THE LETTERS

THE LETTERS - Part 4

LETTERS FROM MICHAEL AND EDWARD HOLMES, C.S.A, 1861- 1865

EDITED BY: GORDON W. HOLMES, JR.
January, 1995, Revised August, 2000

Sangsters + Roads Sept 6th 1861

Dear Mat

Mr Jackson got to camp this morning- he & James Murphy (,) they brought a letter from you - I was very proud to hear from you - it was the first I had herd since Armstrong came home - Tell Ned I wrote him yesterday - I will write him again in a few days. I have no news to write you. We ar stil at the same place - I dont no when we will moove I guess we will go to a place called Springfield in a few days which is 8 ar 10 miles towards Alaxandra - the report is that we would have mooved before this but for the wet weather - it has cleared up today - news continues to reach us of the triumph of our cause in North Western Virginia & Musura (Missouri) - I dont think it will be many days befor we will have hot times - our brigade may not git into it there is so many troops (a)head of us - there is a powerful army between us & Alaxandra or our folks - I guess they have a good army at Alaxandra (,) Arlington & Washington....... I wrote you in my last that we had a hill from which Washington could be seen plainly - they still hold that hill & have taken one ar two others near Arlington & Alaxandra which gives us a good position to start off with if the fight comes off there. If times keeps as tight here as they ar now I shal have a bad chance to git off home. I will try very hard to come - I shal be most compeld (compelled) to come at court. Tell Ned to make the best araigments he can about winter shoes. I dont no what will be done for shoes here. I sent to Richmond this morning for me a pa(i)r. They cost very high there. Cant you by leather there & let Aaron make winter shoes. I have never herd whether the newspaper I sent you comes ar not - I want to write a letter to Jim Howerton this eaving so will have to close this - I hope I will git a letter from you once a week here after - the health of our company is improving - Jake & Tony Gamble ar both mending - we got them both in a teanat house - I think they will both git well soon - The balance of the sick nearly all giting well - write me oftin & every thing you can think of - write me whether the heavy rains has washed the land much ar not - how much cotton they pict out & how many bales they think we will make - if there is corn anough made to do us sertain.

I close by remaining yours as ever

Mike

(Undated Note)

Our sick has all bin sent to the rear & I have not herd from them since they left. Will Thurmand went with them to see them safe through but he is not back yet. I look for him tonight. Billy Guisendiner was sent back sick. Tell his folks not to be uneasy about him, he was not very sick nor I dont think will git very sick. He had fever but all the last casis has bin mild & easy controled. I will let his folks hear from him as oftin as I do. I heared from Met today, he is very low. I want to go see him but cant git off. I saw Oats [Capt. Wm. C. Oates] today , his company is about 1 l/2 miles from us guarding some freight on the railroad. He will stay for 2 or 3 days but his sick is at his camp 10 miles off. He tells me he cant muster more than 50 or 60 men. Will & Simpson Fears is both sick. I cant think of any thing more to write.

Mike

(Undated Note)

I enclose a note put it among my other. I hear that Jack Whitehurst is about selling his land. I have a note on him, Pleas see to it & try to collect it for me

