Archibald is really homesick now with thoughts of Christmas in mind, and he is upset that the Officers don’t care about the soldiers; he wasn’t given a furlough.

It is cold, he is hungry, needs clothes.

He warns Susannah and Martha Norwood to watch out for some widows who will try to take them off somewhere. He tells them it is hard times for soldiers, and folks back home have no idea what it is like.

He remains her husband till death.

After this letter, the 11th NC Regiment was added to Pettigrew’s Brigade. The core of this regiment was made up of men from the "Bethel Regiment", the former 1st NC Volunteers.

There were men from Lincoln County in this unit (Co. I), many former members of the "Southern Stars" from Lincolnton.

The 52nd spent some time gathering supplies and driving off some Yankee Cavalry on the other side of the Blackwater River near Franklin, and on January 3, 1863, was ordered to Rocky Mount, North Carolina, to rejoin the rest of General Pettigrew’s Brigade.

Archibald writes from Camp Jackson on January 11, 1863.

He is well and happy to be back in North Carolina again. He has had enough of the hard times in Virginia! He hopes to stay there "until the war breaks."

He desires to hear about Christmas, and wants to be at home.

He reports that Jeff Davis had been "past here" and says the "backbone of it is broke (the war)."

He is looking for neighbors from the "settlement" but hasn’t seen anyone yet.

He is still in hopes of receiving a letter from Susannah; he says "been looking but looking has been all."

He asks her to send anything she can to eat, and sends his and George’s love to all.

He reports that Frank* and Robert* Sifford are with them.

Archibald desires to see his wife and children, the worst he ever has, and hopes that the time isn’t far off, when he will be with them, to stay.

Sometime between his letter of January 11, and March 3, of 1863, Archibald is able to go home on a furlough. In his letter of March 3, he talks about having to "lie over in Charlotte till Sunday evening, and then couldn’t get his shoes on". He found a friend named Rufus Williams, who had boxes to deliver to a hospital. He is to bring his shoes.

He is heart sick at having to return, and sees hard times coming.

He reports that corn in the "wilt" is bringing "Six Dollars a bushel."

The men of the company are well, except for colds.

He closes by sending his love and hoping that he would get home again to stay.

He remains her husband till death.

From March until early May, the 52nd NC, with the rest of Pettigrew’s brigade, was involved in the unsuccessful actions to retake New Bern and Washington, North Carolina.

On May 2, 1863 the regiment departed by train for Virginia. They didn’t arrive in time to take part in the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia.

They spent time in the trenches around Richmond, VA., and were sent to Hanover Junction, Virginia, on May 7, 1863 to escort 2000 Yankee prisoners to Richmond.

Archibald writes on May 8, 1863, from Hanover Junction. He is well and hopes that all of them are also. He has received a letter, and has " drawed $44.00" and is keeping some because "times had been hard" since he was home.

He has been to Richmond and exclaims that it was the "largest place he had ever seen in his life."

He has seen the 2,000 Yankee prisoners, and states that he has heard there would be 5,000 there by the next day. He also states that he understands the Confederates have captured 10,000 in total, and that they have lost about 1,000 prisoners to the Yankees.

He says the Yankees are complaining about being hungry; many are barefooted and hatless.

He states that they had some "Guals"(Gals?) with them and "they were some rough customers!"

He is becoming very tired of the War, and doesn’t see how it can last much longer. The want of something to eat will bring it to a close. Rations are reduced to a quarter pound a day, and he doesn’t say of what.

He describes being under gun shelling for 16 days. It must have been during the New Bern and Washington, NC battles. He reports no casualties, and he expresses hope that they will always be so fortunate.

He desires to go home and eat with his family, and sends his love and advise on how to care for the animals.

He wants to know about the fruit crops, hopes there is plenty, and he remains her husband till death.

From early May, 1863 until early June, the 52nd NC engaged in building fortifications around the Virginia Central Bridge over the South Anna River, and some of the companies did picket duty on the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad. When they were not busy with those activities, they were drilled, drilled, and drilled some more, until they were in the finest condition.

On or about June 1, 1863, the 52nd NC, along with the rest of General Pettigrew’s brigade, was assigned to Major General Henry Heth’s Division, of Lt. General Ambrose Powell Hill’s newly formed Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, General Robert E. Lee, Commanding.

On June 8,1863, the 52nd Regiment joined General Hill’s command at Fredericksburg, Virginia.

On June 3, 1863, Lt. General Richard Ewell’s Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia moved out toward the Shenandoah Valley; he was soon followed by Lt. General James Longstreet’s First Corps.

The march to destiny and immortality had begun; they were on their way to Gettysburg.

Lt. General A.P. Hill’s Third Corps stayed behind to keep an eye on the Yankees at Fredericksburg.

On June the 13th, 1863 General Ewell’s Corps defeated an enemy force at Winchester, Va., and General Longstreet’s Corps occupied Culpep[p]er Court House. The Yankees at Fredericksburg pulled out and General Hill’s Corps was ordered to move North. The second Northern invasion by the Army of Northern Virginia was under way.

In the letters that Archibald writes on May 19 and 25, 1863, he describes activities that are going on, like trying to find food at reasonable prices. He states flour can be had at 6 lb. for $1.00, bacon goes for $1.50 per pound, and eggs are $100.00 per dozen!! This may be a misprint, but none the less, everything was "scarce and high".

He reports that George is well, but that John* and Robert* Hager are in the hospital; he isn’t aware of what their problem is. Neither of these men survive the war.

Archibald is growing more tired of the war every day. He doesn’t think it can last much longer because of the lack of everything needed for men and animals. He has seen many more captured Yankees on their way to Richmond. He says that they tell the Confederates that the North can starve them out in six months, and that they will be able to take Richmond without any weapons.

Being a farmer, he still has eyes for crops, and describes wheat fields to his wife. He sends his love to all the family, and begs for letters, as there are no other pleasures in the field. He encourages Susannah to "do the best you can and I will do so to." He wants to see her and the children so bad, and hopes it won’t be long. He remains "Your husband till death."

He writes on May 25, 1863, that all desire peace. General Hill has told them that they will have hard times for two months but should be home by July.

They had the hard times, but July would find him far from Dry Pond, in Lincoln County, North Carolina.[???]

He shares the news that" fifteen or twenty men had joined the church yesterday, and last night John Nixon* was one of them."

On June 4, 1863, Archibald writes again, and tells of inspections, and how pretty a sight to see the artillery all dressed out in their red flannel shirts.

The weather has been dry, for the past four weeks.

Times are hard, and he doesn’t see much hope of it getting better. He states that many of the men are "running away" that they are tired of the war, and if the head men don’t stop it, they want to stay out and take the fair way they have to take." [???]

Archibald wants to see all of the family so bad, and hopes the Lord will let it be soon.

He says the company and regiment are tolerable well at this time, and that George sends his love, and he remains "Your Husband till death."