Letters written to and from Leander Crumly - Habersham, White and Madison Counties, GA Part 1 Submitted by Christine Crumley-Brown June 28, 2004 Copyright 1997. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm **************************************************************** The following letters and portions of other documents were written to and by Leander F. Crumley and his family members, or contracted with his decendants during a period from 1853 until 1910. Leander was my gggrandfather and lived in Habersham and White Counties. He, his brother and brothers in laws enlisted in the Confederate army when the "Tories invaded". (Yes, at one point, the Union army was referred to as "Tories".) Leander never saw much battle and died at home while on leave from the effects of starvation and dysentery on March 30, 1863. The following letters were handed down to my Great Aunt Lou. She was an old maid, and from her, the letters ended up with her nephew Leonard Kirk. It was through his and his son's generosity that I obtained a copy of these letters. I first transcribed these in the mid 1980s by typewriter. In 1997, I was at it again on my desktop computer. I have transcribed these as close to the originals in wording, spelling, (or should I say, misspelling?), and punctuation as possible. You will see how difficult it would have been to transcribe at points. The page numbers in parenthesis quotes are the page numbers of the copies from which I transcribed. I hope you enjoy reading these and using them for reference materials as much as I have enjoyed transcribing them. ( pg. 1/2) Negro Hill, California April 10th 1853 Dear Brothers I write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope these few lines may find you all well you must excuse me for not writing sooner for I did not know where to direct my letters for I was so long on the road that I did not know what has become of you I will try to give some of the out lines of my voyage I left Charleston on the 8th Feb landed at Havana, "Cuba" 11th left Havana 17th and landed at Chagres 22nd Panama 25th and left there the 7th March and after 82 days sail of Starvation on the 28th May we put in to Mansivillo on the western coast of Mexico for provisions and water but could get nothing by water and that was very bad So on the 30th we set sail for San Blass 180 Miles furhter up the coast and on the 9th of June we cast Anchor in the bay of San Blass and there we lay 45 days trying to get provision the Captain did not have the money to pay for it So finally he Mortgaged his ship and cargo for five thousand five hundred dollars and the passengers paid five hundred and Chartered another vessel for five thousand dollars and we weighed Anchor and set sail from there on the 27th July (pg 2) and after 57 days of head winds and gales and Starvation we Anchored in the bay of "San Francisco" on the 11th of Sept and out of "money" and shook almost to death with "Ague" that evening took a boat for Sacramento City landed there next morning at daylight and Stuck for the "Diggins" and after 3 days hard waling I got here a distance of 25 miles from Sacramento City and was sick four weeks and on expenses at $10 per week for board besided my "doctor bill" So enough of this suffice it to says I never kenw hard times was "before" I have done moderate business in the mines this winter I have cleared about $300 since I got here and I would have done better but provision was so high Pork was worth 45 cts per lb beef 30 flour 35 Irish Potatoes 25 per lb butter #1 and other things in propotion So in all I was seven months and ten days on the ways I want you to write to me and Direct to Mormon Island California So nothing more at present to L F & F M Crumley I remain your Brother and well wishes A. D. Crumley ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (pg. 3/4) Clinton County Mo May the 23/1855 Dear Sir i received you letter dated April the 8th and was glad to hear that you was well and also that you had a notion of coming to this country We are all well and doing very well considering the seveur drouth that we have experianced heare we have had but little rain for the last 12 months but it is becoming a little more seasonable now and we have a tolerable prospect for a crop we have the likelist prospect of any in the county our corn wheat and oats look well considering the dry weather and I can safely say that this prarie country can stand a drouth better than any country I ever saw not to be wetland Produce sell high here corn is worth from 3 to 5 dollars a barrel wheat one dollar and a half per bushel flour six dollars per hundred bacon from 7 to 8 cents per pound and a prospect of being higher Coffee six pound to the Dollar You wished me to tell you the truth about this country I will try (pg 2) and do so I consider it a very good country it is much easier makeing a living hear than whare you live and I can truely say if I was back there and knew as much about it as I do I would loose no time till I got back these things I do not say to get any person to come but you wanted the whole truth and here it is you can live easier here and work only two day in the whole week When you get a new garment here you need not be affraid of that wearing out before you get another wage ar worth from a dollar to a dollar and a half per day and you can all way find employment of some kind or other I consider this as healthy a country as that if you take care of yourself and keep out of the watter. we dont go in a swiming heare evey dya as we used to do there there is some that do and they have the fun of chilling a few day for it but the cills is quiting this country and there is very litte sickness here only a case of veaver now an then (pg 3) You wished me to let you know about Nebraske I can not recommend that country at this time it is setting up very fast there is thousands going there and a great many leaveing there I think in a year or two there will be a better chance there than at presant there is great confustion there at present concerning making it a Slave State and when all these amtters are setted I think that we might stand a better chance than now if you intend coming to this country when you get htis write and let me know when you will be here and I will try and get you a place to live till you settle your self and if I can't gget you a house you can just come in my bavin and stay till you get one write whether you will come by land or by watter and if you come by land I will send you a way bill so that you will have but litte bother in finding the way if you dont come at all werite ocasionaly give our best respects to all the frinds and beleive me as ever your true friend and well wishes to John A Williams L F Crumley ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 5/6) Georgia Floyd County June 3rd 1857 Dear brother & Sister I tak this present opertuity of witing to you to let you (know) that we are all well at present hoping these lines may find you all well We resiev your letter for the first the 30th of last month witch fiv one great satisfaction I do not know of any place now at this time I wil inquier about I think that you can do very well in this country thar is now danger if a man will work but what tha can git A place I wood like fore you to com down here and see the country I dont think that I evry will regret moving here for I hav mad more clear money since I hav bin here than I ever did in habersham and hav seen more than I cood in habersham if I was to live alway corn is worth 100 dollar bacon from 18 to 20 cts flourer is 3 1/2 cts first quolity and the best prospect fore wheat that has evry hav bin know we have about 200 achors of wheat sood we hav 100 and 75 ach in corn and coten lotes of it (pg 2) and 42 ach of sugar cane we run from 12 and 13 plows I wont you to rite albout habersham all the good and bad if you havt sold your land never let them rascales about thare hav it fore les than you fgiv if you wil com down abouth the last of august we wil be biling the sugar cane com and stay wee or two and juge the country fore your self rite to me wother you ar living at the same place or not alexander is nealy as big as dan was wen he lft here and sese he is goying to see the giles before long and Sarah Ann is as fat as any the habersham lady we hav not named ourer baby he is so likley that we can not find a name to soot him if you com down here bring the note that levey Jackson has got agnt me and I pay money So no more at presetn but remanes yours til death Spencer Watter to Leander Crumley Sarah L Watter Nancy Crumley ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (pg. 7) Rome January the 3rd 1858 Mr leander Crumly & famly D son and daughter & grand children I (s)et me down this Sunday Evening to write you a fue lines to let you no that I am well But your mother is veary unwel hoping these lines ma find you all well your mother is so bad off that I havt worked any in two monthes and I am going to move to Morgans & Bens that some of his children ma see the last of her I dont expect to do any more worke whild she lives onely tend a garden and fach and wate on her Watters (or Walters) has moved in tetee vally about 12 miles from hear and your mother wonte to be close to som of her children and Morgans is the niest I will go thear while your mother lives but hit is onely to satisfy your mother but I dont like hit as well as I do hear but I am going to pleas your mother as long as she lives and wate on her her life time which cant be long but iff she dose she wil have to suffor a grte deal your mother wants you to come and see her iff you can but iff you can you must come to gorden So no more But Remains your father and mother tel Death H. M. Crumly Leander F Crumly and family ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (pg. 8/9) Resaca Gordon County Georgia Oct 2nd 1859 Dear Brother I received your letter a few day ago which gave me satisfaction to hear you was all well. We are all well Times are moderate here there is some money in the country yet corn is worth 75 cts Wheat 85 cts Salt 2 Dollars pr Sack 3 bush Cofee 6 1/2 to 7 lbs to the dollar mails 16 lbs to the Dollar castings 5 cts pr. lb Iron from 6/1 to 9 owing to the quality and pattern We have walled up the grave of Father & Mother with Stone except the pinting which I will do in a few days Jack & Ellick came down & Jack stayed til it was done Me & Jack done the most of the work I worked all the time in getting out the Stone and then halled them up & helped to lay them Morgan was with us all but one day though he was Sick a part of the time. Morgan has had the property appraised and he will sell at outcry before verry long the day of sale is not advertised yet or I would tel you when perhaps he will write to you all and let you knwo time enough to come (pg 2) Greene & Louiza lives I suppose in Chattooga County as their Post ofice is Dirttown Gerogia how he is doing I cant tell but he writes he has got the best crop of corn he ever saw in his life you wanted me to write whether you could do better here than thare Which is a hard thing for me to do not knowing how well a man can do thare but a man can make a living here and and all over and above he can get the cash for it by taking it to the Rail Road 3 miles wheteher it be corn wheat oats rye or baley peas beans potatoes Onions turnips cabbage Chickens duk turkey eggs butter and rags So it Seams to me that it is a very easy matter for a man to live here, when he can Sell his old clothes after they are worn out and hardly fit for dish rags. As to going to the Rocy Mountains you must do as you please but I would not adviss you to go oat this time fo there is thre or four nation of Indains hoined together against the whites if you would like to live here I will gave you a home on my land four years rent free by you clearing the land or longer I have had 5.50 Dollars S(t)uck at me for it. Write when you get this & accept the lov of J. B. Crumley (may be I.