Mike

Camp Jones Sangsters + Roads Sept 14th / 61

Dear Ned
I have jest returned to camp from three days picket - I found when I got to camp I found a letter from you dated Sept the 5th which I was very glad to git. I also got one from Jimme Howerton same date - I was glad to heare that all was well - I expected to git a letter from Martha but was disopinted - I have not recvd a letter from her hardly in the last two months - you have no ida how bad I do feel when every body els gits letters from there folks an I dont get a line. I have no news to write you - we had an ixiting time on picket for the last three days - we have bin near anough to the enamys works at Alaxandra to see there flag on the fort - I went out on a hill this morning & took a good look at the stars & stripes only two ar three miles off - we only had four companys with us & still the cowardly scamps wer afraid to come out & give us battle - we thought yesterday we was in for it - about 8 oclock news came to us that the enamy was only one mile off with conciderable force & had a cannon planted in the road - about the time we got that news we herd the pickets on the outpost firing - then it was that the Henry Grays was put to the test - we was ordered to form & march to the support of the out pickets - we formed & started, we had not marched two hundred yards before we met horsemen coming down the road who told us not to go any futher. The enamy two thousand strong with there artilary all posted was jest ahead. Then it was that our company evry man stood squar up & apeared to be anchors to give them battle - it all turned out to be a fals alarm - it was a company of our own men who had bin out on scout for two ar three days was coming in - our pickets mistook them for the enamy & fired into them without hailing - from that blunder came all the exitement. I never felt so much like fighting in my life as I did when I herd the pickets firing. Ther has bin pretty light scrmishing on the lines for the last three days which has resulted in our folks driving them back at every point but that sort of fighting dont amount to any thing. It is only the entring wedge to the big fight which is bound to come off before many days - when it comes we ar bound to be victorious but at what cost I dar(e) not venture to say I feare very sevear but we must, we will whip them off Virginias soil when ever they dar(e) give us battle on anny thing like fa(i)r chances. I am in bad fix to write to nite & would not attempt it only it is reported we will have to leave for Farfax Court House in the morning - I thought I would write you a few lines to nite for fear I dont have the chans to do so tomorrow. If we dont moove tomorrow I will write Jim Howerton - if we moove I will write as soon as I can - direct your letters to the same place til I direct you to change -Elias Register is ded - he dide Thursday morning - the balance of our sick is all mending - Jake & Toney is both giting well - the last candle I have got is about burnt out so I will have to stop writing for to nite - keep my buesness as strait as you can - keep Henry & Aaron in there place.
Write me often & long letters - tell Martha when I git a letter from her I will write her -1 have writen her six letters since I have recvd but two from her - Sept the 15th - I waited to finish my letter til this moring so I could let you no whether we mooved ar not - the Regment has all gone but our company & one outher - they left for Springfield early this morning - they did not take but few tents - I dont no how long they will stay or whether they will come back to this camp or we move up there - Artillery passing by us while I write (,) going towards the enamy - It looks as tho the fight was close at hand. Tom Lightfoot is rite sick today with fever but I hope he will not have a hard attack - I must close

write me often
Mike

Sangsters + Roads Sept 17th 1861

Dear Mat
After so long a time I recieved a letter from you this morning dated Sept the 8 - it was the first I had had in a long time - you have no ida how glad I was to recirve a letter from you - if it was short it was better than none - I recieved a letter from Jime yesterday of same date as yours & will write to him tomorrow - I also recieved one from Ned a few days ago & have answerd it - I am looking for a letter from Ned tomorrow - I have no news to write - every thing has bin comparatively quite here for the last 2 ar 3 days - we herd some heavy guns this morning about Arlington but dont no what they ment - our Regment acept our company & one outher has bin out at Springfield for the last 4 days - we look for them back tomorrow - I wish you could be seated by me while I am writing so you could see the Artilery drilling - they ar now while I write in an old field about 200 hundred yards off - it is a butiful site - ther is 4 pices of cannon drawn by 4 horses each - 4 wagons [caissons] with powder, balls and shells drawn by 4 horses each - making 32 horses 8 carages attended by one hundred & five men - they keep the horses in a galope most all the time when drilling - it would surprise you to see how fast they can load & shoot - they can load & shoot from three to five times a minet - so you see that even 4 guns each shot that many times each in one minet keeps up some noise - we ar not faring so well about over eating as we did some time ago - we only git one ration of bacon a week - the balance we git in beef - I thought I would never git tired of beef but I have - bacon here is very scears & high - it sell in Richmond 25 cts - you wrote you were giting short of bacon - I dont no what you will do - if I was there I could make some araigments but as it is I dont no what to say - you will have to do the best you can - I feare next year will be wors than this - you must make all the meat you can out of what hogs we have & take good care of it from the start - have you got any money to buy any thing with -post me up all about every thing - you wrote in your last letter that you had Mary working close to the house because her child was only one month old - that was the first that I had ever herd that she had a baby - I wont grumble much this time but I do think if I was there & you here I could write you long letters.
I sent money to Richmond for the Daily Dispatch - I have wrote in four different letters to no whether it comes ar not but have not herd one word from you on the subject - the reson I wanted to no whether it came or not if not I could write to Richmond & git my money back - Martha An & (V)iny used to write to me but they have quit - I want to git you all to writing one time more. The health of the company continues bad - there was 37 on the sick list this morning tho none of them is daigers - now Jake & toney ar both giting well - Tom Lightfoot has bin sick but has got about strate - Orin has bin a little sick but is up now - I think the health will be better from this time out - it is giting dark I must close - I have writen more than you did but I no you will do better next time. I want to see you very bad hope I will git home & see you all at court but dont no whether I will ar not. I think it doubtful - I will do my best to come. I want to see you all worse lately than I have since I left.

