Madisonville Monroe Co., Tenn. March 29th 1862
My Dear Wife
I write you a few lines to let you know how I have got along since I left home. We got to Alex Mondays the first night after spending 2 ½ hours at John Silers, where was prepared a first rate diner for us. The next day to Jas. Brysons at Murphy. We there learned that there was no fight at Jacksboro. Only some of the Ten. Cavalry had acted traitor that was there, coleagued with other torys from Tenn. & Kentuckains & a few Lincolnites & stole some of the others horses, there being only 3 or 4 companys, they became alarmed & ran & reported what Kelly wrote me. Our forces was ordered there & got to Clinton & there learned the true condition & stopped. The other regiments were then ordered to Kingston some 30 miles down the river. Where they expect the yanks will try to pass in to East Ten. Our reg. is still at Clinton left there to guard that place & I suppose to watch by creek gap. I stayed last night with Dr Warren who left our reg 2 days ago. He don’t think we will have any fight there soon if at all. The yankees made a little attack on Cumberland Gap the other day, but was repelled with no loss on our side. There has also been a big fight in Virginia up towards Leesburg, by Gen. Jackson. The result is not known, as there is two reports. One is the yanks retreated, the other is Jackson retreated. Our loss about 200 hundred the yanks not known but supposed much greater. Beauregard & the yanks has been cannonading for several days at island number 10 on the Mississippi River for several days. The southerns have sunk 2 of the yanks gun boats, our damage is slight. We have took our time since we left Murphy, got there 9 miles off the railroads & found we would have to stay until tomorrow 12 or 5 o’clock & as this is much the cheapest & pleasant place we concluded to stay here until morning & go early, so we have got a good rest.
We will take the cars tomorrow for Knoxville & then it is 20 miles out there. I don’t know how we will git out there. There is a rail road 10 miles out that way for the purpose of bringing wood, probably we will take that & then our feet probably will have to take us the balance of the way. I am in very good spirits now, but the first night I left home Berick got sick, colic & me feeling sad. I felt as though bad luck was my lot, this visit home, either water bound, broke down or a sick horse was my lot. I wish the Blue Ridge Railroad was built. I now have been 4 days & have got about 100 miles from home & have hurt Bericks back. I know Pa will not like it, but I have tried every way to prevent it, got Jas. Gladwell to carry by saddlebags but the saddle would hurt in spite of anything I could do. I want you to cheer up & be in good spirits. If Coleman is not expecting a fight or order he will let me go home soon again & if you in your confinement have such a time as you did when Fannie was a baby, Ill come, If I have to resign my office. There is no cotton cards here. There is some Macaboy snuff at 75 per lb., if you can look for Lice Setsers account & send Tom Calloway up & git you some. I had rather you would use it than smoke. When Tom starts off with Crawford give him a few dollars as a present for making you fires or if you could buy a blanket from Aunt Roane it would do him more good than a few dollars. I can not think of anything else to write you. Tell Pa to try & buy that land from Youngs & if he fails to try old Jesse Siler for all between my land & the road to Dobsons land, also see that my clover seed is sowed. If you see Noth Allman tell him that the foundry is stopped at Tilico Plains, so he cannot get any pots there. Jim will go with us to the rail road in the morning & start home tomorrow. Ill close I feel that I will be at home again soon. I will write you soon after I get to camp. I can not tell where for you to direct your letters, but I reckon the boys have written where to direct. Pleasant dreams & a contented mind is the wish of your loving husband.
A.W. Bell
My love to Matt & relations, kiss my babeys for me & tell them not to forget me. I have told Jim to buy them 2 spelling books. If he does you will pay him for them. They are a new kind.