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (pg. 10/11) March 31st 1861 Mount Yonah White Ga Dear Brother We send you a few lines to let you know we are all well hopin these lines will find you well as I promise to write what they done with William at court the Juge find him Thirty Dollars and all cost by his neglect to attend to his case if he had attended to cost he would a come clear the case come up Tuesday morning and he never went till late in the Evening and the Juge find him for contempt of cort so you will have to work tell the 27th of April then his time will be out you may look for L.F.C. & Hardy to come with William when he comes we hall come Down to work till fall if nothing hapens more then we know of at present ____eders has a one dollar bill which he says he got from you on the Sentrel Bank Nashville Tennessee which is not good and I want you to write to me who you got if from if you know so I can get good money for it I still have Sam and he works well Father had a tru Bill found a ganist him at cort for retaining Spirets with out Liens he sold one gallon and they only took half of it a way and the Juge said it was just same as I want you to wach for yourself for from what I can find out they have a Bill a ganst you So if any body comes after you Send tem back as they went Excuse us for not writing no more and receive the well wished of L. F. Crumley G. M. Jackson --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg 2) (note about dogs was on back side of Mar. 31, 1861 letter written by G. M. Jackson. Mentions Father gave away to Wm. G. Goodman) G. M. Jackson We for got to Name the Dog population so I will say all of our dogs has the distemper But I think they will Be able to take a fox in a few Days they was a dog a pestering me Last night and I tride to shoot it with Carbin But I could not get the chance for Flint & Drive took him of (off) so fast that he Left a smell behind him the same as the skunk cabbage Tenna gows a rabit hunting Evry day and her and Jane treed one the other day And Dad (Daa) has give a way Drum to Wm. G. Goodrum G.M.J. Warren I will write one line be a good boy and mind you book and not kiss Black Betty too often write often and lotes Verlind Jackson --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 12-15) Washington Boufort Cy N. C. Oct. the.5.1861 Dear Brother I got a letter from you hit found us well and giting a long finely though thare is a good many of our company sick with the measels Some of them are giting over them the Captin is right at his worst with the measels though he seams to be in good spirits though they make him ofal ugly thare has ben a good many of the company compnay in the same fix we have plenty of bacon and beef corn meal & flour sugar and rice and teas but we have not drawd any coffee sence we come here it can not be got thare is plenty of sweet potatoes cabedgs fish and honey for the money we was glad to here from you and here that you was all well we recievd your letter yesterday Mrs. Mcravy ma be rite a bout the corn the Directions I left was for E. T. Elliott to pay Hardy 15 bushels of corn certin and if he thought I could spare 15 bushels more and have a nuff left for Velinda to let him have it the first 15 bushels was (pg 2) for corn that I borred from Brother Waren the other 15 bushels I wanted to let him have if E. T. Elliott thought I could spar it was for a note that he (Hardy) got from W. E. F. Shelton that he helt a ganst me and tell Father that I will pay him the money for Alferd's work. Dock (or Docle) I donot think I told Mrs mack nor old mack that they could pull any fodder at tall but I told my Wife Jest befor I started to tell father to let Old Mack pull that fodder over at his hous Dock from what I can under Stand from your letter thare will have to be a law sute be fore Father gets his corn and if he can not get it without that for him not do to go in to a Lawauit I will pay him the money and if you want to see me back or any of you or Verlinda wants to see me back thare to fix my buisness as I Directed E. T. Elliott to fix it for me and if you all do not fix it that way I will take it for granted that that non of wants to see me back thare, Dock you tell Mr. McCrary (McCravy) I did not want the Fodder fpulled before it got ripe also tell him that he nead not to of put himself to any trouble about the (pg 3) Fodder I left hands these enough to fo pulled the Fodder I told Father what I wanted him to pull the Fodder & take care of it & give my wife half of it & if the old Man Mack would not let him pull the Fodder & if he (Hardy) has not pulled it why let it rip I think what I am twenty one yet. & can live any where Tell Father he kneed not be uneasey abouth what I owe him for if I live I will pay him and if I di he will have to five me that mutch Nancy as long as you have not named the baby I will name if if you like the name you can mane it that & if you do not you must name it what you see propper the name is this Waren Blueford Dock if Warren comes to stay home, I want hime to take my dogs & take care of them. I here withing enclose a few line to Verlinda which you will please give to her You stated in your letter that Sutton was making up a company. I hope he will soon succeed in getting his company & come on & join our Ridgment Give my respects to all enquiring friends so I will come to a close Write to me as soon as you recive this letter, I remain your Brothing law & C & C per J. B. West & W.E.F. Shelton G. M. Jackson --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg 4) (The following had no Salutation, Place or date but was a single page after the above letter.) Mother I wannt yo to prepair A. T. Jackson 1 pair of pants 2 shirts 2 pair of socks A vest & suspanders thair will bee A man thair to bring them you will see the A ___tiate ment in the paper when this will bee thair A. T. Jackson Tell Jack dont wannt any close as long a syou all acts saw don quair the may make thir one range ments for I entend to go on to Raleigh to by my cloth G. M. Jackson R. S. Jackson S. F. Crumby writ to me the trouth (the S. in Jackson and Crumby may be L.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 16) Camp Washington N. C. Oct the 20 1861 Dear Father and Mother & Brother & Sister to you all you now not half how glad I was to rective a letter form you and read hit I was glad that co(u)ld read hit. hit found us well I hoping this few lines may find you all well I have changed sense I left ome I think if I was at home you think of me about what I said when we parted our last time. You told me that you intended to quit drinking and swearing and go to work right when a man promises himself anything and sticks to it he is mighty apt to do it you know tht I use to that I could not talk with out an oath but since I got in camp I hardly ever think about swearing because I have something to do and to think about and I think if you will look around and see where your children is and where they may be and that be forelong that you would have something to do and to think about as well as I Pa I want you to become religious and pray for us poor soldiers for I know that if you were hear a while and see and hear what is going on in camps day and night & the enemy high and you expecting to have to go in to a battle and fight the enemy in the defense of your country and probably ever come out alive and you knowing all the time tht as the fait is so be it unto you so repent Believe & be baptised and ye shall be saved father you may never see no boys anymore on earth But if we never meet on earth again I want us all to be prepared to meet in a better world than this father morhter & sister I want to see you all very much but we may never have the pelasure of so doing I will close by as scribing myself your son and brother until Death General M. Jackson S.C.O. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 17) Camp Washington N. C. Oct the 20 1861 Dear Brother L.F.C. I now set my self down to let you know that I receive your letter last Friday hit found well and well satisfied and hope these few lines will reach you injoying the same blessing Dock you wrote to me about my _______________ to you in my other letter about ___________________. ___________________ it ______ and also in Verlinda a letter what I ______ was about the favor as I told Verlinda the way I left home to tell father to let her father pull that over at his hous if he wanted to and now Dock if they wont ____ left the _____ with you and ____ and if they wont do that away just let them ____ tel father that he should not be uneasy about the amoney ___________________if _____ to _______ money I will pay him __ I __ ____ from home they must do just as I am (want) them to do if not I shall come home ___________ tel old mack he must quit germleling about the way I left my _____ and if he want _______ whether any of this will sell me thee _________ got nothing to ___ ____ ____ ______ be yo no more about that this(e) _____ and us to ______ camp ______ me (we) fair very well ____________________ but it makes a very good ____ I must come to close G. M. Jackson Mother Alfred is gumping and skibin and pling (playing) marvels jest like he was at home. