Wilson County, NC – Letters File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Charlotte Varnell Beck Cvbeck@coxnc.rr.com Wilson County Letters: Newspaper Clipping “I’m Thinking” “By an Old Reporter” Transcribed by Charlotte Varnell Beck at Cvbeck@coxnc.rr.com George Washington Woodard George Washington Woodard, son of James Bullock Woodard and wife Sallie Peele, was born on March 29, 1837. The old two-story home that his father completed the summer of his birth is still standing, although not in particularly good condition. George Woodard enlisted on April 29, 1862 as a private in Company A, 55th North Carolina Infantry Regiment. His health became so impaired by chronic diarrhoea that he died on March 23, 1864, in the General Receiving Hospital at Gordonsville, Virginia. His oldest brother had been killed at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863; and his other brother was released from a Federal Military Prison on May 14, 1865, so broken in health that he lived only seventeen months afterward. ***Oldest Brother would have been Gray Wilson Woodard***** ***Other Brother would be John Bunyan Woodard***** Confederate Letters of George Washington Woodard Camp Near Orange Court House VA. November the 16, 1863 Mrs. Mary J. Edwards Wilson P.O. Wilson County, N.C. Dear Sister, I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time and hoping you the same. Bunyan, I want to hear from you. Let me hear from you, and let me know how you are getting along. Bunyan, I want you to let me know how everything is getting along, and write me all the news. I heard that you have been having chills. I want to know whether it was you who shot your thumb, or not. Tell Mary Gray to write to me every time she can. Tell Sister Betty to write to me, for I want to hear from her. Tell Nanney also to write to me. Tell Aunt Penny I want to see her. Tell Uncle London I want to see him very badly. I have nothing to write, only very hard times here. We are expecting to have to march every minute. I must come to a close by saying I remain your dear brother until death. Excuse my bad writing. George Woodard (on FTM as of 2/18/02) Camp Near Orange Court House VA. December the 16th, 1863 Dear Sister, I take the pleasure of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time and hope you the same. I wish I was with you all to eat some good fresh meat, for I don’t get anything to eat but flour and beef and I have eaten so much of that it don’t do me any good at all. I went down to the river to meet the Yankees last week. We never got in any fight. We lag behind the breastworks all the time. They would not come up to us at all. They left and went back across the river. Mary, it is hard times here. I want you to tell Bill Batts I want to see him. Tell him I will let him stay there at my place for nothing, if he will hire me someone to take my place. Tell him to write to me and let me know as soon as he can. Tell Mary Gray to write to me. I have nothing more to write at this time, so I will come to close by saying I remain your dear Brother, so good-bye. (Unsigned) Camp near Orange Court House VA. Dec. the 25th, 1863 Mr. John B. Woodard Dear Brother, I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at this time and hope you the same. Mary, I have not received those things that you have sent me by Wiley Batts. I haven’t seen him. I should have been very glad to get them, but I don’t expect to get them at all. I wish I was with you all today to help you eat some good meat and bread, and some good egg-nogg. It is very cold here. We are putting up winter quarters. Bunyan, I want to know how long you are going to be at home. I want you to take care of everything. It is a very slow Christmas here today. I can’t get anything to drink. I should be very glad if you would send me a good pair of boots by Edwin Ethridge when he comes and some shirts and pants by him when he comes. Tell Sister Betty to write to me and let me know all the news. I expect we shall all come to old North Carolina. Tell Woodard Thomas to write to me and let me know all the news. I must come to a close, saying I remain your dear Brother until death. George Woodard, So and good-bye. Camp Near Orange Court House VA. December 27th, 1863 Dear Brother, I will drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time and hope you the same. Mary wrote to me that she sent my shirts by Wiley Batts. I haven’t seen anything of them. I should (have) been very glad indeed to get them. I should be very glad of some good fresh meat and potatoes to eat. I don’t get anything that is fit to eat. We don’t draw any meat at all hardly. I have been suffering