Christmas 1863

Near Dalton Ga
Dec 25th 1863

Dear Sister

I will once more write you a few lines as I have an opportunity of sending it by hand, Boot Scott of our company is going to start home on furlough to night. I am well at present and that is all I have time to write for I was busy working on a chimney to our house and Boot said he was going to wait until to marrow but he found out he could get off to night and he is going to start. I have had a very dull Christmas thus far but I have enjoyed myself a great better than I did last Christmas. I had a pretty good dinner to day. Capt Burche’s wife came up to see him to day and brought him several good things to eat and Jim Lee invited me to eat with him and you know I wouldn’t refuse. Well Mary I will have to close as Root is about ready to start. It is now about 8 o clock and I am sitting in my house writing my firelight. So you must excuse bad writing and all mistakes. So nothing more at present. From you affectionate brother,
Arch

December 7th 1863

Camp Near Dalton Ga
December 7th 1863

Dear Sister

I will now endeavor to answer you letter which I received yesterday evening. I was really surprised to see a letter for me for i had come to the conclusion that you had all forgot me but I believe you did make out to think of me once more. I am well at present and enjoying my self as well as could be expected after a shameful thrashing from the Yanks. We get plenty of corn bread and beef but that is about all that we do get. We draw a little sugar and sometimes a few rotten potatoes. Mary I want you to send me a little box of provisions again. Will have to chance to send them for Hamm Webb has written home for his negro and he says if you writer his people that they will let you know when he will come by Brook and fetch a box for me. Get Pa to write to Hamm’s father about it and he will let him know. If he writes tell him to direct the letter to John L. Webb McCall’s Creek PO Franklin and if you send the box be certain not to send me any clothing for I have got as much as I want to carry. I want you to send me some butter and some preserves and some sausages. I don’t know whether that is spelled right or not. If it is not, you know what I want. It is some hog guts with ground meat stuffed in them. And I would like very much to have a corn meal pound cake. Some of the boys got some the other day and you may depend that they were nice. If you send any send one with Alex Curries name on it for the fellow can’t get any of that kind for me home it appears to be at a loss since Neil was captured but I keep plaguing him so much that he is all the time at some mischief. Tell me when you write whether cousin James has moved out yet or not if he is tell Meg that I want her to send me something good to eat for that is all that a soldier ever thinks of is something to eat and when they get their belly full. They lay about and smoke and talk about their sweethearts. Well I have written all of the foolish mess that I can think of and I have to get ready to go on guard directly. So nothing more from your brother,
Hugh

December the 6th 1863

Near Dalton Ga
December the 6th 1863

Dear Sister
I have an opportunity of sending a letter down in our neighborhood by some old men that came up to bring clothing for our regt. They got here yesterday and they expect to start back to marrow. I have no news of importance to write. We are still in camp near Dalton. We don’t have much to do only a little guard duty. Jim Lee’s negro got back yesterday. He brought Jim a find lot of potatoes and butter and cake and preserves and a little of everything else that is good. He give Ben Knapp some butter and potatoes and we had a find breakfast. I would like very much to come home this winter but I can’t even as much as hear from home. I haven’t had a letter in so long that I wouldn’t hardly know how to read one if I should happen to get one but I don’t know there is any chance of getting one from home for I think you have all forgotten how to write. I have written to Pa and Nancy and Maggie and you and cant get an answer from either party and the next time I write I am going to write to Ma and if she don’t answer my letters I am going to quit writing to anybody and see how that will do. I wrote home for a blanket some time ago but you need not send it for I have got me a splendid one now. Well I will close of this time. This leaves myself and all the boys in find health that is what few of them are hear. Give my love to all the family and a portion of the same for yourself. From your affectionate brother,
H.A.McLaurin

