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WCU - Civil War in Southern Appalachia

D.H. Gettys to D.W. Siler, January 5, 1862

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D.H. Gettys to D.W. Siler, January 5, 1862

HL_MSS05_09-2_13_01_01
Item 2 - D.H. Gettys to D.W. Siler, January 5, 1862
wcu_civil_war-122.jpg

D.H. Gettys to D.W. Siler, January 5, 1862

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Item 3 - D.H. Gettys to D.W. Siler, January 5, 1862
wcu_civil_war-123.jpg

D.H. Gettys to D.W. Siler, January 5, 1862

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Item 4 - D.H. Gettys to D.W. Siler, January 5, 1862
wcu_civil_war-124.jpg

D.H. Gettys to D.W. Siler, January 5, 1862

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Item’s are ‘child’ level descriptions to ‘parent’ objects, (e.g. one page of a whole book).

  • In this letter of January 5, 1862, D.H. Gettys writes to D.W. Siler describing details of living conditions in camp outside of Manassas, Va. He expresses fond memories of life in Macon County and adds a postscript stating that a photograph of him is being sent home.
  • D.H. Gettys to D.W. Siler, January 5, 1862 Manassas Virginia Jan 5th 1862 Mr D W Siler Dear Sir As this is the first opportunity I have had in the past week to send or write after reading a lesson I have concluded to write you to pass off the time We have been very busy building our cabbins [sic] the past week We have got the walls all up ready for covering: if we did not have to go on picket this week we would get them nearly completed Tuesday we have to go out and stay three days. I doubt very much whether we stay in our quarters after they are built long enough to pay us for half the trouble we have been at building. Our company are mostly resting but Some of the companies are working on their houses to day the same as they would any other day. While I was at home I tried to imagine the condition of those in the army but I could not come any where near it although I have not found the duties I have to perform any harder than I expected I have been on guard but one time I have escaped guard by being detailed to work on the houses Our fare is not such as you have at home We have wheat bread crackers and beef and it not very well prepared I seldom ever see any corn bread. If I could have a hoecake baked at home now for dinner it would be a great dessert. I don’t know whether I shall see any such thing as pork in camps or not Some say we will get nothing but beef this winter our beef is generally tolerable good. When we get our houses built we will have eight men to each mess I have got in with the the [sic] Cartoogechaye boys Our mess is composed of T.S. W.T. & J.W. Siler McGillespie W.D. Crawford Soggy & Bud [?] Shields & Myself What is to become of the people and country I don’t know it is nothing uncommon to hear of two or three deaths the same day horses are lying about dead every direction you go. I have no idea that the state of affairs are half as bad now as they will be by the first of April If this war continues long I think we will have to move to some other portion of the coun try for we will eat up burn up and destroy every thing that is here the scenes that are here are indescribable. The exposure we have to undergo is great not withstanding all that I have not regreted in the least that I joined the service I may never live to get too old Macon again but if I ever do I know I shall feel better than I would if I had stayed at home Although I have many trials and temptations to undergo I hope to be able to overcome them all I have less changes here for reading than I ever had any where Sometimes I have as I think a few minutes time to read perhaps by the time I get my book there will be a call for something else which has always to be obeyed. I hope this unholy war will end soon but I fear it will cost the lives of thousands first While I am writing here my mind is running back to the time when last I saw you in Franklin of all the parting I had to do there was none so hard as to part with you and John Siler that was the only time but what I could controle myself your Uncle John said something to me I know not what I could neither hear nor speak I often think of the quiet hours I have spent in Macon. I hope to live to get back there to enjoy myself again as in past days Alex Ledford has had measles but he is getting better John Wyont has fever but the doctor says he is getting better Thomas Theodo. & James are all unwell but able to go about it is cold mostly that ails them I have bad cold myself I am well pleased with my Capt as I could be Remember me to all my friends especially to you Pa & Sister Yours Truly D.H. Gettys P.S. I have sent my likeness to you by Mr Leach if any of my friends wants to see it you can show it to them and when you have a chance you will please send it to Mother D.H. Gettys
Object
?

Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).

  • In this letter of January 5, 1862, D.H. Gettys writes to D.W. Siler describing details of living conditions in camp outside of Manassas, Va. He expresses fond memories of life in Macon County and adds a postscript stating that a photograph of him is being sent home.
  • D.H. Gettys to D.W. Siler, January 5, 1862 Manassas Virginia Jan 5th 1862 Mr D W Siler Dear Sir As this is the first opportunity I have had in the past week to send or write after reading a lesson I have concluded to write you to pass off the time We have been very busy building our cabbins [sic] the past week We have got the walls all up ready for covering: if we did not have to go on picket this week we would get them nearly completed Tuesday we have to go out and stay three days. I doubt very much whether we stay in our quarters after they are built long enough to pay us for half the trouble we have been at building. Our company are mostly resting but Some of the companies are working on their houses to day the same as they would any other day. While I was at home I tried to imagine the condition of those in the army but I could not come any where near it although I have not found the duties I have to perform any harder than I expected I have been on guard but one time I have escaped guard by being detailed to work on the houses Our fare is not such as you have at home We have wheat bread crackers and beef and it not very well prepared I seldom ever see any corn bread. If I could have a hoecake baked at home now for dinner it would be a great dessert. I don’t know whether I shall see any such thing as pork in camps or not Some say we will get nothing but beef this winter our beef is generally tolerable good. When we get our houses built we will have eight men to each mess I have got in with the the [sic] Cartoogechaye boys Our mess is composed of T.S. W.T. & J.W. Siler McGillespie W.D. Crawford Soggy & Bud [?] Shields & Myself What is to become of the people and country I don’t know it is nothing uncommon to hear of two or three deaths the same day horses are lying about dead every direction you go. I have no idea that the state of affairs are half as bad now as they will be by the first of April If this war continues long I think we will have to move to some other portion of the coun try for we will eat up burn up and destroy every thing that is here the scenes that are here are indescribable. The exposure we have to undergo is great not withstanding all that I have not regreted in the least that I joined the service I may never live to get too old Macon again but if I ever do I know I shall feel better than I would if I had stayed at home Although I have many trials and temptations to undergo I hope to be able to overcome them all I have less changes here for reading than I ever had any where Sometimes I have as I think a few minutes time to read perhaps by the time I get my book there will be a call for something else which has always to be obeyed. I hope this unholy war will end soon but I fear it will cost the lives of thousands first While I am writing here my mind is running back to the time when last I saw you in Franklin of all the parting I had to do there was none so hard as to part with you and John Siler that was the only time but what I could controle myself your Uncle John said something to me I know not what I could neither hear nor speak I often think of the quiet hours I have spent in Macon. I hope to live to get back there to enjoy myself again as in past days Alex Ledford has had measles but he is getting better John Wyont has fever but the doctor says he is getting better Thomas Theodo. & James are all unwell but able to go about it is cold mostly that ails them I have bad cold myself I am well pleased with my Capt as I could be Remember me to all my friends especially to you Pa & Sister Yours Truly D.H. Gettys P.S. I have sent my likeness to you by Mr Leach if any of my friends wants to see it you can show it to them and when you have a chance you will please send it to Mother D.H. Gettys

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Civil War in Southern Appalachia

The Civil War, fought between the Union and the Confederate States of America, occurred from 1861 to 1865. This collection of items related to that conflict includes correspondence that dates to th...

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