Chattanooga

This letter has a round rubber stamp mark, most of the letter heading is illegible but I can make out Chattanooga, 10 and Confederate. At the top of the letter someone has written: Presoner Captures 

 Dear Folks:

 I v set down in order to rite you a few lins which leaves me in good health and hopen these lins come soft to hand and fined you in the Best of health I happent any news worth ritin at presant. We had a litl fight with the Yankies yesarday and Knocked them back to Captain Hoods lins we now in his militia of Chattanooga and think he ll take Chattanooga o els brick is ass its way north I think Well be hearn in sevrl days its got put off and had to go out through West Virginia  and is now in South Carolina If our success continues 30 days longer we ll have North Georgia clar of Yankies Our scouts goes in the Edge of Atlanta and come out we are a holdin the north side of the Rail Road with 600 men and Capturs a few Yankie prisoners a most Every day got 25 yesarday We had a rite nice party las nite no thing pitickly just Some of the boys crep up and they turn the officers saddle on Backard and thin went off a peace and Comence a Terable fire and Ran the pickets in and Some of the Officers Rans out and they horse tide hard and fast and cut the halters as the fire were Clos by Som of them Mounted their hors backards as their Saddles Sat and put Spoars and ther horses heads be hinden them and got in rair of the Resivoe fast and Stampeden all the Pickett camp and videts taken the woods and So the fralicket brake up in grate confuson and the woman crowded into the Caves that they had prepared in case of an actac And all returned to camp no one hurt But one who wer a Sleep ris up and ran for his hors and flumb him Self agains a post and had to send him to the Hospittle. I have nothing to rite of Importance so I ll come to a close for this time.

Bennett Pate

Ga Co G 10^th Regiment Confederate

Griffin Ga

Abbeville P.O. Wilcox Co. Ga
17^th September 1862

My dear Son;

We received your kind letter yesterday dated the 9^th of this month and it gave me great pleasure to hear that you was well and hearty. I am happy to inform you that we are all well in body and would be satisfied if you were with us and peace made. We hear of fighting all round the line and that the Yankees are whipped everywhere that (partial word missing) lland was killed and Pope wounded & that Stonewall Jackson is in ten Miles of Washington. Lee has crossed over the Potomac into Maryland Longstreet has laid siege to Cincinatti there is not a Yankee left in Alabama. You say there is a Strong Talk of Peace. God send it, but I am afraid it is like it was of old, they then cried Peace! Peace! But no Peace came although I must confess that the prospect brightens. I do believe if we are fortunate enough to capture Washington, that it will not be long until Peace will be made. You talk of going on a mountain and looking towards Georgia, when you do, think of us, but consider one thing, there is the same God in Tennessee as there is in Georgia, place your trust in him, have faith in him, pray to him and be assured that if you do so and son, serve him, that he will preserve you and take care of you, do your duty and (missing line)