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 18) Camp Washington Beaufort County N. C. (Date 11.10.1861 was on last page) Beathham River Dock if you name him a tal you will nam after the &at I did not men Bauford this is the &at name but this is what I want your boy name Beaufort Warren or Warren Beaufort. this is the prety name in White I wanted Garlin name it Dock you rot when I rote to you I mus writ to you & When I writ to linda writ to Verlinda Dock I will as you say I sol Shal trust to you to writ me the trouth Dock I think the way Verlinda rote father will git this his Corn and I will be glad & as to the fodde Just let hit go & Dou the best you can dock if you eat them oposs you must be fat you must next time writ whar you Caut them I am Sorrow that you lost the fox by think it was Rabbit Dock that is a but your spped but Five me hand full ov Chisnuts Dock I have recive 9 letters from Mt Yonah 3 from you & 1 from Eben 4 from Verlind I recive 1 from you the 7 of this mounth it found us well & well satfide hoping the few line will find you all well Dock you want me to send a few low I _______ along way from home Git me back is the thing I hav bin wnaing to move some time linda was note will to move & now I am a way & God for bid nver to see old McCravery a Gin Dock I have bin mad at old McEver sens I have bin mared & I dont like the ______ so Dam well (pg 2) tell Henry & Merida & Jain (? Lain or Sain) & Eliok & Mary & Tena to be smarte & feed the calf & duck & ______ & nus that litel boy tell them all farwell for me I think tha have sow me the last time (begins a new handwriting) I waunt to know how mutch corne I made and how mutch Father got to his part and what ou air wll doing I never have heard from sam yet I wannt you to write about evry thing hogs Couse sheep chickens gees duck and evry thing els that is passing and I wood like to know how the women is gitting A long up through thair then on the other sid of the creak asspeshly them on the othe side of the crek. i wood like toknow how ch______ & hogs men ground corn is over by old _____ __ ______ and wheather they go over thair A oposum hunting or not for if I was thair I know that I shood for I think that the rosen yars is A Bout early for the coons to Biginan and I wood like to know how your _____ ground corn and your turnips patch is and wheather you will have A nuf sabet for your shucking or not I want to Be Shour to write to me ______ week and not fail for you don't know half how much good it dos me to set down in my tent of A knight and read my old letters and it wood do me A heap more good to rea news ons than them old ons Dock, A.T. Merritt gives you his Best respeds and wants yo to write to him for his ____ do not write to him and tell me all ____ fun (?) So I must clos at present nothing more at preasent only remains your friend till death To: Mr. L. F. Crumley From: G. M. Jackson Mt. Yonah care of Capt. Sumters White Co. Ga. Col. McMillins Co. 24 Ga. Reg. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 19) A few words to father dar fath it tis throug the kind mercys of god that I have the opportunity of writing to you. You nedd not to be uneasy about your son Aflrd goin to sleat on his post foe he like the fun of it to well to go to sleap. You wanned to know wheather Alfred was satisfied or not I never hear him say anything about home for he is playing marvells and raslen and guning all the time when he haint driling. Father & mother will you be good to Mc(?)neils if you cant get a long with the rest Thir was a little Boy hear las week and I _______ him and he puld my whisker and plade with me til he went to sleep and you wonnto to know waht we haf to eat we have corn meal and sum flour and beef and sum hos meat and fish But no coffey. sou I must cum to A close for I have wrote one to Ebin and one to liney. and I mist come to a close for I am ____ out. tell Willum to write this Nov 10 1861 me a few linew abuot G. M. Jackson the news in cheochee (From the phrasing and spelling, I believe this letter was written by someone other than General. Perhaps he dictated it to another soldier. Maybe he did this with all his letters since each seem to have different penmanship and grammar styles.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 20/21) Vicksburg Miss Jan 11th 1862 Dear Companion I take the present opertunity of writing to inform you that I am not well but is imporving some at this time I was taken on Tuesday night with a chill and Shook until Wednesday about 9 o'clock and then I taken the diarreah and something all that day and night and the next day was sent here to the hospital and I shall stay Sick at my stomach but is getting better I forgot to state that I taken the cramp at the start and suffered a great deal and is still sore. I hope these lines will reach you safe and find you all well and doing well I dont want you to be uneasy about me for I think that I shall get to come home shortly as Major Moore will come in a few days and I shall try to come with him if there is any chance. We have the worst water here that you ever saw It is so bad that I don't think that our mountain boys can stand this country long at a time The hospital that I am in is full of wonded men mostly Yankees who was wounded in the Battle of Monday the 28th Dec 62. I want you to get a place as soon as you can as you have to move and have the trouble over with as soon as possible. We have a new captain His name is A. T. Boyd so when you write direct to Vicksburg Miss in care of Capt Boyd I want you to write as often as you can for it is uncertain about letters coming when I stay here for it is a long ways and mails uncertain at any time Everything is high here. Potatoe custards the size of common dinner plate and not thick at that 50 cents apiece, butter $1.25 cents per pound milk 50 cents per quart and every thing else in proportion flour 90 dollars per barrell. We have rough fare here but hope it will get better if it dont I hope that I get to come home Shortly to See you all and if I do not get to come home you must do the best you can and write often as you can So I will come to a Close for the present By ascribing my self your Husband until Death L. F. Crumly To Nancy E. Crumly I saw Wesley B. Ledford to day and he was well and F.M.C. Left here to day and is well and all the neighbor Boys is well. (pg. 22/23) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 24/25) Camp Washington Beaufort County N. C. February 16, 1862 Dear Brother I set myself down to write to you to let you know that we are both are well hoping this will come safe to hand and find you and family all well I can tell you I have got well of the yellow jaundice we are billing best work I think we will have to fight in a day or two I dont know what to write I stood guard last night and it did rain all night and slept none You know how I felt to stand all night I run the blockade Warren can tell you all about it I can slip over the lines and go to town I wrote to father I would send you and him some money, 82 dollars a piece I will send you a four dollar bill in this letter Give father 2 dollars Dock tell old McCravys folks to write L.F.C. so they need not write to me I dont care a dam I am well satisfied we had 15 men in the guard tent last night. T. F. West was drunk last night I ever say him He rad and pitch but could not jump John T. Bradley has not come yet Dock you must write to me every week and let me know the time I have a bad to write (?) with men in (pg 2) one house 15 feet square so you may know whether I can write or not I will do the best I can if you cant read this guess at it I will quit tonight maybe I will study something by morning Dock I run the blockaid last night and went to town and stayed til 12 o'clock and will close for this time Remain yours friend until death G. M. Jackson to L. F. Crumley --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 26/27) Cobb County Georgia March 16 1862 Dear Nancy I send yo a few lines to inform you that I am well Hoping these lines will find you and our children well We have stopped two miles from camp Mcdonough (or McDonnel) and I expect we shall go to the Big Shanty some time next week There is some five companys camped here and one more will be in today or tomorrow from Towns County They wil be some six thousand six hundred at this camp when they all get in We have had a very bad wer time on the road But I lay in a house all the wet nights and fared very well We all got here safe and sound anl all satisfied as far as I have heard We have saw Govenor Brown He says that we must recrut in twenty days to 78 men so as to be received as a company and all the boys that joined will be sent after as soon as we are mustered in service I cant send no money yet but I think we will be mustered in by the time N.W. Jackson Comes back to camps he left here this morning to go to Mr Burtons and said he would be back next Saturday and if I draw any money, I will send by N. W. Jackson when comes home We have bac chance about cooking We have not anything but one water bucket, (pg 2) one sheet iron bucket that we have toboil in one frying pan and two coffee pots and three tin cups is all we have know to cook with We drew rations yesterday for seven days we drew flour, pork, beef, rice, sugar, salt and soap, tent, clothes, We only drew ten tents We will draw ten more as soon as they can be had There is ten in the mess I am in but I dont know whether the mess will stay as they are or not when we are mustered in I will give you the names -- John W. Sosebee, Jerri Richardson, Robert Abernathy, Tomas Dooley, William Dooley, James C. Allen and myself Write as soon as you can and let me know how you are all getting long Direct you letters to Camp McDonnel. So no more at present but remains your husband until Death To Nancy E. Crumley L. F. Crumley --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 30/31) Big Shanty April 2 1862 Dear One I drop you a few lines to inform you that I am well and William is well also I received your letter yesterday which give me great satisfaction to hear from you and to hear that you and the children was well We have three sick in our company Jasper Bruce, Alber Henderson and Henry Henderson colds is all that ails the rest of the company W. J. Houston has come in camp this evening and brings word that all is well in White and James Mullenax has came as a recruit which makes one more in our company. April 3rd Jasper Bruce is up this morning and says he is getting well very fast Goolsbery Henderson came in last night to see his sons and they appear better The measles is in this regiment but none in our company yet as I am scarse of paper I send you a copy I have nothing to write at the time only I have lost 10 envelops and one sheet of paper since I come in cap I have no idea who got them but things are gone The paper is the paper I got to send home and the envelops is the envelops that I kept for my own use I dont think I shall write anymore until we are mustered in service and i dont think it will be long for our uniforms has come in lst night All but two or three loads which will be in this morning i expect we shall leave here shortly but i cant say where to Excuse bad writing for I have a bad chance to write in camps Yours until Death L. F. Crumley --------------------------------------------------------------------- To Nancy E. Crumley (pg. 32) Big Shanty April 6 1862 Dear wife I give you a few lines to inform you that I am well and well satisfied so far. I wrote by E. J. Houston that I would not write no more until I was mustered in service but as I (thought since) Blalock was coming home I thought I would write a few lines We was examined today and two of the company was discharged This is thier names James Lackey and A. C. Blalock and we will be mustered in as soon as (the doctor, name illegible, may be Bacon) comes back from Richmond with the money for our (bounty) and they look for him next Tuesday If he comes we will be mustered in on Wednesday There is four of our company sick Two is going on a sick furlow and one is gone to a house today Hellem Boen and Thomas Dooley is sick and has not eat any thing today If he dont get better by morning, I shall se if I cant get him took to a house for this is no place for a sick man We have had three deaths in our regiment One died yesterday morning in Capt Barkers Company from Lumpkin and there is one in the Franklin Company that I