Mike

Sangsters + Roads Sept 24th 1861

Dear Mat
As we ar ordered on picket gard tomorrow & I think Dr Price-will leave for home before we git back I write you a few lines which leaves me very well - no news to write -every thing quite well - have a good deal of sickness amongs us yet - not so much as we have had - we have no cases now that is considered daingers - James Gilford is sickest man we have & I hope he will git well - you had better fix me some cloths so if I dont come home you can send them by the first one that passes. I want two good pair of drawers (,) one over shirt Jim can show what sort to make I want two under shirts. If I have no old ones that will do you have to make some out of some sort of stuff. I want one pair of the best thick pants I had last winter. Have them ready & if I dont come send them by the first safe chance.
I will write to Ned as soon as I git back. I will also write to Jim. I have written to you nearly every day lately. I am looking for a letter from Ned & Jim to night. I still hope I will be home in Oct but have some doubts about it. It seems that every thing has come to a stand still here. I look for farward moovement til I have got tired & quit thinking about it. I cant see what is the object of keeping such an army lying around Washington & leave other places unprotected. I want to whip them out just where we find them & be done with it. We can whip them any time ar any where & still they keep us lying here in sight of them doing nothing. I dont no how long we will stay on picket this time. We dont go to Springfield we go to the Poheak? road. Our company goes down there alone its not far from the Potomac. When I come back I will write you about our trip. I hope I will git a letter from Ned tonight.
The weather here is very fine , if it is so at home it is fine for southern crops. The people here is just beginning to pull fodder. I think frost will catch some of it yet. I look for frost here in lest than 2 weeks. I want to see you worse than I ever did. Please write me oftin & long letters. I remain as ever

Mike

Sangsters + Roads Sept 26th 1861

Dear Mat
I have written you three or four letters in a week. I have recieved one from you about a week ago. as I think Dr Price will be shore to leave this evning I will write you. I have not time to write but very few lines. I have just got in from picket and Price will leave this evning. I wrote a letter to you yesterday morning for Price to carry to you but while I was gone some body has mailed it so I guess you will git it any way. We had a pleasant time on picket this time. The weather is very fine and the health of our company is improving fast. I dont think that we will have many more ------- cases of fever. I dont have any idea that I will (catch) it now. I was a little uneasy about it for a while but I have been very prudent about eating & c - I have eat no trash of no sort which I think is the cause of my good health - I certainly never was in better health in my life - In the last letter I wrote I told you how to fix my clothes. I shall try my best to come home next month but think it very doubtful. Things are not so quiet here for the last 2 days. The prospects are improving for a fight soon. A great many troops moving all last night. Our Regiment ordered to cook three days provisions & be ready to march at a minutes warning. Since I commenced writing this letter I have read a letter from your brother William to George which I was glad to see. I dont have the chance to write to him myself, you must write to him for me & you both. I learned from his letter that Cap [I don’t know who Cap is, but he was possibly with Irvin’s Invincibles as we believe they were for a time in N. W. Virginia] is in N.W. Virginia. I would write to him if I knew where to direct a letter. Price is waiting, I must close. I will write to Ned & Mr. Howerton tomorrow.