A.W. Bell
Camp Vaughn near Clinton, Tenn. Apr 2nd 1862
My Dear Wife
I write you this morning, as I will have an opportunity to send it to Knoxville today. The mail being stopped to Clinton. Anderson & myself landed in camps on day before yesterday evening. Col. Owens got sick & was left at Madison to go back home if he got able to travel, which I hope he did. I found several of my boys sick though. They had been sent to Knoxville before I got here. None dangerous when they left camps. There is several of my boys in camps complaining, but still able to go. The foolish force march had been the cause of 2 deaths in our regt, I have no doubt. One is in Capt. Stranges & the others in Capt. Davidisons comp & has caused us to have to send about 50 of our regt back to the hospital at Knoxville. I have nothing to write you of interest. There is no present prospects of a fight at this place. I have just heard from the boys that was sent to the hospital at Knoxville. They are all improving that is my boys. I understand that Isaac Henry who went into the country yesterday evening is quite sick this morning, puking & purgin. I have sent a horse & wagon for him. I shall no let any more go out to be gone all night again. The news form Knoxville this morning is that our forces & the yanks are fighting at Corinth. I know not the trueness or the result. My trunk was left at Knoxville & I fear it & contents. If so I have nothing in the clothing only what I have on also my blankets was left that is all of my war utensils. I had some money that belonged to one of my boys in it. I fear my visit home was a costly one. I thought it cost me enough with out loosing my trunk & blanket. The wagons will soon be here & I will kow more about it, probably all is right I hope so, if it never is. I will wait & see if the wagons bring my things
Well the wagons have come & my trunk is not in the wagons nor my blankets. I fear they are lost. If so I think my boys who was in charge of the trains & some driving ought to have a bumping for they saw it & say they put it in the wagon. I am too mad to write more on that subject. I have nothing else to write. My sick boys that was sent to Knoxville is all better.
I will write you again in a few days. Direct your letters to Knoxville, thats where all our letters must be sent. Ill close my love to Matt & relations, kiss my babys. I remain ever your devoted true loving husband.
A.W. Bell
PS I have heard nothing from our boys in Virginia, so I know nothing of them, good bye.
A.W. Bell
(This note was next in line up and contains no date)
My dear little one
I wish to see you very much this morning as I have another apple house chat for you There is someways that I wish you to act and others that I don’t wish to act and as you pretend to place confidence in any judgement I expect to say what I please. Mollie I have lived a long time to be no older that I be. You must come.
Your oldest
Friend Moll
Miss M. E. Gray
Franklin April 4th 1862
My Dear Husband
I seat myself to answer your kind and much welcome letter received by the hand of Mr. Gladwell. I feel quite tired and very little like writing although it is a pleasant task to write to my dear husband, but I have been quite busy today helping to get my corn shelled out and put in a box up stairs. Ben is down here buying up bacon and wanted the room the corn was in to put his bacon in and I concluded to shell my corn out and put it up stairs. Leon found out we were shelling and loaned us his sheller so we got it shelled out pretty quick. I am trying to get along the best I can and trying to keep in good spirits, but it is very hard to do. I find myself almost despairing sometimes and it requires all that I can do to see for one moment a bright side to the picture. I feel so bad about your having to go back so soon that I can hardly get over it sometimes. I think perhaps it is all for the best maybe you will get to come again soon, when it will suit better than if you had stayed longer this time. There is one thing I beg of you not to do for my sake that is not to enlist. I can look forward now to that time when if you live you can come home and stay, but if you were to enlist I could have no set time and I would be so miserable. Ben says for you not to enlist and if you have any love for me please do not. Mr. Crawfords Company is ordered to your regiment they are looking for a man to muster them in today which is Saturday and speaking of starting next Wednesday. I got Charlie to work for me one day and have got everything that I want planted now, I paid him in irish potatoes. I have not found out whether Baty has sowed your clover seed or not but I guess he has. Pa is going to let me have some flax seed and some sugar cane seed. I am going to have my flax and sugar cane sowed in this lot here. The land is so poor over yonder that Tom has to work that I am afraid that it will not bring flax. Tom says that Baty has got all the best land. Tom went down the river after Ben a load of bacon, got back yesterday and I think he got seed oats. He wants to go to sowing Monday if he can get the chance. I heard Ben talking to your Pa about starting Tom and the team off with a load of bacon. I told them I thought he ought to go to work over yonder, if he was going to do anything this summer. I do not know what they will do. I do not think Ben cares much whether anybody else gets anything done or not so he is making. I had to let Ben have $3.00 of your money today to buy bacon. He says he will pay it back when I want it. I told your Pa about that land. I reckon the Youngs do not want to sell. They have never been to town since you left. I do not know whether your Pa will say anything to Mr. Siler or not. He says he does not expect that he would want to sell that land. Dee got a stove the other day. He did not take the (?) stove, he got the other one at $40 dollars. I think it is a very good stove. He wanted me to swap with him and pay