in snow.
Dear Lissa I have no important news to write. I want you to get anything
that you want if it takes every cent that you have, and if you want any more
money you must let me know, and as soon as I get my next pay as we ought
to have got it some time ago as they had promised. I think we will get it
soon.
Dear Lissa I was very sorry to hear of the death of Franklin Manley and to
hear that the little [word missing] was very low. It troubles Mr. Manley very
much, he is trying to get a furlough to come home and he says if he don't
get one he will come any how, furlough or no furlough he will.
William Offlighter is in his bunk asleep. He was reading and he fell asleep
with his book in his arms. He sends his love to you all. He told me to tell you
to tell your pap to pick him out a good cow or a heifer that will have a calf in
the Spring. He wants you to get him one by Spring. Hiram Coyner sends his
love to you all. Give my love to all and tell James and Rosy that I would like
to hear from them once six months.
Dear Lissa I hope and trust to my lord if we don't meet on earth no more
that we may meet in heaven where parting will be no more. I am trying all I
[know]. Dear Lissa I must close for this time as I am tired and paper is
scarce. I want you to let me know where Nannie Balsley is and what she is
doing. I seen D. Kennedy this morning, he is well. I have not seen [-ash] and
Dr. D for some time, but they are well. Nothng more but remain your most
affectionate husband until death separates us from this world.
Henry H. Dedrick to his dear wife.
Date: 1862 March 8 Place: Camp Alleghany
My Dear Wife-
I take my pen in hand this morning to write you a few lines to make up what
I have wrote on the other piece, as I was in a hurry for I thought I would
send it and wait until the next time and then I did not send it, as I would
have time to write more.
I am well at this time and I hope when these few lines comes to hand they
may find you all in good health. I received a letter from Father yesterday and
I was very glad to hear from them and to hear that they was well. He said in
his letter that he was out to see you the day before, and he said that you and
Willie was well and all the rest of your pap's folks was well. He said when he
started from there that little Willie cried and hollered after him. He said that
he left with a sad heart to think that the little boy would cry after him and to
think that I was out here and did not know whether we would ever meet on
earth any more or not, and he said that he had to shed tears when he was
writing to think about it. Dear Lissa you don't know how it hurt my feelings to
read it.
Dear dear Lissa we have some very good times here although we have to run
out in the ditches sometimes when the pickets makes a false alarm. I tell you
that we get up and toddle to the ditches and there we have to stand out
there and all most freeze, but we take it all in fun. We hear so much news
here that we don't know what to believe and so I don't listen at anything that
I hear.
I must stop writing as I am getting tired. Father sent me the pattern of our
sweet little boys hand. I was glad to see it. It has growed very much since I
seen it. Dear Lissa I tell you that we have to pay high for every thing that we
buy. I bought two checks shirts and I had to pay for the two four dollars and
a half. I think that it is right hard that we can't get a shirt with out paying
$2.25cts for it. I have some money here, if you want some let me know. I
don't like to send in a letter, but if you need it I will try send it in a letter. It
is very pleasant here today. Give my love to all of my inquiring friends if
there be any. May god bless you and save you through Christ. From you
husband. I hope that I will see you on earth again. God bye Dear wife, for
this time.
Date: 1862 April 7 Place: Camp Shenandoah, Augusta Co., Virginia
My Dear Wife- I received your kind letter yesterday. I was glad to hear from
you and I was sorry to hear that you had the mumps, but if you take good
care of your self you will soon get well. I was glad to hear that Willie was so
[pert] and so lively. I am well at present and I do hope when these lines
comes to hand they may find you all well.
Uncle Will is not very well. He has been very sick. We have left Alleghany.
We left last Wednesday and come to Monterey and the next day we come to
McDowell and then we stayed there one day, and on Saturday we marched
within a half of a mile of Rodgerses, which is on Shenandoah Mountain. We
are now within 24 1/2 miles of Staunton and 14/12 miles from Buffalo Gap,
but I can't tell you how long we will stay here, but if we stay here long I
would like your pap to come out here to see me.
