Franklin, June 23rd 1862
My Dear Husband,
Another Monday night finds me seated by my little table to write to you. Would that you could sit here by me, I could talk much more satisfactorily than I can write. Last night I dreamed of your being home on a furlough and I was happy as I could well be, but dreams are very far from being true to life, as realized after I woke. Sometimes I feel that I would give anything to see you dearest if only for a few hours but then it seems to me I could not consent to give you up again. I spent today at Mr. Johnstons, with all the children and left Fanny to stay all night with Mary. Nettie is alone in her trundle bed she wanted Ralph to sleep with her but he did not like that arrangement and cries to go in the foot of my bed. Nettie woke up just as I commenced writing and I asked her what I should tell Father for her, she studied a minute and then said tell him I aint going to be naughty anymore, I’m going to be good all day". Poor little girl I wish she could think of such promises or something else, when she gets excited in time to cool her temper before it breaks out. Gene and I selected a box today to put a few things in to send you. Mr. Johnston got the butter and it is all he could get and Gene made the preserves. Mr. Sorrels gave them the cherries and said he would be glad if they would send Stringfield about a pint so you will please give him some. Siss Laura was sick last week so that she could not do anything but sister Nettie was down for two or three days and helped me make the cakes. She sends a bottle of blackberry wine too. Siss Laura furnished all the material for the cakes except the sugar which I had for them and the preserves too. I feel as if my share was very small and tried to pay for the butter but Mr. Johnston would not let me. I will put in two or three bottles of currant ale if there is room and a bottle of grated horse radish, hoping the latter may give a relish to your fried bacon. Siss Laura sends a colored case for your pillow it will show dirt so much less than the white ones you took. Sister Nettie made it except the hemming which Fanny did for Father and wanted me to write to him about it. I hope you may get the things safely and may enjoy using and eatin them as much as we have the getting them ready. It has been a great pleasure to me. I think if I could get a letter from you every mail and fix up a box for you every few weeks, I could get along finely. Mrs. McCloud paid you a compliment today. We were speaking of the intimacy that had sprung up between you and Tilman and she said she was very glad to see it for she knew it could not injure you and she felt sure it would benefit him.
Tuesday evening - I have just been reading over your last letter received a week ago last Saturday, in place of the one I had hoped to get today. I am sadly disappointed when I heard from the mail, for I had felt so sure I would hear from you. There seems to be some trouble about getting a wagon started to the railroad, so that so far those of us who have filled boxes for our friends will be disappointed. I will be miserable if we cannot send them. We were saying at town yesterday that we would like to look in upon you all when the boxes were received and see how you disposed of the contents. If they go, I wish you could make some advantageous disposal of the jars that are sent. If you could the best way would be to send them home, but that is uncertain. It seems a pity to have them thrown away when such things are so hard to get now, but I do not know as you can do any other way. I enclose in this a piece of poetry I found in an old paper a short time since, thinking you will admire it. I think it is beautiful, Lay it in your bible Dearest.
Andrew Moore was buried today poor fellow, he has been gone so short a time. I feel so sorry for his friends, they cannot but feel it very much and he was so young that it will seem harder to bear. Jimmy Robinson looks very natural, I have not spoken with him except as he was passing in a buggy today. Ralph has a good appetite but gains strength very slowly. He walks about a little but not much. The children draw him in a little wagon every day, and he likes that very much. It will be good for him too I hope. Harley is right poorly so that Siss Laura is quite uneasy about him. He has bowel complaint and is much as Ralph was last summer, though not so much reduced as Ralph was at the worst. Harry is growing so fast, that he astonishes everyone. Father was down today and Irene came with him. Ralph had not seen her before since we left there, but knew her instantly. You know she made a great pet of him while we were there. Please excuse my writing in this way, but paper is scarce. Dr. divided his with me the other day and gave me half a dozen sheets. I wanted to pay him for it but he would take nothing he said except for me to give his respects to you when I wrote. It is late Dearest and I must say good night. God bless and keep you my precious husband. Jasey
Wednesday morning- I have still another chance to add a little to this as Mr. McDowel did not go this morning. He leaves tomorrow I believe and the wagon will start Saturday. We baked the cake last Saturday thinking it would go Monday and I fear it will be so hard you can hardly eat it. It will not be near so good as if you could have got it sooner.
