Carpenter, Henry C. (d. 1864)
Letters, 1862-64, Ms96-008
Transcripts
February the 10 1862
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My Dear Sister Liza I seat my self to write you a few lines to let you know where I am and how I am getting along the Regment is Campted at the Red Sulfer Springs at this time our Company is Campted at the mouth of ingin on the widow Lawlers land opposite Mr Cramps I like our new Camp very well one Company Campted by its self always sees much better time than they do when they are with the Regment the soldiers are livi- ng right hard now The beef that they get to eat is very bad The Cattle are so poor they stagger as they walk well how are you all getting along why didnot Brother Ed Come up to his time is he sick or any thing the matter I was up to the Red Sulpher to see him last Monday but he did not come How is Brother John getting along with the Conscripts will he be up shortly how is paws health this winter what does he think of the war now you said in one of your letters that old Hiram Peery profess ed the fighting was nearly over I dont think his prophesy will come to pass I dont see any probability of peace sooner than twelve months I think the yankeys will make a desperate struggle at us early in the spring their is a large peace party at the north but they are only in for peace on terms of reconstruction of the union I dont call that any peace party at all well as I expect to see you all in a few days I will Close I remain your affectionate Brother until Death HC Carpenter to Elizabeth A Carpen |
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August the 25 1862
My Dear Sister it is with pleasure
that I take my pen to write to you once
more I am very anxious to hear from you
as I have not heard from you but once
since you left we are all tolerdle
well Brother John has been complaining
for a few days but he has gotten nearly
well I am troubled with biles
Brother Ed was down to see his girl
yesterday he generly goes twice a week
and once evry Sunday
Well I reckon it is amusing to hear
Mr Rigs talk since he got so rich
I suppose that Miss Mary _____
has gotten maried at last How does the
______ of Bland like the idear of going
to Floyd I heard that they talked
about rebelling I have no
nuse of importance to write you the yan
keys have all left this Country the last
account we had of them was that they
were at _alley it is not known whether
they intend to make a stand their or not
I suppose that is a fine position
Our Cavelry started for the
Kanorway valley yesterday morning
to see what has become of the yankeys
Some thinks that they are going to
reinforce Pope as ______ I dont know where
we will go or whether we will go any where or not
we have no marching orders yet it is
reported that we will go to reinforce
Stone wall and some think that
we will go towards Charleston as for
my part I dont care where we go but
I believe I would rather go to
Jackson than any where else
I am garding a man to day our scouts
taken him yesterday he is the first
man I have seen acknowledge that he
was a union man he lives in lewis
Burg and is one of the welthiest sitzens in that
town he has just gotten back from
Charleston he says that he is for the union
and he will not tell any thing on the
yankeys where they are nor any thing about
them well I must close by giving you my best
love I remain your affectionate Brother
until death
HC Carpenter
September the 5 62
My Dear Sister Liz I will take the
present opportunity to write you a few
lines as we are going to start on a
march tomorrow morning and perhaps
I will not have another opportunity
for several days we are all well
_____ we expect to start in the dire
ction of Rolly Court House tomor
row the Bland Co is not with the
Regment at this time they went
to Aldersons Fery yesterday morni-
ng and have not goten back yet
I received a letter from you to
Brother John this morning also
a pair of pants for Brother Ed
I will take care of them untwell
they get back from the Fery
we are Campted now at the Red
Sulphur From the preperation
General Williams is making
he must be a going to leave nearly all
of our tents we are only going to
take 5 tents to the Company
well I will close direct your
next letter to the Red Sulphur
as we will make our Head
quarters their for a while
you must write to us often
as I am always anxious to hear
from you good by for the present
I will right again soon
from your Brother untwell death
HC Carpenter
Charleston Knanway Co
September the 26 62