I would like to see you all very much, but if I can't get to see you before my
time is out I think I can stay three months and a half yet if I have my health.
All of the creek boys is well. William Diddle is sitting in his tent blowing his
fife.
Dear Lissa I was up on the top of a ridge yesterday and I could see the Blue
Ridge. I could see the laurel and Spring Hollow and I said to my self now if I
was up in that hollow how soon I could get home. Well Dear Lissa I will now
finish my letter. It is now 3 o'clock and it is very cold and snowy. We all just
have to do the best we can. We are nearly froze. All the balance of my mess
is lying down in the tent wrapped up in there blankets. I wish you could see
us, then you would say that we had hard times out here.
Lissa you wanted to know how much I had to pay a year on that lot and how
much I had to pay in all. I have to pay $38.75cts a year and there is four
payments back yet that will make $155. Yet if you do pay any on it you must
take in my note.
Uncle Will, Will Diddle, and Hiram Coyner and James Padgett and Ephriam
Sillings all sends their best regards to you and Amanda and Aunt Rebecca
and your mother and your Pap, and you will please give my love to all
inquiring friends if there be any, and you must accept a great portion for
your self. You said in your letter that I had better kept one of them ladies
that I sent you. I had no use for them as they could not cook nor wash nor
do anthing else. I would rather have you here by a long ways before I would
have them. I must close as I am so cold I can't write. I was glad to get some
of your hair. It is very pretty. May god bless you all. Nothing more but
remain your affectionate husband until death.
H. H. Dedrick to his dear wife.
Date: 1862 June 8 Place: Camp near Port Republic, Virginia
My Dear Wife- I take this opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know
how and where I am. I am well at this time and I hope these few lines may
find you and the boy enjoying the same blessing of health.
We are two miles below Port Republic at this time, but I don't know how long
we will stay here and I do not know where we will go. Some thinks we will go
to Staunton, but it is hard to tell where we will go. The Yankees is between
us and Harrisonburg. They have been following us pretty close, but we have
not been very bad scared yet. Our brigade had a little fight last Sunday on
the right had side of Strassburg. We had one wounded in our regt. and three
of Capt. Lusk's artillerymen they was wounded by one of his own [firings]. I
don't know how many the yankees lost.
Last Friday our brigade was in the rear to cover the retreat about two miles
this side of Harrisonburg. The yankee cavalry run up on Ashby's cavalry and
fired on them. Ours returned the fire and then charged on them and took 52
of their cavalrymen prisoner. On Col., one Maj., two Capt., and two killed.
We had one wounded and he was a Major. Ashby run them back within two
miles of town and then he sent for us to assist him. We turn back and went
two miles back along the road and then flanked out to the right through a
strip of woods and went about one mile.
The 44th, 58th VA and the 1st Maryland Regts. was before our Regt. and
they seen the yankees coming round to flank us, and the 58th laid down in
the brush and as they come up they fired on them and the yankees was so
much confused they wheeled and run back apiece and then they turned and
fired on our men and we had a hot time of it for a little while, but we drove
them back with three small Regt. Our Regt. was not engaged in it. There was
about ten thousand of the yankees. Our loss was 75 killed and wounded.
General Ashby was killed in the first of the engagement. I don't know how
many the yankees lost, but from all accounts their loss was great. I expect
the yankees got a good many of our men from Winchester up to
Harrisonburg men that was broken down. We have taken 3.2.12. prisoners
since we have been in hte valley.
I have more news but I have not the time to write. I have been down within
a quarter of a mile of Charles Town. The health of the soldiers is very good.
Hiram Coiner is well and so is Mr. Lewis. Hiram come to us last Tuesday
below New Market. None of the rest of the boys that ran off have come back
but Hiram. They haven't done anything with him yet. I don't know what they
will do with him.