the boot, but I was afraid to do it, for fear I might get cheated although I liked the size of his the best. Leon told me if he was me he would swap, but Dee said he would not dare swap me, for fear it might not prove to be good and you would not like it. He has most quit coming to town. He has not been here in several days until today. I seen him come in just now. Where is that note of Blakelys on Nolen? Ben and me hunted for it but could not find it. I think Nolen wants to pay it off to Dr Rush, as Dr Rush came in here with Ben when he come to hunt for it. I am so glad to hear that you do not expect to be in a fight soon. I hope that you may never have to be in one, although it would be a great thing to talk about if a person could go through safe, but that is a wish I do not want you to have. I wish you all would hang all of the tories where you are as fast as you come to them. I believe it ought to be done. Ben took out the letter that came to you from Gibs McDowel. I am afraid from the way that he writes that you will see hard times. He says that they have nothing to eat and nothing to eat it with. He said you might think they were having good times but smart men would disagree sometimes. I hope you will not have to stay there long if you can get to a better place. I will send this letter by the Murphy mail as Gibs letter came that way. I shall look for a letter from you soon and fear as that is all the comfort I can expect. Do not forget to have your likeness taken if you have the chance. The children are well. Ben has shaved their heads and they have turned barefooted. Fannie cried a long time the day you left. They talk of you often. I will close, as my sheet is full. Do not forget your wife and babys for I do assure you they will not forget you. I hope it will not be long before I will have the pleasure of seeing you. I am as ever your true devoted wife.
Mary
Ask Sidney Slagle about the money he sent by you. They got a letter from him the other day and he said he sent ten dollars by you and it was not in the letter you brought, perhaps he gave it to you to put in your pocket. I spent the day there Tuesday.
April 6th 1862 Tenn.
Camp Vaughn near Clinton
My Dear Wife
As George Moore is going to Knoxville this evening I thought I would write you a few lines. I intended writing you yesterday from Knoxville but I was so busy that I did not have time. I went there to hunt up my trunk & blankets. I found my trunk sitting on the sidewalk where it was left by our wagoners on Monday, as it happened there was a guard close by, which saved it from being plundered, that was very lucky for me. I have found all of my blankets but one. I think I have been very lucky as the most of our boys have lost the most of their clothing. I think this force march out here was a most disgraceful thing that has happened us or can soon. It has been the cause of many deaths & will I fear be the cause of many more. Our regt has lost 4 & I think there is at least one hundred & fifty sick. There is none dead from my company yet though I have about thirty sick. I have sent about 25 to the hospital at Knoxville. I saw them all yesterday. They was all improving none dangerous. I sent some this morning & there is some still sick in camp. The others companys have as many & some more than I have. I intend to do everything in my power for my sick & I know the best thing I can do for them is to send them to Knoxville. They have the best hospital & the best prepared to take care of the sick of any hospital I ever saw in any hospital. I always send a good attentive fellow to wait on them. Although my boys dread the hospital but when they go & see the accommodations they are well pleased & glad they went. I have but little war news to write. The yankees have fell back from Corinth. Col. Vaughn had a fight a few days ago in Scott County. That is the adjoining county to this. He whipped a reg of Ten. & Ky. traitors, killed about 40 took 18 prisoners & 150 horses & a lot of provisions. I suppose you are about as well posted on the war as I am so I will say no more on that. I wrote you in day or too after I got here & give you the particulars of my trip. I learn that Col. Owen went back home. When he comes, I want you to send me 2 boxes percussion caps, if you have not sold them all. I have got me a gun & caps is scarce & I want to shoot squirrels occasionally & I have to buy my own ammunition & caps is scarce. I think squirrels & birds is all we will have to shoot here, though I don’t know how long we will stay here. I have not had a letter from any of our boy s of Angels Company. Dr. Roane got a letter from Mike some time ago, saying he failed to git a transfer to our reg. The Col. has written to Raleigh to have Crawfords Company attached to us. I don’t know whether they will or not as we are 12 months troops & they are for the war. I now don’t think one of my boys will reenlist now until our time is out, then we will do, as we like. So you need not be uneasy about me reenlisting now. I am very anxious to take my little flock to my farm, have a nice house & a loving wife & children around me, then my pigs & calves & chickens & my clover patch. I think I shall be contented & happy. I feel that the day is not far distant when this will be. I had like to forgot to tell you to send me that sword of Henry Rays that I had at home & pay him eight dollars, though I think he ought to take six. Send by Col. Owen on the first safe chance. I must close as George is waiting on me to finish. Hand this note to Col. Owens as soon as possible. My love to Matt & relations & friends & kiss my babeys for me. Write me every week & direct to Knoxville until further orders. I expect soon to be blessed with a fine son & then I think I will come & see you & it. Where is John Moore & what is the number of his regt? Where is Beng? Has Baty sowed my seed? My paper is out & Ill close. I remain ever your true loving husband until death.
