Louden, Ten. July 6th 1862
My Dear Wife,
I recd. Your note by Gibs night before last, though I had got a letter from you later date than that. I was glad to recd the coat, vest & shoes. The shoes are very nice & fits very well. I think they will suit me very well to visit the ladys in & from present indication I shall visit one in Macon, as they have that is Col. Coleman took my sword from me today, will court martial me soon, together with others. There was 13 officers of us signed a petition asking him to resign his position as Col. He has had 5 of us arrested that is took our swords and suspended us of our commands. We are having a big time over it. Nobody scared no body fears the consequence no body asks any favors. We wanted this thing to come up so that we could have an investigation of facts as they are. Those that are under arrest now, Capts. Strange & Crawford, Lts. Bristole, Wholebrooks & myself. Those that will be arrested I reckon is Capts. Walker & Slougher, Lts. Roane, Anderson, Smith, Siler, Brooker & Kilpatrick. This is what we want. They may cashier us but we will show the rascality of a good many, who pledge their honor & everything that is right for office & then not comply. Don’t be uneasy about me. I am able to take care of myself & Co. I am for Comp B’s rights, If it costs my commission & all that I am worth. Jas. Roane & Mr. Pendland got here Friday will start back in the morning, they will give all the particulars. We recd. Orders to come to this place Friday evening, its about 40 miles below here. Mr. Pendland & Jas. Roane put horses aboard the cars & came up with us. I am glad they are here as there will be so many tails going, they know the particulars. All our boys are particular, wont stay if we leave, enough on this. The pants you sent fits very well. I today Sunday draped myself in the best I have. Wont but the boys call me Capt. I tell them to call me prisoner Bell. I think with my new shoes, new pants & new linen coat, that Aunt Roane sent William & he did not want it & I took it. I look all together lovely & neat & if you could see me you would certainly fall in love with me.
As to the war we got no war news today more than I wrote you, only McCleland is not prisoner or was not a day or two ago but offered to surrender on conditions that he kept his arms. Our forces refused to except his surrender, we think this fight over before now. I recd a letter from Samey dated 23, he was well then did not speak of any of the boys being sick, but poor fellows. Gibs saw two men from the 16th going home who was wounded. They lived in Haywood & Henderson. They say their Regt. was cut to pieces & that there was but few men left in Robisons Company when they left though some was coming in who fell on the road. Their brigade brought on the attack by double quicking 4 miles & a great many fell from exhaustion. I wish it was so I could get up there. W. H. Thomas is gone & Nute Bryson, I wish Beng would go. We think this whipping will bring about a piece soon. Gibs starts in the morning thinks probably he will go to Richmond. I will close as it getting late & I want to give Mr. Penland a copy of our petition & Colemans charge. Write me soon & often. Direct to this place, this is not so good a place to stay at as Charleston was. There is more torys down here than at Charleston, our Regt. is all together here. My love to all, kiss my babys.
Believe me your true loving husband. Alf
Louden, Ten. July 15th 1862
My Dear Wife,
As Mr. Berry will start home in the morning I though I would write you again. I wrote you by Mr. Penland & Jas. Roane & have recd. no letters from you since. I don’t feel that I am due you a letter now but the opportunity affords & I write, though I have but little news to write at present no war news. I recd. a letter from Beng yesterday evening giving me some of the particulars about our boys at Richmond. I was glad to hear that our brothers was safe but sorry to hear that some of our friends fell & others wounded. As to the health of my company its much better though than it has been though I have some sick. Joe Sorrels at Charleston is improving & I hope he will get well. I have 2 in the hospital here John Guy & Richard Gladwell. Guy is able to be up, Gladwell is bad off & I fear will have a bad spell before he gets well, all the rest are in camp, 2 or 3 complaining & on the sick list. Crawfords Camp is having a tough time. I believe he has the smallest Co. in the Regt. for duty although he bragged when he first came that he had the best Co. in the Regt. & he would be ashamed to go on dress parade with as small a Co. as I had. He has lost 6 men. There has been one dies each night for the passed 3 nights at Charleston, Tenn. William Hester died last night. He has several men that is very low. I suppose you have heard of our arrest, we are still under arrest. I don’t know when our trial will come off. They may cashier us, though I don’t believe it yet & if the right of petition is debarred from us as a free people & fighting for our rights, I want to be cashiered. I don’t want nor, I won’t fight for such freedom or such a government. So I am just as lousy as a man can be. I understand that Gen. E. K. Smith says that our petition is a mutinous seditious letter & that we certainly are very ignorant of military law & such men are not fit to hold office in the southern confederacy. If he has said this I think him unworthy the position he occupies. A man of his grade has not right or power to express an opinion that would have influence on a court martial &if it is true & they don’t cashier us I will resign. I will not serve under such a man that is usurping the same power that a king has & I will not serve under such men. I had rather be an equal of a negro & be allowed to ask for what was my rights as free people, than to be deprived of those libertys. I never will fight for any government that excludes the right of petition, but enough of this. I am not scared nor do I care. I only hate to leave my boys under such a scoundrel as our Col. So you need not be surprised to see me at home before long & I understand that we draw our money in a few days, I shall be glad of that. You have never said anything about my money you have paid for me. Gibs says he paid you ten dollars that I loaned Guy & Ballew also if you paid Gudger & Stuman & Ammons & how Batey is getting along farming, or how our clover is doing & the cows & pigs, wife & babeys & all of these things. I like to hear from & how your garden is doing & if you have any potatoes & beans & all about these good things .
