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Maggie Edmonston to brothers B.B. & B.F., July 14, 1864, page 1

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  • Maggie Edmonston, sister, to Dear Brothers B.B. & B.F. Webster NC July 14th 64 Dear Brothers B.B. & B.F. It has been a long time since I have written to you. I have written you several times but it seems like my letters never reaches you from some cause I am not able to tell the cause on however you never acknowledge the reception of a single letter from me but not withstanding that I will write you again to let you know I have not forgotten you. There is not a day passes but you occupy a place in my memory. I very often think of passed pleasures when we used to enjoy each others society together with those loved ones who are gone. Dear brothers it has been a long time since I saw either of you. There has been so many changes taken place so many loved ones have passed away to be no more. when I commence writing I am so perfectly lost in thought, I can scarcely compose my mind to write anything. but what the Lord has done we can not undo. if we could how quick we would do it. I have often wished I could see you and talk with you if I could compose myself but some times when I meet up with my friends it brings recollections of the past so fresh to my mind I am compelled to give vent to my feelings. Oh brothers you can’t imagine the heart rending troubles [page 2] I have had since I last saw you & they are as great to night as they were the day [night] your dear brother left this world to be no more of course I can control my feelings better than I did then but Oh how my poor weary heart sinks when I think that dear one of my bosom is gone forever, one that I looked to for support and protection. how can I realize it. you have lost a good brother, a kind and affectionate brother who took so much interest in your welfare both spiritual & temporal. You all miss him but I must say you can’t miss him like I do oh I think of the hopes of by gone days and of the faces I used to love and of the dear one who took so much interest in my welfare, one who was ever ready to comfort me when in distress. I often think of those happy moments and of the joys that have passed away while a shadow deep as the gloom of night falls on my heart’s cold hearth. if it was not for the hope I have of one day meeting my beloved friends where there is no more wars or heart rending my poor heart would sink with in me. I some times try to fain [feign] enjoyment and then my heart sickening troubles will come upon me. I don’t feel like I ever [even?] would enjoy life any more. Earth has no chances for me but I have stronger ties in Heaven than earth [ever?]. I am often made to wonder if we will ever meet on Earth any more, or if our next meeting will be at the ___ [han?] of God if so I trust we may all be shining Angels. prepare to meet your brother in that happy land for I think [page 3] If there is a saint in Heaven he is one. he did [died] in the full triumphs of a living faith in Christ. Oh what great comfort to his mourning friends. I have lost a loving brother but the loss of my brother was nothing to compare with the loss of an affectionate companion. I will beg to change my subject for fear I will make you feel more melan choly [miserable?] than is necessary if I could save you and could compose my self I could talk a great deal to you. I wish this cruel war would close so we could all enjoy each others society once more. I dont get to here from you often. I rc.d a letter from Father & Mother and one from brother Thom also the other day you can’t imagine the great amount of pleasure it afforded me to hear from them all and also to hear from you they stated in their letters they had heard from you on Apr 19th ____ [jusd?] and you were both well and had been preserved thru another battle I was very uneasy about you. I hope you may be protected and preserved thru this war and be permitted to enjoy the comforts of home and the society of your friends again. I have nothing of much interest to write you times have been very hard here this summer. crops looks fine. wheat crops are tolerably good. No late war news. have no reliable news from Johnston’s Army in Ga [Georgia] we have heard he has given the Yanks a good thrashing on the 27th cut them up badly taken 30 or 40,000 prisoners don’t know how come [true?] I have two brothers [page 4] there in the 39th NC Regt I am very uneasy about them. Sam is a prisoner at Camp Douglas. brother Tom was exchanged and sent home and his health has improved some. He has gone back to headquarters at the forks of Pigeon Haywood NC. brother __an [Can?] has gone back to sins [sn us; service?]