Buford District, South Carolina
Jan. 9th, 1865.
Mrs. E. J. Hendricks,
Deare Eliza,
After a long delay, if delay you should call it, I write you a few lines to let you know that I am still alive and in comon health, hoping that these lines may reach you and find you all well and doing well. Eliza, it has been about four weeks or five since I have wrote to any of you. From the fact that there has been no mail nearer than 30 or 40 miles of us since we crossed the Savannah River. Before that time I wrote often, but I have not receaved one line from any of you yet. I want to heare from you verry bad you nead not doubt it, and I do not know of any chance to send this now, but as I am at leasure this morning I will write and be ready.
We crossed the Savannah River the 16th of Dec. and went down the South Carolina side, in sight of Savannah City. We picketed in sight of Savannah during Christmas times, but there was no Christmas for us. But I thought of you all often and wanted to be there as I yused to be (but all in vain). We have fallen back gradually and we are now about thirty miles from Savannah neare the River. I think we will go in the direction of Charlestown, S. C. though some of us may go by Augusta to Charlestown, but there is no telling for certain what will take place. I think South Carolina will be for reconstruction by the time the Army runs over her like it has Ga. and Tennessee and some other States.
The Savannah people hates Wheeler's Calvalry worse than they do the Yanks. Some of them want the Yanks to come they say, they all move back as we fall back. The country is so poor they cannot live behind the Army. (results of the Union Port Blockades) It is a poor piney swampey country so far as I have been yet. Our principal diet is beef and verry small potatoes except what little we get from the Railroad, and it has been torn up by our men so far back that we have to look to the country for subsistance entirely. We have had to feed our horses on rice nearly all the time since we crossed the Savannah River. They raise rice almost exclusively about the coast but I do not think it is good for a horse to live on entirely, though horses relish it verry much, and they raise it in large quantities. One solid field as far as you can see and perfectly leveal and mirery. As we came on threw Georgia we stopped at Macon two days. We drew money there. We drew it to the 30th of June. I drew four hundred and eleaven dollars, and I wish you had part of it but there is no chance now to send any to you.
Eliza, I am still in the Quartermaster's Department and I am getting along tolerable well. I have had that misery, the colache, a great deal for the last month and I still have it. I fear it will turn to the cramp colache, sometime, except that my health is tolerable good.
Eliza, If I could sea you I could tell you a great deal that I have seen but as I am in a hurry I must close for this time. Excuse bad writing, for I have done this in a hurry.
Kiss my little babes for me and tell them to be good children that I want to see them verry bad. and give my best respects to all and receave a full share to your self.
I remain your affectionate husband till death,
Thos. W. Hendricks,
To Eliza J. Hendricks.
P. S. When you write you had better direct to Augusta, Ga. I think.
Camp 12th Regt. Ala. Company
Buford District, S. C.
February 1st, 1865
Mrs. E. J. Hendricks,
Dear and Affectionate Wife,
I seat myself to write you a few lines, which will inform you that I am well and I hope this may soon reach you and find you all well and doing well. Eliza, I have nothing of interest to write you at this time. I have not received but one letter from you since I left home. I have wrote several so I had much rather receive a letter than write one. I will send this by Mr. Andrew Stevens, who is going home on furlough from this Regt. Mr. Stevens lives below the Blount Springs somewhere I think. I will also send you two hundred ($200.00) Dollars by him, two one hundred dollar bills in Confederate money. I will keep about two hundred dollars for my own use, but I will send you some more at some other time if I think that I can spare it and can get a good chance to do so.
My horse stands the service tolerable well, though he is geting stiff. As for my clothing, they are smoked with pine until they never can be made to look well any more, in fact they are getting tolerably thin, that is my pants. but they will last a good while yet. I expect when they wear out to come home and get more. I wish I was there now, I think that I would stay there for a while at least. It is nothing but foolishness to fight on any longer, it is hazarding our lives for no advantage. our cavalry here are worse out of heart than I ever saw them before, there is a great deal of talk here of peace by reconstruction, which is the only way in my opinion that peace can be made.
North Carolina and Georgia are trying to hold peace conventions to consider whether it is best to go back into the Union or not, and I think the other states will do the same before long. North Carolina calls on the other states to join her in the matter, and I hope they may do so. I am in favor of peace on almost any terms that we can live at, if I could be at home with you and the children and go where and when I pleased, and not have to answer to roll call nor be subjected to any man orders, that would be peace to me, joy and happiness. I could appreciate it more fully than ever before I think, I am certain that I never did want to be at home so bad as I do now, nor I never was half so bad out with this war as I am at this time.
The Yankees are advancing on Augusta in the direction of Charleston City, I think we will have to fall back from here in a day or two, there is nothing to hinder them from going to Augusta and Charleston whenever they choose to do so, and I think they are on the march for those places now.
Eliza, I want to see you and the children very bad, kiss them for me and tell them that I want to see them, tell them to be good children. Give my best respects to all inquiring friends and tell them to write to me. I have written but have not received a letter from any of them yet, and I want you to write often and let me know how you are getting along. When you write direct to Augusta, GA.
I will close for this time. I remain as ever your affectionate husband til death.
Thos. W. Hendricks,
To E. J. Hendricks.
The demise of Thomas Wayne Hendricks:
To Mrs. Jane Hendricks,
Dear Cousin,
I seat myself this knight to write you a few lines for the first time in life. Jane, I am sorrow to say to you that your dear Companion is killed by the yankees. it is distirbing in my mind, but nothing to yours when you receive this letter. Thomas was killed on the 8th of Feb. 1865, near Johnson Turnout, Burnville District, S. C. He was shot in the head, hit below the eye, and came out at the back part of his head. It was too bad I wasn't there. The Yanks had us cut off nearly two days, and Thomas was killed while I was cut off. The boys said he thought I was killed, but poor Thomas was killed. First the yankees got his horse, and everthing he had. They robbed his pockets and they got about 5 hundred dollars I think out of his pockets. They was ? Lutinant billeted here today. I was in the hardest fight today that I ever have bin in. The bullets flew as thick as hail, I couldn't see anything that saved me, only Providence. We charged in 40 yards of the Yankees Brigade, Nearly, and you may know it was close living. I thought every second would be my time, but I put my trust in God and he spared me a while longer. You can tell Miss Bowerman that Benton Bowerman is captured. I have had bad luck with my Company. I lost Sargeant Stephens, Thomas Hooper, and Benton captured and Thomas Hendricks killed and George Cloudus hit by minnie balls, though they are left in the yankees lines. This was done while i was cut off. They sent Thomas and four others into the Yankee country and they was all killed and captured. The officers were all drunk or Thomas would of lived I know. I think if I had of been there, it wouldn't of took place that way. I haven't got but 11 men in my company at present.
Jane, Thomas was loved by the boys so well, you musn't take it no harder than you can help, for it was God's will that Thomas should be killed. I hope and think that Thomas is in a better world than this.
Well, I must quit as it is getting dark and I am tired. I have been fighting the Yanks all day. We gave their company a whipping today. They think Gordon Murdock is killed or captured; they don't know which.
Well, Jane you can tell Ma that this leaves me in tolerable health, and I hope that it may find you all well. Rite soon, and I will do the same. Excuse poor writing for it is dark. Give my best respects to Uncle Moses and Aunt Martha. I feel sorry for you all.
D. Hendricks
to Mrs. Jane Hendricks.
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