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My Dear Sister Liz I seat my self to answer your letter which I received a few days ago and was very glad to hear from you we are Campted now about two miles below Charleston our forces is scattered all along the river Yinkinses Cavelry and two Regments of infantry is about 30 miles below Charleston and the Bland Company with two or three others is staying at Gally Bridge I have not seen Br John or Ed since we left the Red Sulpher as that Compa ny has not been up with the Regment since we left them the 45 sufered more in the fight on the 10 at Fayett than any other Regment as we ocupied the most dangerous position we supported Otzes Battery otzes Battery lost three men killed and eight wonded we had an engagement on top of Cotten mountain an the 11 we ware scrummining and fighting with the yankeys all the way to Charleston and in no fight we did not have as many men engaged as the enemy had on cotten hill their was no forces engaged except the 45 the Canorway valley is a fine country and we find a great many good Southern people living in it but a large majority of them are union as we marched down thevalley the yong Ladyes would be standing side of the road with secession flags on their aprons and with large baskets of english grapes to give the soldiers as they passed I wish you ware down here to help us eat sweet potatoes and peaches as we can get as many of them as we want the finest I ever saw the is some neighbourhoods in this country is entirely deserted as they left their corn and evry thing and went off with the yankeys when the yankeys retreated from Charleston they taken with them about five hundred negroes well how is paw getting along a farming is he sowing much wheat will he fatten many hogs I think grain and bacon will be very high tell all of the people they had better Come down and get their salt as they have a fine road to hall it on and can get it for 35 cts a bushel what do you think of the times know do you think the is any probability of peace well I must close write soon give my love to all of the family accept a larger portion for your self from your Brother until death HC Carpenter I have no account of any yankeys on this side of the Ohio River |
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Camp Scinterville
November the 22 62
My Dear Sister Emily I seat my self to answer your welcome
letter that I received a few days ago I have no nuse of importance
to write except we are campted a high hill with our tents very
close together and our eyes getting very sore from the smoke
you said you wanted me to you a history of our retreat from
Charleston I dont know of thing that would be interesting
to you our retreat was a very _____ rescpected one on our way from
Rachs Ferry to Charleston we heard that their was a force of
yankeys marching on Charleston and they marched us very
hard to get their before the enemy and after we arrived at
Charleston our Commanders was making evry preperation to
fight the enemy and our scouts come in and reported old
Cox with ten Regments marching up the valley and Millroy
with eight Regments a going round by Banimer ville to
cut us off at Gally Bridge we taken som Prisoners next
morning that reported the same and our Commanders
concluded they was not able to fight them and they
would make a retreat of it I would like to get a furlow
and go and stay a few days at home very well but I dont
think theirs much chance for it know well I will close
give my to all the family
accept a larger portion for your self
please write soon
from your Brother untwell death
HC Carpenter
The _____ are all well Br John is enjoying
himself very well waiting on the
_____ girls write soon give my love to all of the family
Camp near the Salt Sulphur
December the 12 62
My Dear Sister it is with pleasure I seat my self to answer
your welcome letter that I received a few days ago it
gave me great pleasure to read a letter from you we boys are all
well Brother John has gone home to act as Provose Martial in
Bland I have no nuse of importance to write you except camp
reports and I dont think they are worth writing one report says
that we are going to Christyens Burg to stay the balance of
the winter we are fixed up tolerable well where we are campted
now we have chieys to our tents and campted where
we can get a plenty of wood but our Regment is bad off for
clothing and blanketts their is two hundred and twenty men
in the Regment excused from duty for the want of shoes
but what they lack in one thing they make up in another
evry few days the comes is a load of licker and the boys
warms themselves up with that at three dollars a pint
that is two strong for me I can say what very few men in
the 45 can not say I have not spent one dollar for licker
