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This file was contributed by Guy Potts May 2000. ========================================================================= R H Bacot Civil War Letters - Lenoir County, NC The original letters are at the Archives, Raleigh, NC The ironclad gunboat CSS Neuse saw little action during the Civil War because of obstructions in the river and the lack of troop support. In March of 1865, as Union forces approached Kinston, the Neuse was burned by its crew to prevent its capture. C S Charleston Charleston Harbor Feb 8th 1863 (ie 1864) My Dear Dear Sister I have just heard of your sad bereavement. I came down from Florence, (on my return from Newbern NC), with Cousin Dewar & he told me the first I had heard of it. Let me mourn with you sister for the loss of him who, although I knew but a short time, I considered worthy of your love & who has never seemed like a stranger to me but more like one of the same family. I have just returned from a long but exciting expedition. When we left here we didnıt know how long we would be gone or where we were going to. We took 75 men & 5 officers to Willmington NC where we were joined by 35 men & 4 officers where we also shipped 2 launches with Howitzers & two small boats. We then went to Kingston NC & joined Cap J T Wood CSN who had 10 boats & 125 men & officers. While going on we rode in the boats which were lashed on flat cars. After hauling the boats down to the Neuse river with muleteams we embarked & pulled down the river 50 miles; to within a few miles of Newbern. Our army under Gen Pickets moved down at the same time to within 1 1/2 miles of the city. Our object was to attack the gunboats & take them while the army attacked the land forces. Last Monday night a week ago tonight we proceeded down the river & passing the enemies batteries boarded the US Strmr Underwriter (four guns & 90 men) which was made fast to the wharf abreast one of their batteries & took her after a sharp hand to hand fight with pistols & cutlasses. We lost 4 killed - poor Midm Saunders among the number & 16 wounded & 4 missing. We took 26 of the enemy (6 officers and 20 men) the rest either killed of jumped overboard. The batteries on shore opened fire on us as soon as we took the ship & as we could not slip her chains or take her up the river on account of her great draft, we took all the prisoners &c into our boats & left for our camp. The army failed to take advantage of this & attack the front thereby losing the only chance of a fight with land forces unassisted by gunboats. We intended to've boarded as many as three gunboats but they couldn't be found on that side of the city. Gen Barton is under arrest for not attacking the enemy when ordered. The army falling back we also withdrew up the river to Kingston & dispersed to join our respective commands. I returned yesterday morning & go on duty today. Going on I saw Pa & sister at Mars Bluff & returning I met Mr Saunders at Willmington. I heard at Florence that Pete had left the Hospital & was to join his company this week. I wish he would stand his examination for Asst Surgeon either in the army or navy. Pete is on leave & is in Raleigh NC on business I believe. I hear that you've moved up to Arnmore. Dont you find it very lonely up there now? I hope you will move back to Roseville, for a time at least, where you will have company & keep up your spirits better than living by yourself. I hope the end of next summer will find us a free & independant people destined to be prosperous & happy. It is destined to be so finally & I hope it will be so in a short time so that we may the sooner commence anew. Give love to all & write soon to your afft bro R H Bacot ********************** C S Neuse­(ance) March 19th, '64 Kinston NC Dear Sis I find it exceedingly dull here as the town is completely deserted by all of its respectable inhabitants & I know none of those living in the country round about. We (the Officers of the Neuse, viz; Lt Comdg B P Loyal, 1st Lt F L Hage, Masters Worth & Bacot, Engineers Tucker & Edwards & Asst Surg King) live in a small house on the Street, which is the terminus of Col Washingtonıs Avenue, & about a quarter of a mile from our future home the Neusıance. I am afraid that name will prove but too appropriate. Her "Iron fixin's" are not done her engines are not ready, her quarters & storerooms are not near ready & "Last but not least" the river is falling about 12 inches a day & we will have to trust to Providence for another rise when the vessel is finished; finally to complete our misery we have a crew of long, lank, "Tar Heels" (NC's from the "Piney woods") Our two guns are mounted & we drill the crew every morning at 9 & every evening at 5:30 oclock. We have one or two good men for a "Neucleus² but I'm afraid the others can never learn anything about a gunboat. You ought to see them in the boats! It is too ridiculous. They are all legs & arms & while working at the guns their legs get "Tangled" in the tackles & they are always in the wrong