These  five Civil War letters were from James F. Eason of Franklin County, Ga.  He was the son of Elisha and Mary Eason and the brother of Emily Eason Sartain, widow of  Vandiver Sartain.  The original letters have been preserved by Eason’s descendants and are being held by one of his great granddaughters.  To her we say THANK YOU.

James was in Co. F, 37^th Regiment, Army of TN, Franklin Rangers.  It appears that he never left Georgia.  Since he so often mentioned the hospital and he mentioned being one-handed, you might assume that is the reason he was near the hospital.  Perhaps he was given light duty to help out at the hospital.  Perhaps some of his descendants know what happened to his hand.

James mentions J. B. Bray.  He married Polly Sartain and lived next door to Vandiver Sartain’ family in the 1850 Madison County census.  According to the census records Vandiver’s parents were John Sartain, age 80, born in Va. and Anna Sartain age 45 born in NC.  Vandiver was only 18 in 1850.

James married Sara Crowe in Franklin County April 21, 1859.  She was b. 11-9-1832 and d. 11-30-1912.  She was the daughter of Thomas Joseph and Eliza Jane Crowe.  James was b. 07-28-1831 and d. 05-24-1903.   Their Children are:

 1- John Wesley b. 04-06--1860

2- Mary [Jane?] b. 1862

3- Madison b.   1864

4- James b. Nov. 1876.      

 

 

Atlanta, Ga.  June the 12^th. 1863

     Dear sister, I take the opportunity of riting you a few lines in answer to yours and nettys which I received yesterday and was sorry to hear of you having the sour eyes.  I hope they will get well soon.  I was sorry to hear of the painful death of Vandiver.  It looks like they are going to keep the men all in the war till they make a finish of all of them.  I know you are all in a heap of trouble, but try to fare it the best you can.  We have all got to die sooner or later and let us try to live so that when we come to leave this world, that we may be received up in that brite and hapy world whare parting will be no more. 

These lines leave me in common health excepting back and legs.  They hurt me very bad at times.  I expect to start to the company in a few days.  I am getting tired of this place.  I have to stand guard every other day and we don’t get half enough to eat.  I know I can’t stand to march but I can’t get to come home and want to sea the boys and I thought I would go and stay a while with them and if I can’t stand it I can but come back.  I still live in hopes that I will fight through and get home safe again.  I have been praying for that a long time and I think my prayer will be received.  I know it is a time that prayer is needed if it ever was,  Our world is in an awful condition and we must look to a higher power for protection.  You must all get a long the best you can and take everything fare and easy and pray to the food one for help.  I hope we will meet some day.  If we never meet on earth let us try to meet in heaven.  So I must come to a close.  Rite soon and let [me] know how you are all getting a long.  Direct your letter to Atlanta and if I leave before it gets hear, I will make arrangements for it to be sent on to me.  So I close, give my respects to Mr. Bray and family.  My love to you and Aunt Anna and the children.  So nothing more but remaining your loving brother till death.

                                                                                                                   J. F. Eason
                                                                                                               To Immelie Sartain

 

 

Madison Ga. June the 29th, 1864

Dear sister and family, I take pleasure in dropping you a few lines in answer to your kind letter that came to hand last evening and was gladly received. I was glad to hear that you ware all well. I can say to you that I am in very good helth at present I weigh 188 pounds. I hope these lines will come to you safe and find you and Family and the neighbors all in good helth. I havent much to write that would interest you. They had a considerable fight up at the front last Wednesday. The Yankees charged our men three times. Our men drove them back out of their lines of brest works with heavy slaughter. One of our brigades went in with one thousand men and came out with 400. That was cutting them down very fast. Thare was two or three divisions engaged in the fight. Our loss kild and wounded was a bout two thousand, mostly wounded. A long train of them went by hear yesterday morning going down to Greensboro. Our sick and wounded is getting a long very well. We have a few caces of the fevor that is very low. I herd a man say last night on the train that they cut off 86 lets at Marietta the other night after the fight. You said that you herd that Richmon was taken by the Yankees. It is a mistake. They haven’t got it yet nor no likely hood of having it. I was very glad of the paper you cent me for I am out of money and it looks like they never intind to pay us any more. They have been saying they was going to pay us now for a month and no money yet. Will I must close, rite often as you can. Give my best respects to Mr. Bray and family and all the neighbors my best respects to you and family. Your affectionate Brother till death.

J. F. Eason

To Immelie Sartain

[This letter was postmarked Milledgeville, GA and addressed to Mrs. Immelie Sartain, Franklin Springs, Franklin County in one of the most beautiful scripts I’ve ever seen.]
 