I Remain yours till death

Mike

Sangsters + Roads Oct 6th 1861

Dear-----
Capt Gordon leaves for home in the morning. I write you a few lines - one hour ago. My partition -- come to home-- from head quarters. I failed to git permission to leave. I dont know what I will do about it yet. I can git home on the permission I have from the Capt, Col, and General & I may conclude to come any how, in fact I think now I will but if at the time I want to start there is immediate prospects of a fight I would not leave under no circumstances. If I come at all soon I will be there by the 22nd. I dont want you to look for me much nor be dissappointed if I dont. If I dont git off now as soon as the army goes into winter quarters I will come. Lafayett is refused leave to go home but on the account of his office he has the chance to git a substitute & be discharged from the service which he will do as soon as he can get a man from home to take his place. George can get a discharge by putting a man in his place which he wants to do. I have written to Jimy to try to get a man for him. George is on guard & wont have the chance to write home by the Capt.
If I dont come try to send me some clothes by Jimy. I wrote some time ago what to send. Still I hope to be there by the time mentioned. If I was sick there would be no trouble in my getting off but I cant come sick for I never was in better health in my life. I have not been sick an hour since I had the Measels and I know you would be better satisfied for me to stay here well than to come home sick.
I shall have to have a blanket bed quilt or something of the sort to keep me warm. I wish you would make me a little mattress tick just large anough for one to lie on. Then when we go to move I can empty the straw out and carry the tick. dont send any of these things until after the 22nd of Oct. It is very late I must close. I will write you again soon.

yours Forever
Mike

[There was originally among Mike's papers a letter from the Judge of Probate of Henry County Alabama to Mike informing him that another sheriff (probably George Roberts his brother-in- 1aw)had been elected in the recent election. Mike was instructed by the judge to return to the county and turn over the effects of his office to his successor by a certain date (Mike refers to it as Court).

Mike had written on the reverse of this letter a request for a furlough. If memory serves Mike's petition was approved by Capt. Gordon, Col. Seibels and Gen. Ewell; but was rejected by someone whose name I could not read who signed as Adjutant, probably to Gen. Johnston or Beauregard]

Sangsters + Roads Oct 15th 1861

Dear Mat
As Mr. Hudsbeth did not get off this morning but will have to wait till tomorrow morning, I write you a few lines. I have just received bad news, Met (James N.) Nobles is dead. He died yesterday morning. His company is not at their camp. They are within 1 l/2 miles of where we are. They were sent down there to guard some baggage. I saw Oates yesterday, he told me he thought Met would die. I dont reckon Oates knows yet that he is dead. We got our news from Capt Bell of the Henry Blues, he just got back from their camp and saw Met buried yesterday. He had Typhoid fever. I was very much hurt at hearing of his death. Oates told me yesterday that he was well thought of in his company & was a splendid soldier. I sincerely sympathise with his father, mother & all the rest of his connections in his untimely death. I have no doubt from what Capt Oates told me yesterday but what he had all the attention that could be given him in camp. Capt Bell tells me that (J-B. Fear) is very low in the company. I did not hear from Will nor Simpson Fears as they had been left still further back. He said that Co1 Morens was at camp & mending. Oates company has bin down near us 4 or 5 days con(s)iquently he dont know how his sick is getting on at camp. I regret very much not getting the chance to go see Met but we have a hard time to get off to go any where. Our brigade (is) on the advanced part of the army which makes us subject to be the first to be attacked & our folks has been looking for an attack for the last (few) weeks. That is the reason we cant get off no where. I wrote Ned & Mr Howerton both last night but it was before I heard of the death of Met. When I wrote last night I thought Dick would start this morning & he did try to get off. He went to the station but he could not get to leave without a pass from Beau(re)gard so he had to come back & fix it up. He has got it & might leave in the morning. I wrote you by Lafayet(te) about my clothes. I dont think of any thing else I want. I dont want the matress tick I first wrote you about. Me & Jim got holt of an old tent & made us a first rate bed out of hay. We slept on it last night for the first time. I thought it was the best bed I ever lay on in my life. The weather is fairly cool here now but we have plenty of blankets to keep us warm yet without using the two home made ones he brought with him but we wont have enough when the winter sets in in earnest. Send me one home made blanket & we will then have enough for any sort of w(ea)ther. Dont engage no pork from Skipper at 18 or 20 cts, I can have bacon laid down at home for less money if we have to buy. Jim says he thinks if the hogs are well fattened & does well they will make nearly (enough) meat to do us. I have read no letter since Jim came write me often & long letters

