COBB COUNTY, GA - HISTORY - LETTERS F.M. HARDEMAN Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Alfred C. Ellis Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/cobb.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Most of the letters are to and from my g-greagrandfather, Francis Marion Hardman, who died in Confederate prisoner of war camp at Point Lookout, Md. He was in the Company M of the Phillips Legion under Captain James McCleskey. They were mustered in in Marietta, Ga. I submit these because many of the letters mention people living in Cobb County, Ga. Also, some of the letters reveal the dynamics of what was going on in Cobb County, Ga around 1862 when transcription was about to be undertaken. The first letter in the collection was written just prior to the Civil War and make reference to the "hanging of Lingo". I think people interested in the early history of Cobb County, Ga will be interested in this. I only saw two discrepancies in the letters: 1- the hanging date given in the letter doesn't exactly match that in the letter. The given date in the newspaper article is 1860 and in the letter it is supposed to happened Oct 21, 1859. Of course there might have been a delay. 2- The newspaper story has the sheriff as being James Barnett Blackwell, but according to local historians he was not Sheriff at this time. Maybe by submitting this, someone will come forward with more information. ______________________________________________________________ Georgia Cobb Cty Sept. 29, 1859 Francis M. Hardman Dear brother I embrace the present oppertunity of droping you a few lines, which leaves my self and family in moderate health, & all the connection as fare as I know, hopin these few lines may get safe to you and find you all well. I can saye to you that I have sold out at last for nine hundred dollars, and I have a sale on the sixth day of October next. Also old John Akin has sold out and has a sale the day after my sale and Jim Pitts is trying to sell out to and if he can he is going with us to Texas. We want to start as quick as we can get off in two or three weeks at furthest. I would be glad if you could come up and bring lisabeth and the children to see us before we move as we will not have the chance to come to see you, Lingoe is to be hung on October 21 that is three weeks from to morrow. We must trye to be gone before then if we can. Come to see us if you can for nothing moore at present But remains yours as ever To F. M Hardman W.S. Hardman _________________________________________________________ _______________ Note: The story of the above hanging was given in the Cobb County Times, April 4, 1954 edition, “Shadows of Cobb Gallows Hover Over ‘Hangman’s Hill’ “written by Sybil Compton. The story goes that Albert Lingo was drunk when he stabbed his brother-in-law, Bob Duncan, who was married to his beautiful sister, Frances. Albert and Frances were supposedly the children of a respected Baptist minister in the Powder Springs area of Cobb County. The hanging of Albert took place in Powder Springs and he is buried on Hangman’s Hill there. In the 1954 article, 94 year old Kennesaw resident Robert Lee Howell, reported that his father, Archibald Howell, saw the possession pass by on its way to the gallows. According to Archibald, the sheriff at this time was James Barnett Blackwell. However, it is not documented that Mr. Howell was the Sheriff at this time. _____________________________________________________________________ georgia, Cobb Co May the 1st, 1862 Dear Brother and Sister it is with Pleasure I set Down this Evening to write you a few lines to let you know that we are all well the Connection also as far as I know hoping these few lines may get safe to hand and find you all enjoying the Same good Blessing the helth of the People are generily well except the measels and mumps Some has them throo the settlement and the hooping cough. Mr. Ramsey and gus Dickerson is gon to the war . They started the first of April then joined the hors Company they have been in Atlanty in Camps then left thar last Saturday morning to go to York town we have not herd from them since I have mooved back in the house with pa and mother and sister Martha and her children is living in the hous whar we lived. I got a letter last weeke from alameda tha was all will almeda has a Boy he was borned about Christmas his name is James Franklin. Brother james has volunteered But is not gon yet Amtha coker is coming to Stay with semelda every man between eighteen and thirtyfive has to go that is not gone we an too know whether you have volunteered or not Elizabeth, if Francis is gone you must write for we wan too hear from you all very bad write about Narlers folks too well Elizabeth I have big Boy three weeks old he is a Bully pason he wade 10 pounds when he was bornd he has got a Big mouth like his mama and can laugh and crow alreddy his name is Dilard Seberon He was Borned April the 11. Pa and mother is about as Stout as Commons Mother is gon to meeting .....? I will quit for now write Soon nothing more at Present But Remains your Affectionet Sister Untill Death Elizabeth J. Ramsey To F. M. Hardman and and family _________________________________________________________________________ Georgia Cobb Co May 4th 1862 F.M Hardman and Family Dear Brother and Sister I embrace the present opertunity of