Military Monday: It Was the Worst of Times XIII

Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

Martha sends another letter to Francis after the Battle of the Crater July 30, 1864.  She shares exciting news that two of their children, Mary and Thomas, have “professed  Religeon.”

“Mcdowell Co August 19th 1864

Dear husband  I seat my self this evening to  write you afew lines to let you  know that we are all well at  this time ever hoping this will  Reach your kind hands and find  you in good health I thought  you would have sent me a letter by Louis  Walker but you did not and  I dident get none by Mail and  I could not help but cry I hope  Higgins will bring me one  Francis I hav some of the best news  for you there was a protracted me- ting at Trinity last week the greatest  Meeting I ever was at and Mary  and Thomas profesed Religeon  there on the 10 and will Join at  our next Meeting and be babtised  if nothing happens there was about 25 profesed Thomas  and James Cowen David James was  three of the happyest children I  ever saw I haint went to preaching  Much sens last fall sens it was sed  to me that preaching don me a heep  a good there is all ways a weight  on me when I think about going but  God made me to rejois last week  in his love God has answerd our  prayers for our dear children I  expect they will hav a protracted  meeting at the Baptis meeting house  the men says there is a great prospect  of peas now and I hope peas will be  Made so you can come home  I has a mess of simblins for supper  dont you wish you had some  they say that they went on with a row  of deserters tied two together as long  as from here to John Cowens I got a  letter from your brother Henry he  sed he wanted to see you and sed  for me to send you howdy for him he  is in 4 miles of you the Measels is  raging in this neighbourhood

“the baby has taken a start to grow  it is very pretty and smart  the children all dose very well

Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

I will send you something to eat by  Jery Walker I haint got no eggs if  I had I would send you some  the two last letters you wrote  you commenced several things  and dident finish them and I  dont no what you ment  I want you to see Hamp Cowen  and rent this place for me and  let me know soon and by the  rent for me if you can Hamp told  me to write to him but you can  do better than I can I heard that  you had camp Measels  I think the crows & squirells  will eat up my corn  I looked hard for a letter by  Higgins but dident get it the  last letter I hav had was dated 25  July I know your are mad or you  would hav sent one by Louis or Higins  and I aint going to write no moor  till I do get an answer I did not  think of Making you mad  George Pinkney has had a sevear  atact of Croup this week but is  some better now I wish I had a  drink of your good coffee if any  one comes send me a letter if you  pleas and I will kiss you when  I see you oh Lord hav Mercy  on My Dear husband spare his  life to get home bless him with  health shield him from all harm  and danger I pray for you every  day and Night to be spared to  get home and I believe you  will live to come <r?>ight before  long I know that you see hard  times but put your trust in God  <???> able to save you and <he will?>  I beleive Martha Poteet to Francis Poteet farewell”

In this letter, Martha mentions that she knows Francis is mad because she has not received a letter.  From his next letter, we can guess we are missing letters in which he mentioned deserting again and she admonished him not to.  He writes that he will not desert if she doesn’t want her to but she doesn’t know how bad it is.  We cannot know what brought her to recommend against desertion when she has consistently asked him to come home unless she fears a second such act would lead to his execution.  Thank heavens he does not take the risk with the war so close to an end.

Francis does not fight in the Battle of Globe Tavern with the rest of the 49th as he explains in his next letter he is in the hospital, apparently with the Measles, which, as Martha mentioned, is also affecting McDowell County at the time.

Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resourcesto Francis Poteet  farwell”

“PetersBurg Va  August 21 1864   Dear Wife and children I seat  my self this morning to Rite you  afew lines to let you now that  I am only in Comon health at  this time but I doo hope that  these few lines may Reach your  kind hands and find you all  in good health you Rote to me  to not Runaway if it is the  will of my loving Wife I wont  Runaway god nows that it tis  hard times hear I want you  to send me somthing to eat  by sumbody if Pery Walker dont  fetch it you Rote that you would  all mose be on your head till  Higgins Come back Dont bee  uneasy for if it tis the will  of you that I Should stay till  the war ends I will stay if

“I live but you dont now how  bad that I want to see you  all I dreamed about you this  morning I thought that I was at  home and as well Satsfide as  I ever was in my life but when  I waked up I was laying on my  blanket if it tis god will I  will get home some time are  other but I dont know when  if you haint Sent nothing when  this letter comes to hand if  any body will fetch me any  thing I want you to send me  sum 5 are 6 Rosenyears I haint  tasted one this year and if tha  if you have got them I would like  for you to send me sum cewcumbers  I haint drew no money yet and  I dont now when I will I have  borrowed 10 are 15 Dollars to get

“me sumthing to eat but the  time is now when we cant borrow  if I was at home I think that  I could get

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sumthing that could  eat tha are fighting now and  I dont now how our men is fares  I can hear ther guns as plain as  if I was in amile of them you  Rote that Mr Dickson and Mrs  Dickson sent me ther love and  Respects I had lefe the horspitel  the day bee fore Mrs Dickson come  down to see grason She sent me  one union and 4 June apels I  eat them but I dont now hoo  sent them to me I thank them  to doo so again if tha please I  got 2 thirds of aplug of tobaco with  this letter <suis?> Walker will  fetch me sumthing to eat I wish  you would send alitel with him  [added at top of page] Mary I want you to Rite plainer if you  can next time you Rote that you had  Rote once be fore this time if you did I dident  git it

“PetersBurg Va August 21 1864  Dear daughter I thank you for  Riting to me you Rote your letter  5 of Aug. I want you to prepare  to meat your god in pease if you  haint and I want you to pray  for your father and pray that he  may have his life spared and live  to get home once more to see  you all Dear wife if you can send  me sum sweete potatoes Remember  me in your potisions and ask  god to have mursey on me and  help me to pray aright to my  god I dident Rite to you last  week for I could not git to pen  and ink I am in the Bigade horse- pitel now but I aint very bad of  my brest and side hurts me sum  I am thankful that I aint in this  fight I must close by saying that I Remain  your loving husband until Death god bless  F.M. Poteet to M.A.E. Poteet you is  my prayer”

Military Monday: It Was the Worst of Time XII

Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

Finally, after over a month of silence, Francis responds.