When I get through with my business I intend to go and see you. I am busy getting up Hogs at present. I am build a new crip I have got it raised, I have my fodder saved I have 5 stacks and not fifty sorry bundles, I have go to hawl in my corn and then I will be ready to go and see you, I have sold my beef, I sold them at eighteen dollars per head, they fetched five hundred and tweenty eight dollars I have sold 128 dollars worth of hogs and expect to sell some more. I am glad to hear you have good Company Officers, I am glad you and your Messmates Jim and Jessee have enjoyed good health but sorry to hear of so much sickness in the Company, the Army are in has a Splendid General in Command, Genl Brag he fought bravely in Mexico under Genl Taylor, I wish you good luck and hope you may kill One hundred indeed I do not care how many Yankees so you do not get killed yourself, I am glad you are in good heart about it, you say you will move before long when you do you must let us know, let us know what sort of a country it is where you are and what they make to support on, Have we or the Yankees 180,000 Soldiers in Chattanooga, I am glad you are backing the Yankees, I am sorry you failed in getting a Furlough to come home from Macon but you must come as soon as you can (missing line) to write, we had heard that off of you that had horses had to go to Tennessee to fight the Yankees, we heard that was going to put you in a head of the Infantry, and we made sure you was gone, we never doubted the Truth of what you have written, nor do we wish wish you to take offence at it, if you sent six letters we have never received them. Have they (viz Congress) passed a Bill, or is it law to take men from 18 to 45 or is it only report. do you know when they (from 35 to 45 yrs) will have to go? I will tell Elijah’s Jim what you say, Ernest Courtoy – says if anyone will give five thousand dollars in Money or good property amongst the rest a good horse, bridle, and Saddle, the balance in Negroes or cattle, he will take their place and come and join your company, I have seen the Star with its long tail. Blue about which there much ado, Mary ater it is a sign, of the Yankees showing their tail to you when you go to fight them. they will run run, John Broock sends his love to you would glad to see you and wishes you to write to him, Ernest says he will write to you the first chance he gets, but expects to be with you before long, him and all of his family are well. Jackson Boman started on Monday to Abbeville to meet Rueben Plair the enrolling Officer and rest of the Conscripts, they are in Macon by this Time, he talked of joining your company, The enrolling Officer went after Mark Rainy and William Cravy but did not get them, they proved themselves over 35 years Minerva says she will try and save you some Shote but will not promise to put off the Wedding till you come home. I believe the Women have had a Council of War and decided on a cofution of Arms until the peace is made with the United States and the Men come home to help them, but I do not know but that they will whip the Men, indeed I know they can if they will take them of a Night. (Samson Cason talks of taking a load chickens to Macon the last of this Week if you are not at home by that time I send you a Shirt and Socks by him your father talks of going up with him- Your, Mother) Give our respects to all inquiring friends receive our affectionate regard Yourself and believe us to be your kind and affectionate Parents

James and Jane Pate

Knoxville, Tennessee                                           July 14^th 1863

 I am well and got to Camp yesterday and found all right we are 11 mile Above Knoxville and have lost it all and got nothen to cook in ner no tents and had a rite smart rane hear today. We git a plent beef & bread to eat. I expect I’ l have to by a horse or be put of in a foot company and ranken I ‘l git one at $150 dollars. They is a man to be Shot her next Friday for Runnin away he Belongs to the 2^nd Tennessee regiment and som of the men that has to shute comd outen of our regiment and is to be rite here. I think John Henaly is gone home but are not sarten. They say our Regiment fought the yanks about a our study firm and kill about 90 yanks and took some few prisoners they is ruff times in this part jest takes all sorts of weather that come & sleeps in the mud and water.

 Rite to Knoxville Tennessee          So No More

Private Bennett Pate In Cavalry Capt. P.J. McGrif

Co G 1th Confederate Knoxville, Tenn.

 On back of the letter:

Henry Parkerson is fat as a Hog I happent saw Jess Taylor he is in the Hospittle. Clab is a prisoner. They eaint non of my old (illegible word) hear but Herring & Parkerson Capten McGriff resine his office and Oliver Ferrell will take the post if he don’t resine

                      Pig Springs Tennessee                                                 
                     August the 11^th 1863

I am well and harty hopen these lins may find you all well I under Stand that the People aire A gitten Mitty Outen of heart of the War and think we aire to be Substigated I hear that Ernest Courtnoy has Come home we will Move again in a few days they Say but I don’t no but not fair off We git A plenty to Eat at presant Bacon Meal and Flour & Beef and Can kill A Plenty of fat hogs and Sheep Rite hear Round Camps I hopent hearn from home yet tel Ernest to Rite and let me hear the news I happent Eny at presant tel Buck Herelson if he heant geoine Eny Company and want to geoind this one let me no Soon and I l See to Senden him Trance potation they Can not take the Men Over 44 until Congress Setts a gain for it is a gainst the Miletuary law and all the Devels in the Confedercy Cant help Ther Selves a fore Congress Makes it a law Oliver Farnel is our Captin we aire in Carnel Scoats Brigade We aire a geoin to have a Election today for 3^rd Lutenant and I think Thomas Cobb will Be Elicted and I hope So