dont think will live till morning I shall send you some money as soon as I draw There is some eight dollars owing to me in camps but I havent a red at this time and no chance to get any till we draw Wirte often as you can I sent you forty envelops and eleven sheets of paper by E.J. Houston L. F. Crumley to N. E. Crumley There was five deserted last night from Parkers Company --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 33, 115, 116) Big Shanty Ga. April 13th 1862 Dear Companion it is with pleasure that I embrace the present opertunity of writing to inform you that I am well at thi time Hoping these lines will find you all well I have nothing of importance to write at this time We are still here and dont know when we will leave at this time We were mustered in service yesterday and received out bounty today and I have paid (N.) W. Jackson what I owe him and as I have paid him I can't sent you but (30) thirty dollars at this time But if I make a trade that I expect and Shall, (I will) send you some more before long I have got but one letter from home yet and that is all the letter I have got since I have been in camps I want you all to write often as you can I want you to pay A. J. Comer (75) seventy five cents for me the things that I got Before I left and I wan you to go to C Meaders and pay him (75) seventy cents and get some cups and saucers he promised to keep for me at (80) eighty cents and what you need you get As for paying debts, I think you had best not pay no more than what I have wrote for you to pay I want to know if Marion has swapped horses yet or not and if he hasn't you may do as you please with Ball I shall send two song balets in this letter We have got our uniforms I got coat pants caps shirts draws and shoes it all costs me ($15.80) fifteen dollars and eighty cents of the clothing money and if I had not a drawd none it would been five months before I would (go to the 13th page* for the Balance of the Letter) (pg 2) of Drawed and Clothing money and we were ablige to have uniforms I cant say when I shall be at home But I think the chance Bad a bout geting furlows at this time I want yo to write me all the news in them parts T. A. Dooley is geting well very fast we have some ____ sickness in camps ther is some seven or eight sick in our company with mumps and measels and one cas of the feaver Ther has bin eight deaths in our rigment but non in our company Tell F.M. Crumly to do the Best he can with you and I will satisfy him for it if I live and trade for you (pg 3) when you cant trade for your self I shall go to Marietta the first chance and have my likeness taken if I can get a pass from Capt Moore Tell Henry and Merrida to be smart and I will fitch them a knife a peace and tell Jane to nuss Warren good and Keep him quiet and I will fetch her a pretty Bonnet when I come home and I want you to write to me how you are geting a Lond and how the nabors all is I want Marion to write to me as often as he can I would write to him to day but I have wrote all I have to write at this time So I will come to a close by saying you have my warmst hart untill Death Leander F. Crumly --------------------------------------------------------------------- To Nancy E. Crumly *Page 13 refers to small, printed numbers in the upper corners of the paper. The third portion of this letter was on Page 14. These two pages are on Xeroxed pages 115 and 116. (pg. 115-117) Balets: # 1 (Lines 1-3 missing) 4. The ______ part of Beauty you will hear it with a Dear That is the Boy for me now he was a Volunteer But traiters & Cowards when doom they Dont care We will smile upon none But the Brave Volunteer 5. We will kill all of the Tories of the Enemy to be found And we will leave the cowards with ther chicken harts behind We will leave them at home with there coward coats to weave While we go in company with the Brave Volunteer 6. Our names will be inrolled in Record of Fame Our deeds will be inspired all those who fight for fame Our homes will be honored our Country have no fear And we will all Drink a health to the Brave Volunteer 7. Let Rich men & poor men all a Like scorne fear And we will all march to gether a Brave Volunteer When our fortune fails us another we can make But when honor falls no more we can take 8. When old Lincoln Rages we will Laugh at his storm We will march under _____ ____ will keep us all warm We will bow to the Ladies and say Good By my Dear We will muster into Service A Brave Volunteer. 9. Fall into Lines dont delay on the way ____ by the right or left just as your Captain says Southern Blood is boiling it Drives a way all fear Then comes up like Brave men and join the Volunteer 10. Our arms are extended we will soon strike the Blow All of them Bolld Thirsty Yankees we will soon ____ _____ the Yankees they will tremble and old Lincoln fear When he hears of the marching of the Brave Volunteers 11. Soon the wars all over and home you will come Away goes your muskets the Ladies lifts your _____ #2 Home Home Home to my Mother in heaven O father come an kiss me once more ___ _____ by my bed rest to night your ____ will walk through the valy of death __ __ ____ in the ___ _____ ____ light O father I am going to mother so dear I dream that I saw her last night an over the river sweet voises I ____ ____ call me to mansion of light Home home home to my mother in heaven O father what ____ shall I take to jesus and mother for you I ___ tell him to send the holy angles of life to bless an to comfort you to O father I am going to mother so ___ I dream that I saw her last night ___ over the river sweet voises I hear they call me to mansions of light home home home to my mother in heaven Our home ____ __ lonly in dark and often we are hungry and cold but ____ fo home to my mother to night Wher I pleasure ___ ____ ____ gold I father I am going to mother so dear I dream that I saw her last night an over the river sweet voises I hear they call me to mansions of light home home home to my mother O father dear father once more of jeses I pray you to think an when I am gone to my mother to night father please give up your drink O father i am going to mother so dear I dream that I saw her last night an over the river sweet voises i hear thay call me to mansions of light home home home to my mother in heaven O father dear father once more please read in my bible an think no dronkard can enter the kingdom of heaven o God keeps my father from drink O father I am going to mother so dear I dream that i saw her last night and over the river sweet voises i hear thay call me to mansions of light home home home to my mother in heaven --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 34/35) Cobb County Ga Big Shanty April the 16th 1862 Dear wife I tak the present opertunity of writing to inform you that I am well at present Hopen this lines will find you all well I have just wrote to you the 13th and sent by J. C. Bell But as I have Bin down to town I thought I would would write a gain there was 8 of our mess that went to Marietta yesterday and walked down and taken a ride on the cars coming back I saw cosen Ben Gregory down there for first time that I have saw him for over Twenty year but he shows his stock There was a circumstance that taken place here that I did not write by Bell for I wanted to know more a Bout it before I wrote t there was twelve Yankees or tories that while the car hands eat breakfast on the morning of 11th of this month that come up on the cars as passengers that walked out of the bushes wher they was and on loose all the boxes but 3 from engine an took the engine and left with it and they had more strikers on the road that had cut the telegraph wire in a reate many place is and old cross ties throwd a cross the track and some iron tore up between here and but a hand car took the track and placed back the iron and cleared the way for the next trane against it come up and our agitent taken the trane and went (pg 2) on persute and after they got to ackworth they run 48 mile and cleard the track in 49 minets our Rigment has taken seven of the clan prisners and two more come in last night or rather yesterday evening and I havnt larnt whether our Rigment taken them or not which makes 9 in all that has bin taken they was runing so close to them at Ring Gold they jumpt out of the car and run but they was good at dodging the blood hound will show wher they have got to the nine that has bin taken is in Marieta jail and a strong gard round it and I think that a rope will be ther end they say that ther is twenty that taring up rail roads and burning up briges is ther bisnes but I think they will be brout to towe yet I had my likeness taken yesterday which I send back by N. W. Jackson it was the best that I could do the man was out of cases so I had to take an open frame but as you wanted it taken I thought I would send it as I could get it I will send you fifty cents in postage stamps for fear you cant get change for postage all the sick is on the mend but (S. or P. or L.) J Okelly which was taken night befor last with brain fever he is bad off I have got but one Letter yet since I come in camps and I want you to write for I want to hear some as well as to write all so no more at present but you Have my warmes hart Leander F. Crumley --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 36/37) Camp Vandorn Knox County Tennessee April 19th 1862 Dear wife I take the present opertunity of writing to inform you that I am well all but a small tuch of the diare but not bad and hope that this will reach you safe and find you all well William is well also I can inform you that I got your letter of the 13th a few minets a go I had just finisht writing you a bucket for not writing for I had wrote eleven letters since I come in camps one to Brother Jack and ten to White and had not got but one from you and a peace of one from mother and mary ann and I had got tired of writing with out geting no letters but as you have wrote I will write a gain and not send it you wrote that you wanted me to come home before I started from the Big Shanty but I have left there and is one hundred and seventy five miles from there or more We left there on the 17th at half past two oclock and got here on the 18th at twelve oclock Which made 22 hours on the way this sis the prettyest country that I ever saw the country is covered in cedars from one foot through down and the fields covered with the beartifulls meadows of clover and the best wheat that I ever saw at this time a year wher the Rail road croses the Tennessee River it is between a quarter of a mile and a half wide we had a pleasent ride if you call siting on a rough plank a day and (pg 2) night any thing for I was plase at the door of the box to keep all in on the way cant say how lond we will stay here but I think not long for ther is fighting going on in the southern confedracy and some not far off yesterday I suppose from wat I here it was in eight mile of this place I have had good health all the time since I have bin in camps but some of the rest is down with the measels and mumps ther is thirteen we left a marietta in the hospital and some four more taken the measels and mumps since we come here E. C. Ledford N. Slaton J. T. Carter