July 16th , I have just recd. yours of the 12th , I saw you were at your Paps & had your babys with you & all well. I am still prisoner of war & don’t know how long I will have to remain as such, we are expecting council from Knoxville every day. I have been very busy today making our pay rolls, I suppose we will get 3 months pay instead of 5 which is due us. Richard Gladwell is very sick. I have been to the hospital yesterday morning. I hope he will get better soon. One of Crawfords men George Evans is thought to be dying. He was brought up from Charleston a few days ago to the hospital here & was thought to be improving then but I suppose there is no hope for him how. There is 5 or 6 of Crawfords men got furloughs this morning & and some have started home. I tried to get Alex Berry furloughed but have failed for the want of Colemans signature. He has not been able for duty for 4 months. But that don’t wake any difference with Coleman so he belongs to Co. B & cannot have any furlough, vengeance, vengeance is against him & when an opportunity affords old debts will be settled in full, God grant the time to come our fears is peace on the battle that our wrongs may be avenged, enough of this no body scared though I think some of the officers are willing to back down as I understand Coleman is willing for any to take their names off the petition that wishes to do so. I expect to stand out if it cost my commission, unless he will transfer my Co. then I am willing to let the poor devil go.
Sweet Brier, (Hill?), July 19, 1862
General Smith
Honored Sir,
Pardon my seeming wont of form on etiquette, in this communication from a plain woman but comsuffer I will try to be brief.
Twelve months ago I laid my child upon the altar of his country, believing we had a just cause and an honorable government to sustain and defend. He is a lad and ought not to have left his books and school, but the fire of patriotism burned in his young heart and his mother gave him a willing sacrifice. He went to my childhood’s home, where the dust of my parents sleep, to dear old Virginia and joined Col. Vaughns Regt. The 2nd Tenn. I will not speak of the toils and hardship of the soldier, you know it all and my poor boys emaciated countenance and wasted frame tell the effect it has had on him. He did not reinlist nor take the bounty, because I saw he could stand no more; His time expired on the 6th of June. On that day those of the Regiment who had not reinlisted applied for a discharge, Col. Vaughn and others of the officers told them he could not discharge them, but he had no power to hold them any longer. My son started home immediately he had been suffering for weeks but thought he would try and stay until his time was out that he might get home and stay in peace, until he got well, He broke down by the way and we sent for him. He was enough to make a mothers heart ache to see her child return in such a condition. But I thanked God for his life. But alas he can not remain in peace one and another report and threat comes. At last he joined the 39th North Carolina Regt. A company of which Regt. was then stationed at Charleston near our residence in which he met with several schoolmates and friends. I know nothing of Army rules and regulation, but my understanding was that where the Conscript Bill was enforced twelve month volunteers had the privilege of joining where they pleased. But as the Bill is not enforced in East Tenn. at all. I can but think hard of this government, for dragging my poor boy who has already given one of his best years, his health and his constitution to its service from his home to suffer and die in camps or in some hospital. And to crown all his name comes out with others in todays Knoxville Register as a deserter. O thou just and holy God, is it thus, the mothers of the south are to be repaid for the sacrifice of their best treasures in thy defense in the defense of freedom!!! A mother appeals to you for victory, you are Maj. Genel. Of this department and have the power to protect me and my child form insult and injury. My husband is crippled and cannot go to see you. I am confined at home with him & other sick ones.
My son John Lee McClately is dispatched to night, I sent him out when I might have kept him, his constitution is ruined, he is almost prostrate. The surgeon of the Regt sent him home the other day from Loudon, after examination, pronouncing him to have Rheumatism and liver complaint, he is worn down to a skeleton and suffering. I do not wish to screen my son unnecessarily or I would have kept him at home when I could have done so, at first all I ask is the exercise of justice and humanity from the government. Military authority I suppose may drag him off from his home to camps, on to prison and he can die in disgrace, as a deserter, but who will be benefited.