Mr. Johnston sent for some music a few weeks since and the only piece he got was the Battle of Parague. I am learning it. Though I get so little time to practice that I don’t improve on it very fast. Miss Mag got Empress Henriettas Waltz and I have learned that. Our little one all have the whooping cough, but get along pretty well with it. Fanny and Harry cough but very little now, but Nettie and Ralph did not take it as soon and have not got so far along with it. Ralph has seemed much better today though than he was since he has been sick. He has played about almost all day and walked stronger than he has done before good night and God be with you.
June 26th 1862
My Dear Husband,
I write you a few lines as Gibs is going to start this morning. He says that he will take anything I want to send to you. I received your letter Tuesday you said to send anything I thought fitting. I cannot get you any boots. I think the shoes will do but I send you all the worsted pants there is in the store. I send you a vest that you had before and your old coat, Ben says that will do. I hope you will be pleased, if they wont do just get on your horse and ride up and you can get all you want. If your winter clothes were at home, I could send you more, but I think you have more now than you can pack and they would do you no good. I send a pair of socks for Dock from his wife. I have not time to write much as Gibs has come & will be here in a few minutes to start. He can tell you all the news better and it will be more interesting than if I were to write. Your Pa was quite sick yesterday is better today. We are all well and doing pretty well. I got the likeness you sent me. I think Jeff looks rather lean to what he did when I saw him last, don’t you think so. Try and come back as Gibs comes. I am afraid that you will not get to come soon do all you can to get to come. If there is anything else that you want write me and I will send by some of your boys.
I must close he has come.
Ever your devoted wife
Mary
Franklin, June 28th 1862
My Dear Husband,
Your letter of the 19th came to hand a few minutes since. I did not think of sending to the office yesterday after the Murphy mail passed as I had not been in the habit of getting letters that way and let it stay there until this morning. You may know how I talked when I found out there had been a letter so near me and I had not got it. I happened to send Liza to get me a Knoxville paper to look at the prices of nails and glass. I thought perhaps you could get them cheaper at Knoxville than here, nails are 25 cts a pound here and I think Bill McCoy asked Ben 9 dollars for a box of glass. If you think we will build you had better inquire about such things, perhaps you can get them home some way, if you could have sent them by the wagon that is going to take the clothes perhaps you can yet, as Cousin James Roane has just been here and told me that they had not got a wagon yet they are to meet today to make some arrangements about it. He says if they do not get it fixed up that he will start to you next Tuesday with his brothers clothes. I sent your things by Gibs I presume he will go to you. We did not know you had left Knoxville when he left here. I see tallow candles are selling at Knoxville at 25 and 30 cts. I gave Bill McCoy 40 cts for a pound the other day and he ask 60 cts for adamantine, he is all the one that has them to sell. Leon said if he had of known that I wanted candles he could have sent by Gibs for them as he sent by him for some things. I cannot buy any tallow and will have to buy candles. Bill McCoy has about a box and a half of each kind. I am glad that you are well pleased with your move. If you were only satisfied with your officers I would be so glad. I do not want you to get prejudiced and think everything they do is wrong. Perhaps you are prejudiced against Coleman and think everything he does is wrong. It is rumored here now that you have been or are about to be reduced to ranks for some hand you took in the election. Has anything happened that could start such a rumor? Jule has just been to see me he says to tell you that he was trying to make up a company of mounted men but if he got the news officially that he was appointed quarter master, that he would serve as it was going to be quite slow business to make up a company. If you can get a furlough come on home I will pay your way here and back again and not think anyways hard of it. You know well that I would pay the last cent I had and trust to providence for more if you could get to come home. Mr. Munday was over sometime since and told me to be certain and give you his best respects. I forgot it until now. Joe and Bill Alman have been on a drunk about a week and Bob Henry has took them in hands to try and sober them. He made them some milk punch this morning. I think perhaps he will get them right in a day or two. I have been uneasy about Joe’s foot since he has been drinking he has neglected dressing it. He said it hurt him bad yesterday but he dressed it this morning and it felt better. Bob got a tub of water and gave them a cold bath this morning. I will have to close as it is nearly time to make up the mail. If I had got your letter yesterday I would have written more although I have written so often that I have not much to write. I wrote you a few lines by Gibs and he can tell you all the news and it will be more interesting than if I were to write it. Matt sends her love, our babes are well and grow fast. I want you to see the little one before she gets to large. Cousin James has just been again and he says that him or Mr. Watts one will take his little wagon and go and if you have anything to send back that they will bring it. You had better send some of your winter clothes if they are in your way. I forgot to send you a pair of shoe strings. I must stop believe me to be your wife, truly and devotedly. Mary