After Chattanooga

Camps near Dalton GA
December 2nd 1863
Dear Sister
I once more have an opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am still in the land of the living. We have had another fight and the yanks have given us a genteel thrashing. I was in the fight but did not get hurt. There was none of our company hurt but there was five captured. Neil Currie, Dan Cupit, John Smith, John Robinson (Robertson), and William Cobb were the ones captured. They were captured on the 24th of Nov. The Yanks began to advance on us on the 23rd and the left wing of our regt was guarding a railroad bridge to the right of where our brigade was stationed. We held them in check until Tuesday morning the 24th and we had to fall back from there and the boys were afraid to get out of the ditch for fear they would be killed. They tried to get me to stay with then and surrender but I told them I was going to risk my chance of getting out. The Yanks were in 150 yard of me when I left the ditch. Driving in full line and as I left they fixed a full volley at me but none of them touched me. We skirmished with them form Monday evening until Wednesday evening and then we were ordered to go back to our brigade and about the time we got back there and began to rest our selves. We looked down the hill and saw the Yanks coming with five lines of battle so we were ordered in our ditches and our regt stayed there until the Yanks whipped our men on the right and got into our ditches and began to fire down the ditches at us. They captured one piece of the battery that belonged to our brigade. I was in 50 yards of the battery when they planted their colors on it. The battery men and the Yanks fought with sticks and rocks and carried out one piece after the Yanks got hold of it and were trying to hold it. I would not have believed this if I had not seen it with my own eyes. But I tell you I am ashamed that I belong to the brigade that I do for it done some of the shakiest fight I ever saw, but I feel that I have done my duty. We left Missionary Ridge Wednesday night or rather we more run away from there before night. I think we had as well as quit and go home for I see no other chance but for us to be whipped. Alex Currie was not in the fight. He had just got back from the hospital and he had no gun so he was sent back to the rear with the wagons. He is the luckiest boy I ever saw. We are camped in about three miles of Dalton Ga and we have all got rested and our mess has killed a big fat hog and we are all doing fine. Well I will close for this time. Hoping to hear from you soon. Give my love to all the family and the same for yourself. From your affectionate brother. Archie

Ps when you write, direct to Dalton GA
Compamy (e) 7th Miss regt
Anderson’s Brigade

Give my best respects to Uncle Henry and miss Sallie and also(_______) at one.

November 1st 1863

Camped in line of battle near
Chattanooga Tenn
November 1st 1863
Dear Sister
I will now endeavor to answer your ever welcome letter of the 12th of last month that came safe to hand a few days ago. I would have answered it sooner but Bill Howard of our company sent up his discharge a few days ago and I was waiting to hear from it. He has got it all signed and he is going to start home to marrow evening. He says he is going to try and go by our house and carry this. If he don’t go by there he will put it in the office at Brook.

I tell you Mary we are all faring fine now. We have nothing to do but to stand pickett a little. We have got our cooking utensils here with us and we do our own cooking. We have plenty near all got our houses put up. I think we are too well fixed up to stay here long. I have got a very comfortable house to sty in. I would not care much if we have to stay here all winter. I was glad to hear that Joe Cobb had got home, I feared that the poor fellow would never see home again. He said that he thought he would not try to get away from the place where he was shot but he seen me when we area falling back and he hallowed for me to help him and I did so. I went back with him and myself and Balaam Smith had to pretty near tote him for about two miles. I slept there all night and waited on the wounded for it was near dark when I got to the hospital and I didn’t know where to go to find our regiment. Next morning Joe begged me to stay with him but I thought it was my duty to go back to the regt so when I found the boys there was not a yank to be found, only dead ones but gracious knows there was plenty of them. I want you to know tell Ma not to be so uneasy about me when she hears of a fight. And cant hear from me in a ni a god while for after a battle we hardly ever have a chance to write under a weeks time for it takes us fully that long if not longer to get settled.