nor lost one by playing cards since I belong to the Regment
well is the much talk about christmas in Bland I would
like to go and see you all at christmas but I think it
is very doubtful whether I get off or not
they only allow one man out of evry twenty to be absent
at a time and so many are always running off we can hardly
ever get a furlow they are hard on them that leaves
without leaf now I saw two men out of the 45 whipted and branded
yesterday for running off they give them 39 on their bare back
and branded them with the letter D on their hip
I wish you would send me my over coat by Mr Allen as I need it
right bad tell Mr Allen he must be sure and come to see
us as soon as he gets back and if I dont get off at christmas
he must drink one glass of eggnog for me
well I will close give my respects to all the Family
please write to me soon From your brother until death to
Mrs Emily Allen
HC Carpenter
Camp Near the Mouth of Ingine, March the 19 63
My Dear Sister Liz I seat my self this rainy
morning to write you a few lines though I have
nothing of importance to write I arrived at Camp the
next day after I left home Brother Ed is at
Shanblins Ferry at this time Guarding Commissary
stores I saw him a few days ago he was well and
looks well he had a right big time with _____
Smith as he come on to his Company they have
stopped furlowing for the present our Brigade is
held in readiness for something I dont know
what some think that we will go to Tennessee
awhile others think that we are going to make a
Raid on Fayett Our Scouts have gotten back
they went all around Fayett they report three
Regments at Fayett and they have fortified
that hole Country evry position that we held
last when we fought them they have got strong
Fortifications now how are you all getting
along had Brother John been ordered up yet
I like the Camp here very well it is a very fine
neighbour hood I taken dinner last Sunday with
Mr Mikle Quins Father in law he gave me
as nicer dinner as I wish to set down to we catch a
great many fine fish now well I will close
give my love to all the family accept a large portion
for your self from your Brother until Death
HC Carpenter
I will look for you by the 28 March
Mrs Crump says you and Mrs Crump must
be sure and come to see her the old Lady
would be glad to see you as well as Brother
Ed and my self you and Mrs Crump
must be sure and Come the Last of next
week you must hire a horse some where
and you and she must fix up and come
I know you will enjoy your self and with
all I will give you a nice Ball and have
you a mess of fish be sure and come
well I will close give myI dont think we will leave here before that
time
HCC
March the 30 1863
Camp at the Mouth
of indian
My Dear Sister Liz I seat my self for the
purpose of writing you afew lines as I am very
anxious to hear from you I have not herd
from you since I left I written to you soon
after I returned to Camp but have not
received no answer I saw Brother Ed yesterday
he is well he is at Shamblins Ferry at
this time he sees a right easy time now
we all see aright easy time now we have
no duty to perform a getting something to
eat is the ______ atest dificulty we have to
contend with our Regment have been fasting
a right smart Lateley our poor beef has
given out and it seems that our Commissaries
are about to faill in other respects the
____ Regment have had nothing to eat for
the last week but three barrels of crackers
we ware held in readiness for ten days to
make a raid on Fayett But that expedit
ion os given out the forces in the North
West can not move no where untwell they
get a new supply of horses and something
to eat our horses are very poor during that
hail storm eleven of them died one
night how is Paw getting along plowing
the weather has been very bad this winter and
spring for the Farmers to plow
How is Brother John getting along with the girls
have you and Mrs Crump fixed up your trip
yet to come to Mr Crumps you must be
sure and come if you come I will go
part of the way home with you and maby
all the way be sure and come I would
like to see you and I know you would
enjoy your self write me word whether
you are coming or not well I will close
give my love to all the family accept
a larger portion for your self
from your affectionate Brother until
death
HC Carpenter to
Elizabeth A Carpenter
Aldersons Ferry Monroe Co Va
June the 4th/63
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Miss Lizzie |  |
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Camp Near Aldersons
Ferry June the 8 63
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My Dear Sister it is with pleasure |  |
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Camp Pelham