PS I forgot to tell you that I dreamed last night that you were wounded badly in the thigh and could not come home and I was trying to get some person to go with me to see you and woke up crying.
I have a notion to send you some money, if I was right certain it would go safe I would do it.
Charleston , Ten. June 29th 1862
Bradley Co., Camp Morgan
My Dear Wife,
As Elishua Kimsey & the boys will start in the morning & of course you will look for a few lines from me, although I have just written you today & sent it to Cleveland to be mailed. So that you may get it by next Friday should it fail you will get this before Tuesday. I have nothing new to write you more than I have written you about the war. Passengers say on the train this evening that our forces at Richmond have taken a thousand prisoners & that McCleland is oblige to surrender or himself & army be annihilated. I hope this is all true & it will bring about a peace. I think after the young Napoleon is whipped that the yanks will be willing to recognize the South as capable of taking care & controlling her own institutions & government. I have nothing else to write more than I have written you today. Jas. Berry & Joe Sorrels is very bad we are & will do all we can for their benefit. I hope they will be better by morning. Some few others in my company is complaining but are able to go about, mumps & jaundice is what is ailing them. I shall send my knapsack & some clothing by Kimsey. I also send some paper as I expect you are running short by you not having more than a ½ sheet to write on lately. I may send a blank book so you can use it to write on if paper gets scarce. I will send a lot of powder so when I come home that I can have some to shoot. I also send the uniform coat that Dr. Thos Roane send to Jas. Grant. I don’t know what all I will send when I begin to look through my trunk. I am overjoyed at the news from Richmond, but anxious to hear from our brothers & friends who I know are in the fight, poor fellows I fear some of them are slayened but they die in a just & holy cause in behalf of this country the right & liberty & I hope the God of battle is with them. Tomorrow we muster our men for pay but I know not when we will be paid off. I think if not soon that our men will go home & quit this service & join some other command we have been treated worse than any other troop in this section they have been paid every two months & we have not been paid for 5 months. I hope they will pay us off soon & do better by us. But we have no body to blame only our officers & we still have to be cursed with them yet & probably will have to remain with them through the war but I hope not. I think that Coleman ought to resign as he knows that there is not a man or officer that likes him. Jess Gregory has returned from a visit to see his father, he lives near Athens, Ten. Is overseeing for a lady is doing very well, he give Jes a watch & some money. Did Gibs McDowell leave my shotgun? He wrote me that he give you some money that I loaned Dan Guy & Newt Balew it was $10. I don’t think of any thing else to write so I will close. Tell those old soldiers that I should like to hear from them. I think Joe ought to write & answer the one I wrote him after her left Richmond. I know it went there & he was not there to get it. My love to relations & friends, kiss my babys for me & take to your self a squeeze from your humble Servant & consider me a true husband, worthy the love of so loving a wife as your self. I remain ever true to my trust your loving husband. A. W. Bell
Franklin, July 1st 1862
Tuesday
My Dear Husband,
I cannot feel like going to sleep tonight till I write a few lines to you, although I mailed a letter to you this evening. I did not get a letter from you, but heard through one that Mr. McCloud received that you were not well and were at Mr. McClateheys with Telman. I cannot help feeling very anxious, but am thankful you are where every kindness will be shown you and where you will be made comfortable. When Sis Laura heard that Tilman was there, she said she wished if you did get sick that you might go there too, for that Mr. And Mrs. McClatehy were the very soul of kindness and hospitality. I hope yours may be but a slight sickness, but I fear it may be fever brought on by your over fatigue in moving the sick. May God be merciful unto us and bless us. What a comfort it would be to us both could I be with you now if you are sick. Good night dearest may our Heavenly Father give you health and every other blessing.