I think I will get along better after while for Ben Knapp has sent home for a negro to cook for us. Ben is a splendid mess mate, only he gets a little pettish now and then. We haven’t got but three in our mess now as Alex Currie has gone to the hospital and I expect he will get a furlough before he comes back. Neil is as fat as an old hog. He has lay about here so long and done nothing. That he is so lazy he can hardly get about. He hasn’t helped me and Ben to cook any mouthful to day, but we have got him out getting supper at last. Well I quit for this evening as it is getting late.

November the 2nd 1863

Well Mary I will commence again this morning and try and finish your letter this. Morning finds me in the best of health. I don’t think I can write much more for I wrote pretty near all I could think of yesterday but there was one thing I forgot and that was to tell you to send me about two dozen potatoes and some butter and some preserves. You can put them in a box with my clothes and send them by Bennet for he has got free transportation for all the things he is going to bring back with him. You can’t imagine how I would like to be going home with Bill Howard. I think if I was to go get home they wouldn’t see me back hare before next spring. They are offering 40 day furloughs to any body that will get a recruit and have him mustered in to the service and doing duty then they can apply for a furlough and get it. So if you see any body that want to join the army just send them to me. Tell them that this is a splendid place and rather than miss I would give right smart for a furlough. Me and Neil are going to write Luther Blue and see if there isn’t some men in his company that wants to swap with us and come to this company and let Alex and him and me go to that company. We are getting tired of the infantry. We want to try cavalry a while. I would like to have been at home when you went up to Mount Zion. I would to see all the girls. I think I will have to write Miss Betty a nice little letter. I think maybe so she would answer it. I would like very well to see Miss Anet Douglas. I have almost forgot how she looks. Well I will quit for this time. Give my love to all and the same for your self. From Archie

Notes offered on the tops of pages

Top of page 7:

Neil is going to send some letters to our house and he wants you to send them home the first opportunity.

Top of page 4

I want you to write to write me regular for when you write regular I get a good many letters. I will do the same.

Oct 5th 1863

Near Chattanooga Tenn
Oct 5th 1863
Dear Sister
I will write you a few lines as I have an opportunity of sending it by hand. There is an old man going down in Franklin. I am well at present. I wrote a letter to Pa yesterday but I don’t know whether it will go or not. There has been an artillery dual going on pretty near all day. I have been listening at the booming of cannons and the bursting of shells all the time but none of them have come near than half mile of us. I don’t fear them much when they don’t come any nearer than that. I heard yesterday that Bill Adams was killed in the fight the other day. Will Algood was also killed. Ben Mann was not hurt. He came out safe. Well sister I will close as it is getting late. Trusting in God that we will meet again if not on earth I hope we will meet in heaven. So nothing more only I remain your brother

Archie

PS Please excuse all the mistakes a it is very late and I am in haste.

Sept 25th 1863

Sept 25th 1863
Dear Sister
I will once more write you a few lines to let you know that I am still in the land of the living. There has been three days fight near Chattanooga about 7 or 8 miles south of Chattanooga. It commenced on the 18 and lasted until the night of the 20th. We were held in reserve until the 20th and then our brigade were put into it. We did not have any killed in our company. We had 6 wounded but none of them dangerous. I thank kind providence that I came out without a scratch. We succeeded in driving the enemy back to Chattanooga. We are in about 3 miles of Chattanooga in a line of battle. I don’t think we will advance on them though for they are in fortifications. Neil Currie come out alright. Alic (Currie) is at the hospital. He was not in the fight. Neil says to please write to some of his folks that he is all right and tell that Alic was sent to the hospital sick but not sick much. Well I will tell you who was wounded. Joe Cobb was wounded in the left eye. Jonathon Sermon through both thighs. John Love is slightly in the knee. James M Rushing slightly in the left arm (later amputated). George Spring in the right arm. Everet Smith struck with a spent ball but he is back again, able for duty. Hoping that I will come home safe through all, putting my trust in God. I will close. Give my love to all and the same for your self. From Archie