A.W. Bell
PS I will write you again in a few days.
Camp Vaughn near Clinton, Tenn. April 11th 1862
My Dear Wife
I write you a few lines to night as I can send it to Knoxville in the morning though I know it will be old by the time it reaches you. This is Friday & you cannot get it before next Friday. I have nothing strange to write you from here more than I have written you. We are having a great deal of sickness in our regiment at this time. We have but about 210 men able for duty out of about 600. There is about 35 of my boys sick. I have sent about 30 to the hospital at Knoxville where they can be cared for. They are attended there very well. I send nurses to wait on them and I hope they will soon recover. I heard from them yesterday & they was all improving. I don’t think any of them is dangerous though some have been very sick. Jas. Martin came very near dying a few days ago. He fainted & we like to have not been able to get up reaction. I tell you we worked like good fellows. The sweat dropped off me quite freely. He lay 2 or 3 hours, part of the time he had no pulse at all. He had been complaining of headache for a day or too & was taken very violently & was bled, felt sick & a few hours afterwards fainted, next morning was able to get up & felt better. I had him took to the hospital at Knoxville. I shall go to see them in a few days. Our camp has been very fortunate so far. We have lost none yet. Bryan has lost 1, Davidson 5 or 6, Gains 3 or 4, Strange 2 or 3. I shall do all in my pwer for my sick & their comfort & welfare. We have been in service 6 months & only 4 months is gone of our time. We tried our companys today for reenlisting but 2 in the regt joined. None of my boys joined & wont until our time is out. . I reckon you like to hear that very well. We want some of those fellows at home to have to come & defend their fire sides. We are ready & willing to do our part. Every one of us that joins now saves some scamp at home, so we aint going to do it. We will serve our time out & then do as we like about reenlisting.
We have some glorious war news. We sent Leon the first dispatch, which probably will reach him Tuesday. Our forces have whipped the yanks at Corinth, killed 8 or 10 thousand took prisoners 6 thousand & captured 100 pieces of canon. They was expecting the fight renewed by the yanks today. They had run them back to the Ten. River to their gun boats & it was thought Buell would reinforce them & a another battle would come off today. Grant commanded the yanks, Johnson & Beauregard ours. Johnson was killed, one of our best generals. There was 6 regiments left Knoxville yesterday & today for Corinth, some say to attack Nashville. I hardly think so now, but would not be surprised when the waters fall, so I think the prospects for a fight here a very strong one from present indications. I think they will keep us here to guard this infernal ferry & keep those torys down. We are camped on the bank of Clinch River, one mile from Clinton. We are all mad but cannot help our selves. We are anxious to be ordered to Corinth. Our boys seems to be anxious to face the yanks & keen for a fight.
If Col. Owens comes back soon, tell him to bring all our boys he can, also that sword I wrote you about. It will do in stead of buying a 30 dollar one & a few boxes of percussion caps. Tell De to have all my lumber sawed. I want Pa to have it hauled when the roads are good. Tell him to buy the Young land if he can, if not to try buy that off Mr. Siler that joins mine. I have nothing else to write. Do the best you can & witre me soon. I have not heard from you yet, but am looking a letter from you every day. We recd the Franklin paper yesterday, last weeks issue. I see Thad is at home, John Carson is dead, sorry to hear that. He leaves a wife & a large helpless family of children. Ill close, give my love to Matt & Pa, kiss my babys for me. I remain ever your true loving husband till death.