. I fear he will not stand it long. Newt is down at Walhalla SC Father Mother & myself are very lonely if you get home any more you must come and see us. I think I will go out to Haywood in a month or two. I haven’t been there in six months. I expect to visit Father & Mother Edmonston whenever I can make it convenient. as long I live and they do I feel it my duty to do so I would not be forgotten by any of you I could write a great deal more but I fear I will weary you reading this uninteresting letter write soon give me all the news write me how Capt Gradys Co is doing if he has a good co or not may Heaven’s choicest blessings rest on you both in the prayer of your almost broken hearted Sister Maggie Edmonston NB brothers B B an [and] BF will you please go to the marble yard in Petersburg or any yard you may see and select some nice Tombstones for Dr. Edmonston's grave. I have sent off three times but failed to get any. I know you will take more interest than any buddy else please let me know if you get any so I can send you the inscription if you can get some nice ones let me know I can have them shipped to Walhalla. I want two set one Small set for my baby that is all I can do for him and I never will be satisfied until I get that done Maggie E. [Note at top]: BBE NB ______ sends his regards to you said tell you to hang and kill all the Yankees and come home and go with him to dig gold M E ------------------------------ Ham (?) Is “and” in the line? Looks like just an “a” Captain William S. Grady, Company G, 25th Regiment, “Resided in Georgia and enlisted in Macon County, North Carolina, at age 40. Appointed Captain on July 8, 1861. Present or accounted for until appointed Major on December 18, 1862, and transferred to the Field and Staff of this regiment.” Major William S. Grady, Field and Staff, 25th Regiment, “Previously served as Captain of Company G of this regiment. Appointed Major on December 18, 1862, and transferred to the Field and Staff. Present or accounted for until wounded in the right arm, left arm, and right breast at ‘the Crater,’ near Petersburg, Virginia, July 30, 1864. Hospitalized at Petersburg until October 14, 1864, when he was furloughed. Died at Greenville, South Carolina, October 20, 1864, of wounds and /or `fever.’” Rufus Alexander Edmonston (February 10, 1828 - Sept. 29, 1863) married Magdaline Bryson on November 4, 1853. Dr. R.A. Edmonston’s headstone is in the Cullowhee Baptist Church cemetery. Next to it is a small stone of similar age with the name Little Charley.
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  • In this letter of July 14, 1864 Maggie Edmonston writes to her brothers B.B. and B.F. Edmonston, lamenting that neither has written to her in awhile. She goes on to describe her feelings of loss concerning their late brother and provides miscellaneous news of family.
  • Maggie Edmonston, sister, to Dear Brothers B.B. & B.F. Webster NC July 14th 64 Dear Brothers B.B. & B.F. It has been a long time since I have written to you. I have written you several times but it seems like my letters never reaches you from some cause I am not able to tell the cause on however you never acknowledge the reception of a single letter from me but not withstanding that I will write you again to let you know I have not forgotten you. There is not a day passes but you occupy a place in my memory. I very often think of passed pleasures when we used to enjoy each others society together with those loved ones who are gone. Dear brothers it has been a long time since I saw either of you. There has been so many changes taken place so many loved ones have passed away to be no more. when I commence writing I am so perfectly lost in thought, I can scarcely compose my mind to write anything. but what the Lord has done we can not undo. if we could how quick we would do it. I have often wished I could see you and talk with you if I could compose myself but some times when I meet up with my friends it brings recollections of the past so fresh to my mind I am compelled to give vent to my feelings. Oh brothers you can’t imagine the heart rending troubles [page 2] I have had since I last saw you & they are as great to night as they were the day [night] your dear brother left this world to be no more of course I can control my feelings better than I did then but Oh how my poor weary heart sinks when I think that dear one of my bosom is gone forever, one that I looked to for support and protection. how can I realize it. you have lost a good brother, a kind and affectionate brother who took so much interest in your welfare both spiritual & temporal. You all miss him but I must say you can’t miss him like I do oh I think of the hopes of by gone days and of the faces I used to love and of the dear one who took so much interest in my welfare, one who was ever ready to comfort me when in distress. I often think of those happy moments and of the joys that have passed away while a shadow deep as the gloom of night falls on my heart’s cold hearth. if it was not for the hope I have of one day meeting my beloved friends where there is no more wars or heart rending my poor heart would sink with in me. I some times try to fain [feign] enjoyment and then my heart sickening troubles will come upon me. I don’t feel like I ever [even?] would enjoy life any more. Earth has no chances for me but I have stronger ties in Heaven than earth [ever?]