“PetersBurg Va July 5th 1864

“Dear Wife and Children I Seat  my Self this evning to Rite  you a few lines to let you  now that I am well at this  time hoping that these lines  may Reach your kind hands  and fine you injoying the  same blessing you Rote to  that you would like to hear  from me and now whether  I was killed are not I  can in form you that I  am spared yet by the good  will of god we have bin  in the brest works about  one Month we are in them  yet and I dont now when  we will git out soon are  not tha are fighting every  day we have lost killed and “wounded in this Company  6 men 2 killed 4 wounded  it Seems like god is on  our Side the balls tha whistle  by our eares you Rote that  it Rained Somutch that you  Could not git to work your  corn it haint Rained to say  Rain in 6 weeks hear &  gardens is Runing hear it tis  mighty hot hear if this fight  Comes of Soon and this Company  lives and dont git wounded  nor killed tha are coming  home you Rote to me to Come home  and save the wheat I cant  Come I would like to Come  home and See you all once  more in this life and See my  Sweete littel baby I doo hope  and pray to god to live to

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“git home to See it it seemes  like god has blessed every  thing that I have prayed  for and I doo hope that he  will bless me to live to git  home to See that littel <Babe?>  when I think of hit it seems  like it will kill me are  Brake my hart you Rote to  me that you had a mess  of potatoes the Sixteenth I  want you to tell mother  houdy for me and tell  her that I am well I have  to Rite so fast that I dont  now whether you can Read  this litter are not I haint  Slep one good night Sleepe  in two month I have to work  are Stand gard are picket  every night I am very nigh “broken down it Seems like  god has bin with me are  I could not Stoo up to hit  I want you to pray for me  and tell all of my friends  to pray for me I pray for  you and my littel Children  to Spare your lives and Sustain  you and thim in this life  I want you to Rite as soon  as this Comes to hand and  Rite me all of the newse  I have Seen Corn as high  as I could Reach you Rote  that your Corn looked very  well and your sweete potatoes  looked very well you dident  Rite whether you had planted  any tobaco are not fare well  Dear wife F.M. Poteet to his  loving Wife M.A.E. Poteet god  bless you is my prayer”

Francis’ second letter:

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“PetersBurg Va July 11th 1864

Dear wife and children I seat my  Self this morning to Rite you afew lines  to let you now that I am well at this  time hoping that these lines may Reach  your kind hands and find you all injoy ing the same blessings I haint Recieved  no letter from you since the one  that you Rote in June it was dated  the 16 it gave me grate Satsfaction  to hear that you was as well as what  you was you Rote that three are fore of  you had the bowel complaint and you Rote  that you had a mes of potatoes I would  like to bin thare to eat with you  but I could not I think that if  god spares my life that I will eat with  you all once more I have Rote every  week sence I hav bin with the company  I dont now whether you git them are  not but I do hope and pray to god that  you git them so you can hear from me  and hear how I am gitting along  I would like to git your letters so I  could hear from you and my littel  children and hear how you are gitting “along I want you Rite to me whether  you got your wheat cut are not I could  not come if I could have come I would  you now I have bin in the intrenchments  about two month I haint bin Releaved  In 12 days we git very Durty in the  intrenchments we cant git to wash  our clothes I saw Bill West he come  to our company and staid there two are  three hours he is well he Said that  Wm

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Walker was well but he could not  see in the night  I want you to pray for me and all  of the people to spear my life to git  home I think that god has heard your  prayers and I hope and pray to god  that he will continu hearing and ancern  your prayers I pray day and night that  god will spear my life and yours and  our littel Children grate god hear  my friends prayers and ancer them  may the god of heaven bless you  all I heard that the Yankeys had tuck  camp vance and Robed the Bank and  kiled Avry F.M. Poteet to his lovin  Wife Martha A.E. Poteet god bless and save  you all is the prayer of your unworthy <????????>”

The Battle of the Crater lies ahead.

Military Monday: It Was the Worst of Times XI

Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

Since Francis’ last letter May 31, Francis’s regiment has become embroiled in the Siege of Petersburg which will last ten long months.  The First Battle of Petersburg took place June 9 and little did she know, Francis was engaged in the Second Battle as Martha sat to write the following letters.  This battle took place June 15-18, 1864.

In these letters, Martha seeks Francis’s guidance regarding the wheat harvest, suggesting Francis seek a furlough to come home to harvest.  She writes that 15-year-old Thomas has plowed the corn.  She mentions their new daughter, born May 21, and asks what Francis wants to name her.  She mentions Francis’s mother, Susannah, and sister, Jemima (my third great-grandmother) had been to visit.  She also mentions that Governor Vance is scheduled to be in the nearby town of Marion to speak the following week, but that she wants her husband to vote for Holden of North Carolina’s newly formed “Peace Party”, not Vance.  This must have been due to a great desire to see the war end and her husband and many others come home so life could return to some semblance of normalcy.  (Holden won only 3 counties in the 1864 election-Johnston, Randolph, and Wilkes.  However, he was appointed governor after the war ended.)