A.W. Bell
Direct to Knoxville, we have established a daily mail to Knoxville. I will write you again in a few days, kiss my babys offtimes for me & when I come I will settle with you.
Camp Vaughn near Clinton, Tenn.
Monday night Apr 14th 1862
My Dear Wife
Seat myself again to write you a few lines in answer to your very kind enteresting loving letter of the 4 inst, which reached me Saturday evening last. Although I had written you Friday night before your letter found me in common health, but I know not how long it may last, as we have more sickness in our regt than I have ever seen & it don’t appear to get any better. You know I am no alarmist but I have never seen so may sick at once out of our regt. I will now give you the facts in my company. One week ago I had 31 reported for duty. This morning I have 18. Three have taken sick today which leaves 15 able for duty & no telling what morning may bring. Gibs was also taken sick today. My company has been very lucky so far, but out of so many sick I fear some will die. We do all we can for our sick. I have as soon as I found one of my boys was threatened with a protracted case, I have with a few exceptions persuaded them to go to the hospital at Knoxville. Gibs being quartermaster I had no difficulty in getting a wagon to take them & they all are getting well. There is near 40 there. It has been raining everyday for the last week & every other day for the last 2 or 3 weeks. So I have not been able to get some of my sick off for the last few days, on account of rain & high water. Though I hunted up a vacant house about 1 ½ miles from camps & have 4 or 5 in camp none are dangerous I hope yet. Jackee Sellers is the worst now. Dr. Roane thinks his case is going into typhoid. I will now give you the cause. I think from the best I can gather when they left Greenville they was order to prepare 4 day provisions. They took the cars at night, an old open or baggage car & it was a very cold night. All the companys come except Byans Company, which come next day, they faired better. I shall not say what I would have done if I have been there. They got to Knoxville 8 o’clock next morning & Maj. Pierce kept them standing in the mud until 2 o’clock pm & then marched them off, most of them without either tents provisions & but few blankets. They took the mud & weather & lay on the wet ground for 3 or 4 nights, half starved no tents & mud & water 6 inches deep or deeper. Then had them crammed into rock & brick houses for 2 or 3 days & then ordered a retreat one night across the river, which is about 150 yds wide, which took all night mud & water up to their knees. All a cowardly act that connected with our provisions, some times bacon plenty some times none oftener none. Then fresh poor beef, wheat bread baked without soda, grease or anything but salt & water which is next to sole leather, then laying over here on the river guarding the ferry & town without tents or shelter until yesterday we succeeded in getting some tents. We send 30 quard there all the time. Those things I think is the cause of so much sickness. Col. is now trying to get us moved back to Knoxville to recruit our men, don’t know whether he will succeed or not, I hope he may. He is writing tonight to Gen. Smith at Knoxville & to Gen. Ledbetter who we are under at Kingston. I hope he will succeed. Coleman is not so popular as he was when I left. When Crawfords company & one from down the river comes which will join us this week, I expect we will have a new commander. We are to elect somebody in our regt who will see that we get our rights (whiskey to much). We lay at Knoxville 2 or 3 days when our boys left. With the expectations of meeting the yankes at Bull Run 12 miles from town at the Clinton & let Pearce take command who is a fool & has no sense besides. He has rendered himself very unpopular & I should not be surprised as much as I bragged on him if he don’t be beaten for Colonel. Keep this to your selves as he has some very clever relations there, who is good friends of mine so let it pass.
As for war news we have plenty about the great battle at Corinth. Our last accounts say that our side killed wounded & took prisoners twenty thousand took all their canon 100 pieces, another fight expected. The yanks have took Jacksonville on Ten. River, cuts off our RR connection form here to Corinth, also Fort Paluski. The latter wont do them much good & if Beauregard still whips them at Corinth, Jacksonville they cannot hold long. Blakelys notes are in the box that is in Leons safe. D Love’s Dee got here this evening. He is hired to the Col. He says Lenard that run from Macon is drafted (glad). I will close as it late & my sheet is full, will write again in a few days. I want you to write as often as possible. We have a daily mail. My love to Matt, I would be glad of a letter from her, my love to Pa & relations, respects to friends & enquires.
A.W. Bell