writing you a few lines which leves us all well at present and all of the connection as far as I know. I hope those few lines will get kept to hand and find you all in good helth I hav not herd from you in Some time and I thought I would write we hav a pore prospect for wheat the rust is all over the wheat but I don’t think it is on the stalk just on the blade I recon you would like to know Somethings about the volinteers here I can tell you every man in this Settlement over 18 and under 35 is volintierd but long leg Jake Groover we don’t entend to wait for the conscript law to take us I enrold mySelf last Monday in a company we organised our company and elected our oficers Jim McClusky is captain we are joining Fillipses Legion I don’t know when we will start I expect that we will start in the corse of a week or so. Tom Ramsey and Augustus Dickerson is done gone they joined a conpany at Roswell. They joined a cavelry company gus come down to See us same day and went and joined the company Martha has moved down here She lives in the house you built She takes it very hard about gus being gone, Similda brings a long breath occasionaly about me going but don’t say mutch I would like to know whether you are going or not we aim to meet at marietta tomorrow to get our uniform and maby we will know then when we will start people don’t Seem to cear for anything now but to obtain their freedom all the talk is about the war all of my study is about leaving Similda and the children to shift for themselves and to protect themselves if it was not for them I could go satified, Father and gukes Artemas is a going to take charge of my crop I am purty ny done planting we have had so mutch wet wether we could not hardly work, I had forgot, Tom and gus is gone to york-town in vir. They Stid in camps at Altanta 2 or 3 weeks they left there yesterday was a week, fillipses legion is on the cost near savaniess in South carolina I understand today that there is talk of the Legion being ordered to chattenoga I close my letter by Sending you all my best love and respecks, good bye to F.M. Hardman Jane Ramsey is got a boy was bornd 11 of April naim Diland Sebron J. N. Hardman ________________________________________________________________________ Georgia Cobb Co June the 29, 1862 Mr. F. M. Hardman Dear Son, it is with Pleasure I set down this evening in order to answer your kind letter which came to hand Some few days ago and found us all well the Connections also as far as I know except Parke’s Elexander, he got his leg Broke Some two weeks ago with the wagon and mules, But he is doing very well we was glad to hear that you and James was nearly well But I am afraid that you will think that you are well and take to goin and take a back set and that will be worse than the first. You wrote you wanted me and your mother to go and see Elizabeth we are looking for her up here before long She Spoke of coming up when tha got dress laying bye thear crop I am going to Send you some Provision thinking Elizabeth want have the chance to send you nothing. I will send some Bacon, Beans, Meal, and Apples and Potatoes } nothing more at presant and Butter and ten twists} tobacco. } Namon Hardman Joycy Hardman ________________________________________________________________________ The following letter was most likely written in the fall of 1862 and just prior to October 6, 1862: (I am doing)very well at this time I hope this will get safe to hand and find you and the children all well I am in the hospitle yet and likley to stay hear without I get a furlow and come home My complaint is the old complaint fevor and lurk(?) To strenaches(?) to eat and nary one to work(?) I have had the chills, diare and an aking in my legs that disable me from walking mutch I don’t want any close yet I think I got anuf to last me all the winter do the best you can sell srek(?) If you think you cant winter all the cattle sell and kill till you think you can winter them and if you want to sell any of the stock sell them and don’t wate to write to me about it just do as you...... things will belong to(?) .....but...alow to still let you do as you please I think I will draw my money before long I have knot got any money to pay the postg on a leter When I get money I will send it to you as quickly as I can I have very little yose for money hear I think peace will be made before long...g...that it be d.. send you...if you get it and.. this leter.. don’t.... you hear from me To SE Hardman ________________________________________________________________________ December 7, 1862 Dear wife it is with great pleasure I take my pen in hand to let you know how I am at this time i am in good helth at this time I hope this may come safe to hand and find you and the children all in good helth we have had some very bad wether for fore or five days the smoke has come sow near puting out my eyes that I can’t hardley see how to wright I was on picket the other day and I cold see the yankes by droves in about one hundred and fifty yards of me I did no feel like I was in any more danger than I did when I was at home to.......................I think than yankes I want you to write to me how much corn you made and how much of everything else you made and how the hogs and cows is doing and write to me whether you got my likness or not I have sent you forty five dollars I want you to