with the measls James Mullennix with the mumps but none bad off Ledford has the measls out good on him all the sargents is sick and first corprel so I have to attend to Ordaly place and ter is but one more corprel well and he is complaining some and if times don't change I will have my hands full I see no cance to come home shortly but I want to see you all badly you write that all is well and mother writes that Elick and the baby is sick I want you to write every week for you have no excuse for I know that you have paper and envelops and I sent you stamps by J. C. Bell I made a mistake in the amount that I owd Comer and Meaders it 1.70 cts each that I want you to pay and write back a bout it as I have to send it if you dont pay it Recieve my warmest hart L. F. Crumley --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 38/39) State of Tennessee Knoxville April 30th, 1862 Dear Companion I take the present opertunity of writing to inform you that I am only in tolerable health at this time I have the measels But is geting well there is But 16 of our Company at this time able for Duty But the most of them is on the mend I thought I would not write no more untell Mr. Bell come But I Heard yesterday that he was at home sick and I thought I would write to Day as I had nothing Else to Do William M. Jackson has got well of the measels and he say that he wants me to write him a Letter as soon as I get done writing mine I got a Letter from John C Crumly yesterday which makes three Letters and peace that I have got since I come in Camps it Lookes Like all of my Friends come with me or some of them would write to me all the Rest of Boys gets Letters from home Regular and here I sit and write and gets no answer to none of my letters I Know that you have no Excuse for not writing Every week to me and Let me Know how all is and how you are a Doing I Have Run after the mail Boy to see if he had a Letter for me and found none untell I have got a shamed I want you to write whether my Likeness Knawd out of the Case Before it got home or not and write Evry week with out fail for I think I would feel Better if I could get to hear from home Evry week I am verry weeky (pg 2) But would feel well Enough if it wa not for my Bowels they are Runing off verry Bad at this time I Forgot to say J C Crumly family was all well orders had Just Come for to Leave this place and the ordaly is ishering Rashings for three Days we have to go to Kentucky I Shant Go with them But shall follow as soon as I get over the measels so I will Be out of Danger of Relapsing tell Caroline to take Good Care of the Baby and I will Bring her a pretty present when I come home Henry you and Merrida Be smart and work good and I will Bring you a Knife Jane you nuss Warren good and I will Bring you a Kneedle Case and five Kneedles if I Dont Loos it Before I get to come Trad Ball if you want too I want you to write fast while I am here for when I get to Kentucky I Shall Be so far from home that I Dont Expect to get half the Letters that is wrote the Capt says that it Just as scout in the place of going to Kentucky they are going to the mountains after tories we can hear the cannons this morning off at a Distance But Cant tell what they mean write often and Direct to Knoxville Tennessee kiss the Baby for me and tell all the Children to Do Right and not to quarl nor fight ther unkle Marion So I will come to a close Tell Alison Ledford that Elbert is well we have Drawd plenty of Bacon this week So no more at this time But Remains your Husband L F Crumly To Nancy E Crumly --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 40/41) Camp Vandorn Near Knoxville Tennessee May10th 1862 Dear Companion it is with pleasure that I imbrace the present opertunity of writing to inform you that I am well at present more then a coulf of the measels Hopen these Lines wil Reach you safe and find you all well I have Been verry week with the measels But have got as stout as Ever and feels as well But the coulf still stays with em But not as Bad as it was our Rigment is out on a Scout and has been for 11 days and I Dont Know When it will Be in But I think that it wont Be Long tell it will come Back to Camps we have had the Luck of Loosing three of our Company By Death and Sorrow that it is we cant send them home But there is no chance to get a transfer at this time and if the transfer could be got what they is of the Company here is not able to make up the money to send them the men that is Dead of our company is Pendleton J. Okelley he Dide Last Wednesday at atlanta with the Brain Fever and Rubin Morris & D J Dorsey Dide yesterday at the h ospatal with the Relaps of the measels and Both wanted to Be Caried home But it is out of our power wirth out our Rigment was here If our Captain was here he would fix to send them home But he was not here so they was Burried to day in Decent Coffins in the Church yard at Knoxville Our Rigment went from here to the Big Creek Gap and sent back for all the Rest of the Rigment that had got avle to go and they Left here yesterday and I underdstand that they are ordered to the Cumberland Gap Thomas Dooley Left here yesterday with the Recruts for the rigment and Got Back to night he taken the sick headache and they sent him Back and they sent Milton Nix and John and Wiley Cantrell come Back to gether (Written down left side of page: I never heard whether you got the paper I sent you or not and Envelope and postage Stamps and my Buger you never have wrote anything a Bout it whether it Nawd out or not.) Milton Nix had the measels and thought that he was well But the measels Broke ou on him as thick as Ever and John & Wiley Cantrell has Both had the measels and was so weak they Give out and come Back to night I want you to write and Let me hear from home on e time more it Look hard that I have wrote as many Letters home as I have and Cant get to heare from you and the Children I had give out Ever writing any more with out I could get a Lett from home But Daniel B Young said this Evening that he was to get a Discharge in the morning and he would take all the Letters that any of us wanted to send So I thought I would try you with one more and see if you would write I have Looked for a Letter tell I have got out of all hopes of Ever geting one I have got But Two from you since I Left and all the Rest of the Boys gets Letters which makes me think that you Dont write I got a Letter from Turh Duckett to Day stating that all was well and that Henry & James had got home and I herd from Green Walters to Day and all was well Charles and Daniel Walters is here in camps they Belong to the 40 Rigment they is Several Rigment of Georgians here and Glenns Rigment from georgia come here to day I want you to write with out fail and write how many Letters you have wrote so I can Tell wheteher the mail is Rong or you Dont want to write and if you wnat me to hear from you I want you to write Evry week and then I will get some of them the Last Letter I got from you was Dated the 13th of april if Young Dont go home I will Send this By mail so no more at present But Remains your true Husband untill Death To Nancy E Crumly L F Crumly You muscent think hard of the way I write for I am Badly pesterd a Bout Letters so Kiss the Baby for me Direct you Letters to Knoxville Tennessee in Care of Capt Moore 52 Rigment Georgia Volunteers --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 42-43) Camp Vandorn Near Knoxville May 12th 1862 Dear Companion It is with pleasure that imbrace the present opertunity of writing to inform you that I am well at present hopen these Lines will find you all well I hant any thing strange to write at this time J. C. Bell has got here with 9 (7 ?) Recruts he got here at 11 oclock to day F M Crumly is with him and is well Jeptha Ledford and Fayett Ledford and all the Rest of the Boys is wwell I wrote a Long Lett to you day Before yesterday But as they had come I thought I would write a gain But my hands swets so I cant tuch my paper without weting it our Rigment has been gon 13 days and our Captain has just come in But I hant herd the news yet I can say that I have got one more letter from you Mr. Bell Brung me one to Day which makes three that I have got from you since I Left home I was verry glad to get it and was glad to hear that you was all well I am sorrow that marion had to come and Leave you and Emily By you Sevs But I hope you will get a long welll I want you and Emily to get a Long smouth and Dont Let the Children fus with Each other Marion has been so Bisy that I havet had time to talk with him any yet I was Bisy a cooking when they come and they was most perrisht for they had not Eat any thing to Day untell Dinner and Marion has Been Bisy writing Ever Since for the Boys I herd from Luisa and Green three or four Days a go and they was all well I herd from James B. Crumly Last Week and they was ll well and I am a fatning verry fast ever since I got over the measels I got a letter from William B. Shelton to Day and he wants to By my Shovel and wanted me to write to you a Bout it But I think that you had Best Keep it as Shovels will Be hard to get he wrote that he would give me one dollar and a half for it But it will Be worth more then that to you to haul manure in your garding and as for Lending it to him I think it would Be too far off when you would want it So I think the Bist plan would be for you to Keep it Dry so the handle wont Rot only when you want to use it Marion says that he has wrote five Letters for you to me and I have got three of them I understand that Captian Moore has come back for the Rest of us so I Expect to Start to the Big Creek Gap in the morning and all the Rest of the Boys that has come with Bell and all that is able to go I understand that they Expect a battle there Constant But the Yankees pusht off over the mountian when our men went there and I think they will stay on that side Direct to Knoxville Tennessee in care of Captian Moore 52nd Rigment Geo Vol So no more Remains you true Husband untill Deathe Write Evry week with out fail L. F. Crumly --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 44) May 17th 1862 Campbell County Tennessee Powels Vally Big Creek Gap Dear Companion I am once more permitted to Drop you a few Lines to in form you that I am well at this time Hopen these Lines will find you all well I have nothing strange to write I wrote to you the 14th But as I have Left Knoxville I thought I would write again I Left F M and all the Recruts at the Camp Knoxville and they was all well and appeard well satisfied I am at this time 55 or 60 mile from the Camps I can’t Say how Long we will stay I understand that the Rest of the Rigment is sent for to come and if that is so all the Boys will Be here in two or three Days We will Be paid off in a short time and I want you to write whether you want any money or not and if you Do I want you to write to me so I can send you Dome if I can get the chance I am most out of moeny at this time it takes more money to do any one here then any one would think untell they try it we are stationd in the mountians and the mountians here is Larger here then the Georgia mountians and a greate Deal Rougher I Dont think that we will Ever have