Just before Chickamauga

Camped Near Lafayette Ga
Sept 15th 1863

Dear Father
I will now write you a few lines as I have a opportunity. We are down in Georgia. I can’t tell you exactly where, only we are near a little town by the name of Lafayette. We don’t know what moment we will be ordered to move. We left Chattanooga the 8th. We have been marching ever since. We have been in line of battle two or three times but we haven’t had to fight any yet but I don’t think it will be long before will have to do some of it if we do I hope that we will give the Yanks a good whipping. I will put my trust in kind providence to carry me through safe. If I should happen to fall ti will be in a good cause. Haskins artillery is up here but I haint had a chance to go and see any of the boys yet and I don’t know whether I will or not. Pretty near all of Johnston’s army is up here. I think from the preparations they are making here that we will send old Rosy backt with a genteel bashing. Well I will close for this time. Alic Currie is sick gut they will not send him to the hospital. Neil is well. I am well but have been a little sick but I am all right again. Give my love to all and receive a portion for your self. From your affectionate son
H A McLaurin

August the 10th 1863

Camped near Bridgeport Ala
August the 10th 1863
Dear Sister

I will write you a few lines, as there is a man out of the company who is going home. I haven’t much time to write as it will soon be time for the cars to be here. I am in fine health at present and so fat and lazy that I dread to do anything. The Currie boys are both well. Alic is in better health now than I ever saw him. The Yanks are just on the opposite of the river from us. I wrote to Pa about a week ago but I don’t know whether he received the letter or not. If he did not I will tell you how we are doing here. Our brigade is on detailed to guard a bridge across the Tennessee River. The Yanks are on the opposite bank from us. While we are on pickett guard we sit and talk with each other all day. They talk very friendly. I don’t think they will attempt to cross the river here. We had an election in our company a few days ago for third Lieut.. We elected Root Scott again but he hasn’t been examined yet. I don’t know how he will stand the examination. I tell you Mary I begin to want to see home pretty soon it will be 12 months since I left there. There is plenty of girls about here but none of them as pretty as the Miss girls. I don’t think I could me Reb one among them. Well I must close as I am in great haste. Give my love to all the family and a portion of the same for your self. From you affectionate brother

H.A. McLaurin

I have received a letter from Cousin Mary Jane McLaurin a few days ago. She said she would like to hear from you.

August the 7th 1863

Camped Near Bridgeport Ala
August the 7th 1863


Dear Father

I will write you a few lines as there is a man going down in that part of the country but I don’t know whether you will get it or not you will get it or not. I am well at this time all the boys are generally well. I have no mews of importance to write. We have a right smart of guard duty to do here. The enemy is on one bank of the river and we are on the other but we don’t shoot at each other. We sit and chat with them all day long. I don’t think we are in much danger. I don’t think they will attempt to cross. We all get along very peaceable. I received a letter from cousin Mary Jane McLaurin a few days since. They were all well in that section. She said that her two twin brothers were in Miss the last account she had of them and her brother John was near Charleston. She said that Uncle John was so going out in the service in a few days. Well I will close as I am in a hurry. Give my best respect to Mr. Strong and Miss Sallie and my love to all the family and the same for your self and hoping to come out safe. I remain your affectionate son Archie

I am going to write every opportunity whether you get the letter or not.