place & in each otherıs way. We are having "Camels" built, with which we hope to lighten the vessel over the Shoals &c in the river. Also two large Lighters for carrying coal &c I suppose we will be ready by the 1st of May I hope so at least, for the Yankees obstructed the river once & the freshet washed them away & of course if they have time they will do it again in a more effetual manner; but Gen Hoke says if we keep the gunboats off he will take the batteries that cover the works obstructions & give us an opportunity to clear the river out. Then we will try the works below & if successful may cooperate with the "Albemarle" (the vessel building at Halifax on the Roanoke) in an attack on Roanoke island, which is one of the most important Strategetic points, now in possession of the emeny, in NC. We cant hold, if retaken, without we have possession of Roanoke island. Cap Loyal's ___ is not here with him; he says She often speaks of Sister Jacque as one of her best friends. The Cap himself is a very nice man & a perfect gentleman. Our other officers seem to be very good men. The vessel herself will be very close & warm this summer, but we will be richly repaid for all inconveniences if we are permitted to succeed in capturing Newbern & Roanoke island. Our Paymaster has just arrived & will leave again tomorrow he has no money & will not pay off. We couldnt spend it if he did (as ther's nothing to buy) so will wait. Love to all. Remember me to Miss Clarke. As ever your affec bro RHB ********************** C S Neuse Kinston NC April 28th 1864 Dear Sis, I have bad news to tell you this time. Even worse than I anticipated when I wrote last. The river has fallen and the "C S Neuse" is nearly "High and Dry" on a sand-bar just below Kinston. The river had fallen about six feet when we got orders to go down, and there was scarcely water enough for us to cross the obstructions; we nevertheless started down last Friday and had proceeded about a half mile when we grounded on a sand-bar. We tried very hard to get her off but her great weight and the strength of the current were too much for us, besides the river was falling at the rate of 3/4 inıs per hour. The stern of the vessel is afloat, but the bow is 4 feet out of water. We will have to wait for a freshet again and that will probably take place in July or August. It has rained too much already this spring for us to expect enough to raise the river again, before the middle of the summer. That being the case, I hardly think we will be kept here as officers and men are needed badly to man the new boats at Richmond, Charleston and Mobile. I assure you our disappointment was great when we found that we could not get off; the troops were here ready to join us in the attack on Newbern and we were all expecting to take the city and sink the gunboats without much troble and to have a fine time afterwards; we were destined to be disappointed however and I suppose as "Everything happens for the best", we ought not to grumble too much, but it does seem hard to be so sorely disappointed after expecting so much. Good news comes in from all quarters of the Confederacy and best of all our people and soldiers seem to have embibed a new life and are determined to make this the last year of the War. Gen Hoke captured Plymouth at the mouth of the Roanoke, and Capt Cook CN, with the C S Albemarle made short work of the gunboats in front of the town. There is a report current this morning that Roanoke island has been captured and that Washington, on the Tar, has surrendered to Gen Hoke; the Albemarle is said to've come up in the rear and fired three guns as a signal and our land forces then attacked in concert, compelling the surrender. The news from the Trans-Mississippi is also good if true. The Mobile Advertiser and Register tells so many stories about Dick Taylor's doings in Louisiana that I dont like to believe the news from that source until it is confirmed. Last year, according to that papers reports, Dick Taylor captured, killed & wounded more Yankees than there were in Bank's army and was on the point of capturing New Orleans three or four times... That Robber treated you in a very ungentlemanly style, you ought to have him put in jail for Petty Larceny or Conscripted and sent to the "Kitchen to do duty in the "Frying pan Department". Tell Lani that Uncle Rich gives him the authority to conscript the "Old Molly" and he must do it at once. I am glad that Miss Jennie has taken him, not ³Old Molly² in hand for he was "Running to Weed" at Roseville. It is very kind of Miss J and I hope he will be a good boy and try to learn. Poor Ajax,I wish he was going to school instead of John's island among those illiterate men. It is a great pity he did not go to Hillsboro last year instead of going to Mr Moor. I received a letter from him a day or two ago and I was sorry to see how little he knew of the elements of the English language. He wrote with a total disregard for Orthography, Etemology, Syntax, Prosody and every other dy. Dontt tell him this