Dear Lissa I would be very glad to see you and the little boy at this time and
also the rest of my friends. Give my love to all inquiring friends if there be
any, but accept a great portion for your self. May god bless you all and save
you all. From your affectionate husband. H. H. D. M. E. D.
Josiah Balsley is well and sends his love to you all. I received the letter you
wrote on the 23 and I sent an answer but I have not heard from it. WRite as
soon as you can. God bye for this time.
Date: 1862 July 5 Place: Camp near James River
Note: This letter, written in pencil, is badly smudged/faded. Large portions of
the first page are illegible.
Camp near James River 27 miles below Richmond, Virginia July 5th, 1862
My Dear Wife- I take this opportunity [illegible portion] I have not for some
time. I have not wrote since I saw father. I am well at present. [Remaining
portion of this page is illegible].
...all the creek boys is well and hearty. E. W. Sillings has come here last
Thursday. He is well. If you see his wife or can send her any word tell her
that he is here.
I must close as the man that I want to send it by is about to start. I have
more news but I have no time. You must write soon and direct your letters
as you have heretofore. May god bless you all. So nothing more but remain
your affectionate husband until death separates us from this world. Fare you
well dear wife. I hope I will soon get home again. I want you to kiss Willie for
me. Give my love to all. H. H. Dedrick to M. E. A. Dedrick.
Dedrick to his father-in-law and his wife Date: 1863 May 10 and
11 Place: Spotsylvania Co. Virginia.
Spotsylvania Co. Virginia. Camp near Hamilton's Crossing. May 10th 1863
Dear Father- I take this opportunity to drop you a few to answer your few
lines that I received from you this evening. I was glad to hear from you all
and to hear that youw as well. I am well at present and hope when these few
lines comes to hand they may find you all enjoying the same blessing of god
a resting upon you.
You said that you heard that Gen. Jackson had a fight. It was not only him it
was all of the troops. We had one of the hardest fights that we ever had
since the war begun. General Jackson has lost one of his arms and [has] now
got the pneumonia. He is not expected to live. He was shot by our own
pickets. He got out side of our pickets after night and he come up in a gallop
and they fired on him and wounded him and all of his guard but one. Our
loss is said to be twenty thousand killed wounded and missing. I don't know
what the [loss] of the enemy was but it must be terrible. I have just heard
that General Jackson was dead. If he is it is a great loss to the Southern
confederacy.
You said that there was a petition wrote and sent to me or my officers. I
have not heard nothinig from it. I don't think I will need but you can get it
and send it to me, for if the officers gets it it won't do me any good. William
Offlighter and Hiram Coyner is in Richmond from what I can find out. They
left the last day of April and I have not heard from them since.
If we stay here I wish you would come down and bring me something to eat
for we don't get half enough and I can't stand it. If you do come you can
bring something along and make more off of it [than] you can make any
other way. You can get from 50 to 75 cents for a pie, and tobacco is very
high. You can sell most anything atall, potatoes 50 cents per quart. Thread is
very high and I have two overcoats and a good blanket I would like to send
home. If I had them at home I wouldn't take less than 60 dollars for them. If
you come and if we are at the ame place you can come to Hamilton's
Crossing, that is [with]in two miles of our camp.
Joshua Robison [Robinson?] and Adam Pannell sends their best respects to
you all. I must close for this time. You will please excuse me for this. May
god bless you all. Write soon. H. H. Dedrick to Elijah Balsley.
May 11th 1863 Dear Wife-
I take this priviledge this morning to drop you a few more lines. I received
your kind letter yesterday after I had written home one to you. It found me
well except the toothache it all but set me crazy. I commenced while I was
writing to you and I had to quit writing for awhile but it has quit aching now.
Give father and mother and Betty my love and tell him I would have written
him a letter but I have not got the paper. Tell him to write to me. I must
close. May god be with you all. I remain your affectionate husband until
death separates us Henry H. Dedrick To Mary E. Dedrick.