July the 22nd 1863

Camp Near Bridgeport Ala
July the 22nd 1863

Dear Sister,
I once more have an opportunity of sending a letter as far as Covington by hand. So I will write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time; our brigade is stationed near Bridgeport to guard the river and the bridge across the Ten. River. We have very heavy guard; we have to come on guard about every other day and we don’t get enough to eat. We get a little poor beef and corn meal; and sometimes a little flour, sugar, and lard; but it takes it all to make two meals a day. There is great dissatisfaction in the army here at this time; the most of boys think that the confederacy is gone; I think, myself, that it is a doubtful case; I doubt there is much chance for us now; I think if they don’t feed us better than they are doing now, they wont have an army long; there are plenty of boys about here but they wont let us kill any of them if they can help it but, they are getting scarcer than here; Alex Currie has been a little sick, but he is getting well again; Neil is well, but he grumbles powerfully about the rationed; I know he can eat any time of the day that he can get to victuals but he can’t get to them now. He swears that he is going to kill a boy (pig) if they don’t feed him better; but I don’t think he will do it for he is to blamed lazy; don’t tell any body that will tell Neil what I have said about him; we had him very mad about a week ago. He was writing a letter to his girl and we found out who it was. I tell you, he was hot. Well I will close, as I can’t think of anymore to write. Give my love to all and reserve a portion for yourself, nothing more as from your affectionate brother,
Archie

June 16th 1863

Camp Near Shelbyville Tenn
June 16th 1863
Dear Sister
I will now try and answer your letters that I received the night before last. I would have answered them yesterday bur our company had to go out and work on the breast works and I felt too tired to write when I came back. We had to work two hours. Back work goes harder with me than it used to. I think there will we will be some of the largest men when this war ends that ever was heard of. We have been lazing up in camp so long that we dread to do anything but we will have to do a little more now as we have to furnish wood in town as the regts that used to furnish wood has the small pox. We have fine times though when we get to town. I would not have any better time than we are having now. When we don’t draw enough to eat we try to buy it and when we cant buy it there is another way of getting it. I reckon you can guess how that is with out me telling you. I want you to tell Ma that I am not suffering for clothes now. I drew a pair of shoes and a pair of pants a pair of drawers a shirt and a hat. Tell her that she need not fear about my arm for it is well. Tell her to that I will be certain to take care of number one always
The letter that was mailed in Covington, I sent it by Capt. Learly. He was going home and I had to write in a hurry and forgot to tell you who I was going to send it by.
That man that stayed with you that said that he lived near hear didn’t miss it for when he said that they were pretty near all union people about here for I think myself that the most of them all union they charge about three prices for every thing we buy but there are some very pretty girls up here but I don’t like them very much. They say that the Mississippians sell water to the Tennesseans. I told on old lady that the Mississippians didn’t try to fool them when they sold them water but the people up here did. I told her that when they wanted to sell water up here that they mixed a little milk with it and sold it for milk. I tell you that old woman didn’t talk about water any more.
All the houses close to our camp have been visited by me and they all know me. Tell Mr. Strong that he ought to get some body else to live with him while Miss Sallie is away from home. I think that Liva McClatchy was bad off to marry from what Nancy wrote to me. I think if she had waited until the war was over she might have done better. When you write tell me how Coony is getting along. I haven’t heard from her in a long time. When the mail was stopped and none of us couldn’t get any letters, I tell you we were the worst looking crowd you most ever saw. You wrote that you heard that we were in Jackson. I wouldn’t be surprised if we were sent down there before long. Mary I saw John Byrd in the guard house in town the other day but I don’t want you to even whisper it out of the family for I wouldn’t have him know that I wrote it for nothing in the world but I don’t much blame him for being in there for I would have done just like he did under the same circumstances. I will not write the particulars about it. Tell Jenny that I can’t think of a name for her pup without she will call him Brackston Bragg. Tell me whether Jenny ever got her knife or not. I sent it to Brook by a man from the Dalgreen Rifles. He said he would leave it at the post office. I put it in a letter. Please let me know whether she ever got it or not. Well I will close hoping to hear from you soon. This leaves me in the best of health and spirits so nothing more only I remain your affectionate brother
Archie