Friday 4th- Your kind letter written the 24th was received today Dearest and I feel that I can’t be thankful enough for it and that you were better. I have felt so anxious to hear and also in hopes I would have a letter today and since it came I have felt as light hearted as a child. You will perhaps think me selfish, but I would be so glad if you could find time to write oftener. A week is a long time to me now Dearest and I often wait longer than that for a letter. I was very glad to hear of your appointment that is if you like it and I hope you may. It will give you plenty to do I suppose, but you will be less exposed I hope. Your friends here seem very glad to hear of it. Mr. Johnston told me today that he wrote to you yesterday by Young I believe. I am always glad when I hear of anyone writing to you, since I know that letters give you pleasure. I mail a letter to you every Tuesday, but I know you will be glad to get letters from the others too. I cannot think you get all my letters, at least you have not acknowledged them all, but judging from the dates I think I have received all of yours.
Monday July 7th , I heard from you today again by Irving Moore and feel so thankful that you are better, and I feel that I cannot be thankful enough that you found such kind friends to care for you and such a pleasant place to stay instead of having to go to the hospital. If you see Mrs. McClatehy again tell her for me how much I thank her for her motherly kindness to my husband. I cant help wishing that I could see her myself. When I told Fan. of your being sick she said she thought if Father had to be sick and be in the bed he might come here and lie in the bed just as well and I quite agreed with her. She wanted to know of me too if I didn’t think Uncle Lyle could go there and give you some medicine to make you well and then get back before the yankees would shoot him. If you don’t gain your strength right away I should think you might come home for awhile dearest, how my heat pounds at the thought, but if you should come home I hope it may not take me by surprise, for I feel as if I could hardly bear it at all. It seems to me the joy would be so great that it would be painful. Many a time since you left I have almost wished that I had never given my consent to your joining and then you would have been with me yet, but since this order for the conscripts has been received I have felt very glad that you went when you did. Jule Siler’s company of Rangers was filled to overflowing early today and there are many more who would be glad to join it if they could. The conscripts have to start tomorrow week, and I feel so sorry for those who have to give up their friends on so short a notice. I fear that many a poor family will suffer next winter for the very necessaries of life. People here are just beginning to lay by their corn and very many will have to leave with their crops unfinished, some of them probably without seeing any way to have them finished. When I heard that Moore had come home I was in hopes he had brought me a letter, but it was most too soon for you to write again, but do write as often as you can my husband, and if you are sick get some one else to write so that I may hear from you, for I feel so anxious when I don not get letters as often as I think I ought too. Gene and Mr. Johnston went up the creek Saturday and have not got back yet. Siss Laura and I talk of going up some Friday evening after (?) comes home and stay until Monday. I should have been up there before this I expect if the children had been well. Ralph has played a little out of doors with the other children the last few days and it does look so good to see him trying to run and showing an interest in what the children do to amuse him. He coughs hard yet, but seems very well except that, has a good appetite and is gaining strength and flesh all the time. I can bring a smile to his face at anytime by mentioning Father. Nettie was telling me the other day about Fathers going to the spring to get water and taking the leaves out of the spring. Good night Dearest it is after eleven o’clock May our Fathers (?) blessing rest upon you my own, my precious husband.