Bennett Pate

             Abbeville, Wilcox County, Georgia
             26^th August 1863

My dear Son

We embrace the present opportunity of writing a few lines to you to inform you that we are all well and hearty at present and we sincerely hope and trust that this letter may reach you safe and find you in the enjoyment of the best of health, we are happy to information you that your kind letter dated the 8^th 9^th and 11^th of this instant came safe to hand this morning, and we immeadiately started down to Courtoys to get them answered, we had not got more than a mile when we met him coming to here and so he is here now writing you this letter. We were extremely glad to hear from you, for we were afraid by your not writing to us before that you was sick or killed or a prisoner or that something bad had happened to you. We were sorry to hear that you had lost your horses, have you got pay for them, if not, I reckon, they will furnish you another, I was glad to hear that you got out of Kentucky safe although it made me sorry to hear that you had to undergo so much fatigue and privation while you was over there. I am happy to know that you get a plenty to eat at present, Buck Harrel has joined a home Company and will start to Abbeville today to drill, he is in George R. Reid’s Company, Joseph rainy is in the same company, Mark Rainy is at home yet acting like a cursed tory, and talking like one, he says that he hopes the Yankees may whip and free the Negroes and then the fallen Rich Men will have to work as he does that old Jeffe aught to be hung, that we had no right to secede that if they force him into the service and he gets into a battle, he will take a flag of truce and go over to the Yankees, William Cravy has joined Reid’s company, I would like to know if you got your saddle and bed clothes when you got back to your company You state in your letter of the ninth instant that you saw a Man shot at Knoxville, but do not mention what he was killed for, I would like to know what he had done, I would like to know what that long-legged fellow was that ran away when you was in battle Tom and W. Cason John Parkinson are gone to Quincy, Florida, to join a company there, Elijah’s son James talks of going to the same company Alfred Owens in gone at last, he is gone to Quincy too, Charley Odam went to Macon and joined a company and came back and was married on Thursday was a week ago he was baptized on Sunday and went back to his company on Tuesday, he married Mahala Owens, Your Cousin William Allen Pate got wounded in his thigh by the splinter of a Shell at the Battle of Gettysburgh in Pensylvania and being unable to walk was left there in the Hospital and the Yankees have got him a prisoner, George Haman got wounded in the back by a Shell in the same battle and is a prisoner, We would like to know how you getting along about something to cook in and something to sleep on, We want to know if you have any lice now, if you have Courtoy says for you to get some Mercurial ointment and rub about your joints and in your groins and they will quit you, it will kill them all, We would be glad to know if you have got well of your Cough and if your Mouth has got well, We would like to know if you have drawn any Clothes or received any Money since you have got back and if you need any money and clothes let us know and we will send you some of both, We received the letter you wrote at Dalton but did not answer it because we did not know where to send a letter to you Minerva Gordy has quit us and is staying with Jane Taylor I sent John Rhodes to the Coast to get me Salt and he fetched four bushels which stood me in seventy two dollars and while he was gone there, they drafted him in Dooly, but he is at home yet John Fulgum was bad scared about the draft he ran about for a week trying to get clear and came out clear of the draft by claiming himself over forty five years old, I and John gathered 22 head of Beef and John drove them to Houston and sold them at fifty dollars per head James Holt bought me a Negro named Leah 22 years old she seems to be a very smart work hand, I have been out hog hunting some and have up a nice lot of pigs and hogs are in fine order. We are gathering fodder as hard as we can we have a very good crop, I have four Stacks of fodder put up now. We heard last week that your Company had been in a battle and had all got killed but four Men, and we went to Jane Taylor to hear what we could about it and we could hear nothing of you and so we wrote to Jesse, for him to write to us if he knew anything of you, as we did not know what to think about you not having heard anything from you and not knowing whether you was with your company or no, you must write often as you can and give us all the news, you must come home as soon as you can as we all want to see you very much. You must take as good care of yourself as possible, The Women are eating Beef, Mary Ann Baley and Mary Colman have killed one of William Hamilton’s and he sent John Pitts after the Meat and hide and she took her Gun and ran John off and said she would die before she would give it up he then asked to let him have the hide. She told him no, that the hide and meat always goes together. Tom Warren told me that some Women over Alapahaw had killed a Beef and he believed it to be mine. You said in your letter that you expected to know before long. We would be glad if you could move home again. We have heard several letters from Lee’s army and the Boys’ all talk of Peace being made shortly, and that they think that they will get to come home by Christmas to stay. do you hear anything of Peace being made where you are?