June 7th 1863

Shelbyville Tenn
June 7th 1863

Dear Father
I will once more try and write you a few lines hoping that they may find the way through to you. I have no news of importance to write. I am in the best of health at this time and I do sincerely hope that I will remain. So I get plenty of meat and bread to eat. The army here is in splendid health. I think that we have very healthy place to camp. The Currie boys are both well. Alic stands camp life fine since he has come back from home. I am very anxious to hear the result of the battle of Vicksburg. I would like to hear how Wither’s Artillery come out as soon as you hear who was killed or wounded that I am acquainted. We thought for a long time that we would get to go to Miss for a good while but there happened to be our lot to stay up here. Our division, or part of it rather, went out toward Murfreesboro the other day but we didn’t stay bur one night. We thought we would get into a skirmish while we were out there but did not. The cavalry had a little skirmish. Will I will close for this time but I hope things will have a better face before I write again. Hoping to hear from you soon. I send you and all the family my love so nothing more only I remain your son.
H.A. McLaurin

June the 10th 1863

Well Mary as I did not yet to send Pa’s letter off the day I wrote it I thought I would write you a few lines in answer to the one I received from you to day. You cant imagine how glad I was to get a letter from home. I am in fine health at this time. I have no news of importance to write. I am in hopes that you will not have to leave home yet a while. I think you are all worse scared than hurt. I can just tell you if I was at home I would fight some before I would leave the Irish potatoe patch. You need not be uneasy about me for you may be sure that I will take care of me well. I will close for this time. Give my best respects to Mr. Strong and Miss Sallie and my love to all the family from
Archie

April 16th 1863

Camped Near Shelbyville Tennessee
April 16th 1863

Dear Father
I will now drop you a few ines as I have an opportunity to send it to Brook. I am well at this time but have I have got a right sore arm where I was wounded but it is getting better. I don’t know what caused it but all that was_________ when I was_______ got the sorest are I ever saw. The Dr burnt the ______flesh out of _______this morning with costic. It don’t pain me any more. I think it will soon be well. The health of the here is very good at this time. I have no news of importance__________________. I wrote a letter to Cornelius and received an answer a few days ago. He said that he had been sick with the chills and fever but he was getting well. Then he inquired very particular about you and he wanted to know how you were getting along with your crops. He said that they were only getting half rations quarter pound of bacon and half pound of flour. We get a little more than that but we don’t get full rations. The commissary say that we get full rations but they don’t near hold out. When we draw 3 days rations they last about 2 and then the third day we have to buy and a very dear prices.
I received a letter from Mary yesterday and she said that she was selling butter mild at 75cts a gallon and we have to give $1.00 a quart and butter $2.75 a pound and every thing else the same way. There is some talk of us starting to Kentucky soon but I don’t know whether to believe it or not. I will send Jenny her knife as I have a chance to send it by hand. I will put it in the letter. Tell Mary I haven’t finished he ring yet but I will finish it before long and send it to her. The Currie boys are both well. Neil has been a little sick but not much. I have just been down in the old field watching the boys play ball. It mad me think of old times. Tell Dutch that I wont slight him. I will try and find something to send him before long. Well I will close for this time hoping to hear from you soon so no more only I remain your affectionate son
H.A McLaurin

7th Mississippi Infantry; Archie's regiment

Archie McLaurin, the subject of the letters I've been posting was a member of the 7th Mississippi Infantry. If you want to learn more about the regiment as well as read some amazing primary source materials from the regiment, check out the website below. Enjoy.