for five or six days; it is very hard times here. It was a very dull Christmas here. I should (have) been glad to (have) been with you all to get something to drink and eat, for I think (the) Southern Federacy is broke, for it seems so to me. I want to know what you are up to now. I want you to do the best you can. I should be glad if it was so that I could come home to stay. Tell Mary Gray to write to me and let me know all the news. Write to me soon and let me know about my things, whether Wiley Batts started with them or not. If he hasn’t started with them, I wish someone would bring them to me, for I need them bad indeed. I am barefooted and can’t help myself at all. I suffer very much with cold. I wish you would get someone to come and fetch my pants and shirts and overcoat and a good pair of boots number sixes. I have nothing more to write at this time. I remain your Dear Brother Until Death, So good-bye. George Woodard (Envelope) Mr. W. W. Batts Joyner’s Depot N.C. Camp Near Orange Court HouseVA. January the 9, 1864 Dear Brother, I take pleasure to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time, all except the diarrhoea. I hope these few lines may find you enjoying God’s blessing. You wrote to me that Wiley J. Batts was coming to see me. I have not seen him yet. I should (have) been glad if he had come, for I need my shirts and pants very bad indeed. If you can get anyone to fetch my things to me, I need them very bad indeed. You wrote to me that you had hired a substitute for me. It does not do any good, for it is all done away. If you can hire anyone to come to this Company and join it, I can get a furlough for thirty days. Bill, If you can get someone to come and join this Company there will be chance for me to come home and tend to my business. Please write soon and let me know; I want something good to eat. I remain yours as ever, George Woodard Camp Near Orange Court House VA. January 23, 1864 Dear Brother, I will drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time. Only the dirrahoea. I hope these few lines may find you the same, and all the rest. Write as soon as you get this and let me know how you all are. It is very hard times here. Dear Brother. I think I shall get a detail or discharge, so Lieutenant says I shall, for I ain’t fitten for service (I) have sent the papers around to be approved. I think I shall come home soon or a Richmond hospital. Dear Sister, I hope I shall come home to see you all again. I must come to a close, saying I remain yours as ever. George W. Woodard Camp Near Orange Court House VA. January 29,1864 Mr. John B. Woodard Wilson P.O. N.C. Dear Brother; I take pleasure to write you a few lines to let you know how I am. I am sick at this time. I am poor as you ever saw me. I hope these few liens may go safely to you and find you well and all the rest of the family. Bun, you wrote to me about my horse, that he won’t work. If he won’t work, you can sell him. If you think it the best. I reckon Howell knows as much about him as anyone. If you sell him, get as much for him as you can. Don’t swap unless you can make a good trade. I want to come home to see you all very badly. I think I shall get the chance to come home to see you all again. I should be glad to be with you all to eat some good sausage and ham and eggs. Write to me as soon as you get this letter. Bun, I want you to let me know how long you are going to stay at home. I remain your dear Brother until death. George W. Woodard I am sick today. Excuse my bad writing. Court House, VA. February 9th, 1864 Mr. W. W. Batts Joyner’s Depot, N.C. Dear Brother: I take the pleasure of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time as common and hope you the same. Dear Brother. I haven’t heard from you all in some time. Please write to me soon. If John Moore goes to see you, I want you to send me something good to eat by him when he comes back. Tell Sister to send me a good pair of cotton pants by him. Tell Sister Betty to write to me and let me hear from them all. Tell her to send me something good to eat. I expect my discharge back before long. I must close for this time. So good-by for this time. George W. Woodard (Although unsigned, the following letter is in the handwriting of George W. Woodard. It was apparently mailed to his sister Margaret Batts) Camp Near Orange Court House, 11th, 1684 VA. Dear Sister, I take the pleasure to write to you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time, all except the diarrhoea. I hope these few lines may go safe to you and find you all well and doing well. I have nothing to write important to you, only very cold weather here and snow on