Tag Archives: desertion

14 March 1865: “I think I shall like the army first rate.”

Item Description: Letter dated 14 March 1865 from Edmund Jones, Jr. to his father Edmund Jones. He had recently joined the army after studying at Bingham Academy. After the war, he would go on to study at the University of … Continue reading

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4 May 1864: “Why then does he wait for Grant to gather his strength?”

Item description: In this letter, Thomas L. Norwood, wrote from Richmond, Va., to his uncle Walter W. Lenoir, catching him up on news of the 37th North Carolina Troops, Company A. Norwood reported on the prosecution of the case against … Continue reading

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1 February 1864: “One of the 48th Regt was executed last Monday for desertion and 3 of the 46th Regt on Saturday”

Item Description: Letter dated 1 February 1864 by James A. Graham to his mother. He writes about soldiers being executed for desertion from the army, his hopes of furlough, meal rations, and reports about Yankee movements. Item Citation: Folder 3, … Continue reading

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20 August 1863: “…there can never be any question of recon-struction, there may be of submission & this will hardly happen unless our army deserts & goes home.”

Item description:  Letter, dated 20 August 1863, from Robert Davidson Graham to his father, William Alexander Graham.  In this letter, Graham discusses troop movements and morale, as well as North Carolina politics. [transcription available below images] Item citation: From folder … Continue reading

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29 July 1863: “If Sutch men as yo are is christians of heaven i want to know who is the hippocrits of hell”

Item Description: Letter, dated 29 July 1863, from Wilse Dial, James Dial, and Calvin Dial, three Unionists, probably in the mountains of North Carolina or Tennessee, addressed to Capt. Quill Hunter, possibly a Confederate conscription officer, threatening retaliation against attempts … Continue reading

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11 June 1863: “…News from all quarters is that desertion is progressing to an alarming extent and disloyalty is every where increasing and growing bolder”

Item description: In this diary entry of 11 June 1863, David Schenck (1835-1902),  who during the war held the post of receiver in Lincoln County, N.C., under the Sequestration Act, confided his doubts about the Confederacy’s chances for success. Not … Continue reading

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31 March 1863: “A man in the 23rd NC deserted to the Yankees on picket…”

Item Description: Letter, of 31 March 1863, from F.J. Haywood Jr.  The letter is addressed to “My Dear Captain” and relates bits of camp gossip and chatter about the sighting of a “Yankee Balloon,” a desertion across enemy lines, and … Continue reading

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10 March 1863: “Private Joseph Hebert Co. A., Crescent Regt. La. Vols. now under sentence of death for desertion having been pardoned by the President of the Confederate States, is hereby ordered to be released…”

Item description: Order, 10 March 1863, concerning a Confederate private who has been pardoned from his death sentence. Item citation: From folder 5 in the George William Logan Papers #1560, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina … Continue reading

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