But I do not believe you will sanction such proceedings and I beg you to interpose your authority. My son as I said did not reinlist in Col., Vaughns Regt, he has a sick furlough from the surgeon of the 39th N. Carolina Reg. Is it not unjust , unfair and unsoldeir like, for him to be published as a deserter, after he has given his health almost his life to his country. I will conclude Kind Sir by begging you for humanitys sake to look into this affair, let justice be done and honor and truth vindicated.
Oh kind sir please pardon this incoherent scrawl, my heart is full I can scarcely write at all I believe you to be a high toned honorable gentleman possessing a true soldier heart, that can appreciate the feelings of a mother under the circumstances I have endeavored to relate them. I will endeavor to get this to you bye the hand of some friend, I have no hope it would reach you through the P.O. and shall wait with anxiety for you decision. I hope you will send me some order on paper that will screen my child from further inhumanity, from inferior officers, until he recovers his health, or if it is God’s will till he dies.
Very Respectfully,
Minerva L R. McClately
Maj. Gen.- Smith
Louden, Ten. July 19th 1862
My Dear Wife,
As John Reid starts home in the morning I thought I would write you a short & uninteresting letter, as I have no news of much interest to write. I have just arrived back from the great city of Knoxville. Our lord and master Col. give me permission to go up yesterday evening on business & return this evening. Crawford & Reid was also up. Knoxville is 30 miles above here. It takes from 2 to 3 hours to go. I bought you an apple peeler. Crawford & Reid also bought one we supposed that our wives wanted to dry fruit & as we could not be there to help them we thought we would send them a machine that would be of great help. If you will only learn to use it, which I hope you may as it will save a great deal of labor. Reid will take them home. When you wish to peel for drying you must take the knife off & cut the core out with the core cutter. Well I saw 45 Yankee officers prisoners today. They was captured last Sunday by Col. Forrest at Mufeesboro, our forces took the hole command there & every thing they had. They think they destroyed a half of million dollars worth of property there, our loss was 13 killed several wounded the Yankee loss was about 120 killed, several wounded all captured. The men was paroled the officers retained & on their way to Knoxville. The Yankee Com. Was Gen. Crittendon of Indiana, a brigadier general. The rest Cols, Capts, Lts. & Doctors, they are a fine looking set of men, well uniformed. One Regt. From Michigan was one of the finest best drilled Regt in Linclondom. It was reported when I was at Knoxville that the Yankees Pickets was in 8 miles of Knoxville & our pickets had been fighting them yesterday. I hardly think they are that close, our boys say they heard cannonading today. I think it was thunder as it has been raining here for several days. I should not be surprised if there is a fight in E. Ten. before long. Col. Morgan is doing good work in Ky. Also Col. Stevens, they are terrors to the Yankees.
As Reid will go home & I have drawn 2 months pay I believe I will pay you what I owe you. I will send you one hundred and fifty dollars. I think that is about what you had paid for prisoner Bell. I drew 260, I will keep the bal. for self & company. Well Capt. Strange & my self saw a very eminent lawyer, O.P. Temples, he laughs at the Cols. charges, as we had written Col. Boxter he thought that was a laugh , but if Boxter wished he would assist. He makes very light of Colemans charges & thinks he ought to resign. He is not thought much of at Knoxville, I believe Crawford is out. I think he has corrupted, before I will buckle when my men demands me to stick, Ill loose my commission dishonorably & quit the service. I am for Co. B. right or wrong. I promised to stick too them & while I am their Capt. & I have my senses you will always hear that I am for Co. B.
The health of my Co. is pretty good, all up except R. C. Gladwell & Joe Sorrels, poor Joe its reported that he is dead I don’t know how true it is though. I hope not. Dr. Warren came up yesterday evening & thinks there is no chance for him hardly. Richard Gladwell is no better he is very dangerous though there is hope yet. He is here in the hospital. John Guy is in the hospital here but able to knock around, he has jaundice all the rest in camp only the nurses. I am anxious to begin to see some of my sick at home recover & return back. It makes me proud to see my sick get well & return back. I don’t think the boys need to dread our Col. I think we will give him a belly full before he is through. I will stop as it late, all gone to bed. I wish I had my dear to sleep with, but never mind after while, those things will come unto me. My love to all my relations & friends, howdy Lyze, Lyza, Barbara, kiss my babys for me & consider me a true devoted husband.