Your affectionate Parents

James and Jane Pate

Camp 10^th Regt  Calvary
 Chattanooga Tennessee
Saturde November 7^th 1863

Dear Folks

I write you a few lins to Inform you that I am well and harty truly hopen these lins may Come Soft to hand and find you all well I happent no News at presant to Rite I want to See you all and am a goine to Come home as Soon as I git the Chance And Kiss Som of those prity Girls if Eny I fine and I persume they is Some and if they Eant no prity Ons I Swear they is Some uggley Ons Those Dang fool people aire a Shuten one another about the Montens and if the fools dont Stop their Fulishness they l hurt Some Body Some of these day as they aire a firen nerly Every day that Coms if Capten Farnell coms don ther go with him & to Lamberds place and se if they can Strike a Trade and if not the Jack Bonner Lot Mite Sut him I want him to git a place Somers in the Settlement. And I think probly one of those places would sute him But fine a place that l Sute him a fore you Stop if you Cold git one of Those Cused hog Theavs to Sel Out it would Sute me veary well I under Stand that Every Son of a Bich down ther is a Govern ment a gent I am a Geoine to come home a fore long and Se if I cant kill a deear an Tirkey. I l Somthen if it’s a rabit we have good deal of wet weather and a devel of a Chance of Mud this Old Roges 10M have Eate up all the Hogs on this Side of the River and the Cused Yankies has kild all on the Other Side I Expect I would like to no how Alaphaw is Com Out for Men wher they Ever made up ther Company or not But I no they didnt in my mind

                                                                                              Chickamauga Station Tenn

Maby Som of them want to Come to this Company if they jist Send them to Capten Farnell or Lutenant Hendly and they Can be fix up Redy for Standen picket her in Site of the Yankies wher they l play Nice Musick for them all the time But they are Such fools her they dont want to hear non of ther Musicket at tal I dont Expect that Jest the Idee that I draw on them when Jesse Taylor coms tel him to fech me a Shirt and I l love him and if he l fech me a Shirt and pair of draws I Swar I like him Tolerable well Eny how if he dont fich them I l take him up by the Eye brows and Shake the Show wax outen of him I want to no if Ernest Courtoy is gon Back to his Company or not if he Eant tel him that I love to hear from him and in pertickler when he comes Outen of his Scrapes well and tel him to put it on them a geain if they Needs it and probly it l make them helthy and Sta at home as long as they wont sta no whar Elce ner ther Nother I dont no what to do with Such people With Out You Run them Clean off Outen of the State So I Must Close Excuse My Orckerd Riten for didn’t have Eney thing New to write Direct your letters to 10^th Confederate Regiment Chattanooga Tennessee

B Pate Co G 10^th Confederate Regt Calvary

Chattanooga Tennessee

Wright Soon and let me hear the News and how you are a gitten a long and if you have Sold meny hogs or not and how they Sold.

                   Camp 10 Regt
                   Near Chickamauga Tenn State  
                   Sunday November 8^th 1863

Dear Folks

I write you a few lins to Infarm you that I am in Tolerable Good health at presant time truly hopen these lins may come soft to hand and find you all Enjoying the Best of health. I happent no News to rite to at presant time I Receive a letter from you yesterday and was Glad to hear from you all and one letter in it that was heavy But I found one place in it that sed Somthere about Old But Hed You Said that my horse was veary onrieety if I come home and git hold of him I Brake him You wanted to no Somethin about how we faird for Somthin to Eat and Somethin to cook in we have but little to cook Onless we Steal it Our Company has just one frien pan, one griddle one pot to hold (illegible word) and Canteen to make up bread if we hav flour and nothen to tote water in only a bust old Canteen and of a cold nite make a fire and Sleep Round it and kill lice and git a for day and kill Steal a hog or brace of Game or Somethin of the kind. The people lives her be Starting (2 lines illegible) ther liven the Sitesens are way

thin than the Solgers. I believe that if the war lasts 2 more years that wont be ane ones person in the Confedercy as they are but few now I am a comin home Som time afore all ways if I Ever do. And I be home the first Chance I git So no more at presant