http://www.7miss.org/

March 11th 1863

Camped Near Shelbyville Tenn
March 11th 1863

Dear Sister

I will now endeavor to answer your letter. I received a day before yesterday. We got off pickett day before yesterday and I was glad to find a letter here for me. Capt Brisler has not got here yet. Lieut. Rankin brought me the letter and the bundle Miss Sallie sent me. You can’t imagine how glad I was to get that bundle. I want you to tell her tht I am very much obliged to her. Tell her I will try and find a nice beau for her if she has lost her old one (Dr Strode). I don’t think it will be any trouble for me to find a sweet heart if ever I get home as three of the best looking men I know are married. I think there is a chance for me now as Walt Strode and Jimmings are out of the way. We got off pickett without a fight but I thought twice that we were in it but the Yanks run both times. Gen Van Dorn captured 1200 prisoners one day last week. They were all around the square in town the other day. When we came through there they looked right bold. They looked like they ought to fight better than they do. You spoke about Walk McDaniels being in the hospital. If you could see him he wild bring anything you would want to send me. I wrote to you when I was out on picket but for fear you wont get it I will tell you again what I want you to send me. I want a pair of shoes 2 pair pants and 2 pair of cotton socks. You need not listen to the soldiers in the hospital when they say that they don’t get enough to eat for they are so use to telling lies up here that they have to tell some down there to keep in practice. If I was to get a chance to go home now I would have to tell many a lie to keep up with the boys her in camp. If I didn’t they could beat me so bad that I would be ashamed of my self but as long as I can stay with them I think I can keep up with them. I expect Nan Mitchell will cut a dash now with her new pianna. I would like very much to hear one now. It has been so long since I heave heard that. I have almost forgot how they sound. I will tell you what Penny’s present is but don’t tell her until she tries to guess what it is. Tell me the next letter what she guessed first it is a little white handle knife two little blades in one end and a little pair of scissors in the other. Tell Dutch that I will find something nice for him before long. Tell him to be smart and learn fast and learn how to write me and write me a letter. Well I will come to a close. Hoping to hear from you soon. This leaves me in the best of health so no more from your brother
Hugh A McLaurin

We enter 1863

Archie begins his 1863 letters in March. Plenty of 1863 to come so enjoy.

March 7th 1863
Dear Sister

I will attempt to write you a few lines to let you know where I am and how I am getting along. We are out on pickett again. I am well at this time. I expect we will have a skirmish with the Yanks before we go back to camps. The Yankee cavalry drove our cavalry picketts in a few days ago and took several of our cavalry prisoner and two or three of our infantry. Our brigade was called on to assist them but they run before we got in sight of them. We have been out ever since last Monday. We will have only two more days to stay. I will write again as soon as we get back to camp. I want you to send me some cotton pants the first opportunity, I want two pair. I also want a pair of shoes. I can get shoes here for $10 a pair but they won’t last more than one march before they are wore out. I was very glad you didn’t send but one shirt. I am in hopes if we do get into a skirmish that we will come out victorious. I received a letter from Cousin Mary Jane McLaurin a few days before I left camp. Well I believe I will close for this time. Give my love to all from your brother,
H M McLaruin

Murfreesboro

Just days before the battle of Murfreesboro, Archie pens the following letter. THere is a lot of backstory here, from spies so prevelant in the Roscrans/Bragg bouts to the girls of Tennessee. Enjoy.

Camped near Murfreesburo Tenn Dec 27th 1862
Dear Sister

I seat my self to answer your letter that I received a few days ago but did not have an opportunity of answering it right off. There is no news of importance. I write only I am in fine health and enjoying myself fine. It is a very dry Christmas; not so very dry either for it has been raining pretty all the time. It is raining now. We have 3 days rations cooked in our haver sacks. We are expecting every hour to have to go out on pickett. There is heavy cannonading in the direction of Nashville. Well Mary I was down in town yesterday and saw two men taken out to be shot for deserting and I saw one hanged. The one that was hanged was a spy. His wife was in the guard house with him when he was brought out. He asked the officers if they would let his wife have his body to take home and bury. They told him that they would. Then he asked then if they would let her have that wagon to carry him in. They told him they would. He then told them all goodbye and the wagon started off. When they were going through town he sang all the way. When they tied the rope he jumped off before they knocked the scaffle (scaffold) from under him. Old Bragg had several more shot yesterday for deserting. You wrote to me to know what kind of a place Murfreesburo is. It is a tolerably large place but it looks very bad now. It is twice as large as Brookhaven. There is some of the prettiest girls in the country here that you most ever saw with the exception of one. They are secesh girls to. I saw three yesterday that talked but right you need not think because I am bashful at home that I am so here for I am getting to be as bold as you please. I received a letter from Nancy yesterday. I also received one from Mag the same day that I received yours. I want you to write all about the exhibition and tell me how Jenny and Dutch performed and tell me too whether Guince has rode my colt or not. Tell Jenny that I want her to write to me. Well I will close as it is getting late. Excuse the mistakes. Give my love to all the family and receive a portion for yourself. From your brother.