for he wont write again if you do. I received a letter from sister Jacque yesterday. She didnt say anything about Pa's having the Mumps so I hope he has recovered. I didn't know he that he had it before you wrote. The Examiner has had some splendid Editorials in it lately, which I've enjoyed very much. I'd give anything to be able to write like that Editor; he can almost make a man run mad if he gets down on him. His Phillipics are splendid. He makes Mr Memminger and Gen Bragg appear very ridiculous in a late issue which you've probably seen by this time. Give love to all and my regards to Miss Jennie. If I leave here I hope to go to Mobile then I can stop and see you all. Ever your Affectionable brother R H Bacot *********************** C S Neuse Kinston N C May 23rd 1864 I received your letter day-before-yesterday, Sister dear, and was sorry to find that you were in such a low state of health and spirits. You must let the good news we are getting cheer you up - try to look forward to a happy future do not despond for if you give way to despondency everything will seem gloomy, when in reality everything is bright and promising. When I wrote to Pa, about a week ago, we were still "In Status quo" on the sand bank, but now we are afloat again and in our old "Cat hole" again. The day after I wrote Pa the river rose and we got off, and just in time too as the water fell that evening. The workmen are again on board, making music with their sledgehammers driving bolts in the iron overhead. All the troops have left here for Virginia and the place is exceedingly dull - almost as dull as the Charleston Station was, when we lay off Fort Johnston. The weather is very warm - equally as warm as it was in Louisianna the August I was there (I wish I was there again to Pay those Yankees up for the trouble they gave us on the Arkansas) Our quarters are very close and warm although better ventilated than some others. There has been an entire change in the different Bureaus of the Navy Department and a great many changes have been already made in the fleet at Richmond and I hope they will see fit too order me to Mobile in time to go on the expedition against N O or order me to the Trans-Miss Department to some of the new vessels captured by Dick Taylor on the Red river. As I intend to live out west after the War I want to go out there now and get used to the climate and get acquainted with the people and, if a chance shows itself, "make a beginning" - At the same time I might find a "young lady just suited to my mind² - Marriages seem to be "all the go" now. I hear constantly of some friend or acquaintance being "Captured", "Taking the oath of Allegiance" to the fair creatures who have made the capture. George T married not long ago and Miss Sallie Williams is to be married to Dr Henderson before many days - I wish some one would marry C B, She is "willing" I've no doubt! ­ have you Tell sister Jacque that Mrs Col Washington died a day or two ago, after a long sickness and was buried yesterday evening. Remember me to all. Write soon to your affectionate brother R H Bacot *********************** C S Neuse Kinston, N C July 18th 1864 Dear Sis, I received your last welcome letter some days ago but owing to the heat of the days and my engagements and duties of the evenings I have put off answering it until this evening. We had a tremendous rain four or five days ago and this "Raging ___ ³ shows evidence of having received its share of the descending liquid. I had just started, with two young ladies, to pay a visit down town when in a minute "The sky was changed and such a change" and in fact it commenced to rain and we took refuge in the first house we came to. Now these people believed in the old saying "Early to bed &c &c &c" and although it was just 8ıoclock were just retiring. We got in however and it poured for about an hour. About 9 it cleared off a little and we arrived at our destination. It commenced raining again and we could not leave until after 12! End then we had about 3/4 of a mile to walk, I assure you we had a time of it. I didn't even get my feet wet, having on thick shoes, but the ladies paid for their folly, having worn thin ones. On the whole though we had a nice time as it was "variety". We are going out on a boat ride, by moonlight, tonight if the weather is propitious. The young ladies I spoke of before, the Misses Bryan and Miss Moore, are going, they are all very nice ladies. You all must have a dull time plodding along in the beaten track, and seeing no one or nothing that is new. Now gentlemen could find much to do, in the country, that was interesting, but I dont see how ladies exist without society. It is strange to me how few amusements and comforts our people have, as a general thing; and I believe they get about as little for their money as any people in the world. The "Gunboats" (as we are called here) have concluded to have as nice a time as possible and find plenty of amusements. We have the exclusive use of a tin-pin alley, where we exercise our ³muscles² every morning. We pitch & Quoits after dinner & have various diversions for the evening; such as boating, visiting, walking, &c. Every one expects a lively time about here, when the elections come off in August. A secret, treasonable league has been discovered in the state called the HOA's -(Heroes of America) they are in league with the enemy & are all Holdenites. Since the disclosures, made by some members who became disgusted with the society, the remainder have kept remarkably quiet. I wish President Davis would have Holden & his entire clan taken up & hung; that would stop such rascals quicker than any conciliatory measures. 