write to me whether you have got it or not I sent twenty five by harvey Mckeey(NOTE- this is Pvt Harvey McKee, Comp M, WIA 9/14/62 at Fox’s Gap Md, He dies 6/6/64 of disease at a Confederate hospital at Liberty, Virginia) and I sent twenty dollars by ..y murdock. I sent it(to) father and sent him word to cary it to you we live very hard hear if we got any thing hear besides beefe and bread we have to pay very hy for it. We have to pay fifty cents for a litle cabdg about as large as my fist and one dolar for a quart of peese and and me and wiles(Willis) murdock is got a mess boiling for diner we will have a great diner today you may think I mite write something about the war but in fact you know as much about the war as I do We think we will go to the coust before long but I don’t know whether we will or knot I hope we wil go I would bee the hapyes you ever saw if I was just at home w here I cold just lye by tha fier of a night on the nackedl flore we see rouff times hear and we cant help our selfes we have had two larg snows hear and a heape of very cold wether we pass off the time hear very well taking all things in consideration you must keep in (NOTE- apparently the last line was cut off during microfilming. Probably the next line is the last one) ________________________________________________________________________ Georgia } January 21st 1863 Cobb County} Mrs. Elizabeth Hardman Dear Sister I take my pen in hand this evening to drop just a few lines to let you know that myself and family are well as common hopeing these lines may find you and your little boys all well Well Elizabeth I got a letter from Bro Francis a few days ago which I send you You will see by his letter how he is or was when he wrote it. He says he has never got a letter from you since he has been in Virginia now if you have not written him letters before this, do be sure and write him one Just as quick as you can, give him as full account of everything you......it will make him so ....... to get one from you...ter thus F. M. Hardman M. Philips Legion ga. vol Richmond, Virginia Well Elizabeth I want you to write me a letter and let me know how you are geting on you will see by Francis letter that he wanted me to come down and see you but as you have been up here so lately I thought it would not be worth while to come, unless you write me word that you needed my assistance and am so busy, but if I can do anything for you that you cant do as well yourself, I will come as soon as I can. I want you to write to me anyhow, I want to know whether you are all well or not as you took some of the children away not well Fathers health I suppose is better than it was when you was here the rest is about as common as far as I know I have not heard from him in several days when you write to me direct your letter to me at “Leittle River P.O. Cherokee Co. Ga.” as I live neat that office Your affection until Death Parks _________________________________________________________ _______________ Georgia Cob January the 30th, 1863 Mrs. Elizabeth Hardman Dear Sister With pleasure I Set Down to night to answer you letter which cam to hand Some week ago we was looking for one from Frances and I would not write to you thinking we would get one So we have and I will Send it to you and you can read it for your Self we received a letter from Jimmy today he Stated the war was goan(?) well and he was looking for another big fite As Soon as you get this Set down and write Frances a letter and Send it to me and I can send it to him by Robert wood or Mally Pitts tha are agoing to Start Back in about 2 weeks he insast and write everything like he wanted you too in his letter he is ancious to know of your wellfars. Father has got you another weeding hoe it cost one dollar old man Pitts is Dead he was buried this evening (note: The end of this letter is missing. This was most likely written by Elizabeth Jane Hardman Ramsay) _________________________________________________________ _________ In Virginia Feb the 8th 1863 Dear wife it is with great pleasure this sabath morning I take my pen in hand to let you know how I am at this time I am as well as common and brother James is well the Legion is in good helth at this time we are doing fine hear at this time we don’t have anything to doo ondley to cook and eat and rub the rust off of our guns and set by the fire in old Virginia wevertire(?) we eat parch corn and lye by the fire we have a good fire place to our tents and we live very comfortable with the snow sleet and rain hear every few days you must write to me when ever you can if (I could) get a leter from you every month I wold be very glad I have had (only) one from you since I have been in Virginia I want you to write to me all about the children and how much tha way and how much you way I way about one hundred and sixty pounds I saw cosin William Smith yesterday your uncle Caley’s William John Steels bois is hear close to us tha was well yesterday will close for this time your loving husband untill deth. F. M. Hardman To S. E. Hardman __________________________________________________________________ In Virginia March the 16, 1863 Dear Wife It is with great pleasure I take my pen ....in hand to drop you a few lines to let you know how I am at this time I’m in good helth at this time except a bad cold and brother james is in tolerable good helth except