Carroll County GA History Letters CSA Melinda Boyd Groce File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by JodieK444@aol.com Judy http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/carroll.htm Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Georgia Table of Contents: The following is a letter sent to Melinda Boyd Groce, wife of Lewis Dudley Groce, following the death of her husband near Columbus, Mississippi, during the Civil War. Melinda, born 18 April 1827 in GA, is thought to be the daughter of William Boyd, who was the son of Robert Boyd and Rosannah Stewart. Melinda Boyd and Lewis Dudley Groce were married 27 Nov 1845 in Meriwether County, GA (Book B, page 43). They moved to Carroll County, GA sometime between 1850 and 1860 and lived in the Fairplay Dist. near Villa Rica. They had seven children. Melinda moved to Cedartown, Polk County, GA with her son, George Washington Groce and his wife, Nancy Ann Boyd Groce (daughter of Robert Boyd and Sarah Ann LeGuin), where she died 20 Aug 1890. Melinda is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Cedartown, along with her daughter-in-law, Nancy Boyd. George Groce took his children and moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma, and later settled in Oklahoma City, where many of his descendants live today. Lewis Dudley Groce remains buried near Columbus, Mississippi. Much information on this family (and a copy of this handwritten letter) was received from Virginia Groce Joiner, granddaughter of George Washington Groce and Nancy Ann Boyd, who lives in Oklahoma City. --- Submitted by Judy Kilgore, 13 Feb 2002 Columbus, Mississippi May 2nd 1862 Mrs. Melindah Groce Dear Madam it is with the deepest regret that I attempt to write to you, yet a sense of duty prompts me to act thus. also a direct request made by your husband L.D. Groce I will here state that L.D. had been taken with diaroea near two weeks since and while under that he was taken with the measles, and after they had been broke out on him one night and day. There was an order issued by the General, to move all the sick to this place it is 125 miles from where we was and we were kept on the car for nearly three dayes and knights, and by that time the effects of bowth the diseases had located in his bowels and the other boyes that was with him was not able to wait on him, it was Dock Edge, Marion Boyd and Jas(?) Sloan, all had measles, L.D. did not want to go to the hospital, and he requested me to go get a private house for us haveing one of my company that was nearly in the same fix. I looked around for a few minutes and found a man that was willing to take us in and he had L.D. halled in a carriage and he then called in a Physician, and he was a real smart man and one of feeling to. we all done all that was in our power for him, but Oh sad to write the words he is dead. but yet I hope and believe that his immortal spirit lives to day in heaven, he died on yesterday at Eleven Oclock A.M. it being the 1st day of May. I sent for the boyes to come and see him before he died but they were not able to come, except David Beaty(?) he was present at his death and L.D. said something to him to tell you if he should ever get home, which he promised to do. The day and night before he died he often times would call me to him and say to me that we were all labouring in vain for I am bound to die, but yet do all that you can, for me, but the will of the Lord be done, if it is his will to remove me hence let me go in peace as I have no fears of death, said he (the? ) moses(?) I would give all that I have to be at home with my wife and children but ah it is too late, he then quoted this scripture man that is born of a woman is of but a few dayes and full of trouble. he requested that he should be carried home if it was possible for without it was done it would be a block of grief to his wife and children for life, he whispered something to me to tell Hugh but his voice was so weak that I could not understand what it was. myself and David Baity examined his trunk and in his purse we found five Dollars and 30 cts, and that is in it yet. I had him buried in a plain neat coffin, it and digging the grave and burying him cost Seven Dollars, and I am goying (paying?) to have all his clothes washed and put them in his trunk and deliver it to Capt. Hembrey as soon as I get where he is, as I think it best for him to have them in charge. The man that we are boarding with is by the name of Charles W. Brown. he is a plum jentleman, he lives in the town. this is a large city. There is nearly 2000 men sick here. Mrs. Groce as I wish you to understand me fully, the Seven Dollars that I spoke of is what the government payes for burying her soldiers and you can get the remaines of Mr. Groce at anytime for the name and residence and Regiment and co are all taken down by the man who attends to burying the soldiers at this place also no of grave, his was no 40, new plat of grave yard. And if it should meet with your judgment to get some of your friends to come immediately that they will find some of the boyes here, for I have no idea that some of them can leave here in less than two or three weeks for David Baity told me yesterday that there was strong symptoms of typhoid fever about Dock Edge though it was not decided to be that, Jas Sloan and Marion was a little on the mend There is so many more sick that I do not know, that I say nothing about them suffice it to say that we have not well man enough in our regiment to wait on the sick and they are all scattered in every direction. will here state that we have not drawn any money except our bounty (?) and there will be some two more months wages and his comutation (?) money for clothing for six months that he is entitled to, and that was to be paid now Soon the Capt will attend to that I suppose, so at least, this I know to be so whether he gets it or not, I believe that I have given you as correct an account of what L.D. said that he wanted me write to you, though if I should be spared to get back to my much distressed wife and children, I will come and see you if possible as I must close I do fondly hope that the God of all grace and mercy may be with you and your children through life and at death save each of you in heaven is the honest desire of your friend and well wishers so farewell, done by request. M.G. Herrin M.B. if you should send after L.D. he who comes will have to come by Montgomery and mobile and then to this place. Respectfully M.G. Herrin To Mrs. Melindah Groce I concluded to clip a lock of his hair and send it to you as I supposed that you would like to have it for a badge of respect and also of grief for your self and children, so farewell with respect M.G. Herrin ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ==============