Date: 1863 May 25 Place: Camp
May the 25 1863 Camp Near Hamilton's Crossing
My Dear Wife- I take the opportunity this morning to let you know that I am
not very well. I was taken with pains in my head and back and then in my
arms and legs that I could not help myself. I was taken Sunday night. I have
got so that I can sit up and write. I received your most kind letter Saturday.
I was truly glad to hear from you and to hear that you was well and doing as
well as you was. I hope when these few lines comes to hand they may find
you and Willie well.
I seen William Offlighter and Hiram Coyner last Saturday. They was well.
They have got back from Richmond. They are in the brigade guard house.
They have been courtmartialed but they have not heard their sentence yet.
They told me that Castle Thunderą was the worst place that they ever seen,
but they said that they got plenty to eat. Hiram said that he expects he will
have to go back to Castle Thunder again.
We get plenty to eat now. They have raised our rations. We [get] one pound
and an eight of flour and a half a pound of bacon and some sugar and some
peas. We can do very well on that. We are camped at the [illegible] old place
yet but I don't know how long we will stay here. I don't hear of no moves at
this time. I received that petition that was sent to me. I showed it to the
Capt. and to the Col. They both said it was very good.
Tell your pap that if he comes down to bring me some tobacco. Tell him that
he can get in camp without any trouble. I would be very glad to see him. Mr.
Able is well. He comes to me nearly every day to see if I get a letter or not.
If you see any of them tell them he is well. Give my love to J. M. D. and J. D.
B. and all the rest of my inquiring friends. Write soon. May the blessings of
God rest upon you all. I remain your affectionate husband until death. H. H.
Dedrick.
ąCastle Thunder was a former tobacco warehouse in Richmond, VA that
served as a military prison during the Civil War.
Dedrick to his wife Date: 1863 June 9 Place: Camp near Culpeper
Courthouse
My Dear Wife- I thank god that I have been permitted to see a few more
lines from under your hand. I received your most kind letter this morning. It
was dated on the 2nd of this month. I was truly glad to hear from you and to
hear that you was well and to hear that all the rest of the folks was well. I
am well and doing as well as could be expected. I do hope when these few
lines comes to hand they may find you and little Willie in good health.
We have been permitted to stay here today. We got here yesterday about
twelve oclock and drawed three days rations and was to be ready to start
this morning by day light, and then we got orders to stay here today and
cook another days rations. I don't know where we will go.
We left the old camp last Thursday night at twelve oclock. We have not been
marching very hard but it went very hard with some of us. My feet got very
sore and my legs has been very sore for some time, but they have got
better. I have heard cannon all day long. It commenced about sun rise and
was very heavy. It is down the river between this and Fredericksburg
somewhere, but I don't know where.
The same night that we left our old camp the yankees crossed the river at
the same place that they crossed before, but General Hill was there with his
Corps. The Yankees shelled his troops friday, Saturday and Sunday, but
General Hill laid still to draw them out, but they smelt the Rat and would not
come out. General Hill has been reinforced with five thousand new troops.
They have never been in a fight, but if they stay there I think they will get
into it and that before long. We expect to go into it at any time. I would not
be surprised if we don't be in Maryland before ten days. Some thinks that we
will go over in the valley. We are on the road that leads to New Market. It
leads from Culpeper to Sperryville and then to New Market, but I can't tell
you where we will go.
I have more news but I have not time to write. I sent you a letter at the
same time that I sent Fathers. I mailed them both at the same time. I saw
Jacob Ded. several days ago, he was well and send his compliments to you
all.
They have courtmartialed me at last, but they had right smart trouble before
they got it done. But I have not heard my sentence yet. They wanted to
make me drill and to...
[At this point Dedrick switched from pen to pencil and the text is illegible
except for a few sentences at the end]
Dear Lissa I want you to forget to tell me who told you that I had said that
you didn't care anything about me. Dear Lissa I have some good news to tell
you when I write again. May god bless you. H. H. Dedrick.
Dedrick to his wife Date: 1863 June 14 Place: Camp Near Winchester
My Dear Wife- I take the opportunity this evening to drop you a few lines to
let you know how I am and where I am. I am five miles below Winchester.