Bennett Pate

Tel Jesse Taylor to fech me a big potator you may Send me a par of Sox a par Drawers & Pants and 2 Shirts and a par of Shaw Strings all pay rold privates are (2 lines missing)

Be proud to brang but you are not late yet See Captain Forrist if he gits safly home which I think he will

Some More

Bennett Pate

          Camp Ner Trimmel Hill Ga
          This the 4^th January 1864

Dear Folks I write you a few lins to Inform you that I am Well at presant time truly hopen these lins may come Soft to hand and find you Enjoying the best of health I have no news to rite more than Hells to pay Engenaery Our Army gits whip in nerly Every fite and they all Disertin and geoin home Jest what Il have to do if I come atall Our Rations are Scanty Horses are a doing Bad I have not hearn from my mare yet The Sky has again made its Appearents after Severl days Rane & Som Sleet & Snow with very cold weather Our Brigade went up to Charleston Tennessee and Actacted a wagon Trane after wards tho we hand fiten the Yankies Charge them with Sabers and Cut them up & Captured them Mitty Our Company lost 3 men Captured or Kill I happent hearn from home in 6 weeks ner hant rote to you afore in a month You all ways rits when you git Redy and I do the Same I heard that Jesse Taylor was comin Back Maby Is I hear from home when he gits hear.

Tel Juion King that he nede not to Come Back yett a while if he l send up a Stifekitt from the Doctor They is no Shame to Come home now By no Means Only By Diserten John Minis Jim Swan Bill Roberson George Huchens is all Runway latty from our Company we have about 18 men in Camps and 7 horses for duty when you Bote your acquested me of kind of close Ive Drawd and Bought til Iv got a plenty of Close tho I would like to have a Coat and par of Soxs and the Devel of it is I am bar footeth But Il have Shoes in a few days iffen I have to kill a cusid Yankie to get s them I will Old Lincon Sis he is yet in for the union he is heavy on the Subject Thunder this part of Ga is the woost A linconite Hold in the Confederacy I Under Stand that they have Call for all of the Men between 16 and 60 and if you all do have to go make you up a New Company Never go to a Old Company now for a New Company will not have to go in Regular Servis in the carse of Six monts And State Troops gits biter feed and Cloths then Other Solgers do But I don’t Thank you l have to go and But if you do Be Shore and go in a New Company and make up one if you Can But Sta as long as you Can for a Solgers life a Bad life we have to take the mud and warter Ice and Snow all tho they heant bin much Snow as yett But mity Cold Weather and we do not sta at one place at time more then 3 days So no more at presant.

Bennett Pate Co G 10^th Regt

Confederate Calvary Dalton GA

The following letter from Bennett to James and Jane was generously transcribed and contributed by
James W. Brown
© Copyright 2004

      Camp Near Carterville, Ga
       May the 21^st 1864

I am well and harty. truly hopen that lins come soft to hand and find you enjoying the best of health. we happent hearn from home since I left only what Jess told me you were all well. Weev bin a fighten nerly all of this month. I happent eney nuse to write at present only weeb bin some 20 fights. we happent got neary man heart in our company but weev had about 50 men kild and wonded in our Regt. we fought them at Nickajack Gap and above Dalton and at Varnell Station and 3 mils below Dalton and in 27 mils above Resacca and in two 3 mile above Resacca and in one at Resaca and in 2 about 5 mils below Resacca and 3 above Cast Station and in some 4 above Kingston and 2 below Kingston and several others on the way as I no no nams of and are yet on the retreat. we have whip them in most of the places wher we made eny stand but they are so meney of them till they would flank us so we would have to fall back. we are now on Hitower River but its my oppinion  that wel be in Atlanta in10 days longer for the yankes are a geoine in a heavy force on our left and are across the river some 20 mils and a nothin to hinder them from geoine as far as they pleas, only a small army of our men which cant hold them in check moron then a few owers at a time. So you may depend upon hearin from ust at Atlanta soon But old Generl Johnston ses he entends to whip them back so I must come to a close. Wee get a plenty to eat when we git where it is. Bacon and Crackers and corn breed and the old Lincon coffee and whiskey and as much powder and lead as you can burn up at the yankeys. So you rite as soon as you pleas and addrees to Maetta Ga.