19th - I did not have time to finish yesterday so I will do so this morning. I am glad to hear of Ralph's promotion; he has improved a great deal & richly deserves it. You mustnıt be so hard on Bobby if he thinks he loves Miss Nina & talks about it a great deal. I dont see why he shouldn't. I heard of an old Commadore who, while in the Mediteranian, bragged so often about a horse he said he owned, that he believed, after a while, that he did own one & bought a fine saddle & bridle &c & was very much disappointed when he got home to find no horse there. If a person tells a thing for the truth very often, he will finally believe it himself. I am truly sorry to hear of the condition of poor Uncle Dick's family & I think they had better emmigrate, as soon as the war is over, to some more favored clime. The crops here are all looking very fine since the rain. Watermellons & Roasting ears are now coming in. Every thing is enormously high & of course that is very unsatisfactory to a man living on a salary which doesnt rise with the prices of provisions &c. Butter alone is $7 per lb. I havent heard from Pa or sister Jacque for four or five weeks, although I've written two or three times. Excuse this rather uninteresting epistle & write soon to your affec bro R H Bacot Remember me to all. ********************** Judge Saunders Raleigh N C March 27th 1865 Dearest Sis, This is the first chance I've had to get a letter through to you since the fall of Wilmington. As you will see by the heading of this I am now on a visit to sister Jacque to find out all about home & the different members of the family. I was agreeably surprised on my arrival here, to find that the Yankees had not been to our neighborhood; when I came I expected to hear that the houses & cotton had been burnt & the Negroes scattered as a gentleman who came from Darlington to Warrenton NC said that the enemy were at Florence & Darlington & were raiding through the country, burning & pillaging as they went. Pete & Ajar are near Goldsboro; their Company is Gen Hardee's body guard. They left here just before I arrived here so I did not see them. My old home the "Neuse," is gone, all the troops were withdrawn from Kinston & the Yankees 18,000 strong came upon us & not having any prospect of being relieved before our provisions gave out & being in a narrow river where we could not work the ship under fire, after shelling the Yankee Cavalry for a little while, we removed our powder & stores & burnt the vessel. We fortunately saved our clothing &c & are very comfortably fixed at Halifax NC on the Roanoke river where we are waiting for something to turn up. If I am not ordered to the Trans-Mississippi ___ & have to leave Eastern NC. I will probably go into the army. The hardest part of the evacuation of Kinston for me, was to have to leave without seeing my darling little Sweetheart. Your future sister in law is now in the enemy's lines & as they have occupied the town in force I am afraid they will be very troublesome. Yes Sis I am engaged to be married to a dear, sweet little soul Miss Fannie Bryan of Newbern. I wish you could know her & her family. I think without exception it is the nicest family taken as a whole that I ever saw. My Fan will be eighteen in November; five years younger than I am. Three of her sisters are engaged to three of my intimate friends. I wonder when I'll be able to Marry? I hope soon ­ next year. Sister Jacque says she wrote to you a few days ago. She is now writing to Carrie & wont have time to write to you this time but will do so again shortly. You would have a fine field for using your hospital experience here there are a great many wounded here from Averisboro & Bentonville where we whipped the Yankees (part of Sherman's Army) pretty badly. Sherman is now at Goldsboro & Johnston is trying to force a fight. I hope in less than two weeks we will fight & whip him in a general engagement - then the tide will have turned in our favor. All you overrun people must keep up your spirits, the soldiers are very cheerful. Write to Sis J & me by first opportunity she will forward letters to me. I have been trying to find out whether I belong to Navy or Army. I have no ship, live on land, drill at light Artillery & infantry tactics & have been in the trenches at Weldon (that Paradise) which do you think I belong to? Maj Lucas is just recovering from a wound in the stomach recd at