to fight any here for they ant any Yankees in Less then forth mile of us and the Cumberland Mountian between us I want you to write Evry mail and direct to Knoxville as you have done for that is the neist office and the mail goes from here Dayly I cant write no more at this time for the Lack of paper Brout none withe me But a copy book But have planty at Knoxville But I Diant Bring it with me Good Bye for this time L F Crumly --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 45-46) Fin Castle Tennessee May the 24th 1862 Dear Companion it is with greate pleasure that I imbrace the present opertunity of answering yours of the 11th which has Just Come to hand Fill has just come to the Rigment and Brout it to me Fill is well and so am I and hope that thes Lines will Find you all well we have Been marching up and Down the Road from the Big Creek Gap to near the Cumberland Gap all this week We Left the Big Creek Gap Last Monday and has Benn marching Evry Since and to day it has Been Raining and the mud is shooe mouth deep and the mud is so sticky that my Legs akes Badly tonight We take all sorts of wether and some of the time the wether is verry Bad we are on our way Back Down the Road But we may turn Back in the morning for we Dont Know one Day what we will Do the next you wanted me to write how I am Satisfide I can Say that I am Verry well Satisfide if I could here from home oftener and I want you to be shore and write Evry week and I will try to Do the same I want to see you and the children the worst in the world a man cant tell how well he Likes his family untell he gets where he cant see them and only here from them only once in two weeks and some time once a month tell Mr Allison Ledford that E C Ledford is not well But he is mending verry fast Wesley Ledford has his old Complaint a burning in his Brest and Lafayett Ledford has his toe nail grode down so he cant march and Jeptha Ledford has a pane in his cripple leg J C Bell R Abernathy and the Dooleys ____ and Sam’s is well (pg 2) we heard that there was a Big Fight in Western Virginia Near the Kentucky Line and the news come in Last night and you never herd hollowing untell then a Bouth three thousand men hollow at one time the news was that our side Kiled one thousand and taken Eightteen hundred prisoners and But few diled on our side But I fear the new is too good to Be true there is more talk of peace at this time But I fear it will Be a Long time Before it will Be made But I wish how soon I Dont Know what sort of an ___ Emily made a plowing but I know that your plowing looked awfull you and Emily must do the best you can and we will come home when we can get the Chance and I shall sned you some more money when I draw again and I dont think it will Be Long untell we will you must Excuse Bad writing for I have to sit on the ground and write on my Knap sack for a table so I willsay that I dont think that we will Ever hav a fight here we are here garding the mountains to keep the tories from crossing the mountains to Kentucky to join Lincolns army I want you to make me ten yards of Light Gray janes if you can get the woold and when I need it I will try to come home and get it and if I cant come home I will try to send for it I Dont think that I shall need any cloths this sumer for I have more to toat at this time than I can carry But I want it Ready when I need it But make all the corn you can and make the janes after Waras Fill says he will srite in a Day or two he has just wrote I fyou have here from G M & Alford I want you to write to me I have sent two Letters to them and got no answer Direct you Letters to Knoxville untell I write to you to Direct some wher els So no more at present But remains you husband untell Death To Nancy E. Crumly Leander F Crumly you musent think hard of the way I wrote for I had not got no Letter in so Long I was pesterd Badly Kiss the Baby for me Good By for this time --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 47) Richmond Va May 29, 1862 Dear Sister I take the time to write you a few lines to let you know I am well & well satisfied I hope this will come safe to home & find you enjoying good health. I have not any thing of interest to write we are in sight of the enemy can see them any time I heard today that General Jackson had taken the City of Washington I can not say for certain it is so but I hope it is true. I would like to see you & the children but I have no chance to come to see you brother Merida is sick at the hopsital in Richmond he has bin at the hospital one week today we have seen hard times for the last month about 4 days we had nothing but parched corn to eat I hope we may not see no worse Our men had a little fight with the Yankees on the 27 of this month the yankees took two pieces of artillery from our men this rather got the best of the fight then two of our regt got cut up badly our men took 110 prisoners we are looking for a heavy fight soon we have a large force here and so have the yankees if both armies were to meet it will be a fight worth talking about tell Henry & Merida to be good boys & I will bring them both a gun & make them good soldiers. Tell Jane to be a good girl & I will bring her a silk dress when I come home tell Alexander to keep out of the ashes & keep the cats out to Direct lettters to Alford T. Jackson in the care of Captain Sumter Coen McMillons 24th Ga Regt Direct letters to Richmond Virginia I remain your loving brother till Death Alford T. Jackson To Nancy E. Crumly --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 48/49) June 1st 1862 Campbell County Tenn Big Creek Gap Dear companion it is with pleasuer that I imbrace the present opertunity of writing to inform you that I am in good health at this time hopen these Lines will Reach you Safe and find you & Children well I have no news to write at this time more then there is a great Deal of talk a Bout pease But I cant say that is true But it is too Be hope that peas will So Be made and we all can return home to Stay in pease and Enjoy the pleasher of Being with our familys once more I would Like to Be at home to Day and take dinner with you toGet sallad milk and Butter for I never Did want greens as bad as I do at this time we Get nothing But wehat Bread Bacon and Some Beans and Spring water to Live on But we get plenty of that I would Like to Swap you some flower for corn meal So I Could get corn Bread for Dinner I got a few Lines from you yesterday in F M Letter and was glad to hear you was all well there (these) is two Letters on the Road for me I Recon for F M Said he wrote them Before he Left home and they have never come yet I _____ Don’t think they will one of them is the one that you wrote a Bout the money I sent you and the one you wrote Before it I never got I have wrote to you Every week Since I left home So if you will count the weeks you will Know how many Letters I have sent you whether you have got them or not you said if I would come home in August that you would have a mess of yams if I Don’t come I when you get them I want you to eat some for me for my will is Good to come whether I get the chance or not But I hope pease will Be made time for me to get home to help Lay bye Corn if I can work (pg 2) But I have Lay a Bout So much that my hands is so tender I Don’t think that I can work Enough to harden them this Summer I will tell you how my hands is and you can guess how tender they are when they are washt Clean the in Side is whiter then the out sid Like a negrows hands is if you was to pass By here you couldent tell it was Sunday for some of the Regments is out Driling and some Rubing the Rust off of ther guns and the Drums Beating and Last Sunday we Marched to this place from a Bove FinCastle we have stade Longer at this camp then we have at any camp since we Left Knoxville they is seveal of the Boys sick and none that Feeles Right well But non Down James Standrige is the worst off of any E.D.Ledford is mending fast Thomas L. Ledford has the measels But is not Bad off and they is several that says they are sick to Keep from Dut that has nothing the matter with them our officers has Been making out the pay Roll for the Last Two or three Days but I don’t know whether we will get any pay yet or not some thinks that we wont get any pay untell the 1st July But I think we will Be pade in a day or two tell your mother that I have wrote to J.C. Crumly for a Reciapt to make sugar and as soon as it comes I will send it to her FM Crumly is well and William is well I got a Letter from G(___) the 10th and all was well I got a Letter yesterday from James B. Crumly and his Eldest Boy was Down with the Pneumonia Fever the Rest was well I got a Letter from AD Crumly Dated 19th May and all was well So I will come to a close for this time with Evry week and direct as usal to Knoxville Tenn ( ) no more But Remains your husband tell Death To Nancy E. Crumly L F Crumly Note in right margin: We are Still Lying out with out tents and when we make Bark tents we are orderd to march Serten and when it Rains or Looks Like it would we have to march so as to be Serten to take the Rain --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 50/51) June 6th 1862 Big Creek Gap Campbell County Tennessee Dear Companion I seat my self to inform you that I Received yours to Day of the 23rd May which give me great satisfction to hear you was all well I Can inform you that I am well all But Sore from my march over the Cumberland Mountains we left here the 2nd and marcht three Days over the Roufest mountians and Some of the march in the night and one night we marcht untill 12 oclock in the night and th eroughest Road that I Eve saw and we marched down a Ravine a Bout four mile and found a Dead man in the revine he had Been Dead sometime for he had got to mselling we Left him there it was so Dark we Couldn’t see him we felt him and new it was a man it Raind all the time that we was gone and if we Dident see hard time I think we Did for we had But a Bout half hour to cook our Rahings in and none of us had time to cook half Enough and we Chance to get any over on that Side of the mountian for all over there is tories and has Left there farms and gone to Lincolns army we went in three miles of the Cumberland River and three mile from Boston to the Union Camp but found it Deserted when we got there so we had our walk for nothing for we thought we would get to fight some But was Badly mistanen the Letter that I got to Day I cant Read I have to gess at it But I will Bring it Back with me when I come and See if the one that wrote it Can Read it for no one in Camps Can you write that you have wrote me 8 Letters I have got 5 from home (pg 2) so three of your Letters has not come that you have wrote to me I here that we have to Leave here But Don’t Know wher we will go But if I can get away from theses mountians I will Be glad of the Swap and would Be glader if I was out of the Command of General Barton for Evry time he gets Drunk he gives orders to march and from what I here that Evry time he can get Enough to make him drunk but the privets gets none to Drink and take all the weather I Cant make out what you wrote a Bout the children only the Baby Could set a Lone and Crawl and that Elick had wor