            Bennett Pate Co. G

            10 Regt Confederate Cavlry, Allens Brigade

            Maetta, Ga.

Excuse bad riten for we hearn rested day nor nite in 18 days. Jim King is hear well. Jess and Seab allso

Camp 10^th Confed Regt Calv
Allens Brigade Near Marietta Ga
Friday June the 3^rd 1864

These lins leaves me well truly Hopen these lins may come Soft to hand and find you Enjoying the Best of health I happent Eny Nuse Much to Right at presant. Only We v bin Scrumishen with the Yankes veary heavy Severl days Jim King got his Finger hit by a yankee ball the other day but didnt hurt him but little. They v got a line of Battle hear about 30 miles long four men deeap a good potion of the way. Each party have Entrance ments to fight in about half mile apart and waten for Each other to Advance. The Crumishes keeps up a Continuel firen day and night. I v bin a pickett fighten with them Severl Days we were a fighten of them yesterday and fallen Back to our Breat works and they come one of the hardest rain(missing word) I ever saw And a Wright Smart Storm. They Are A Canonaden veary heavy to Day The Yankies l Strike A Hard hit Lick when they come on our Breat works The Army Are not dishearten at our fallen Back at tall. They beleave at Old Johnston will whip them Yett I shall try to come home as Soon as this Fight Are Over with But Shit I don’t know as it l be over with afore Its harvest or not But I bet 5 dollars to a  kick the Ass That I come home when the war Ends if I Sta in Tho Ribett all of those Fellers thats at home if they l come Back a fore this fight Ends Old Johnston ses he l parden them But if they li out or have to be Brought Back they are to be Shot the Shit outen of them and them Felers that belong to this Company had better come ahead while times (missing) For They got to be Shot at Eny how and when Old Johnston shoots at them they l get hit. I have lost one Mail by Some way or Other for I all ways git One letter from you a month Only as the mail is lost and I sorta think Some of you have Sent me a letter a fore Know But I dont no wher you did or not but I did think you would a Sent me a letter Eny how But is just as you please and I wright wher I please and I persume you can do the Same. I have Sent a 3 year old Mair Home. She is a light Sorrill veary well grown Tolerable thin order She is not broke down Eny way at tall ner Cripl She is all right if She is ugle as the Devel I wish you would rite whether you git her at home or not If She gits home all Right I would not take less than 15 hundred Dollars for her for I think she ll make a fine mair. I Hear That they have got all of the Mealishia Officers up at Atlanta in Camp But they Expect to go home as Soon as this Fight is Over with But I dont know when this Fight l End my Self But I don’t look for it to End Soon my Self. Old Johnston Ses it l End afore long Well I l just quit Righten for this time for Iv got no news to Wright at present Only about this Cused war And it l  come to a Close Some time or nother afore all ways Shit yess I Jest no it l End Some time. I don’t Belong to Henres brigade.

Benett Pate Co G 10^th Regt Confed Cal

Allens Brigade Marietta Ga

Co. G 10^th Regt Confed Cav Allens Brig

Kelleys Divson Whelers Corps Johnston’s

Army of Tennessee Camp Belwin

Marietta (missing) in line of battle

Georgia                          
Willcox County                   To the Enrolling officer of the           
                                       Said County

The petition of James Pate of said county respectfully herewith that he was born in Pulaski County in the state of Georgia. that he was forty seven years of age the twenty ninth day of last January 1864 five feet nine inches high or about that, dark hair and gray eyes & that he is a farmer by profession he cultivates about sixty acres of cane, entirety in corn, grain & potatoes he generally makes a good crop, he has one negro between the ages of sixteen & sixty he has come (3 total lines missing)