the rhumatism I hope this will come safe to hand and find you all in good helth and doing well I recived two leters from you latley which toled you was all well which I was very glad to hear I’m sorry to hear thas you had bad luck with your .....? and cow(?) I don’t think hard of you for moving away from home I want to you to doo the best you think wife go to your....must tell the old man ragen to take good cear of my fruit trees and take cear of the rest of the things and keep intrudors off of my land if he can I want you to write to me how many hogs you have got and what sort thier are and how you alow to make a crop this year we have had...raine hear except four days It moved hear this morning and ... too.. And is know(now) a raining You wanted me to get a furlow and come home It is imposable for me to get a furlow there is some body all ways fiteting and a hed of me I may come home sone(soon) or it may be a good while before I come John I will write to you you must be a good boy and doo what ever mother tells you Naman you must be a good boy and mind mother James you must play with George purty litle boy George you must bee my big boy... and ....for once when I come to.... Elizabeth you are my hart’s delight... I can come I am a.. going to see you and the dear little children But I am knot sure of.... I was writing you... I have plenty to eat hear and plenty to ware I don’t want you to mail(make?) me any more close or shoes I have got the most of my close that I fetch from home all very good yet and I have a good pair of shoes I think thas will last mee six or eight months I want you to write (where you are living?) and you tell me again what nothing to writ up I did rig a tray the other day... and litle treets for the other boys. I don’t want you to mail(make?)(note: end of this letter is missing) __________________________________________________________________ March the 26 1863 Dear wife I take the present opertunity to drop you a few lines to let you know how I am at this time This leaves me in good helth i hope this will come safe to hand and find you all in good helth I have nothing of importance to write to you at this time I recived your leter on the 19 which stated you was all well which I was very glad to hear I found some sewing thread in it which I was glad to get but I have knowgt use for a darning kneedle I wanted a larg sewing kneedle but I have got two off them know you kneed not to send it to me know(now) We have good service of religion in the army their was a ....(man) baptized heir last Sundy the soldiers a keep of the appears to try to surv the lord I put my trust in god I have faith in him. I think he will carry mee through and return me back to you and the children you knoll not to write to mee any more about a discharge for it is all most impossible for a man to get one that is in confederate service If I was the state service I mite stand a good chance to get a discharge but it is knot worth while to say an thing more about it .... .... doo the best you can with out me til the war ends or my time is out.........I sent you all my draw before.... I havent been able to work mutch lately and I had to keep some of my drawing sow(so) nothing ... But remain your loving husband til death. Francis Marion Hardman Georgia Volunteers M Phillips Legion __________________________________________________________________ Transcriber’s note to the above letter: Francis Marion had to write on the back of letters that had been mailed to him. The writings on these letters were very difficult to transcribe in places, but the general idea of what is being said is believed to have been adequately transcribed. These three letters were written on December 7, 1862, March 14, and March 26, 1863 and they would have been located in winter quarters somewhere in the vicinity of Fredericksburg. Virginia. The troops were spread out all across Spotsylvania county to insure adequate supplies of firewood and forage. In the last part of the letter ,it seems that Sarah Elizabeth, Francis Marion’s wife, had heard about men getting into Joe Brown’s Georgia State Units and is trying to get Francis Marion to find a way to do this as State Units were able to serve in Georgia and thus be closer to home. He appears to be telling her that he has no way to do this. Alfred C. Ellis, transcriber Son of Sarah Hardman Ellis (note: No date is available for the following letter but it was most likely written after June 1863 since reference is made to Jim’s baby. This would be James Thomas Pitts whose wife Samantha(Hardman) has died following childbirth) we are all well Jims little baby has got to notising and laughing write how your vaseination(?) comes on and how margaret marla got home She never come her untill in the evening we have the ball that wounded Frances we got it in the evening after you started in the morning it is like them long balls you have with a hole in the end he Said Send it to you the first chance also he has Sent thirty five dollars for you if you need it you had better send some person up after it and Pa says if you can not get no person to come just drop him a few lines and he will get it to you Somehow .... Elizabeth be Shure and answer every thing thats in Francis letter whether you made eny wheat or not and every thing write him a big letter for it will go too him write to him to put down