June the 21 63
My Dear Sister Liz _____ I seat
my self to write you a few
lines this morning though I
have nothing of interest to
write you Brother Ed and
my self are well we recei
ved the letter that you sent
by Mr Workman and was
very glad to learn you was
getting better I have been
very uneasy about you ever
since we heard you was
sick and was glad that Dr
James was in the neighbor-
hood to wait on you I would
of liked to come home to
see you but I could not
get off as they are looking
for the yankeys to make a
Raid through here with
Cavalry evry day
the yankeys are fixing for
a Raid through this portion
of the Country with a large
force of Cavalry our
forces have fell back
from Meadow Bluff to
Lewis Burg we have a great
[line or lines deleted]
and one Pickett has to go
five miles to Pickett
I suppose our forces left
Meadow Bluff on account of
water I was at preaching this
morning and heard a very able
sermon preached by Mr Elen
son Mr Johnson preached
for us last Sunday and
sixteen joined the church
and eight of ten professed
Relgion Col Harman
Joined the Church
I wish you had some of
the charries that we get in
this neighbour hood their
is a great many here and they
are just getting ripe
well as I have no nuse of
interest I will close you
or Brother John must write
to us evry mail untwill
you get well and let us
know how you are getting
give my love to all the
family accept a larger
portion for your self
from your affectionate
Brother untill Death
HC Carpenter
EA Carpenter
Camp Pelham
July the 7 1863
My Dear Brother as it has
been so long since we have heard
from you all I concluded to
write you a few lines this morning
thinking that you would think
anough of it to answer it
I have no nuse of interest to
write Brother Ed and my
self are both well their is
no Enemy near us nearer than
Galley Bridge and Fayett ville
and I dont think very many their
the drilling is the worst
that we have to encounter with
now we drill four hours evry
day the weather has been very
warm and showery for the last
week the wheat is as fine as I
ever saw in this County
well how is sister Liz getting
I have not heard from her
for some time the last
we heard she was getting
better we have been looking
for a letter from you for
several days thinking that
you would write often while
[line or lines deleted]
you have a right to stay
at home or not against
Browns Orders and if I did not
I would come and report to
my company and if you have
a right to obey the officers
at Doublin I would stay at
home as long as I could
Col Brown or Cap Newbery one
seems to be very much troubled
about you staying at home
they have elected another
sargent in your place
and Col Brown had it
read out on dressperade the
other evning that _H Hamilton
was elected in your place
and that you was reduced to
ranks well as it is getting
nearly drill hour I will close
answer this soon give my love
to all the family except a
large portion for your self
from your affectionate
Brother until Death
HC Carpenter
near Lewisburg
Camp Price
September the 4 63
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My Dear Sister Liz I received |  |
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September the 4 63
Camp Price near Lewis Burg
My Dear Sister Emily as we have
returned back to our old Camp
and evry thing seems _____ett I will
embrace the present opportunity to
write you a letter that I greatly
owe you as we have just returned
from a march of nine days
marching part of the time day
and night we are not exactly
_____ted up from our march
but are all as well as could
be expected well as you have
had several accounts of our fight
near the White Sulphur it is not
necessary for me to mention it
though I will give you some of
the particulars Last Saturday
was a week we received marching
orders to move in the direction
of Cheat mountain we started
and it was soon understood
that we ware to reinforce
Col Jackson and when we arri
ved near Green Briar Bridge in
Pockhantas Co Col Brown
received orders to fall Back
to Frankfort in Green Briar that
Jackson had passed the Bridge
retreating in the direction
of the Warm Springs Closely
Pressed by the enemy
Then we marched all night
and arrived at Frankfort next
morning about nine oclock
their we met Edgars Bytallion
and the 22 then we started to
the Warm Springs to meet Jacks
on and when we got within 13 miles
of the warm Springs General
Jones received a dispatch
that the Enemy had left
the Warm Springs and had
gone in the direction of Lewis
Burg it was nine oclock Tuesday
night when he received this
dispatch and we ware soon on
the road back towards the
White Sulphur and after a forced
