1 September 1863: “…how glad I am that I am again in Dixie.”

Item description: Letter, dated 1 September 1863, from Sergeant Lewis Warlick (11th Regiment North Carolina Troops) to Laura Cornelia “Corrie” McGimsey.  Warlick describes his experience in the prisoner of war camp from which he was recently released.

[transcription available below images]

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Item Citation: From the Cornelia McGimsey Papers #2680-z, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, UNC Chapel Hill.

Item transcription:

N.C. Hospital Petersburg, Va
Sept. 1 1863

My dearest Corrie

How thankful I ought to be and how glad I am that I am again in Dixie. You know not the many times I have wished myself out of the enemy hands while a prisoner and that wish after a long while has been gratified. I arrived here Friday last from Davids Island N.Y. in company with six hundred and ninety paroled wounded prisoners. I would have written to you immediately after my arrival but learning the medical would not sit yesterday I concluded I would postpone writing until I learned whether or not I would get a furlough but the board failed to meet for some cases as others I will have to wait till Monday before I know whether or not I will succeed in getting one as the board does not meet again til then. I think it probable I will get one when the board meets as I was recommended to go before the board yesterday wish it had have met.

I am improving but slowly cant walk but very little with my crutches, my face has healed up nicely. I have heard of several of our boys since my arrival who are in the hands of the yanks. Lt. Parks and Michaux are in jail in Baltimore. Tom passing off as a private all the officers having been sent to Sanduskey, Ohio. I cant hear a thing from Harrison Parks I fear he was killed. Bob Carlton, S. Wakefield, Bob Hermesse, S.Brown and others are at fort  Delaware hope all are doing well. Capt. Armfield is there also well. Havent heard a word from Tom Moore other than he was wounded dont know what became of him. I was so glad to hear Port got home I hear that through Mrs. May and Elizabeth Ann Kincaid who are here with their sick husbands. They are improving. I was kindly treated while in the hands of the enemy but never do I want to fall to their hands again for I have such great hatred for that I dom care about seeing them only as dead, wounded or prisoners on the battlefield.

I wrote to you twice while at The Island, did you get them? if you did I guess you laughed to see how I addressed you, I will explain that for we were only aloud to send family letters. All were unsealed and read before they passed through the lines, therefore I developed you as a cousin. I know our friends and relations have suffered with grief without description since the fight at Gettysburg for so many thousand poor fellows were killed and wounded, never do I want to witness another such site if I had not got use to it my heard would sicken at the thought. Often since I have been wounded have I thought of you and wanted to be at home where I could hear from you and see you occasionally. I wish that would be so. As ever

Lewis

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