Item Description: Letter dated 13 May 1864. It discusses receiving parole and also mentions slaves.
Item Citation: Letter dated 13 May 1864, found in folder 42 of the Benjamin C. Yancey Papers #2594, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Item Transcription:
Sunny Side May 13th 1864 Dear Ham As I expect to go to Thomson tomorrow to church and to hear the news – I wrote you this letter hoping to have an opportunity of sending it to you by some passenger as there is no mail until the M.J. M arrangements are made. I got out of Athens much easier than I expected – it was thought that I could not get off without giving my parole. Walking into the Provost Marshall’s office I asked for a “pass”; one directed me to the “pass” office on the “campus, I went in past to the dept if you please sis” real nigger fashion but it gave me the [?] to say it he had just been called to breakfast and was hurried; so without asking if I had been paroled wrote me a “pass” . On the Athens brand the conductor made out a due bill against me to unimposing [?] from there home I came free of all expenses. At Barnett two “Blue Coats” got on the train and I supposing them to be a guard examining paroles I concluded to ride to Thomson on the top of the cars but finding that I was mistaken I soon sought a cooler place. On reaching home I found a tree of ripe May cherries in the garden which were and are delightful; tell cousin Caro that as yet the quantity is so small and the distance so great that I cannot send her any (but tell her that I do think about her when I eat them & you too Ham – isn’t it consoling. Knowing what I do now I could have brought my gun very well by putting a blanket around it. send it the first safe opportunity that have until then keep her in the “shade.” Tell Sallie that mademoiselle Marnier is here. We all like her very much but she is very ugly. Willie [?] + friend after taking the byroads to prevent their horses from being stolen passed here today stopping an hour or two. Write soon telling me all the news rumors & reports – and last but not least – how are the girls friends acquaintances etc. etc. Has “club” got home yet? Love to cousin C & Lou and all. Yours truly [?] Some negroes from this county are still going to [?] but many are returning & Phinizy’s went down in a body (staid twenty four hours in the rain without food and were sent back by the Yankees. None of ours have gon yet – four of cousin Tom’s