Briches and Said he was a man But had to Be whipt Evry Day a Bout the Ducks I think that you Could get Allison Ledford to write for you if you would try and then I could Read what you write E. C. Ledford is puney But not Bad off T. Ledford has the mumps he is Swld a rite smart Robert Abernathy is tolerable Bad off with his Brest William Jackson is very sore from his march But is well a the th Rest of the boys from that settlement is well But M. J (?) Nix he is at Knoxville yet we have just got orders to march in the morning But Don’t Know wher we will go tell all the Children to Be smart and mind you good and I will Bring them a pretty when I come home and if they don’t Be smart I wont Bring them any thing tell Elick to quit pestering the Duck if he is a man write Evry week and I will do the same send your Lettters to Knoxville untell I write for you to Direct some wher else so no more at this time your Husband To Nancy E. Crumly L F Crumly --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 52/53) Bradly County Tenn Charleston Tenn June 10th 1862 Dear Companion I imbrace the present opertunity of writing to inform you that I am wlel But verry sore yet from my march and I hope that when this Reaches you it will find you all well we Left the Big Creek Gap on the 8th and got here yesterday at night William and Several of the Rest give out on the way from the Big creek to Knoxville I think they will get in to Day they Dident get to Knoxville (in) time to take the train all the sick that is able to travel will get furlows for thirty days I Cant Say how Long we will stay here But I Don’t think we will Stay Long I have Wrote you a Long Letter But Did not put in the office as we had orders to march while I was writing but I will Send it on and this with it the Letters tha you sent a bout the money that I snet to you By J. C. Bell has come to hand Day Before yesterday with a Brade of your hare in it which I was verry glad to get I have come a cross some more of my Kind folks here in the war two of my second cosens Sons of Abraham T. Crumly from Harrelson County Ga they are in the 40th Ga Regment and I have saw a great many people here that I am acquainted with But I had rother see the people in White and them at home then any Body Else when we Left the Big Creek Gap we Left to go to Chattanooga But when we got to Low Den we heard the yankees (pg 2) was gon So all the Brigade went Back to Knoxville But our Rigment and it come on here to the Bridge a Cross Hiawassa River where the Yankees (or Tories) burnt one and was Hung for it F M is well But Like my Self Broke Down a marching I Recon that after the sidk all gets furlows and come Back that the Rest of us will get to come home you must Do the the Best you can untell I come and I Cant say when that will Be But I Hope it wont e Long for I want to see you all very Bad I am at this time seventy miles nearer home then I was at Knoxville I got a Letter from N. W. Jackson the same time hat I got your that you sent about the money I sent you and (warrens) was wrote 2nd June and he said he had not got no Letter from G M & A T Jackson since 17th March I have wrote them two Letters and got none S. R. Merritt got a Letter the 8th June from Andrew Merritt and he said they had Been an a Retreat for three Days and G M Jackson was in the hospatal Richmond VA but did not say what was the matter of him when you srite a gain Direct your Letters to Charleston Tenn Some thing over 140 mile Nearer home then I have Been at one time Since I Left and I hope I wont get any (furder) off then I am untell I get to Come home tell N. W. Jackson that I will Right to him when I rest I would a wrote sooner to him But Did not Know Wher to write too So no more But Remains your husband untell Death L F Crumley Nancy E. Crumly --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 54/55) Tennessee Jefferson County June 14th 1862 Morristown Dear Companion I take the present opertunity of writing to inform you that I am in common health at this time hopen these Lines will Reach you Safe and find you all in Good health I am at this time 42 miles above Knoxville at Morristown we came here night Before Last at midnight and the Rigment is gon on to the Cumberland Gap all only the Sick and give out I have marched tell I give out and Stopt a few day to Rest and tehn I shall go on to the Regment they is several of the Regment here and five of our company my self James L Cantrell, John L. Cantrell John H smith Daniel W Jackson I Left FM Crumly R A bernathy the Dooleys sims all the Ledfords at Knoxivlle and some of them will get to go home an a furlow and I think FM Crumly will get a discharge Before Long for the Cant hold out in camps and take the marches he takes here Wiliam M Jackson is gon on to the Cumberland Gap if he hant give out on the way But he was Like my self he was wore out a marching J C Bell is gon on with the Regment and Seems to hold out well So fare there has Been Several furlowd Latly and I shall try for one as soon as I can get to Draw money Enough to Carry me home But I Don’t know when we will Draw for the Day has passed that we was to Draw and none Drawed yet we went to Charleston and Stade Two or three Days and drawd no provisions only what we Bout with our own money I went on a Scout while I was there to Georgetown and as I cam Back I found a true Southern Lady for she filed all our Canteens with milk for nothing which was the first milk that I have Eat since I Left home I want you to have some milk in the water cool Ready for me when I come and Be preparde to maka pot of mush for supper and Buns and potatoes for Dinner the next day you and Emily mu do the Best you can and I think me and Marion will Be at home after while But Iit may be winter first But I hope not for I want the war to Close soon so when I come I can come to stay Learn the children to work So they will be some help to you and tell them when I come I will Bring them something and when I com and if they ant smart I wont give it to them I have saw six or seven sacks of Coffee this morning But it comes high on Dollar & twenty five cents per pound I want you to write often as you can I am Looking for a Letter Evry day and shall untell it comes when you write write to Knoxville and it will gollow us for I Can Say how Long we will stay here But hope not Long for I am getting tired of Scouting these mountians and I am not all that is in the same fix for we hav scouted untell we have 25 in our company able for Duty and if we hold on we wont have any in a shor time But I shall Keep with th eRegment as Long as I can so no more at present But Remains you Husband untel Death Leander F Crumly to Nancy E Crumly Write Evry Week and fail not --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 56/57) Camp Vandorn Near Knoxville Tenn June 21 1862 Dear Companion I imbrace the present opertunity of writing to inform you that I am well at this time hopen these Lines will Reach you safe and find you and Children well I Received your Letter the other Day and have not answered it yet and I have two Reasons for not answering one is I had Started a Letter to you the Day Before I got it ant the other Reason is that I cant Read it But I will write the same as if I could Read it we have got Back to Knoxville but I Don’t know how Long we will stay here this time But I Don’t think we will stay Lond we are in Taylors Bregade we have got out from under Barton and I hope we will stay out from under him I don’t know whether Taylor is a good General or not yet But I Know he cant make his men go through more then Barton Did I Cant say when I come that I can come to stay But the prospect Looks Bad at this thime a Bout pease But some thinks that it will soon Be made but I think Different for I see no porspect of pease I wan you to write Evry week shure and get some one to write that that can write So I can Read it for I cant read enough of what you wrot in the two Last letters you sent me to get any since in them I understand that Grances Jackson is Dead and G M Jackson is no more he dide the 21st may with Brain fever in the hospatal in Richmond Va (pg 2) Mieh Haad was killed in the Battle at Richmond by a Cannon Ball Andrew Merrett Says he was the worst tore up man he Eer saw hes ( all tore out and his hart out and hanging by a string Some of the Boys that is gone home is sick and some of them I don’t think was ut they all got sick furlows and some of them I don’t look for to ever come back unless they are sent for and brough back our compnay is all gone home But thirty men and some of them is sick N M Freeman Steven Merett John H Colley is in the Hospatal at this time J S Wells William Payne D O Roberts W R Ledford and D W Jackson is sick here in Camps and several others feels Bad but don’t complain much I understand that if we Don’t Draw money the 30th of this month that we wont Draw in three months Longer and if our officers Don’t fix for us to Draw at that time I shall think they are a slack wad and the Rest of the Boys sill be good mad for they have paid them Bad on marches tell they are all Like my self all out of money I have one postage stamp that I shall put on this Letter and that is all I have untell I Draw so the next Letter I write I will have to send without paying unless I draw some money the 4th of next month the Confedracy will Be Due me 61 ½ Dollars wether I get it or not But I don’t think that I will get more then hald of it at this pay day if I get any so I ust come to a close for this time write soon So no more But Remains your Husband untell Death L F Crumly To Nancy E Crumly --------------------------------------------------------------------- Written in margins of first page: Henry and Merrida you be smart Jane you play with Warren and give him prettys Elick you pick up chips and be a man tell Louise that Don’t know whether I will ever be able to pay her any thing for staying with you or not But if I don’t I will Bring her a Bow when the War Ends and her is as good a place to tell whether a man is any a count or not so I will try to bring one that will do. Written in margins of second page: William is well and on Duty to Day and we all have to Drill five Hours a Day while we stay here and all the officers that Don’t get so they can Drill men in 40 Days is Brake of ther commitions and another put in (pg. 58/59) Plains Crossroad Tennessee June 25 th 1862 Dear Companion I take the present opertuity of writing to inform you that I am well at this time hopen these Lines will Reach you Safe and find you all Enjoying Good Health I am ath this time 18 miles from Knoxville and Don’t Kno How Long we aill stay here But I Don’t think that we will stay Long we Come here two Days ago on the Expetion of geting to fight the Yankees But they Smelt a mouse and has Left and I here is making ther way over the mountians to Kentucky again we have two Bregades here and two a head of us and more Solgers gon up by Morrisown and a Great many Cavelary here it is said hat they is 14 regments of Yankees in heare But they have Left and I think we have as many if we was all to gether and it wouldent take us long to get to gether I Left William at Knoxville a Little sick But not Bad off he said he was able for Camp Duty But