“June the 16 1864

“Dear husband I cant get no  person to cut my wheat the  men says that they dont know  what will be don with the  wheat for there aint men to  cut it and if I dont get Mine  cut me and the children  will be bound to suffer I would  like for you to show this to your  Capt and tell him if he pleases  to let you come home a few  days the first of July to take  Care of it for me I have about 8  bushels sowed and no person  to cut a straw of it it rains  so much that we cant get  to work the corn scearsley and  the Mare has had the distemper  and scurvey but is better now  I had her bled and I want to  know what to do with hink

“M.A.E. Poteet to F.M. Poteet god bless you  [Postmark and addresses on page 2]  Privit F.M. Poteet Co.  A 49 Redgment N C   to M.A.E. Poteet  Dysartsville Po  McDowell County  N C  [Up-side down at top of page 2]  Remember me in love and I  will you Farewell dear Francis”

“June the 16 1864

“My Dear husband   I seat My self this evening  to write you a few lines to let  you know how we are Some  of us is not well me and Thomas  Francis Emer Susannah Amy Jane  has the bowell complaint I aint  Much sick but I do hope these few  lines May Reach your kind hands  and find you in good

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health  My corn looks very well Thomas  will finish plowing it the second  time today we hav this side the  Creek to hoe My Neighbours says  that if nothing happens I will  Make a heap of Corn the sweet  potatoes is very prety and the  irish potatoes is the pretyest I ever  seen I hav a mess today I wish you  was hear to eat some with me I would  be so glad I would not know how  to behave I hav to live very hard  I haint nothing Much to eat but bread  and not Much of that if you was hear  I would not hav to live so hard nor  I woudent hav to work when I was not  able My baby will be 4 weeks old Saturday  Night she was born the 21 of May  write to Me what to name her  I had the best time I ever had and  I hav bin the stoutest ever sens I  haint lay in bed in day time in  two Weeks today I thank the Lord  that he has answerd your prayers  and mine beyon what I could expected  but he has all power I feel very  thankfull that it is as well with  you as what it is I hope that God will  bless us to be spared to rais our children  your Mother is well her and Jemima  Come to see me yesterday Grason  Dickson run away and got to Camp  Vance and had to go back I dont  want you to vote for vance vote

“for Holden vance is to be in  Marion next Monday to speak  James Neal has bought 500 bushels  of corn for this County but it haint  come yet and he says that when they  eat it they may die and go to hell  Louis Walker and Tery Walker is at  home wounded your Mother says tell you  howdy for her and the children sends you  howdy and tell you that they hav to  work very hard and wishes you was  hear to help them <??????????????????????>  this evening I would like to hear  from you to know if you hav got  hurt I am very uneasy about you  I do hope and pray that God will shield  you from all harm

Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources

Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources

and danger and  spar your life to come home to me and  your little children I know that you  want to see your sweet little baby  I would be very glad to see you if  I could but I cant nor I dont know  whether I ever will or not God knows  I dont you dont know what a hard  time I hav I am ruined if you dont never  come home I cant work another year  as hard as I hav this if the children  was not as good as they are I dont know  what I would do the Lord has blessed  us and I hope he will continue to bless  us while we are separated and bring  us together agin in this life  pray for us my Dear that we dont  perish thread is 100 dollars Cotten is  two dollars apound I dont know what  I am to do but I will do the best I can  and trust in God for help all of our  help comes from him  write to me soon wen I can hear fom you  and hear that you are well it dos me  a heap of good May the lord bless and  save you is the prayer of your desolate  Wife farwell my Dear husband

“M. A. E. Poteet to her loving husband  F. M. Poteet God bless and save you”

“the sise  of the babys hand”  [Transcribers Note: The image is significantly larger than the actual cutout of the baby’s hand.]

Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources

Military Monday: It Was the Worst of Times X – Castle Thunder

Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources

Welcome back readers.  I took a break for the holidays and return just in time for Francis to be released from jail in Weldon, NC.  He is sent to Richmond, Virginia and it is likely this is the first time he has ever been outside his home state in his life.  When he got to Richmond, he may have prefered to be in Weldon, as he would now be housed in the notorious Castle Thunder, a former tobacco warehouse on Tobacco Row, then used as a Confederate prison.  

Castle Thunder {{PD-US}}

“Richmond, Va.  May 4th 1864

Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources

“My Dear Wife  This leaves me well  and I hope it will find you  and the children in good  health I left Weldon  yesterday and arivd hear this  morning I have writ three  letters Since I Recevd one from  you the last I Recevd from you  was dated April the 7  I do not know how long I  will be kept hear or what  will be don with me but  I may be Sent to Salisbury  I would like to See you all  but I donot know when I will  hav that prevelage but I hope

“it will not be long before  pease is made and that we will  all get home once more  I Seen Washing Mooney this  moning but I did not get to  Speake to him I also found your  Brother Thomas hear he is as  well as usual and will write  you afew lines in this letter  I want you to write to me as Soon  as you get this letter and write  me all of the news and how  the people are getting on  let me know how your Wheat  looks and what is the prospect  of the Wheat crop janerally and if  the fruit is killed By the  late cold – tell Comadore  Grist family that he is hear  and as well as usual I know  nothing moore to writ at

“this time I mearly write  to let you know whare  I am write as soon as you  Recieve this

“Yours Truly  F.M. Poteet  Dirict Your letter  F.M. Poteet  Care of Capt Richerson  Castle Thunder  Richmond Va.  Room no. 8

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“My Dear Sister  I will write you  afew lines in Franks letter  I am as well as usual and I hope  you and the

children are well  I was very gald to See frank  He look as well as I ever Seen him  I hope we will stay together till  we are permitted to come home  and I do pray it will not be

“long before this Cruel war  is ended and that we will  all git home to our family  and friends  I know nothing new to writ  you times are very hard  hear  tell Sally that I am   and that I am expecting a  letter from her this week  and that I will writ to her  Your loving Brother  T. M. Hendley”

From Francis’s next letter it appears he did not stay at the prison more than five days before leaving for Camp Bermuda Hundred, Virginia.  He writes his next letter May 31 and states he has been out of prison twenty-two days, since May 9.  The 49th NC was engaged in the Battle of Chester Station (May 10), Proctor’s Creek (May 12-16) and Ware Bottom Church (May 20). Francis does not specifically mention the battles to Martha, perhaps to spare her feelings or to keep their letters unscathed by the realities of war, but he does begin again asking her to pray that he makes it home.  Martha, for her part, has written Francis in the meantime and sent him a

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plait of her hair.