 (missing words) with any & who are dependent upon petitioner for support. He has a mother who is sick & eighty two years old in August next & who lives as the dependent upon him for support. He has three hundred and fifty head of cattle, four hundred head of sheep & about one hundred head hogs (2 total lines missing) and he has not yet got up his cattle in 2 months nor sheep & many out hogs not got yet. he has no other adult person on his place & any one to gather his stock but himself and has but few neighbors one neighbor Rev. King about Seventy years old and Hansel about sixty years old & then no others within ten miles except others who are liable to go to the army they from six to ten miles that he has to support & they look to him for support to witte as will be opened to petition hereto attached & which he prays may be taken as part of his petition & Cane Haralson who has a large & dependant family & he has furnished them (illegible words) beef & pork and corn & hogs (illegible words) he gets out of the (illegible words) so from his out stock and expects to let them his 2 mars when he gathers his out hogs & what he has sown & the chores at his home hogs are getting short & he will mainly have to look to his out hogs for the support of these persons & he has to go to mill for them (2 missing lines) to do since the war he has raised nearly a thousand pounds surplus wool & which he is willing to let government have at government prices & he saith he did not choose those women & men as statis but gave to them in service beeves nearly in one year or over 187 lbs & Pork (missing lines) & then all along in (illegible word) quantities to support them potatoes as they wanted them for he made large quantities & furnished them or their people, soldiers wives was a (illegible words) him & he does it without pay & he will

The rest of the letter is missing.

The following letter from Jane to James was generously
transcribed and contributed by
James W. Brown
© Copyright 2004

Abbeville, Wilcox County Georgia,
5^th October 1864

 My dear Husband

 I take the present opportunity to inform you that myself and children are all in good health and I sincerely hope and rust that these few lines may reach you safe and find you well.

 I am very anxious to hear from you for I am afraid there (is) something bad the matter with you as I have not heard from you since the 29^th day of August. I have written two letters to you since that time and have received no answer from you. Bennet came home on the 14^th day of September after his horse.  the one he took off with him the time before gave out and he left it in an old field five miles east of Atlanta. he was well at that time. They have enrolled all the men that are at home from 15 to 55 years old without any exception except those who are already in the service.  they take preachers, doctors, lawyers and the details. They have got John’s name down and if they take him off I do not know what I shall do for he is all my dependence now you and Bennet are gone. I wish you could get a furlough and come home if you can as we all wish to see you very much.

 Mr. Westbrook the enrolling officer for this county was here about two weeks ago & I mentioned to him about getting you a detail to stay at home and he said you had a right to a detail and drew off a form of am application for a detail and sent to me and I sent it by Bennet to Macon for you to fill up, swear to and return to Mr. Westbrook as local enrolling officer of Wilcox County. I have sold my wool & I sold 900 nine hundred pounds. I got seven dollars a pound. I sold eight hundred & twenty pounds to James Smith and he offer to sell me a negro fellow at six thousand five hundred dollars. He is a yellow boy of a middle size and good hand to work on a plantation but I would not buy him until I heard from you. The children all send their love to you and wish you to come home very much. Ernest Courtoy has been here three weeks teaching school for me. He is going to Albany next week to get his Furlough prolonged if possible and if he succeeds in doing so he will continue to teach the children. The children are learning very fast. Ernest and Zila Courtoy join in their love to you and would be most happy you could be at home. I remain my dear husband your loving and affectionate wife.

Jane Pate

Mr. James Pate

Macon, Ga.

     Camp Near Barnsvill
 Saturday October 15^th 1864

Dear Folks

Iv Set down in Order to drop you a line which leavs me in good health Truly hopen these lins may come Soft to hand and find you all well I happent any nuss to rite to you at presant time. They say that the yankies hav hit Atlanta again but I do not no wher it be true or not whellin is a leavins Tennessee River again Old Forist is in west Tennessee and Mississippi Hood has reach Kingston again and has the Rail Rod tore up and the Yankies Cut off from ther Saplies Entirly at presant and our army or the Yankies army one or the other is a geoin to be Cut up and that in a few days time. Geoin to leave hear tomorow morning for Lafayett it lys ner Alabama Its about one hunderd mils from this place I shall Rite but a Short letter this time as I have but a few minetts to rite in as I want to go to a party theis Evenin they is some of the bailey Girls thear goin or seem to.I hev no other nuss to rite to you this time. (3 lines illegible)

I Close

Bennett Pate

Ga Reg 10 Cav Andersons Co

(He wrote several other lines at the bottom of the page but they weren’t legible.)