Alf
PS – If you will send your revolving breast pin, I will have Jeffs likeness put in it for you. Alf
July 20, I have powerful & sad news this morning Richard C. Gladwell died, 20 minutes of 12 o’clock this morning. He died unexpectedly to us all, though we knew he was low and dangerous, but did not think death so near. All was done for him that could be done, he dies mourned and lamented by all who new him. He had not an enemy in camp. It seems that the destroying hand of death selects from among the best. Every man that has died in my Co. has been from the noblest, we have not heard from Joe Sorrels since day before yesterday. I fear he is dead I have a few sick that I shall try & get furloughed. I have no war news this morning only 2 regts come here this morning. They say that they understand that the Yankees are going to attack this place. I don’t believe it, though it would be a very important place if the Yanks could get it & burn the bridge as it is 600 yds long & very high was it destroyed it would take a considerable while to repair it & would injure our connection with Richmond very much, but we have no fears we are ready for them.
Ill stop as I must see about the coffin & attend to having a box made to put the coffin into.
Tell Joe I am waiting his letter to come. Did you get the paper & powder that I sent in my knapsack? I have not heard from you since you got home. I have not recd any letter from Sam or Mike yet. I wrote them both just before the battle. I feel like I should be glad to be with you this Sabbath morning. I have a cousin living here by the name of Wils Bell. I have not seen him yet, he is a son of Uncle Hartwell Bell, has been living here several years. I shall come home when I get through with the Col. or he can spare me. I hope he will be able to spare me a while before long, so I close write me often, kiss my sweet little babys for me and ever believe me worthy of so a good a wife as your self. I remain your true devoted.
Alf
No date (these were next in the line up)
Tommy Calloway will start home in a day or too. He has had measles & is to have a furlough also, they wanted him to start this morning but he says he is not able to go yet. Josh Franks started today. I suppose that there will be plenty from the regt. to convert Miss Lizy Woodfin that our Col. Is not a gentleman & has not treat his men as such. It has not made her any votes here. I would not be surprised if Old Calley Campbell gets a fair divide here, we are against any body that is for our Col. I wish I had Co. B out from this Regt. was it not for them I would resign before sundown. I got a few lines from Joe in your letter. I had heard that he had gone back to his Co. I don’t think he could be of much service there & he had better stay until he gets well. I have recd. no letters from Mike or Samey since the fight. I have no war news only Morgan has routed 270 Pennsylvanians in Ky, killing 30 capturing 30, wounding 40 & took their leader a Maj., their wagons, clothing, arms & comisarys & I had rather be a private under such a man as Capt. under our Col. As I believe him to be everything but a gentleman & a brave soldier.
(Another odd page)
At 10 o’clock tonight there is great excitement in camp tonight, in consequence of the Pay master refusing to pay our men their pay & bounty. The report is that they will only pay those off that was mustered for pay, while we was camped at Clinton, there was but few of our men present the large majority being sick, I hope it will be settled & the men paid off, though the men swear they will leave. I am keeping Co. B quite. I understand some say they will start tonight I think they ought not act to rashly yet. If the confederacy refuses to pay them, our commander ought to call on North Carolina & if she refuses then disband our men.
Our poor men & a great many have familys at home to support & they cannot get their wages to support their family, their familys ought to have the benefit of their labor. Coleman has at last signed Jas. Berrys furlough. He & his father will start in the morning for home. I feel like I should be glad to bed up with you and the cubs tonight. I am glad you think she is so sweet, probably it will make you think of her dad, he is sweet too and Dad thinks the babes Ma is sweet. I always like some sweet things myself, I would like to be with you tonight, good night pleasant dreams. Alf
(Another page)
as Mr. Berry will start in the morning I will send this letter by him. I will write you often & shall expect letters often. I sent you a bat of paper and some envelopes & you cannot have any excuse for not writing. I want you to get both of my guns home, though I suppose Gibs left the one he had, I want the one De has brought home, get Joe to clean & oil them up & not let anybody have them. I sent a quart of powder home & Joe can shoot squirrels & birds I gave 40 dollars for the one that I sent by Gibs. Bob Hester has just come from Charleston, he went down & saw his brother die and saw him buried, he says Joe Sorrels is still improving slowly, I am so glad I hope he will get well. Bob Hester thinks Foiner & probably Brindle will die at Charleston, the measles are very dangerous in camps. I think every mother should try & get their children to ketch measles while they are young. I never want to take another company out & have to go through measles in camp I will stop as I cannot think of anything else to write, tell President to think of me often & especially in cider drinking, though I should not be surprised if I am with you before long, my love to relations & friends, kiss my babys often for me think of me as a true loving husband.
Alf