Yours as ever Mike

(Margin note) Have you got money to pay postage Jim tells me money is scarce If you dont make some on ------- me send you some

[This letter was among Ned's papers and was provided by Bobbie Grimsley]

Union Mill Oct 17th,1861

Dear Mat
I have got at last chanse to write - we ar all tore up mooving - we were ordered night before last about midnite to fall back west of Bull Run - we were till late eavning fixing & giting back to our old camp ground at Union Mill & ar l(y)ing to day where we staid for a month after the battle - we dont no what is ment by the moovement - if the Yankees is advancing we have not herd of it - to morrow was the time that they was to come but they will hardly git here - I dont no whether they ever will come down as far as Bull Run again ar not - I think they dred that name - I have no news to write you & only write to let you no that I am well that is worth a dime to you. I wrote by Lafayett all I could about coming home. I did want to come the worst in the world & will come the first chans now that offers - I wrote you by Mr Hudsbeth & I also wrote Ned by him about fixing to sow grain. Jimy keeps pretty well tho he has had a bad chans since he got back - we have bin up a good (d)eal of nites & exposed more than common looking in vain for the long talked of attack but he seems to stand it first rate - today it is raining a little but we have put up our tent so we can keep dry tho we had to leave all our straw bed behind & have to li on the ground now which I fear will hurt him some - it wont hurt to li on the ground nor no where els as soon as we find out where we stop we will fix up our bed again - we brought the tick along - I think we will move again tomorrow but I dont think we will cross Bull Run - I think we will moove up on this side - direct your letters to Manassas Junction til you here from me again - I have had no letter from home since Jimmy came back - I got one from Mr Stokes since he came is all I have herd - the (Post) office at Farfax Station broke up & fear I wont get what letters is on the way for me directed to that office. I will write again as soon as I find where we stop & get fixed so I can git pin & ink to write with - you must write oftin & be cheerful I will come home some of these days

Yours as til death
Mike

[This Letter was in Ned's papers and was transcribed by Robbie Grimsley]

Union Mill Oct 22nd\61

Dear Mother
I have jest got into camp off of picket - we have bin out three days & had a bad time the weather is very bad raining a little every day which keeps the ground wet & muddy all the time & the worst roads I ever saw in my life nothing but mud - there is not one particle of sand in the earth in this country & the mud is as bad as I ever saw the peravies? we have traveled about 5 miles over that sort of a road this evening toting guns, blankets, haver sacks & C which has nearly tired me down - I was about half sick when we went off with cold but have about got out of it - I was so tired I would not have riten to night but as I had not writen in three days & was fearful you would get uneasy about me - I wrote to Martha & Ned both jest before I went off & I will write to them again to morrow ar next day - I want to hear from home very bad - I thought shore I would get a letter when I got to camp - I have not had a line since Jimy came - the letters he brought was dated the 1st & it is now the 22nd Martha wrote me the Baby was sick & I have bin very uneasy about it til to night - Jimy Lightfoot got a letter from Mr Cody dated the 12th which said my folks was all well - we also heard by letters of later date that I G Holleys Wife was ded - the poor fellow is mitely hurt - I feel very sorry for him - he will try to come home to see about his children but I fear he will be mitely to git off for it is next to impossable for a man to git off home unless he is sick & it is a rite bad chans then - the rules & regulations ar tight & seem to be severe but our Army would be no account with out them & I for one am willing to submit to any sort of privation in the army not only one year but ten sooner than be governed by the Northern Tyrent the prospect here for a fight I dont think is as good as it was before we fell back on Bull Run - I dont think we will fight here this winter in fact I dont believe there will be another fight about Manassus - We ar camped in 2 hundred yards of our old camp ground where we staid for a month after the big fight - we ar throwing up brest works in front of our camp & fixing up to defend the line we now hold against any force that can be brought against us - we will probably spend the winter at our present encampment - you must all do the best you can till I come home - if I dont git off this winter fix up for another crop & try to fix for a good one - I am uneasy about provisions, I fear you will all have a hard time next year. Make all the meet out (of) what hogs you have that you posably can. Take good care of the stock hogs, make expenses light in every way for hard times is upon us but be ashured there is a better day not far distant - our cause is just & must prevail.

