Georgia: Elbert County: Military: Reminiscences of "War Between the States" by Lucinda McLain Colvard White ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Keith Jones jkjones@triad.rr.com ==================================================================== [Note: This is a transcription of a letter found in the scrapbook of the Elbert County Georgia chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It is mostly typewritten, with some handwritten notations and corrections interspersed. In its original form the letter is 3 pages long. – J. Keith Jones, March 26, 2004] Note: Lucinda Colvard White was the sister of my great grandfather (John U. Colvard, who is mentioned as off fighting in the war). (Mrs. L. M. White 1864-1865 Reminiscences of "War Between the States" By Lucinda McLain Colvard White) I was born 20th July 1853, the daughter of John William Colvard and Lucy Ann Frances Almond Colvard. John William Colvard was son of John Stokely Colvard and Sarah Gibson Colvard. John Stokely Colvard was born in North Carolina and Sarah Gibson Colvard was born in Virginia. My father, John Wm. Colvard, was born in 18?? [note: J. W. Colvard was born Nov. 16, 1817, but the date is not legible in this letter] and died of jaundice in 1864 at Andersonville, Georgia, during the War Between the States. He went to the war with the Georgia Reserves with the 18 year old boys and 45 year old men. He was guarding the Yankee prisoners at Andersonville, Georgia when he died just a few days before the battle of Atlanta, during Sherman's March to the Sea. My mother (Lucy Ann Frances Almond Colvard) was born in 1824, May 2nd. [Handwritten note states: Father Ussery Almond, Mother Sarah Brown. I was 8 yrs old when the war began.] I remember when Sherman out off General Vaughn's Cavalrymen and part of his men camped within two miles of my mother's home which was two miles across Beaverdam creek from what they call the town of Dewey Rose now. It was all in woods then. These men of General Vaughn's came to my mother's house often and my mother, elder sisters, and slaves cooked for these men. They looked tired and hungry and were very ragged. Two of these men, who come to mother's home first, came about supper time at dark. I remember opening the door for them, thinking they were some of the neighbors. Mother asked, "Who is that?" One spoke and replied, "Ben Scott is my name," then he said to me, "Honey you will never forget this will you?" He seemed to me about 40 years old. He wanted my mother to cook him something to eat, and as young as I was I noticed him holding his clothes on, as he was so ragged. My father being dead at that time mother feeling sorry for him, gave my father's clothes to him and had him dress before he ate his supper. I do not remember seeing many Yankees. I remember seeing only four, this was during the time Sherman had left Atlanta on his March to the Sea. Every one was afraid the Yankees would come so they hid and buried their valuables from them. My mother told me after the War was over about her burying $50.00 in gold in something like a mustard box, also how she buried my brother John's clothes, a broadcloth suit in the garden. One of the slaves buried it for her, as there were no other men on the place to do this, as all of us were small, except my brother John who had gone to the war. He belonged to General Gordon's command in northern Virginia, 38th Georgia regiment, Company H. Mother also said she hung her meat in the trees in the swamps, near the house. We children did not know this until the war was over as she was afraid the Yankees would find this out. About the four Yankees I remember seeing they came to my mother's house about sundown, we children were playing in the road in front of the house. One asked me if I had any eggs. I asked my older sister and she said, "Not any, only what the hens were setting on." There Yankees did not bother anything or anywhere else near the house that we heard of. They acted perfect gentlemen. I wonder if any other old person remembers this song, "Alabama, Georgia hoosier hoosier, Alabama Georgia, hoosier hoo." This was a very popular song among the children, some other ballads which were ???? to me during the war were, "Come All you Southern Soldiers", "My Valley Home", "John Riley", these were all composed during the War Between the States. When the war was over I married in 1868, 12th day January one of Gordon's soldiers who fought all through Northern Virginia. His name was Robert White. I was 14 years and he was 23 years of age. He was born 1844. He slipped off from his father and joined the army in 1861 at the age of 16 years. He belonged to Company H, 38th Georgia Regiment. He died in 1888. [Handwritten notes at bottom] Lucinda McLain Colvard White Died 1932 Mrs. L. M. White Grandmother of Pauline Edwards Bell, Eulalia Edwards, Olive Edwards, Clarke Edwards, Emory Edwards, [More that are not legible] [Note on Ben Scott, soldier who was given John Wm. Colvard's clothes: There are 4 Benjamin Scotts listed in "ROSTER OF THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS OF GEORGIA 1861 - 1865" by Lillian Henderson. 2 died in 1863, prior to this story. 1 was fighting in northern Virgina with the 45th Georgia at the time. That leaves one likely candidate. Benjamin F. Scott, private of 2d COMPANY F, 1st CONFEDERATE REGIMENT, POWER SPRINGS GUARDS of COBB COUNTY, GEORGIA. He is listed as joining the service January 1, 1864 and deserting at New Hope Church, Ga May 24, 1864. That would have been sometime shortly before this story, so this is likely the Ben Scott referred to. Apparently my gr-great grandfather's (John Wm. Colvard) clothes were given to a deserter. JKJ]