My dear wife I tell you that we have had a hard time since we left our old
camp. We arrived at Winchester last Saturday and we found some yankees
there and we took a general review on Saturday and Sunday our skirmishes
and the yankees was fighting all day long. The Yankees shelled us all day on
Sunday.
About half past eleven oclock our division, that is Gen. Early's division, took
back about two miles on the left hand side of the turnpike and then we
turned to our right and marched down below Winchester opposite of the
Yankees fortifications, and then we laid there until six oclock and then we
opened fourteen pieces of artillery on them in their fortifications. And I tell
you the yankees had to get out of that place. Pretty soon the La. brigade
charged on them and run them out of their fortifications and then our brigade
charged for about a mile to hold the ditches.
We took fourteen pieces of artillery from them at that place and that night
the yankees got up and scadaddled out of that place and took for
Martinsburg. But old General Edward Johnson he went down and got before
them and as they come along he pitched in to them and took nearly all of
them prisoner. I think that we have taken nearly all that was at Winchester.
It is reported that we have got old Gen. Milroy. If we have got him it is a fine
thing for he has treated some of our people very bad. I think we have got
about four thousand of them. Our loss is not very heavy. We only lost one
man out of our Regiment. We have take all of their artillery that they had
here but I have not heard how many pieces they had.
I saw Jacob today. He is well. We will stay here until tomorrow. I don't know
where we will go. I did not finish telling you about the yankees. We took
everything that they had. I saw a long train of wagons just below Winchester
where they left. I have more news but I have not time to write. Dear Lissa I
am well at present and I hope when these few lines come to hand they may
find you enjoying the same blessing of god aresting upon you.
Wheat looks very well down here. Corn is short. Lissa I understand that John
Coyner claims them coonskins at fathers. I want you to tell father that I want
him to take them to the tanyard and get them tanned and you send the one
that is in the spring house. I want you to take the fur off of them and get
somebody to get a hat made out of it. Give my love to Julie and tell her I
have no chance to write to her. Tell her Hiram is well and I received her
letter when I got yours and one from Martha Balsley. Give her my love and
tell her I have no chance to write. Give my love to all inquiring friends. I
have more news but no paper. I will close for this time. Write soon. May god
bless you all. I remain your affectionate husband until death. H. H. Dedrick.
Letter fragment Dedrick to his wife Date: the original is undated. Ca.
June 1863 Place: near Winchester
Pages 1 and 2 are missing; the letter begins on page 3
...them thunder. There the Yankees broke for Winchester before we got
there. It was nine miles from where we was to Middletown. We went 3 miles
below town that night and we stayed there about 3 hours and then we
started for WInchester. Some of our forces was on ahead and they came in
on the Yankees about daylight and in a few minutes after we got there. Our
men made a charge on them and they broke and run and we run them 5
miles and we got a great many prisoners. The cavalry men has been bringing
them back in big squads all day today. They brought a yankee past and his
wife was with him and she was a [back] one at that. Dr. Lewis asked him if
that was his wife. he said yessir and the[y] had took a good many negroes
and we got a good many of them back. We have taken a great many horses
and wagons and other things. We got 3 trains of cars at Front Royal and 500
sacks of coffee and a great deal of salt and other things. They burnt up
nearly one square of Winchester. We expect to follow them on.
I have more news but I have no time and no paper with me, but I have
plenty in my knapsack. It is in Harrisonburg. I seen John and Harry [or
Harvey] Friday morning. They are both well. I seen Uncle Jacob Dedrick in
Bridgewater. He said he seen Jake that morning driving a wagon and I heard
of him being at Front Royal but I have not seen him yet.
Give my love to all and accept a great portion for yourself. So nothing more
but remain your affectionate husband until death. May god bless you all.
Write soon. H. H. Dedrick to wife. I sent you a letter some time ago and I
have got no answer from it.