march that night we succeeded
in cutting the yankeys off next
morning at nine olock it
was then the Ball opened if
we had of been one half hour
later the Enemy would of
passed on to LewisBurg and
gotten away without a fight
when the Fight Commenced we
did not have more than 1400
men as our men was broke dow
n and scattered all along the
road for miles when the fight
Commenced we had the 22 Edgars
Bytallion and Duns Bytallion
the 8 virginia was not in the
fight as she did not get
their until next morning
and the fight was about over
when they got their
the Enemyes force was about
three thousand as to the losses
I heard the yankey Doctor say
their loss was about 500 men
but I will give you the
losses as far as I know
our loss killed dead on
the field is 36 wonded 60
and some prisoners the
Enemyes loss killed dead 50
wonded that fell into our
hands 75 prisoners 60 the
yankeys taken off all of their
wonded that could be moved
if Jackson
had of Blocked the road
and held them in check until
we got to him we would of
Captured the whole of them
well I will Close give my love to
all the family from your affecti
onate Brother
HC Carpenter
November 1st 1863
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Camp near the salt works
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December the 6th 1863
My Dear Sister Liz you must
Excuse me for not answering
your welcome letter before now
for I have neglected it Bro
John Ed and my self are all
well well _____ you at the
_____ at the _____ I could
of went to the weding but
I did not care much about
it you may look for we boys
home Christmas we will _____
that Candy Stew I was glad
that you all enjoyed your
selves so well at Wythe was
sorry we could not be with
you we have but very little
duty to perform now we employ
our selves mosly Cutting
Cord wood and Catching
deserters our Regment have
Caught about 300 since
we have been at the
Salt well well
what do you think of the
simes it seems the Enemy
is pressing us at this
time nearly at Evry ______
but the nuse in the
Papers yesterday was
very encourgering well
how is Mrs Edwards getting
along tell her she must
not go home untwell we
boys gets home well
I must Close give my
love to all the family
accept a larger portion
for your self from
your affectionate
Brother
HC Carpenter
January the 22 64
Dear Sister Liz it is with
pleasure I seat my self
to write you a few lines I
would have written to you
before know if Bro Ed
had not of went home I thou
ght he could tell you more
than I could write I reckon
you ware surprised to see
him and was sorry that he
Could not stay with you all
more than two days
well I did not get to my
Company untwell the next
Friday after new year I
Enjoyed my self very well
after I left home Miss jack
John Allen Hariett and
the Ballance of our Crowd
went over to Wythe on new
year and I tell you we
Come very near freezeing
it was the most disagreable day
that I ever rhode they all enjoy
ed them selves very much in
Wythe we danced two or three
days at John and Thompson
Crocketts Miss Sallie Boble
was in the love I wish you
could of seen her dancing
she was so large and fleshy
I tell you she sweted right
well it would amuse you
to hear Lew Croft give a his
tory of his trip at the old
Squiers especially Miss Becky
and Bishop he said that Becky
took a good Cry Because she
Could not get to go home with
Bishop and when they ware
on their way home Becky met
Bishop of the Clear Fork and
she and Bishop stopted and
Commenced talking and
they rhode on after rideing a
peace they Concluded to
wait for her they waited
some time and went on and
they did not see any thing
more of Becky untwell
about nine o clock that
night she and Bishop
arrived at Henrys
well I was at a small frolick
at newtons on Wednesday night
after new year Sallie had a
son when do you expect to
go to Wythe you must write
me word when you are going
I must Close this
leaves us well write soon
give my love to all the family
except a larger portion for
your self from your affection
Brother until Death
HC Carpenter
February 11th 64
My Dear Sister
Liz I received your kind and
welcome letter yesterday
and hasten to answer it
it found us well and was
truly glad to hear from
you Brother John has gone
an a scout he said he was
going home before he retur
ned I had intended to come
to Stumps wedding but it
is so far to walk and I
Could not get a pass for
more than eight days I give
out coming as I expect
to get a furlow the first
of March General Jones
has been relieved of Comm
and in this department
and General Breckinridge
takes his place well as
you will see Bro John
in a few days I will
close as he can tell
you more than I can
write good by for the