“God bless and Save  you and our littel children   Camp Burmuda Hundred Va   May 31th 1864

“Dear Wife and Children  I Seat my self Down to Drop  you afew lines to let  you now that I am well  at this time hoping that  these lines may Reach  your kind hands and  find you all  Doing Well I Received  your kind letter that  was dated the 20 and  was glad to hear from  you and hear tha you  was well I got the plat

“of hear that you Sent [plait of hair] me I left your Brother  in Richmond Monday  Eavning he hated to  See me start I had  to get to My Redgment  and he had to go to  his When I got to my  Redgment I got that  other letter that had  the plat of hear in  hit you Rote that you  had got your corn over  the first time I was  glad to hear that you  was getting Along as

“you are I have praid  for you and my littel  children all the time  and praid that you  might have A good  time I loud that when  I seen the back of your  letter that you had got  through but when I  Red it I found out  that you hadant we  are in line of battel  Now and <e?????> Whisant  was

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<sh????ed> yesterday  and I met the men taking  him out to the amanabus [omnibus] to take him to the horse  pittel I want you to  pray for me and tell

“all of my Friends to  pray for me to Spear  my life to git home once  more to See you all again  in this life I doo hope  and pray to god to  Spear my life to git  home once more to See  you all and find you  all well G.W. Mooney  is with me he Said that  he would Rite I have  bin out of prison 22 days  I think that your brother  was the gladest to See me  When I got in prison  that I must close by  Saying Rite Soon

“F.M. Poteet  to his loving Wife M.A.E. Poteet”

This is leading up to the Siege and Battles of Petersburg.  I wonder, with you, how much more Francis will go through before the war ends.

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Military Monday: It Was the Worst of Times IX

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Francis’s next letter arrives mid-March 1864 and finds him still in jail.  The increasing desparation of the times is evident in both his and Martha’s subsequent letter.  Francis has not written because he has not had paper to do so.  He also had to sell his razor and coat to purchase food and was praying for something to eat when Martha’s next box arrived.  He reminds the children to be good for their mother and work hard.

“Weldon, N.C. March 17th 1864

“My Dear Wife I Seat my Self  down this morning to let you now  that I am well at this time hoping  these lines may Reach your kind  hands and find you injoying the  Same blessings this is the first time  that I hav had the chance to Rite  to you in any satsfaction I hate to  Rite you the truth bit I must I  had to Sell my Raisor and my coat  to git Sumthing to eat and then  have to doo with out Sumthing to  half of my time when I got that  box that you Sent me I was  laying down and praying to my  god that I had Sumthing that  I could eat and tha was A box  Come and tha Said it was  the 49 Redgment and tha formi t up and called James Poteet

“he brokit it open and show the  gard that tha was no weapon in  it and then he fetched it in and  I got up and went and looked  on the lid and I told him that  it was my box I told him that  it was no harme  I doo hope and pray that this  Cruel war would come to a close  so that I could come home and  Stay with you till death but I  dont now when I will See you  all Again but if I live I

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think  that I will see you Again god  nows but I dont I want you to  Send sumthing to eat if you can  and send me sum unions if  you pleas for I think tha saved  <my?> life before if you hadant  <of?> sent them I could not eat  <any?> thing but when I eat <????>

“I Rote you A letter yesterday but  I got to send this by hand to  morganton by James Poteet Wife  I cant send you such A letter by  male I haint Received no letter  you dated later than the 5 I  looked

hard for one this week  but I dident git it I want you  to Rite every Week and I will  Rite when I can I cant Rite every  week if I could I would Rite  oftiner I cant git paper nor  invellopes with out money  god has blessed me to git paper  to Rite A letter if I live to git  out of the gard house I thing  that I can Rite when I please  but I cant hear I hope that  god will Bless you and my  littel Children till I git home  I want you to Rite whether

“Johnthan Walker is at home  are not he has acted very  cleaver with you tell him that  I hope that god will bless  him for leting you have the land   A line are too to the Children  I want you to bee good to your  Mother and work as hard as  you can I want you to ciss the  littel children for me for I cant  ciss them now May god bless  and Save you all is my preyr for  Christ Sake.  I Reckin that you think that  I have for got you I dont want  you to think Such A thing About  Me for I think of you at any time  in the day

“F.M. Poteet to M.A.E. Poteet  I hope and pray that the Lord <will?>  Bless and Save you and my <littel?>  children is my prayer for Crist Sake”

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Martha’s response arrives a few weeks later.  She and the children have been sick again, but she has managed to plant and has plans for more.  She writes of her current financial situation, having 3 “old state money” dollars and 2 Confederate dollars but mentions how expensive or unavailable things are and  the thieving going on the community.  She also writes of the soldiers being moved from Camp Vance to Asheville, leaving them unguarded from Yankees who could come anytime.  In a moment of sarcasm perhaps, Martha asks why would they want to for all they would find is “a parcel of half perished women and children.”

“Mcdowell Co N C April the 7 1864

“My Dear husband I seat My self this Morning  to write you a few lines to let you know  that we are only tolerable well we have  very bad colds I am so hoars that I cant hardly  talk and sis has had the Croup this week  but I do hope these few lines May reach your kind  hands and find you well I haint had no letter  in two Weeks I would be glad to hear from you  I have got 2 bushels of sweet potatoes and planted  them I planted 7 & 33 hills and I have to pay 100 [$1.00?] dollar per bushel I haint planted Corn yet  I want to plant next Week if it dont rain  last week somebody stold two of Allens  horses and left two old poor no count ones  in there place and last Monday Night some  body stold 20 peices of bacon from him  the rest Joints last Monday all  the Men was ordered from Camp Vance to  Ashville they say that the yankeys can  come here at any time

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they please but  they dont want to come for there aint  any thing to come for but a parcel of half  perished women and children half of my  time I dont have nothing for breakfast but  Cornbread and bran coffee it is hard living  but I hope it wont be so all ways I cant  buy one mouth full of nothing to eat  and thread sells for 3 penny weights of gold  for a bunch and I cant get non I hav fifty  cents in confederate salt is one  dollar a pound they have quit keeping  goverment salt at the X roads I give  three dollars old state Money and two  confederate dollars for 8 lbs of salt  how I am to get along God knows I dont