the ground. We are in winter houses, Sister. I want you to tell Bill Batts to send my shirts and pants if he can get someone to come and fetch them to me, for I need them very bad indeed. Tell Bill Batts if there is any more wants to come to this Company or any other and joined it or in Lee’s Army, I can get a thirty-days furlough. Tell Bill Batts to write to me and let me know how you are getting along. Tell sister Beedy to write to me and let me know how they are getting along. Tell Mary Gray to write to me. Bunyan, write to me and let me know how you are getting along. I must come to a close by saying, I am yours Sister until Death. Camp near Orange Court House, February 11th, 1864, VA. Dear Sister, I take the pleasure to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time, all except the diarrhoea. I hope these few lines may go safe to you and find you all well and doing well. I have nothing to write important to you, only very cold weather here and snow on the ground. We are in winter houses. Sister, I want you to tell Bill Batts (William Woodard Batts) to send my shirts and pants if he can get someone to come and fetch them to me, for I need them very bad indeed. Tell Bil batts if there is any more wants to come to this Company or any other and joined it or in Lee’s Army, I can get a thirty-days furlough. Tell Bill Batts to write to me and let me know how you are getting along. Tell Sister Beedy to write to me and let me know how they are getting along. Tell Mary Gray to write to me. Bunyan, write to me and let me know how you are getting along. I must come to a close by Saying I am yours, Sister, until Death. George W. Woodard Army of the Confederate States Report of Soldier’s Death Post at Gordonsville, Virginia General Hospital, C.S.A. April 1st, 1864 Private G. Woodward, of Company A (Captain Briggs) 55th North Carolina Regiment, died in this Hospital on the 23rd day of March, 1864, of Diarrhoea Chronica. An inventory of the effects of the deceased, and Quartermaster’s receipt have been forwarded to the office of the Second Auditor of the Treasury. B.M. Lebby Surgeon in Charge For the Captain of Company A 55 N.Ca. Regiment Picket Camp on the Rapidan April 25, 1864 W.W. Batts, Esqr. Dear Sir, Enclosed you will find final statement of George W. Woodard (Deceased). As you requested, the effects of what he had with him have been forwarded to Second Auditor’s Office at Richmond, as the enclosed note from the Surgeon in Charge of the Hospital will show. I have no news to write. The weather is beautiful, and we all are expecting a fight soon. I am Respectfully yours &c., B.F. Briggs Near Petersburg, VA. August 12th, 1864 W.W. Batts, Esqr. Dear Sir: Enclosed you will find receipts from the Quartermaster at Gordonsville, Va. For the effects of Geo. W. Woodard, deceased. I have no news of importance, though I have seen the New York Herald, Washington Chronicle, and Philadelphia Enquirer of the 10th inst. But they contain nothing of importance. Most of my boys are well and in good spirits, though we have sustained a heavy loss in the Campaign. I am very Respectfully, Your Friend and Obedient Servant. B.F. Briggs Army of the Confederate States Receipt for Deceased Soldier’s Effects Post at Gordonsville, Virginia Office P.Q.M., July 13, 1864 Received from Surgeon B.M. Lebby in charge of General Hospital, C.S.A., Gordonsville, Va., the following articles, being the effects of Private G. Woodard Co. A 55th Regt. N.C. Troops, who died at said Hospital, March 23, 1864. Articles No Appraised Value Coats. 1 7.00 Drawers. 1 1.00 Hats 1 4.00 Prs. Shoes. 1 8.00 Socks 1 .75 Haversacks. 1 .50 Pants 1 3.00 Total Value………………………$22.25 W.B. Richards, Jr. Major & Post Q.M. Respectfully forwarded. B.M. Lebby Surg. In Charge Gen. Hospital, Gordonsville, Va. Quarter Master’s Office Gordonsville, July 13th, 1864 Received this day of Ast. Surg. B.M. Lebby ($12.50) Twelve Dollars and fifty cents (current funds), and one Promisory Note for ($64.00) Sixty- four Dollars, the property of Private G. Woodard, late of Company “A” 55th N.C. Regiment. W.B. Richards, Jr. Major & Post Q.M. W.W. Batts, Esqr. Dear Sir: Enclosed you will find receipts from the Quartermaster at Gordonsvile, Va., for the effects of Geo. W. Woodard, deceased. I have no news of importance, though I have seen the New York Herald, Washington Chronicle, and Philadelphia Enquirer of the 10th inst., but they contain nothing of importance. Most of my boys are well and in good spirits, though we have sustained a heavy loss in the Campaign. I am Respectfully, Your Friend and Obedient Servant, B.F. Briggs Woodard George Washington Confederate Letters Page 4 of 1