present write soon
give my love to all
the family from your
affectionate Bro until
Death
HC Carpenter
Camp Near Saltville
April 21 1864
My Dear Sister I received
your kind and welcome
letter a few days ago and was
very glad to hear from you
I saw a letter you wrote to
Bro Ed yesterday and was
sorry to learn that Paw
was sick you must write
to me as soon as you get
this and let me know how
he is getting I am enhopes
he will be well before
you get this letter
well I have no nuse to
write you except we Boys
are all well have you given
out your trip to Wythe
if you dont go before you
must Come over the first
of May and I will meet
you their if you will let
me know when you Come
over I will get your teeth
fixed for you
well I suppose they are
expecting another fight
at Richmond I expect it
will be a bloody Battle
all the forces have
left Tennessee and moving
towards Richmond
Stump told me that the
dogs had killed all of
your sheep is it so
we have had a great deal
of Rain our Camp has
looked more like a hog
pen lately than any thing
else though it is drying
of know well I must
Close write soon give
my love to all the family
from your affectionate
Bro
HC Carpenter
Camp Near new river Bridge
May 20th 1864
My Dear Sister I will embrace
the present opportunity to write
you a few lines as I expect
you would like to hear from
us Bro John Ed and my self are
all well I have much nuse to
write you but have not time to wri
te much know we had the hardest
fight Last Monday our Reg ever
was in we fought them at the foot
of Cloyds Mountain our Reg Comp
osed our right wing they massed
five Reg against us they Charged
our regment with three reg and held
two back in reserve we repulsed
them three times the third time
we repulsed them we Charged
them and drove them back to their
reserve and when their reserve
Come we had to fall back our
loss was 180 the yankeys loss
was 400 killed and wonded
the 45th loss was very
heavy as they dun the most
of the fighting the yankeys
Completely ruined the
Country as they went
their is a great many killed
that you are acquainted with
but I have not time to mention
them know the nuse from
the East is good this morning
Breckinridge had whipted Segle
at Stanton Buregard has whipted
Burnsides at Peters Burg and
Lee is still whipping Grant
at Richmond Lees official
report says that he has killed
and wonded one hundred thousand
since the fight Commenced
well I will Close give
my love to all the
family from your
affectionate
Brother
HC Carpenter
June the 2 1864
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My Dear Sister Liz as we have stopped |  |
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June the 4 1864
My Dear Sister Evry thing is
quiett this morning we heard
heavy Canonading yesterday and
day before supposed to be at
Richmond it is reported the
yankeys are falling back in
our front it is uncertain whether
we have any fighting or not
until we get with BreckinRidge
on Lees left I think the army
that we are Contending with
will go their
June the 22 1864
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Camp Near Salem
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Camp Near Berry Ville
Clark Co Va July 19 1864
My Dear Sister and family
through the Providence of God I
have been spared and permitted
to write to you once more
it has been some time since
I heard from you but I
am enhopes that I will hear
from you soon I have had
a very hard time of it lately
we have not had one days rest
for the last month and we
have not been out of the sound
of Artillery for the last
15 days and I know that Bro John
and Ed sees much easier
time in Prison than we do
in the field some times I
get so tiard marching that
I am foolish anought to wish
that I was with them
Camp 47th Va Cav
October 12th 64
Miss Lizzie
I have the sad nuse to
tell you of your Brother Henrys Death Died on
the 6th of October at woodstock Va Made
an open kinfeshion of Religon before he
died Departed this life at 1 oclock P.M.
in the Evening said he was willing
to dy he was Delirious Called Eddy
several times said he wanted to
talk with him. He was Buried
in the Methodist Grave yard Nice
Coffin Grave Marker Mrs John
P Lovell waited on him while
he lived said he was a nice gentlem
an the fainest of our Land Mrs L
has a lock of his hair which she
will send to you also his Testament
I give her your Address
Lizie I have lossed so many
of my Dear Friends & Relatives in
this campain I cant bare
the idea to think about it
less write I am your Friend
M.B. Allen
I would like to see you and talk
about your Dear Brother But I cant
write about him
Miller
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