Abbeville, Wilcox County

Georgia, 27^th October 1864

 My dear Husband

I received your kind and affectionate letter dated 17th of this instant on Monday last and was most happy to hear from you and to learn that you were still able to be up about I am happy to inform you that we are all well at present and getting along as well as possible considering the times, and I do hope and trust that these few lines may reach you safe and find you in the enjoyment of the best of health, I was sorry to hear that you had to leave Macon, I was sorry to hear that you could not get a furlough, but you must keep trying, perhaps you will succeed some of these days. I will put up the sugar cane as soon as I get done hauling in my corn, I have not done gathering corn but I reckon I will get done this week. There has been no cold here to hurt anything yet, no not enough to kill the gourd or potatoe vines. I have right smart of peas picked and will pick more as soon as I get time. I have got up seventeen very nice meat hogs and will get more as soon as I can I will take care of the potatoes I have seven pigs near about raised, and twelve more about the yard, and John saw twelve more in the woods, which makes 31 that I know of, and I will get up more as fast as I can You may be assured that I will take care of everything the best I know how. I will do what you say about the Davis and Rhodes places and get the rent home as soon as I can. I reckon that Jonathan Walker will help John get those two hogs out of Double-run he saw them there the other day, I was glad that Bennett got to stay with you some. I wish you could be together all the time, I got a letter from Bennett at the same time I received yours and he was well at that time. My tax is paid already, Mr. Jonathan Smith paid it for me, he sold some of your steers and paid your tax and brought me the balance of the money. Your tax was 3.92$18/100 the war tax is not paid yet. I have done all I could to get you a detail, keep in good heart I will try again I want you to get a furlough and come home and get your clothes. Write soon and let me know where you are, if I had known that you had been in Macon all this time I would have sent you more provisions I sent you a parcel of sugar cane, five pounds of bacon, two chickens and a par of socks and some potatoes, and would like to know if you got them. Your Mother, Hansel and the children all want to see you very much and send their love to you. Sam grows finely. I remain, My dear Husband Your affectionate Wife Jane Pate. Betsy King sends her love to you and wants to see you come home very bad.

Note: the first pages of this letter are missing

filling man in this neighborhood to attend to that business; he says he will teach school again for us as soon as we get done our fodder if you are willing.

Stephen Bowen was persuaded not to get your off, and never made the attempt, but I intend to keep trying untill I get you a furlough a detail or a discharge, to that end I will not leave a stone unturned.

James Hansele has not forot you but talks about you every day, and says he want you to come home and fetch Bennet with you; the Neighbors are generally in good health and wish to be remembered to you, Your crop looks very well and will yield well, the potatoes and corn are clean, I have got up but seven pigs but I think there will be right smart more after awhile.

The Government have taken and drove off nearly all the Beef but have not bothered the sheep yet and if they do not take them I shall not part with them. I sent you ten or twelve pounds of meat, two pieces of bacon and three of beef, I would have sent more if I could have Someone for certain that you would have got it, Mr. Cana Harrelson wishes to know if his son Buck is in Macon yet and if you know anything about him he would be glad to hear from you.

I save a letter Bennett wrote for James King to Sias Wife dated the seventeenth of this month. He was in Atlanta at that time and was well in health, if you get any letters from Bennett I want you to send them to me so that I can get to read them I will back an envelop to Bennett and enclose in this letter so that you may know his present Address, John Hodge and John Fulgans is discharged and back home. Fulgams family while he was gone moved to Sheffields. Cravy is not gone yet, the Sheriff has been after him three times and has not got him yet, the last time he undertook to stay with him all night and  Cravy cleared himself in the night and has been lying out ever since. Joseph Rainey has come home wounded, he went by here but never called, and did not as much as turn his head towards us. I got the beads you sent me and have got them on. I remain.

My dear husband

Your faithful and affectionate Wife

Jane Pate