every word how to back a letter to him and then you back in your Self nothing more at this time............................? To S.E.H Parks State Georgia Dekalb County Sept 25, 1867 Mrs. Elizabeth hardman Mr. bell in atlanta has A land warrant that be longe to you grandma Jengens you can gite by proven you are the legan and you hade beter Se you Pa and gite hime to come with you don’t Sele hit till you Se me T. N. Paden _________________________________________________________ _________ The above letter was also in the collection. References to this letter have been passed down thru “word of mouth” by the Hardman family in Dekalb County, Alabama. I first heard this about this land fortune when it was told to us by our Papa Hardman, a grandson of Francis Marion. Basically, what I remember is that Papa’s grandmother, Elizabeth Hardman, had gotten a letter concerning land from an estate that she was to inherit if she could prove her claim. If I remember correctly this land was in England since this was supposedly where her parents or grandparents(Jennings) had come from. Clyde Hardman, a greatgrandson of Francis Marion and a grandson John Hardman, said that he first heard the story when his Uncle Jimmy(mentioned as a child in the above letters) came to visit the Hardmans on Sand Mountain in the early 1920's. He said that some members of the family may have actually hired lawyers to try to lay claim to this land fortune in England. However, it is apparent from the above letter, that this land was most likely in the area around Atlanta. There was another story going around about this time which stated that there was a great fortune in England that was part of the estate of a Sir John Hardman and his brother Richard who left no heirs. According to a letter to the then Georgia Governor L. G. Hardman, dated 1922, this estate was then worth 12 million pounds sterling. This story was told to me my Samuel Hardman of Commerce, Georgia. It could be very possible that these two stories got confused. My mother, Sarah Hardman Ellis, remembers Uncle Jimmy’s visits very well. He would walk all the way from near Centre to the community where the others lived on Sand Mountain. John, Naman, and George, are all buried in the Wesley’s Chapel cemetery on Sand Mountain. Uncle Jimmy is buried in the Hardman Cemetery near Centre, Alabama in Cherokee County, Al. To view photos of some of the Hardman who settled in Dekalb County, Al. see page 4 of the following website: http://homepages.msn.com/HobbyCt/aceala/Wesley.html Major William Alfred Powell- First cousin of Francis Marion Hardman. His aunt was Elizabeth Hardman who married Chapmon Powell. Francis Marion was also related to Major Powell through his mother, Joicy Smith Hardman. She was a first cousin to Major Powell father, Chapman. The following narrative is taken for Confederate Military History- Extended Edition, Volume VII, Georgia, 1899 by Confederate Publishing Company: Major William Alfred Powell, of Atlanta, was born in DeKalb County, Ga., march 5, 1825, son of Dr. Chapman Powell, a native of North Carolina, who, removing to Georgia, settled first in Clarke and later in DeKalb County, an in 1870 died at his home on Peachtree Street, Atlanta, where now stands the Capital City club house. Major Powell’s mother was Elizabeth Hardman, a Georgia lady of South Carolina parentage. Among his father’s ancestors were several Revolutionary soldiers. Major Powell was reared on his father’s farm in DeKalb County and attended school in Decatur. At the age of twenty-one years he became a clerk and at twenty-four a merchant at the head of his own establishment. He served for several years as judge of the DeKalb County court and was for a long time the postmaster at Decatur. On January 13, 1859, he was married to Louisa Ann Caroline, daughter of Rev. John S. Wilson, D. D., a prominent Presbyterian minister, who in 1864 was moderator of the general assembly of his church. After his marriage Major Powell located in Atlanta, and was engaged in the furniture business when the war broke in upon all peaceful pursuits. In May, 1861, he entered the Confederate service with the Atlanta Grays, of which he had been for two years third sergeant. The Grays went to Richmond, Va., where they became Company F of the Eighth regiment of Georgia volunteers, Col. Francis L. Bartow Commanding, and at this time he was promoted to orderly-sergeant. His first active service was in the Shenandoah Valley, with Gen. J. E. Johnston’s arm, and July 21, 1861, he was a participant with his gallant regiment in the fiercely fought and ever memorable battle of First Manassas. In the spring of 1862 his health became so poor that he was sent to the hospital at Richmond and later was honorably discharged form the service, from which his physical disabilities disbarred him for two years. Early in 1864 he joined the Second regiment Georgia reserves, of which he was elected and commissioned major. This regiment was stationed at Andersonville military prison from that time to the close of hostilities, and Major Powell was most of that time in command. After the war he engaged in mercantile pursuits, but for the past fifteen years has been treasurer of the Home Mission office of the Presbyterian general assembly, located in Atlanta. Major Powell has two daughters, Mrs. Bessie Powell Miller and Miss Annie L. Powell.