Bentonville & is stopping at Dr Smede's. I've met a good many Charleston friends here, all looking hard. I have to close as I have to send this off at once. Kiss Alfie for me & give my regards to Miss Jenny & Mr Clarke. Ever your Affec bro R H Bacot ********************** Kinston, N C June 18th '65 As I have a little leasure time today I will answer your letter, Sis dear, but I cant promise to interest you as I have a bad cold & haven't a comfortable place to write in. I am glad you have determined to try & mingle in society & be less of a recluse than you have been - though I cant see much n our old neighborhood to attrac you farther from Arnmore than the "Oasis." I owe the "neighborhood" no atttachment & if it were not for yours & sister Jacque's families, I would scarcely wish to visit there but once more as it only stirs up old recollections & gives me a homesick, lonely feeling like that of an outcast & I suppose I will always have that feeling until I get settled down & have a plenty to occupy my mind with. I try, and sometimes succeed, to cast off such feelings by mingling in society sc occupying my time in reading &c. I only associate with two or three private families here & they are nice people who seem to care for me & with whom I spend many a pleasant evening. I am so so sorry that there should be any misunderstanding in our family about division of property or anything else. I dont see why these things cant be avoided. Of course you have as much right to say what shall be done regarding the division of the Negroes as any one. Pete wrote me that he was perfectly satisfied with the division &c but before agreeing to its accomplishment he is going to try to have Sister Jacque's share made over to her by S. so that in case anything happens to him (S.) his creditors cannot lay their hands on them. Dont speak of this to any one as were are not certain about S.'s position &c yet & wish to do this without any fuss or creating any ill felling with S. but it must be done. Jacque would have nothing for self or children if S. were to die & his creditors (for I think he is in debt) get those Negroes. As Pete wants Jacque & I do not & as we both have claims of $641.66 2/3 on the division & I've offered him enough of mine to add to his to make up the $1000.00 at which Jack is valued he will probably take him in lieu of the money. As far as the Management of the Estate is concerned the administrators have exclusive control & if any of the heirs are not satisfied with it they can remonstrate & if that does not do any good then they will have to resort to law but hope it will not be necessary. In allowing Pete & Pet to be made Administrators (if any one of us had objected they could not have been appointed) we showed our preference for & confidence in them & I think they will do the best they can & hope all difficulties will be avoided. As administrators Pet & Pete have nothing to do with the Entailed (Grandma's) estate, - that is entirely seperate from the Oasis & other property & at once reverted to us for whom it was entailed. Any one of us had, & have still, a right to call for a division of the lands & Negroes, of Grandma's estate, by the Court of Equity, but I thought & still think it would be better to avoid that expense, divide the Negroes now & not sell the land for division until the War ends when we can sell it to better advantage & can see what is best to be done. It is a shame that those negroes have had no clothes, they could have been supplied two months ago easily & at one half the price it will take now. I wish I had a place of my own to move mine to, but my hands are tied & for the present I will leave them where they are as it has been their home so long. I am sorry Sister I forgot to put in the catsup you sent for we can get no vinegar or anything of the kind here. All the cider was made into apple brandy & the country is flooded with it. It makes my heart sick to see how drunkeness rules throughout our land. One man in Kinston, which is filled with bar rooms, sold $4500.00 worth one day! Possum-dam is over flowed & the old Neuse is now a noble river, but alas! the urgent necessity for troops at Wilmington prevents our having a land force to cooperate in an attack on Newbern. It would do my heart good to help take that place. I've been within 100 yards of its wharves & see the place I must ___ if I cant help take it. Fate seems to work against us but we will come out all "Rectus in Curia" in the end. I say fight Yankeedom forever if we have to Bushwhack & live in the swamps. We've gone too far to back down & I glory in our cause; though we all become engulphed in ruin still we who have fought can say with pride "It is not our fault but that of the croakers & skulkers & extortioners. The darkest hour is before day." We are not yet whipped & I our people are not discouraged. We will yet be free. Everything I am willing to lose to gain that one object then I will have a light heart to begin anew. Good by. Love to all, kiss Alf for me. Affectly your bro Rich