“they are looking for Marion Higgins home  and I will try and get him to take you  somthing to eat I

am sorry I could not send  you somthing before now but you know  that I would if I could I have had a many  a tear about it I aint able to bring it  My self and I cant get no person to take  you somthing to eate and if I was able to come  I dont think it is aplace fit for women  except it be in case of sickness then I  would come if I had to beg my way to you  I want to see you very much but I cant  come to you but I hope that your head  man will let you come to me before long  you must do the best you can put your  trust in God fear not what man can do they  can but kill the body but fear God that  can kill both sole and body pray for me  dear husband that I <my life?> may be spard to  to take care of my little children for I  am in a helpless condition no one to look  too for help but God alone but he  is able to save all them that put  there trust in him I trust in him and  I try to pray for you my self and our little  children and for peace so that you all  can come to your friends but if I see you  no moor in this world I hope to meet  you in heaven where we will be  separated no moor but if it is Gods  will I would be glad to see you in this  life May God bless you and save from  harm and danger is my prayer farwell

“M. A. E. Poteet to her loving husband  F. M. Poteet farwell my dear Francis  please gard give this to

Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources

Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources

my husband”

Military Monday: It Was the Worst of Times VIII

Courtesty of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

Today’s letters are 2 short and sweet letters from Francis to Martha regarding what to do about the hogs she had asked about in the previous letter, the things he would like her to send him, and how he prays for her and the children.  One very interesting note to me, is that in the second letter, Francis mentions that he heard John Wadkins has reported back to his company but wasn’t fit for duty.  John Wadkins is Francis’s sister Gemima’s brother-in-law, her husband George’s brother.  George Wadkins is my third great-grandfather.  He died in the Battle of Antietam on 17 September 1862.  His brother John was wounded there as well.  It is not clear if he has been on furlough that entire time and is just now returning.  I cannot imagine returning to war after possibly seeing my brother die in battle.  I wonder if the un-fitness is due to physical or emotional issues.  I have heard of circumstances after the Civil War in which it appears men were suffering from what we would now call PTSD.  Considering the type of warfare compared to today’s, I cannot imagine how traumatizing such battle must have been.

“Weldon NC   Feb 23the 1864

“My Dear Wife and Children  I seat my self down this  morning to drop you afew  lines to let you now that  I am well at this time hoping  these lines may Reach your  kind hands and find you injoy

Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources

the same blessings you Rote to  me about the hogs you tell them  that tha are mine and tha  are the dearest hogs that I ever  got you can tell Joseph Landis  that any body that trobels them  if I live to git home tha will  suffer for them you can tell  Henritta that I mantained her  when no other person would not  and she had better doo Right  that she may need help again  and she might not git hit

“tell her that she can have  one of the pigs if she want it  I hope that God will bless  you all I want you to send me  some more unions & tobacco  and one lite lofe of corn bread  if you can the box that  you sent me the pies and the  tarts was spoiled I got it  the 7 of this month Send  me sum dride fruit if you  can I am in the gard house  yet I got your letter yesterday  and was glad to hear from  you and glad to hear that you  was better may God bless and  save you is my prayer for  Christ Sake

“F. M. Poteet to  his loving Wife M. A. E. Poteet  farewell My loving  Wife”

“Weldon N. C. March the 16 1864

“My Dear Wife and Children I  seat my self down this Morning  to drop you Afew lines to let  you now that I am well at this  time hoping these few lines  may Reach your kind hands  and find you in

Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources

joying

the  same blessing I Received your  kind letter Sunday dated  5 of this Month and was glad  to hear from you and hear that  that you was all well I would  like to see you all if I could  I have Received 5 of your letters  I got one Sunday it was dated  the 27 of Feb. Robert Money  sent them to me and I Heard  that John Wadkins had got  back to the Company but he  wasant abel for Duty

“tell my littel babys houdy  for me and Ciss them for me  bless ther littel Soles I hope  and pray For them every Day and  night that tha may have  plenty to eat while this Cruel  war lasts if you doo Send  any thing to eat I would like for  you to send me sum Molasses  in A bottel if you think that you  can send them with out braking  the bottel and Send me Sum  Salt you Rote for me to pray  for you I doo try to pray for you  and my littel Children I hope  and pray that the Lord will  bless and love you is my  prayer So I will Close by saying  Farewell to my Wife and Children  May god bless and save you

Courtesy NC Dept of Cultrual Resources

“F. M. Poteet to Martha A. E. Poteet”

One other interesting thing about the letter regarding John Wadkins is the spelling of his name.  My grandmother’s maiden name was Watkins.  Her father’s name was Watkins.  His father’s name was Watkins.  But his father George, and George’s brother John, were spelled Wadkins in the only documents I could find regarding them which are the 1850 and 1860 census and their Civil War papers.  By the time their children die, they are listed as George and John Watkins on the death certificates.  I have seen the name spelled both ways and had considered the possibility that the name had changed over time.  But I had also considered that these census records and war documents were misspellings as these records are often inaccurate.  Seeing Francis, a friend of John, spell his own sister’s married name “Wadkins” is another clue to the puzzle.  While recognizing that his letters are full of misspellings, this still gives me pause to think that someone who knew him so well spelled the name Wadkins.

Military Monday: It Was the Worst of Times VII

Courtesty of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

I have to say, of all the letters I’ve read between Francis and Martha, this one strikes me as the saddest.  I don’t know what it is.  It must be the tone of his letter.  Perhaps because his son has died.  Perhaps because he’s in prison.  Perhaps because he’s had a headache for 18 days.  Francis says he is relying on God to get them both through these terrible times, but it just sounds as if he has given up, as though he is resigned to whatever will come and perhaps a bit withdrawn as well.  Maybe this is just a defense mechanism  to get himself and his wife through these difficult times.