no able to march we have marched from one place to and other untell our Regment has But two hundred and one privet in it that was able to march at this time WE left Knoxville and if we hold on a while Longer I think we will have no Regment at all for the 16th of July all over 35 and under 18 is going home and that will take half or nearly so that is left here and if some that is gone home Don’t get Back By the time I think the Regment will Diband and all go home and Join some other Regment (Turn over) (pg 2) Thomas H. Kimsey I hear is Dead he dide in Atlanta we have not Drawn any money yet and don’t Know when we will and we have two Reasons I understand for not Drawing one is that our officers hant got sence enough to make out there pay rolls and the other Reason is Dan Pickford is our quarter master and he cant give Security that is sufficent and he cant get the money untell he dose I Don’t think that we will Ever will have a fight here in East Tennessee But I may be Deseaved for we stand a good chance to be in one Evry Day But I think that when they ont Back out we will So I don’t think we will Ever will fight here more then Pickett fighting I want you to write me all the News there in that country how Crops looks and how you come on with yours and how wheat was and rye oats and when you can get a mess of Pamodeses and I will try to come home to Eat some with you I understand that Col. Phillips says that all that is here shall go home when the Rest comes Back that is gone when you Eat Irish potatoes and Benans just think of me and East some for me for I don’t think I shall get to Eat any this year if I don’t get to come home our Capt is gon and I Recon he is gon home But his Company dident know any thing a bout it untell we herd of him in Marietta and then we guest he was gon home Bill West and Bob Gabby Slept off and went home and I don’t Know whether they got furlows or not So Imust come to (in margins) a close for this time write Evry week for I hant got no Letter in a Bout two weeks Direct to Knoxville So no more at present But Remains your Husband untell Death Leander f. Crumly to Nancy E. Crumly I have to send this with out paying the postage for I am out and out of any thing to Eat and wont Draw untell tomorrow and I shall be hungry by that time Written in margin of Page 1: If F M Crumly is at home write to me how he has got with his pains I Don’t know whether he went home or to Atlanta But I think he went home all of Moors Company is gone But thirty one and half of them is in the hospatal sick ini camps at Camp Vandorn Tell Martha L Jackson that I have not got that Letter yet that Mary A said she was going to write But I will answer as soon as I do. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 60/61) Cedar Fort Union County, Tenn June 29th 1862 Dear Companion I imbrace the present opertunity of writing to inform you that I am well at present Hopen these Lines will Reach you safe and find you all well Two of our company come in from Knoxville to Day and says that william would get a furlow to go home to Day all of Company B is gone but 17 men and two waiters in the hospatal we are here in fifteen or twenty miles of the Yankees and the news is that the yankees is advancing on us and it may e that we will be in a fight Before Long it is Reported that then is some fifteen thousand yankees on this side of the mountains Our Calvary Charged on the Reare Garde of the Yankees the other Day and taken all ther wagons we got Twelve wagons and never fired a gun we got good News from Ricmond yesterday they had been fighting three days and they had routed the yankees and stonewall Jackson was after after the Yankees and say that he will have them or follow them to main and he was close to Washington and the Colloms of Smoke shode that the town was on fire it is Believed that the yankees had set fire to the town and Left to Let our men go in and take it and if our men gets to considering and make pease But I don’t think that pease will Be made as soon as some of the boys Dose Some of the men in Knoxville is offering to Bet two housand Dollars that pease will be (pg 2) made in twenty Days But I Don’t think so I have no chance to write so you must Excuse Bad writing for I was out on Pickett Last night and feel Drowsey and Dull and very Nervious so if you cant Read it save it untill I come and I will try too Read it fro you I want to get a letter from you very Bad for the Latest Letter I got from you was Dated the 9th June and has Been Looking for one for two weeks But it has not come this makes three Letters that I have wrote since I got any from you or I did get one night before Last that was wrote the 21st April the next morning after you got my Likness so I will say for you to write a few Lines to Let me know how you all come on I have come a cross some old Neighbors here and I think I shall get a permit and go and stay all night with them They Live in half mile of Camps they are By the name of Evans and Cox Rebecca Evans married a man By the name Cox I think I shall go over and stay all night Before Long to get milk to Eat Cox invited me to come and I think I will go tell all the Boys that is at home to hurry and come Back so the Rest of us will get the chance to come home and see all the folks and Eat some peaches So I will come to a close to go on Dress perrad so no more But Remains your husband To N E Crumly L F Crumly Direct to Knoxville Note in margin: Our Army at Richmond has taken Six thousand Yankees prisners and one hundred connon and has the Rest surrender so they have to fight or give up (A man named Fleming Cox participated in the chased the raiders in the Big Shanty train chase. “A History of Rome and Floyd County” pg. 150, col. 20 (pg. 62/63) --------------------------------------------------------------------- July 11th 1862 Powder Sprins Near Rutledge Union County Tenn Dear Companion I gladly answer yours of the 27th June which Comes safely to hand this morning and found me on the mend But not well we have orders to Keep three Days Rashens of Bread Baked all the time so if we have orders to march we can be Read to march in a short time notice I have no ast for nothing I have note chewed more then a dozen chews of tobacco in the Lat week But I feel much Better then I have for some time we have sulper springs here some of hem is white sulper and Sam Black is tast like powder and is said to cure any dissease or will kill one or the other the white sulper is as Clear water as you ever saw and the black is Black as if I had poweder in it and has the same tast and you can smell the springs fifty yards you say you want me to come home you cant want me to come no worse then I want to come But I shant try to get a furlow untell we draw some money and I cant say when that will be but the officers says it wont be long and if I am a way at pay day I cant Draw untell the next pay Day So I will stay with them untell I get my pay for I am Clean out and I couldn’t come if they would offer me a furlow for all that gose now has to pay half price on the Rail Road you may look for me some night when you Don’t’ Expect me I will Step in fired Down traveling (pg 2) F M Crumly writes that you and Emily has a very good corp for your chance I am glad to hear you are making a good corp for I fear I wont be with you next year for I Don’t see much prospect of pease as some of the boys does some of them says that pease will be made in Less three months but I hear Lincoln has called out three hundred thousand more troops and that Don’t look uch like pease to me But I wish how soon it ay be made for I want to be at one time more and I shall come as soon as I can But don’t know when that will be I want you to get some wool so you can make me some Janes when I come while I stay with you for I don’t intend to take no more of the sort of cloths I got before I have wore out the pants drawd and throwd them a way So I have no pants But what I brought with me from home our officers says that we will Draw our pay in a few days and as soon as I can get a furlow after I Draw I shall come you may make you Red yams grown fast so I can get a mese when I come I got a few Lines from J C Crumly to Day that was wrote the 7th June and they was all well then and he said that he would send me a receipt to make sugar or he would send it to you in time make it this fall I hear that Champ Ferguson is making up a union Company on moss Creek if that is so I want to know what has Become of the hom garde so I must come to a close for this time Direct to Knoxville So no more But Remains your Husband untell Death L F crumly to Nancy E Crumly --------------------------------------------------------------------- (pg. 64/65) Dawson County Geo July 19th 1862 Dear Brothers this will inform you that we are all in common health today and I hope that this will come to hand and find you both well Mr. J C Covington informs me that F M Crumley is in camps too I hope that you will both write soon I have nothing strange to write you wrote to me to send you a recpt how to make sugar I will do it now and I am afraid you cant understand it but I will make it as plain as I can when the can is ripe inough for two third of the seeds to look black and one third still green it is ready for work take one _ill of _ime and pour a half gallon of boiling juice and with it in a earthen vessel let it stand as much as half an hour then when you get your juice ready put one half pint of this lime (?) water in ten gallons of juice and stir it well and let it stand a half an hour before you put it in the pot have the pot as clear of wet as possible and greese the pot well with lard for salty greece won’t do then start it to boiling and take off the skim that rises at first and when the thick skim is of make it boil so fast that it won’t make any more skim for it wont make sugar if it is not boiled fast (pg 2) and if you skim it all the time it won’t make sugar when it begins to thicken put in one table spoon full of lard and boil it to 238 degree of heat this will let some molasses rise and the sugar will settle to the bottom for to make syrup 118 degrees of heat will doo to make sugar that will not drip boil til you can take a little of it as hot as you can bear it to your finger and put it betwen you teeth and when you can tell that it has a candy appearance when you can first begin to discover that there is a tough substance between your teeth it is then ready to take out and in warm wether will turn to sugar in about a week when it is first cool it is a soft candy but will turn to sugar if you will give it time make it boil in a rage all the time you must not let it cool down but keep it in a puff all the time so as to keep the pot full now I have wrote all that I can think of that will be of any advantage and if any thing should be left out or if you cant comprehend my menaing in any perticular let me know and I will explain it the best that I can I want you both to write to me some as you can Times here is hard provisions high I am a going to make molasses for the people this the prospect is good for me to make $300 worth to my shear this year came ove and and see uss boil it this fall I close for lack of room. To L F & F M Crumly J C Crumly