Yours ever truly Mike

Union Mill Oct 23 1861

Dear Mat
I recieved a letter from you a few minutes ago which I was very glad to get. It was the first I had received since Jimy came back. I wrote Mother Yesterday, I write you today, I will write Ned tomorrow. My health is very good, I have had a cold lately but have got well. We have had some of the worst weather lately I ever saw. It was enough to make any body sick. Rainny a little all the time & we on picket without tents but it has cleared up this eavning, turned cold. The wind is whistling from the North & drying every thing very fast. I wrote you what a good bed me & Jim had at Sangsters + Roads. When we left there we had to leave all but the tick but we have got another bed stid fixed op so we dont lie on the wet ground. Now if we had some straw we would be fixed up all rite again but I dont know when we will get any. It is going to be very cold to night we have got plenty of blankets to keep warm yet. We have glorious news this evening which is reliable. On day before yesterday Gen Evans had a fight with the Yankees near Leesburg [Ball's Bluff] about 15 miles above us & on the same line we are on. The Yankees had 10 Regiments we had only 4 we whipped them all to smash. We taken about 700 hundred prisoners, 6 pieces of cannon togather with all thier small arms. There is 500 hundred of the prisoners in Manassas now on their way to Richmond & there is said to be 200 hundred behind that hasent come up yet. It is also stated that our folks sunk a transport crossing the river & drounded 5 or 6 hundred more. It was a glorious victory we heard the guns for 8 mortal hours & burnt to be there to help finish it - Seems when ever they dare set their feet on this side of the Potomac. We hear this evening that the fight commenced at York Town yesterday morning but not heard the result. We expect hard fighting in that quarter but feel confident the Gallant McGruder will wear them out when they give him battle. There is a report here this evening that the Yankees are advancing on us & that they are as near as Birks Station but I dont believe a word of it. I only hope that it is so, for just as shore as they attack us where we now are so sure he gets more (Spang) out. We have got our breast works about done & are ready to receive them when ever they see fit to come down. I want to hear how the cotton is turning out, how many bales we will make, how they come on sowing grain, what the prospect for living is next year. If (I) was there I could write you a mighty long letter. I think I will send this letter by Mr Holley. He is trying to git off home but I dont know whether he will make the trip or not. I hope he may be able to get off at 8 oclock at night. Since I have commenced this letter the news of the Leesburgh fight has been confirmed. We taken over 700 prisoners besides killing & wounding a large number. Our loss in killed & wounded is reported at about 300 hundred. Their loss in killed, wounded & prisoners is not less than 2000 men. It is very cold tonight & the wind blows so I cant keep a candle So I will have to close. I guess you have got the Richmond paper before this time. It will keep you posted up on war matters (write to oftin) after I write to Ned I will not write any in a week unless some (thing) turns up that I think will interest you. Jimy('s) health is tolerable good. He has stood the bad weather much better than I expected he would. He has been on duty ever since he got back. George is very well, (Orin) has got back from Richmond where he had been sent sick, he is well. Our company is all improving, those that is still at Richmond are all gitting well. Billy (Guisindyner), Toney Gamble, Robert Vann & several others are still at Richmond but are all mending. I shall direct this letter to Abbeville. I think they will make mail arrangements there & if they do it will be easier for you to get your letters than at Ft. Gaines. I must stop for want of room.

Yours truly as ever
Mike

(Undated Note)

We have this minite got orders to leave & report at Berks Station 4 miles from here at l/2 2 oclock it now 11 so you see I have not time to write any more. I dont no what we are moved for it is that the enamy will attack that part of the line. I thought I would write you a long letter when I begun but must wait for another time.

Mike

(over) Ten companies of Regment leaves [l0 of 12]

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