Jasey
Charleston, Ten. July 3rd 1862
My Dear Wife,
As I have just written you a letter & mailed it this evening & have since recd. the glad news of our success & great victory near Richmond & Lt. Anderson is writing & Capt. Strange who is in command is going to send a courier to Cleveland to night so that the news may reach Murphy Saturday. I thought I would write you the news. McCleland made a stand about 45 miles from Richmond was reinforced & fought a desperate fight was mortally wounded & he and his hole Army was took prisoners. The Yankee loss fifty thousand, our loss not known but great, this is considered reliable here & you ought to have heard the Vols. holler. We all are lively & felt like day has broken on the South & that our Independence will now be established & peace once more prevail & we will soon be with our loved ones at home In peace with he Yankees.
Bud Young has just come from the Louden hospital, he is looking quite thin I shall try & get him furloughed, though he don’t want to leave yet until Joe Sorrels recovers, I hope he will get well. But he is very low. The Dr. thinks probably he is better this evening. I have nothing else to write so I close. I will write again in a day or too.
Ever your husband, A.W. Bell
Franklin July 3rd 1862
My Dear Husband,
I write you a few lines as Mr. Young is starting to you, although I have nothing to write as I have written so often. I wrote you by Gibs and then once since he started by mail. I am afraid that you will get tired of getting so many letters when they contain nothing. I received your letter dated June 23 last Tuesday morning was sorry to hear that you had the bellyache. Matt says the next time you take it to get you an empty whiskey keg and roll on it, perhaps you can get an empty one if you have none full. We are all able for our notions although Fannie has the roseola. she was broke out as thick as she could be yesterday it has pretty well gone in today, it does not make her sick at all. Sallie is swelled up under the ears I thought it is only cold as she does not seem to get any worse. Our sweet little babe is well and she is the sweetest thing you ever saw she grows fast and seems to take notice of everything. She laughed out loud at Matt this morning. I know you will love her when you see her. Sallie is quite an interesting child everyone that sees her seems to take a fancy to her. She has just had her face washed and her head combed and put on clean clothes and she says if you was here that you would kiss her. She is nearly as vain as her Pa. When I tell her to go out at night she comes back and says Ma smell of my breath and see if I have piddled. She has some strange notions that are quite funny. We went to Mr. Crewes the other day after cherries she eyed him very close and I listened for her to say something about that big man. Old Aunt Sissy Banks is dead she had paralytic stroke. Alfred Angels boy is at home, Bob Bingham is also at home. I paid Gudger the money. He said he was going to start back next Sunday and talked like he would take Bob with him. I reckon he wants to pay him up for taking him. We have news here of another big fight at Richmond our side victorious, old Stonewall had a hand in it. I am afraid our company will not come off as light as they did before. The boys speak of starting back next week I don not know what time. Joe got a letter from Sam last mail written the 20th the pickets were fighting some then , it seems General Hallic was a little too late with his grand army he may stay now and guard Washington City.
Write me as soon as you find out what Coleman is going to do. Lizzie Woodfin and Mrs. Bob Slagle had a quarrel about Coleman the other day, Lizzie for and Mrs. Slagle against him so you see your fusses have reached here. If it was not for your men I would beg you to resign, but I recon I would be doing wrong. If you live till winter I want you too anyhow, men or no men. I cannot do without you much longer. It does seem so strange to look at your likness and think how long it has been since I saw the original. O how much longer will I have to wait before I will have that greatest of pleasures, not long I do hope. I must close this scrawl.
Believe me as ever your true devoted wife.
Mary