Contributed by Shawn Martin ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ The two letters that follow were written by Robert Franklin McAdams to his family in Union Parish, LA during the Civil War. Robert F. McAdams was born in Shelby Co., AL about 1836 and was captured and held as prisoner during the Civil War. He was imprisoned at Camp Douglas, IL where he died November 14, 1863. He appears in the Union Parish, LA Census of 1850 & 1860 with his parents James T. and Julia McAdams. 1850 - Union Parish, LA Census 462 J. T. McAdams 41 M Farmer property value is $200 SC R/W Julia McAdams 40 F SC R/W Permelia 18 F AL James 16 M AL Robert 14 M AL Henry 12 M AL Mary 10 F AL Ann 8 F AL Susan 1 F LA Margaret Lawler 55 F TN (Margaret was Julia's mother) 1860 - Census 642 -- J. T. McAdams 50 M Farmer SC Julia " 50 F Housekeeper SC Robert " 25 M AL (Robert married Penelope Dildy, daughter of Benjamin Dildy and Absylor Howard. After Robert died Penelope married Robert Franklin Gardner, who from these letters, is suspected to have been a cousin to Robert Franklin McAdams.) ....................................................................... Camp near Wartrace, Tennessee April 27, 1863 Dear wife, and son, and father and mother, brothers and sisters: I again with the most of pleasure take out my pen to write you a few lines to let you know that we are all well except your brother, E.R. Dildy. He is still complaining with his bowels. He is able to be up. He is not bad off, but he is excused from duty. We have been up here two days. This is a nice camping place but I do not know how long we will remain here. We are about five miles from the Yanks now. We was called out in the line of battle yesterday AM with two days rations to go and make an attack on them. I thought I would be in a battle, but the order was countermanded and we did not have to go - and I was not sorry a bit. Brother was not going - he was not able to stand the march. Our line was thirteen miles long. Thomas Post is complaining though he is up. I have no news to write to you. I am standing it first rate. We get plenty of beans and bread to eat and that is better than I looked for. I have $53.00 and a half in Confederate money and I will get 22 or $30.00 in 3 or four days. I am in hopes this will come to a close before long and we will be as happy your ever saw. I want you all to write to me and I will get one once in a while. When you direct your letters to Wartrace - McAdams, brigade 79 th Regiment, La. Vols. Co. E care of J.B. Landers. So, I will have to come to a close to go on duty. I want you to let Pop and Mother see this. It will do for you all. I drampt I was with you and Frank last night, but when I waked I was in the same old tent then I felt bad. I will write again in a few days. R.F. McAdams to Penny McAdams ............................................................................ Camp near Morton, Miss. August the 7th. 1863 Dear Wife, it is with pleasure I take up my pen to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well, and hope these few lines may find you all well. T. M. Post is not very well. He is in the hospital in Alabama. He is not bad sick, his bowels has him running off for some time and he has got very weak, but he is not dangerous at all. This is the truth, or I think it is. When I write I will write the truth, you may depend on it. J. B. Spears is very sick with the fever. Joe looks bad. As for Edward I know nothing about him. I have not heard from him in three weeks or more. He said that he had been feeling bad when he left Jackson. I tell you again I will write the truth, or I think so. Edward is in bad shape. I think his disease will take him off some day, or other, to his long home. Penny, this is bad news, but it is just what I think the truth to be. He has not been as pert as he was when he came home the last time I saw him. He may be better, or he may be worse I do not know. I cannot tell you where he is right now. I think that Bud is in Selma, Alabama. J. R. thinks that when we move again we will go to Alabama somewhere. Penny, my pen is so rusty it is all I can do to write with it. I wrote a letter to you yesterday. I think it doubtful that you will get it, and you may never get this, but I send it hoping you will. Mr. McCurdy is here now from Vicksburg, and he said he will take it to you. I think you will get this after awhile but it will be a long time coming. Penny I have plenty of money to make out on, and my clothes are holding out fine. My shoes do not have a break in them as yet - ------------- tell that I want him to make me another pair jist like the ones he made last time, only a size larger and send them to me by your pap if he comes, if he does not come ----- straw shoes. So fare you well my dear Wife, sweet Little Susan Annetta and Frank, R. F. A few lines to my Dear Father and Mother- I am in fine health again and hope these few lines will find you all well. I have written to you and Rachel and Levi several times. I have received two letters from you, one from Rachel, three from Penny, one from Mr. Dildy, or two, that is all the letters I have received. Pop, you and Levi can come and see me when you get your crops gathered. It will not take you very if you get started. I do not think that the Yanks would bother you at all. If they got you they would turn you loose and let you go. Levi could go see his daddy in one day and a half from here. I told you the --- gets over the ground when they start. Tell Raspass to write to me. You can all look at this and think of poor old Bob, but you cannot tell anything about the feelings all through this. Mother and pap I have pleasant feelings when I think the time will come when we can all be together again. A Few lines to Father and Mother Dildy, You can read this letter and think of us, but cannot be with us. I tell you my pen is done worn out, but I am not done yet! I tell you, Mr. Dildy, I think of you often. On the last day we were in Jackson I thought of you many times. I wrote to you the last day we were in Jackson and sent it to you by Thomas Levi and Uncle Jeff Garner. That evening after they left we had a hot time for about a minute. The Yanks made a charge on us, but they had to fall back. I tell you Mr. Dildy Bud and I heard many a bullet whistle to the right and to the left and over the top. The Old Master who has preserved us for so long still cares for us! Bud and I stood side by side. It made me feel bad when they first started, but I sorta got used to it. You have no idea what a mess you can get into and get used to lest you were here. (NOTE: Evidently after this letter was finished, and R. F. had written about the raid he realized that his Mother would probably read the letter, so this little note was written on the margin to his mother, "Mother, do not grieve after me, I think I will see you all again." To Penny, his wife, he wrote on the other margin, "Penny it is a mighty roaring time in a battle." # # #