. I am often made to wonder if we will ever meet on Earth any more, or if our next meeting will be at the ___ [han?] of God if so I trust we may all be shining Angels. prepare to meet your brother in that happy land for I think [page 3] If there is a saint in Heaven he is one. he did [died] in the full triumphs of a living faith in Christ. Oh what great comfort to his mourning friends. I have lost a loving brother but the loss of my brother was nothing to compare with the loss of an affectionate companion. I will beg to change my subject for fear I will make you feel more melan choly [miserable?] than is necessary if I could save you and could compose my self I could talk a great deal to you. I wish this cruel war would close so we could all enjoy each others society once more. I dont get to here from you often. I rc.d a letter from Father & Mother and one from brother Thom also the other day you can’t imagine the great amount of pleasure it afforded me to hear from them all and also to hear from you they stated in their letters they had heard from you on Apr 19th ____ [jusd?] and you were both well and had been preserved thru another battle I was very uneasy about you. I hope you may be protected and preserved thru this war and be permitted to enjoy the comforts of home and the society of your friends again. I have nothing of much interest to write you times have been very hard here this summer. crops looks fine. wheat crops are tolerably good. No late war news. have no reliable news from Johnston’s Army in Ga [Georgia] we have heard he has given the Yanks a good thrashing on the 27th cut them up badly taken 30 or 40,000 prisoners don’t know how come [true?] I have two brothers [page 4] there in the 39th NC Regt I am very uneasy about them. Sam is a prisoner at Camp Douglas. brother Tom was exchanged and sent home and his health has improved some. He has gone back to headquarters at the forks of Pigeon Haywood NC. brother __an [Can?] has gone back to sins [sn us; service?]. I fear he will not stand it long. Newt is down at Walhalla SC Father Mother & myself are very lonely if you get home any more you must come and see us. I think I will go out to Haywood in a month or two. I haven’t been there in six months. I expect to visit Father & Mother Edmonston whenever I can make it convenient. as long I live and they do I feel it my duty to do so I would not be forgotten by any of you I could write a great deal more but I fear I will weary you reading this uninteresting letter write soon give me all the news write me how Capt Gradys Co is doing if he has a good co or not may Heaven’s choicest blessings rest on you both in the prayer of your almost broken hearted Sister Maggie Edmonston NB brothers B B an [and] BF will you please go to the marble yard in Petersburg or any yard you may see and select some nice Tombstones for Dr. Edmonston's grave. I have sent off three times but failed to get any. I know you will take more interest than any buddy else please let me know if you get any so I can send you the inscription if you can get some nice ones let me know I can have them shipped to Walhalla. I want two set one Small set for my baby that is all I can do for him and I never will be satisfied until I get that done Maggie E. [Note at top]: BBE NB ______ sends his regards to you said tell you to hang and kill all the Yankees and come home and go with him to dig gold M E ------------------------------ Ham (?) Is “and” in the line? Looks like just an “a” Captain William S. Grady, Company G, 25th Regiment, “Resided in Georgia and enlisted in Macon County, North Carolina, at age 40. Appointed Captain on July 8, 1861. Present or accounted for until appointed Major on December 18, 1862, and transferred to the Field and Staff of this regiment.” Major William S. Grady, Field and Staff, 25th Regiment, “Previously served as Captain of Company G of this regiment. Appointed Major on December 18, 1862, and transferred to the Field and Staff. Present or accounted for until wounded in the right arm, left arm, and right breast at ‘the Crater,’ near Petersburg, Virginia, July 30, 1864. Hospitalized at Petersburg until October 14, 1864, when he was furloughed. Died at Greenville, South Carolina, October 20, 1864, of wounds and /or `fever.’” Rufus Alexander Edmonston (February 10, 1828 - Sept. 29, 1863) married Magdaline Bryson on November 4, 1853. Dr. R.A. Edmonston’s headstone is in the Cullowhee Baptist Church cemetery. Next to it is a small stone of similar age with the name Little Charley.