“Weldon NC  February 8th 1864

“My Dear Wife and [little children?] I [part of page missing at fold]  have had the head ache about 18  days and nights I have got better  I Received your kind letter and was  glad to hear from you I Received the box  you sent but all the pies and custerds  was spoilt I never tasted them I was  sory of that for I would Rather had  them than any thing that you sent me  but I was glad to git the other I hope  that you can git aplase that you can make  your suport on I dont think that the  lord will not let you parish hope that you  can git sumthing to live on while others  has it tis hard times every where but  cant help the hard times I was glad  of the tobaco that you sent me but tho  I cant Rite mutch I [torn] hear  tha is so mutch [torn] think  of any thing but I am in hops that  you can Read it you dident Rite  any thing about the baby I hope that  she is well I am glad that you sent  me sum paper to Rite you a letter I hope  that the agrd [guard] will let this letter come  to you and my littel Children I hope  and pray to god that tha will let this  letter come I hope these lines may

“I have Received 4 letters from you  I hant Rote you two [hope?] ping you all well it tis with God  that we [torn] live and breath when  he [torn] things will be done  I have to pray to my god every day  that tha will be peace in this land  once more I want you to Rite to me  about Henry and Sydney my brothers  whether tha are well are not are whether  tha got wounded are not I seen  Henry when I was at the head of the  Road he looked very bad and he  looked like he was very near don for  this world I hant heard from them  sence I have bin hear you Rote that  Will Cowen would not let you have the  land I

Courtesty of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

dont now what to think of  him only that he is one of the worst  spelator in this world may god bless and  save you and my littel Children god is  abel [torn] thing but we have  to [torn] is Redy when every thing  gits Right them he will deliver us and  not before I must close by saying that  I Remain your loving husband until death

“F. M. Poteet to his loving Wife M. A. E. Poteet   gard please send this to my Wife  if you pleas”

For Martha’s part, her letter is quite sad too.  She fluctuates between worry over not hearing from Francis and telling him she is praying for him and a bit of anger that it has been so long between letters, it sounds like.  If not anger, at least frustration that she is still there alone having to make the daily decisions she always counted on Francis to make.

“N C Mcdowell Co 1864  Feb thursday the 18

“My Dear husband I seat my self  to write you afew lines to let you  know that we are only tolerable  well I am a little better than I  hav bin My baby dont see a well day  but I do hope and pray that these few  lines may reach your kind hands and  find you in good health for I am uneasy  about you I haint heard from you in  most four Weeks and it [line obscured by fold]  a year hav you forgot me or cant you  write I would like to know what is  the reason you dont write the last I  heard fom you you was sick I would  be very glad to hear from you  I feel very lonly and troubled to think  I cant hear fom you  I want you to tell me what to do  about giving apart of the crop to  Henrietta she says she is going to  take the sow and pigs I want to  know if they aint yours and write  to me what to do about it she  said that you was not to hav her  for the one that you killed last  winter I think she is acting very  mean to do as she is

Courtesty of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

doing to try to  sell the sow and tell a lie and say  they are hers she sed she would  hav them or kill them in the woods  write what for me to do about  them I want your word to show  Joseph Landis was Married last  Saturday Night to Jeanna Coopper  a daughter of Bill Coopper what  kin is he to Susy Coopper

“we hav had the prettyest weather  for the last five or six weeks it was  like corn planting time but it is  very Cold now I think it will snow  we had snow last Monday but it  Melted off they are furlowing fom  the 22 regiment E. Neal Barny Brackett  and son Hufstuttle Overton West  Grason Dickson has all bin home lately  and John Cowen and Johnathan Taylor  is at home half of there times if you  could get to come as they do it would  be a great help to Me the yankeys  got Soloman Barns they say that this  state will go in to the union and South  Carolina is going as soon this state dos  the quarter Marsters is to be round next  week to get all the dry Cattle  I dont see what on Earth we will do  there aint corn to do till Harvest and  Wheat dont look like it will be any  acount for My part I dont know what I  am to do I do wish and pray peace would  be Made so that you could come home to  help Me Make support for our little  children I want you to get a furlow by the  12th of May and Come Home to take care of me  I want you to do the best you can and serve  the Lord and pray for me and I will for you  My heart and eyes is so full I cant hardly  write write soon and often I want to know  if you got the box of things I sent by Marion  Higgins May the Lord bless and save you  is the prayer of your disolate Wife farwell  dear

“Martha A. E. Poteet to her loving  husband Francis M. Poteet remember  me god bless you My dear husband”

Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

Treasure Chest Thursday: Childhood Memories & Souvenirs

Last May I took a hiatus from the blog to go on a trip to see a wonderful friend in Germany.  She was a foreign exchange student who stayed with us my senior year of high school and has been back to visit many times over the years.  We had not yet been to visit her but had promised when she got married, we would book the trip.  A wedding invitation came and a flight was booked.  I talked my Mom into “traveling the world” with me and my two girls as long as we were flying over the ocean anyway, so along with my sister, we headed to Germany, Paris, London, and Ireland on a 3 week whirlwind trip.  We made memories to last a lifetime.

My friend kept asking what we would like to see and do in Germany and we said it was all up to her.  It is her country and we couldn’t wait to see it through her eyes.  “Show us what you like,” we all said.  One condition: we have to take Mom somewhere to buy a cuckoo clock.  I have to be honest here, I kept thinking this is an awfully stereotypical German thing to have to get as a souvenir.  There is more to Germany than cuckoo clocks, pretzels, brats, and beer.  Little did I know, I was in for another family story I had never heard.

We arrived in Berlin and enjoyed a few days there.  We passed a couple places that sold cuckoo clocks but there never seemed to be enough time or my friend said there was somewhere better she knew of in a different town.  Boy, is she good.  None of us ever caught on that we were being diverted for some other reason!