Hugh McLaurin

October the 30th 1862

Be certain and
Send me a letter
With the box
If not before October the 30th 1862


Dear Father

I write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am tolerably well at this time. My face is still swollen a little but not much. I left Frank at Knoxville sick. I left there the 26th. I haven’t heard from him since but he wasn’t sick much. It was snowing when I left and I thought that it wouldn’t do to make him travel in that kind of weather so I left him at a convalescent camp with Alic Currie. The Dr said he would have him attended to. I guess he will be up in a day or two. We are camped 8 miles from Knoxville. I guess we will go there in a few days to go to Chattanooga. Pa I want you to send me some clothing. Ham Webb is going home after clothing for the company. He says to leave the things at Starms and he will get them. I want you to send me a janes coat, pair of pants, pair of shoes and tow or three pair socks. Tel Ma to make the coat tolerably large. I will send you $5. Webb will leave it at Storms. You can get it. I would send you more but I don’t know when I will draw. I will keep $30. Tell Mary that I want a comforter very bad. Tell her if she hasn’t got time to know to get Miss Sallie to knit it. We had a pretty deep snow on the night of 26th. It was about 5 inches. Well I must close as it is very cold. Give my love to the balance of the family. Excuse bad writing for I am so cold I can scarcily write. From your affectionate son Archie

Webb can tell when he gets to Brookhaven when he will be coming back. He can let them know at Storms and you may find out. Please send something to eat in the box you send my clothes in. Send me some butter certain

Archie in camp near Knoxville

Camp Near Knoxville
September 27th 1862

Dear Father,
I will now write to you a few lines to let you know where I am and how I am getting along. We are still near Knoxville. My face is rising again. My lip is as large as it was when old Wallace hurt it but it don’t pain me much. I think it will it will break in a day or two. The Doctor that is along with us has no medicine that is good for me. My health otherwise, is as good as it ever was. We have splendid water here but we have to go a good ways after it. We are camped on an oak ridge in a healthy place. We got officers appointed over us until we get to our regiment. They try to show their authority to much. I see now we will leave here tomorrow or next day after tomorrow. I don’t know get to our regiment. I can’t tell whether we will have to march or go by the way of the cars. Well, so I have seen right smart of the world. Since I have left home I have seen a paper factory and I have seen them making paper. It bangs all the things that I ever saw and I have seen a good many different kind of people too. I seen one man that if ever I see him after war is over, I will whip him or he will whip me sure. He is a doctor too but, you know we have right smart to bear here but maybe so, I will be free some of these days. We get plenty of corn meal and bacon to eat here. Some of the boys went out the other day and pressed a large haversack full of Irish potatoes and four pumpkins and some peas and bought a canteen full of molasses. U Frank got hold of some splendid pies so we fared fine while it all lasted it give out this morning so some of the boys on another scouting expedition as they call it I will tell you in our mess there four of the Franklin Rifles. Dave Calcote & myself and we have concluded not to starve while were are in east Tennessee. Frank is getting along fine. He studied about home right smart the first week after he left but he is over it now. He is enjoying himself finely. I think I will get off when I get to the regiment. My lip is larger I think than then it was when the horse hurt it but none good thing, it don’t pain me like it did then. The doctor here says that I winter well. I must close as I have no more news to write. Give my love to all of the rest of the family &reserve a portion for yourself.
From your affectionate son

Hugh A McLaurin

PS You had better not write until you hear from me again. I want to hear from home the worst you ever seen a boy.