Dear Lissa I just have eaten a hearty dinner. Me and Ben White had the
pleasure of eating dinner by ourselves as all the rest of our mess has run off
but four. J and James Lewis and Joseph Liggett has gone out to get their
dinner. I received your kind letter while I was at dinner and I was truly glad
to hear from you and to hear that you all was well.
Dear Lissa [illegible] be very glad to see you at his time. I have a good deal
of news to tell you which is too tedious to write. You will please excuse my
bad writing as I have no chance to write. Fare you well my dear.
Dedrick to his wife
Date: 1863 July 11, letter fragment
Place: unknown
Dear Lissa
As I had forgot to let you know that Joseph Grass was killed at the fight at
Gettysburg. I first heard that he was only wounded but since I have that he
was killed. I want you to show this to William Grass. All the creek boys is
well. I don't know where James Padgett is. He came to us when we was at
Winchester and they kept him with the Regiment until we got to
Shepherdstown and then I don't know where he went. We have marching
orders. They have taken all the guards in from peoples houses...
Dedrick to his wife Date: undated fragment Place: unknown
Dear Lissa-
You said in your letter that the little boy weighed 28 lbs. I don't think he has
gained much. I want you to kiss him for me as I don't have no chance to kiss
him myself and when you kiss him think of me. I weighed some three weeks
ago and I only weighed one hundred and seventy eight and William Offlighter
weighed 177. There was but one pound between us. Well I must bring my.
William Offlighter sends his love to you all also Hiram Coyner. Give my love
to all. I heard that they had sent for Gerard and David Gray. I thank god that
they have not had the chance to send for me. I thank the lord for his
kindness towards me that he has give me good health. If I don't meet you on
earth I hope to meet you in heaven above where parting will be no more. I
must close for this time. Please excuse me for this time. Write soon. So
nothing more but remain your affectionate husband until death.
Henry H. Dedrick To his devoted wife. Here is a ring for you that I made for
you. It is the first...
Mary Dedrick to Henry Date: 1862 Feb 1 Place: not given. Probably
Sherando, VA
Dear Henry: I received your dear letter Wednesday and was very glad to
hear you was well. I would have received it sooner I suppose but the mail
was delayed. We are all well. Your Father was here last Sabbath and they
were all well. They say that Mag [---mon] and Dave [illegible] is married.
Franklin Manly is dead, he had the sore throat and little Tis Manly is about of.
Times is hard here and if this war continues I don't know what poor people is
to do. You wanted me to give you some satisfaction about your rye. I had to
give rye for threshing and I paid James Lewis and pap and I lent Dr.
Drummand a bushel and a half and Pap got his share out of it and sold
Hester a half of bushel for coffee, and I have a little left and I have got a
little to thresh. You wanted me to take care of it and I do assure you that I
will take care of everything that I have got.
You wanted to know if I had any corn. I have got some and I have to feed
my hogs every night and morning a little for they are [there is] not a bit of
[illegible]. Dear Henry you wanted to know if I got anything from Mr. Ellis.
He gives me 25 and 30 lbs. of flour a month, 1 lb of coffee, 2 lbs of sugar
and no meat. He give me a little last fall but none since, and it don't do me,
and I had to use what little buckwheat I had and have to use my corn and I
can't get to go after it always, and if I want a horse I have to pay 25 cts for it
and if I want a little wagon I have to pay 50 cts. for it and everything is so
high. You don't know what hard times I have here about wood. Your Father
did haul me a little and Aunt Becky got some hauled and when that is done I
don't know what I will do. Pap sold his horse, when he had his I could get it
any time.
Aunt Becky says Willie can eat as much corn bread and buttermilk as the
next one. He can whistle pretty good. Uncle Jonathan says watch and pray
lest you be led into temptation for he says your wife is here and you are
there. Dear Henry I am glad that you are not give up trying to get to heaven.