 

Milledgeville, Ga. Oct. the 24^th. 1864

                                           Dear Sister,

I am again permitted to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am yet a living and is in tolerable fare health.  Hoping and trusting that these lines will find you and Family all joying [good] health.  Sister, I have nothing much to anticipate to you.  Thare no news much a stirring.  Our army has tore up the rail Road from above Atlanta to Brigport on Tennissee River and they are a going on in to Tennissee.  Thare is some Yankees in Atlanta and I hear they have come down 30 or 40 miles this Side and  and is grinding up the peoples Sugar Cane and foraging out this Country’s and haulling it to Atlanta.  But they will soon be routted from thare.  They say thare is a part of them following on after our Army and as soon as they get far enough so they can’t get back they will run them out of Atlanta or make an effort

 Sister, we don’t have quite as much to doe as we have had.  We have got  very  few sick on hand and we don’t get many more and I am glad of it for I am wore out and a little rest won’t hurt bad.  I am lisning every day for to have to move the Hospital but I am in hopes we wont have to move before Spring for we are very well fixed I hear,  and  I’d rather stay here till this winter is over.  I want to come home sometime this winter if we don’t have to move.  If we have to move we will have to go a good piece and if I don’t get to come before we move I Shant get to come at all. 

 Sister rite Soon and give me all the news and how you are all getting a long with your affairs and if J. B. Bray is at home or not.  If he is give him and Family my best respects and all the neighbors.  I want to sea you all very much.  Give my respects to Aunt Anna and I wish to be remembered in your prayers.  So I close your Dear Brother till Death. 

Good By.

                                                                                                 J. F. Eason
                                                                                                 To Immilee Sartain

 

 

Milledgeville, GA.  Nov. the 13^th. 1864

                                              Dear Sister

and family.   It is a gain I am blest with another opportunity of dropping you a line in answer to yours that came to hand a few days a go and was gladly received.  These lines leave me in very good health and I also hope they may find you and Family all in good health. 

Sister I am at a loss what to write.  I have nothing to write that would interest you what ever.  I have no news from the Army to give you.  The Hospitals has all moved out of Georgia but this one.  They Say that this one is a going to Stay hear.  I hope it will till I can get to come home.  I want to come some time between this and Christmas if I can get off.  I got a letter from Sarah the other day and she said that She had gave birth to a fine son and you can guess that I wont rest much till I sea it.   She has got a head of me.  She has got so she can make Soldiers whether I am thare or not.  I would be glad She wood stop now till the war closed.  She has forgot that I cant use but one hand.  I hope She will have mercy on a poor one handed  creater. 

Sister I don’t know what to say to you a bout your case you Spoke of , hireing out your black ones and renting your land as you havent made a nough to doe you all.  Likely it would be best if you could a nough for them.  I am at a loss what to advise you to do.  May be you know best.  Try to get advice from somebody that you can depend on.  If Lincoln is a lected a gain witch I Suppose he is, Davis has ordered 40 thousand Negroes out to be put in while men’s places that is detaild back in the  front and cend every man to the front, that is able to toat a gun and it is recommended to congress to put every man in the field from 17 to 60 and if so this thing is a going to be crushed out one way or the other between now and next August.  We can only live and hope for the better.

Sister excuse this badly ritten letter.  I was in a hurry.  I have a heep to attend to.   I rote to you a few days ago.  I am your Same Loving brother till death.  My best Love and respects to you all.  Good by.

                                                                                                                J. F. Eason as ever
                                                                                                        To Immelee Sartain

 

 

Georgia  Franklin County March the 15^th 1870

                                           Mrs. Immelee Sartain

and Family a few lines to you to let you know how we are all getting a long.  We are all sorter about but,  Mary Jain.  She is in a quare fix.  She has been for three weeks in a curious condition.  She has got what is called The St. Vitus dance.  It is a curious complaint.  It works in hir nerves and mussels.  She cant hold hir self Still one minure.  She is constant in a work ringing and twisting her self about.  I tell you she is very troublesome.  She has nearly lost the use of hands and arms.  Dr. Tucker is attending on her but he don’t appear to doe hir any good.  I think I shal try Adaholt next.  I hope these lines will find you all well.  I am looking every day for you to come up and see us.  I wish you could come.  I want to see you all very bad.  I am getting on with my grinding finely.  Tell John L. Cape I have been looking for him up but I haent seen him yet.  He said when they was up heare that he would come back the next week.  Immelee I want you to rite as soon as you get this.  I want to hear from you all.  You must excuse this short letter.  I will doe better next time.  I must close for this time for I have to get this to the office tonight.  So I will close.  Our love to you all

                                                                                                                           J. F. Eason
                                                                                                                            S. C. Eason