When we arrived in Bochum to visit with her family, we enjoyed dinner and a makeshift baby shower.  Yes, a baby shower.  She had gotten married early and they were already expecting.  We brought a suitcase full of presents!  So exciting.  Her parents also had a very special gift for my Mom.  A cuckoo clock.  And what did her dad say?  “It is a very stereotypical German thing, but you wanted it and we hope you enjoy it.” My mother sat there near tears.  I didn’t have to wonder much longer why she had wanted this clock so badly or why she was so emotional about it.  The story came pouring out of her.  She told them that when she was young, her Mamaw had a cuckoo clock that had to be wound up every night.  Mamaw had to pull a stool over and stand on it to do so.  Now my friend’s mom was near tears as well.  It brought them joy to see how much this clock meant to my Mom because of this childhood memory of her grandmother and she shared one of hers as well.

Mom’s Cuckoo Clock

At the family reunion this summer, we shared this special memory, which I had never heard anyone talk about before and everyone was suddenly saying, “Oh yes, I remember that clock.”  Many only remember Granddaddy winding it but Mom insisted Mamaw did.  We talked about where the clock came from.  One of the sons, I believe my Uncle JD, brought it home from Germany after World War II.  We talked about where it might be now.

After we came home from the reunion and Mom got in her organizing mood, we starting going through Granny’s family pictures.  I have been through these pictures more times than I can count.  It had to be there but I cannot remember seeing it before.  There, in the stack, was a picture of Mamaw, on a stool, winding the cuckoo clock.  I posted it on our family facebook page for all to enjoy.

Military Monday: It Was the Worst of Times VI

Francis is still in jail for desertion and Martha states she has written him three times, insinuating she has heard nothing from him.  It may be even more difficult for him to gain access to paper to write her and other supplies he needs.  However, he is very lucky that he was not executed for his desertion.  Perhaps the army took pity on him for his circumstances, his son having died, or perhaps they gave allowance because he turned himself in.  However, many, many men were executed by hanging or firing squad for desertion either for punishment or to make an example to other men not to do the same.

The tone of Martha’s letters now seems changed as well.  She writes that she would write more of herself, but she couldn’t let other men read it, as much of a love letter as we may get from her.  She writes of provisions being moved away from Yankees, of taking care of business at home as her husband requested she do.  She speaks of the home guard, stolen provisions, a baby born into the family, and their precious son who passed away.  She ends by sending encouragement Francis’s way:

“N C Mc dowell Co thursday  January 21 1864

“My Dear husband I recieved your  kind letter last satturday and  I was glad to hear that you was  well I cant write we are all well  we all hav bad colds I hav had a  pain in my head three weeks and  the baby is sick and I dont think  it will live long but I do hope  this May Reach your kind hands and  find you well I would write you  some about My self but I cant  let evry Man read what I would  be willing for you to read  you want to know about the hogs  I got Mr Walker and Johnathan the  next day to kill them  I dont know about Ashville John  Cowen and others was detailed to  hall their provision back out of the  way of the yankeys and they say  the yankeys can come hear in a  day and a half John Carson and  Ranz Mitchel and his brother  is going about taking up paroled men  and men with furlows they taken  John Waren last Teusday and put  him in Jail And Al Taylor but let  him loos a few days the men fom  18 to 50 has to go to the Armey in a short  time and the Men fom 16 to 60  has to be home gard and negres  to be men

“this is three letters I hav wrote you  I went to the cross Roads last  Saturday and got two dollars worth  salt and Sunday Night some body  stold about half of it and about  a half bushel of beans and they  hav taken a heap of my corn  what I am to do I dont know  I thought wen a man went back  with with in themselves they did  not put them in the gard house  but George Taylor told he tuck  you up and is to get thirty Dollars  of your wages and I expect that  is the of you being punished  it is Just one Month today sins  our little son died and I dont  think they ought to blame you  for coming home to see him Die  but I do hope that God will be  with you and bless you and save  fom all harm I hope the war will  stop and you can come home in peace  Sally Hendley had a fine son thursday  lat I want you to do the best  you can and serve the Lord and  if we Meet no moor in this world  Ihope we will Meet in heaven  to part to moor May the Lord bless  save you is my prayer for Christ  sake write soon and often farwell

“Martha A. E. Poteet to her loving  husband Francis M. Poteet  God bless you my husband”

Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources

Martha’s next letter is full of indignation for the sufferings she is enduring.  She speaks of illness, deaths in the family and otherwise, the cost of doctors, and how if she were a man she would kill someone who has done her wrong.  She is still having problems about being put out of their home and finding a new one.  She also lets on to some ill will between her and Francis’s family, wishing he would write only her and not them:

“N C Mcdowell Co 1864 thursday Feb the 4

“My Dear husband I recieved your kind  and loving letter last saturday and  was glad to hear fom you and hear you  was well but sory to hear sunday that  you was not well we are not well they  nearly all hav had sore throats I  aint well my self but I do hope and pray that  when these few lines reaches your kind  hands it will find you well I shal be  uneasy till I hear fom you if I could  I would come and see you I sent you  somthing to eat by Marion Higins  five pies and five ginger Cakes one doz  unions two custerds 1 ham of Meat and  three twists of tobaco I toted it to the  X roads in my lap if you get it I wont  mind nothing that I don I am willing to  do any for you that I can  You wrote for me to stay hear Bill Cowen  says if I stay in the house I shant work the  ground that I shant as much as hav  the garden I hav walked my self down this  week trying to get a place and hav got  non me and my children are bound to  perish all the honest men is gone and  a set of speckalating dogs is left to press the  lives out of the poor Women and children  while the soldiers is standing as a wall  between them and the enemy they are standing  between them and there wives to snatch  evry thing they can get I think there  ought to be astop put to it if it aint we  all will be bound to perrish I am in a  great deal of trouble Doctor Young charged  me three dollars in gold or silver or thirty  dollars in confederate for coming to see

Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources

“Alvis one time and george Taylor to hav  thirty dollars for his kindness leting  you rid to the head of the road he ought to  be double quicked to the armey if I was  a man I would kill him Bill Cowen had  go to Richmond he sed he would give 12  hundred penny weights of gold to get off  Young Burt Higgins died last sunday  there has bin several deaths in the last  two or three weeks your Aunt Barbry died  last sunday week your Mother is in Burk [Burke County] yet I want you when you write to write  to me and not to them that dont thank you for it  I thought you had better sens that  any body that dont car for me nor you  I want it to be the last I hav had but  two little scraps of letters yet and I hav  wrote five I will send you apeace of paper  I told you when you left I was left to the  Mercy of the people there is about as much  mercy shown me as a dog would show apeace  of meat but I hope it wont always be so  I do hope that peace will be made and you can  come home O that God will spar your Life to  get home and bless you with health and  shield you fom all harm is the prayer of your  disstressed Wife I want you to do the best  you can I hope they wont punish you all ways  I dont think they ought you did not stay at  but 8 days and then went back but if  God is with you you need not fear what  Man can do I dont expect to see you any  moor in this world but I want to meet you  in heaven I must close

“farwell Francis  My dear May we meet again in peace  M. A. E. Poteet to her Loving husband  F. M. Poteet God bless you

“[added in top margin]  tell grise I seen Nancy last sunday she is well”

One thing of interest to me is how much the Taylor name is mentioned throughout the letters between Francis and Martha.  Francis is my great-grandfather Gus Watkins great-uncle.  Gus’s wife Eva was a Taylor but her family was in Rutherford County.  One name I believe was mentioned in a previous letter is James which is a name of one of Eva’s uncles.  Of course, Taylor is a common name, but I would be very curious to know if these are our Taylor family.

Military Monday: It Was the Worst of Times V

Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

We don’t know if other men went with him or not, but Francis Poteet must have finally figured out how to cross the bridge or gotten up enough courage to go for it because according to Dan Olds’ records, Francis deserted on 1 December 1863.  It’s possible he received a letter from Martha indicating how ill their youngest child was and decided he didn’t have time to wait for a furlough.  According to the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources site which has digitized and transcribed Francis and Martha’s letters, their child eventually died and Poteet voluntarily returned to his regiment.  From the sounds of Martha’s first letter, this could have been because the Raleigh guard was out looking for deserters.  His next several letters come from jail.

The tables seem to have turned in these letters.  Martha seems desparate, having lost their child and possibly their home, and considering the dire circumstances they are in.  Seeing Francis seems to have made it more difficult to be parted again.  Francis, on the other hand, having deserted, mentions the guards must read everything they write to each other, so he keeps his letters short, which has the effect of making them more bearable.

“N C Mcdowell County 1864 thursday January the 7

Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

“My Dear husband I now seat my  self to write you a few lines to let  you know we are not well the children  is sick with bad colds and I haint  seen a well day since you left I have  had a very bad head ache ever sens  last Sunday but I do hope and pray  this will find you in good health  the Raleigh gard never come back  no moor I wish you could hav staid  with me Mr Walker and Johnathan  kiled my hogs the day after you  left I cant get the William house  he is a going to move to it and I dont  know what to do Bill Cowen come  hear a teusday and told me to get  out as soon as I could and what I am  to do I dont know one of the sheep is  at Baty Grasons I hav got one at home  and I got the cows home last teusday  Thomas found them at Johnathan  Taylors you thought it was cold  when you was hear but it was nothing  the 1 & 2 days of this Month was the  coldest I ever felt and it much  warmer yet I dont believe we hav  had but two clear days sins you left  Pery Walker sed you had Washs gloves  blanket and to send them to him  I want you to tell him if he was as  willing for other people to hav there  oune as he was for Wash to hav his  I would got my ring in the place of  some one els he talked like you had  stold the Blanket and gloves

Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

“I want you to talk to the captain  and know if they cant put me out  if they cant I wont leav you can tell  him how it is if I hav to moove I will  sell the Mar and Cows and live while  the corn and meat last for I dont see how  I am to get along with no one to help  me I hav to pay tax on the cows  I want to know what they don with you for  runing away the men about hear says  you will hav to come home in  Companys before peace will be mad  and they say they wish you all would  come and says if the war dont stop the  people will perish they are enroling them  from 18 to 55 and what are we to do  if you all dont come home O my dear husband  you dont know how lonsom I am sins  you left I dread to see Night come  O I do hope and pray that the Lord  will spar our lives to see each other in peace  Once moor O Lord be with my dear husband  and bless him for I cant be with him  O Francis it dos seem like it will  kill me to be parted from you  with no one to protect me and  your little helpless children  I pray the Lord to save your sole  and body fom harm if I never see  you no moor I want you to write  soon I am so cold I must quit  May the Lord bless and save  you is my prayer for Christ sake

“Martha A. E. Poteet to my  loving husband  Francis M. Poteet farwell  my love till we meet again”

Francis replies:

“January 12 1864  Weldon NC

Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resources

“My Dear Wife and Children  I take the pleasure to drop  you a few lines to let you now  that I am well at this time  hoping these lines may Reach  your kind hands and find you  injoying the same blessing I want  you to Rite to me as soon as  this comes to hand you Rite tha  have to Read the letters that  I git from you and Read my  letters I want you to Rite to me  whether tha have taken ashville are  not I could not git to come  Back I want you to Rite to me  whether you have got your hogs

“killed are not I am in the  gard house and I dont now  when I will git out I hope  that god will Bless you and  my littel Children and give  you plenty to eat as long as  you live Dyrect to NC Weldon  gard House in care of the  prov Marchel ofis I could [Provost Marshal’s Office] not Rite till now and  I doo hope that you may git  this letter and hear from me  and hear that I am well if it  can Reach you and find you all  well I would be glad I must  come to A close by saying that  I remain your loving Husband  until death F. M. Poteet  to M. A. E. Poteet god bless you”

Join me again next week as we continue following Francis and Martha through the Civil War.