In this world we have tribulation. But in Christ we have consolation. I hope
we will meet around the throne one day or other. Dear Henry strive for
heaven. From your sincere wife, M. A. E. Dedrick
P.S. I was glad when I heard Long was going to try to get you married men a
furlough but I don't believe Genl. Johnson will give you any. Nine days from
today your baby will be a year old. Amanda Ma and pa sends their
compliments to you and Hiram and Wm. [S. H. O.]
Mary to Henry Date: 1862 April 15 Place: Sherando
April the 15th 1862
Dear husband I'll attempt to write to you once more to inform you of our
health. I am well, only a pain in my back and side. Willie has been very sick
with the Cholera Morbus. It weakened him down considerably, but he is now
as mischievous as ever. I have had the same complaint that Willie had, but I
have gotten over it. It is a cloudy disagreeable day today. It has been raining
here today but it has quit. I tell you Dear Henry my thoughts were fixed on
you all them cold snowy days last week. I don't know how you poor fellows
can stand it. I know you all have a hard time out there in them cold cotton
hats. I expect they will be many of you sick that haven't been.
Tears came twinkling from my eyes when I came to where you said that you
came out on a hill and seen the Laurel Spring hollow and saying to yourself
how soon could I get home if I was there. But I hope if it is gods will that you
will be nearer home than that hollow before long. Dear Henry no one knows
how bad I want to see you. No one knows how bad it is to be from each
other, only those that have tried it. But one thing I do sincerely hope that
you may never volunteer again for no one one knows how bad I want you to
be in peace at home again.
I got a letter from Jack's wife and she wasn't very well. She expects to be
confined soon. Jackson and Harry are in the army. William is at home on a
sick furlough, he is getting better. I suppose Shenandoah has got a right nice
little town on it chiefly of white houses. Tell me in your next letter how many
regiments there are out there besides Baldwin's. I received the fifteen
dollwars you sent by Meyers. He came up to Lewises. Amanda has the
mumps but she is better (little Cate had them too). She sends her best and
kindest respects to you and cousin William Diddle and to the rest of her
friends out there and tell them their kindness were welcome received.
I was sorry to hear that you was so cold when you was writing and that you
all was so cold. I hope if it is for the best that it will soon be pretty clear
warm weather. Who did you send your [coat] and letters by. I haven't got
them yet. I don't know whether [Mary] has got hers yet or not. I seen her
yesterday but I forgot to ask her. Tell Uncle Will that she and the children
were all well. Mother and pap are well. pap tried to get us two calves over at
old Gray's sale but they were too unreasonably high and he didn't get them.
Tears came in mother's eyes as I read her your letter. Pray a great deal dear
Henry and never forget god who is [illegible] who has give you health, that
you have been spared so long. "Pray without ceasing." From your wife M.E.D.
Hester Hyden (cousin) to Henry Date: 1863 July 23 Place: Sherando,
VA
Dear cousin- I take this opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know
that we are all well but Lizzy and she is as well as can be expected. She gave
birth to a fine son this morning at 4 oclock. He weighs 10 lbs and a half and
looks very much like Willy only light hair. Lizzy got along very well and we
have great reason to thank God for his care and protection over her. Yes, he
will ever answer those who call earnestly upon him for help. Lizzie did not
need a Doctor. Lizzie wants you to write her word what she must call your
little son. She says she was thinking about calling him for both of his
grandfathers and if you do not prefer the name send her a name for him
when you write to her. She says I must tell you she has wrote you 6 letters
and has not received the seraph of a pen from you since the 11th of June.
Your brother J. received one from you yesterday. They are all well. Your
father was here last Wednesday and cut the rye. David sowed part of your lot
in buckwheat. She wants you to write soon as she wishes to hear from you
very much. She says I must give her love, Willy and the baby also. Willy is at
your fathers. They are well. Lizzie says she knows you write but she don't get
the letters. The mail is so uncetain.
Well I must close by saying I trust you are trying to prepare for a land where
[care] and parting is not known. Our regards to you. Write soon Your
cousin Hester A. E. Hyden.
H. H. Dedrick
Source: VMI Archives