The fist letter was written by Private Lawson W. Corpening of "The Burke Tigers", Company E, 16th Regiment North Carolina Troops.
Raleigh June the 17 1861
dear father and mother brothers and sisters, I now seat myself to let you now that I am wel at this time and I hope when thse few lines come to hand they same like blesing. I will say to you that I am very well satisfied now but I would be better satisfied if I was in firginia. now I will say to you that we have elected our head oficers, but they say they dont now when we will leave here but they think we will leave in too weaks, but we want to leave as soon as posibel.
We have station close to the Caldwell ruff and ready boys (1). i see them every day. Monroe powel (2) and W. A. Tuttle (3) fat and sassy and W. A. Tuttle ses that he would be glad to see H.R. Setser (4) and he sed that in her arms he long to sleepe.
I want you tel all of my kin and friends howdy for me. uncle fonzos to rite to me. I will stop writing now but it hand could rite to you if I had time. nothine more but remain your efectionate son until death. L. W. Copening. send your leter the care of Captain Kirsey. (5)
1. "The Caldwell Rough and Ready Boys" was the first company raised in Caldwell County, later becoming Company A of the 22nd Regiment North Carolina Troops.
2. Probably this is Private Thomas M. Powell, who enlisted in the "Rough and Ready Boys" at age 20, April 30, 1862. He was killed at Seven Pines, May 31, 1862.
3. William A. Tuttle enlisted In the "Rough and Ready Boys", age 19, April 30, 1861. He was elected 2nd Lieutenant on April 25, 1863, and was paroled at Appomattox Court House.
4. This probably refers to Harriet Setser, sister of W.E. and Thomas W. Setser
5. Corpening enlisted in *The Burke Tigers" at age 18, May 10, 1861. Hs was present or accounted for until he deserted to the enemy on March 30, 1865. Elijah Kirksey was the first Captain of the "The Burke Tigers".
[editor] "The Hibriten Guards" were almost entirely from Caldwell County, and they enlisted in Lenoir on July 15, 1861. They were named for nearby Hibriten Mountain. On July 31 they left for Raleigh, where they encamped at Camp Carolina, at the Crabtree camp of instruction. From there W.E. Setser wrote home:
Raleigh NC August the 4th 1861
Dear Father I now seat my Self to Rite you a few lines to let you now that i am well at this time and hoping when theas few lines come to hand that they will find you ingoying the Same helth. We have got to Raleigh and ar stationed at Crab tree Creek (1) two miles from Raleigh. i am well satisfied but i wood be beter Satisfied if I was in Rich {illegible; probably "Richmond"}. we have plenty to eat. there is about 1800 Soldiers at Crab tree Creek. there is about 40 yankes at the fair grounds (2). I want you to tell mother houdy for me and all the bois too. tell HR (3) to Rite to me. i dont no when we will leave here but i expect we will leave in about three weeks. we ar stationed clos to the caldwell Ruff and Ready bois. i see them evry day. they ar bad egs. i tell you tell Harriet to tell all the girls howdy for. tell betty (4) to Rite to me for i have not much time to Rite. nothing more at present.
W E Setser (5) to W A Setser
1. The camp was located on the Crabtree Plantation, three miles west of Raleigh.
2. Another camp of instruction was located on the State fair grounds. Who the Yankees were is unknown, unless prisoners of war.
3. Sister Harriet
4. Unidentified
5. W . E. Setser was 17 when he enlisted in "The Hibriten Guards" on Judy 15.
Raleigh N C aug the
Dear father and mother brothers and sisters, i now take the opertunity of droping you a few lines to let you now that i am well at this time and hoping when theas few lines come to hand that they will find you ingoying the Same health. i Received Harriet leter and i was glad to hear that you was all well. i am well and well Satisfied but i wood be beter Satisfied if i was in Missouri. i dont no wether i will come home or not, but i think i will. i Rote you a later and you never Rote back. if you dont Rite to me i will- {illegible} you. i weigh one hundred 40. i want you to tell mother to Rite to me and lum (1) too. i am much of a man. i tell you i want you to Rite to me as Soon as you get this leter. nothing more at present but your affectionate Son until death.
W E Setser to W A Setser
1. Unidentified.
Raleigh N C Aug 25 1861
Der Sir, i seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you now that i am well at this time and hope when thees few lines come to your hand tha will fine you in the Same State of helth. i hant nothing of much importance to write you. that W. E. Setzer and D M Copening (1) is allso well at this time, and most all of the Compney only a few is sick.
we expect to git throne in a rigment this week if the Company stays to gether that long for hit is the sadis fide that i ever seen. and if we wont John Hollwa (2) for a capton and if we dont git him air N. P. Rankens (3) dont dew beter tha is a bout ten of us going to leav and go som wher els. we though we bad a good capton { i. e., Rankin), but be is the worst out now. he wont go out to drill and wont let non go home hardly and sets and looks as Sour as the devil, and tha hant more than too air three men that would fite for him. non like him and if had made that he was so bad bfore i gine this compney, i woden a bin her now. i am very well Sadisfide her if we had a capton that was Som body, and if we git in this rigment hit will bee the twenty Six.
i hav bin in and at meny plases, but this is the god dams plase that i ever Seen. some {illegible}, Som Sings, Som gits drunk, Som curses, Som plays cards and all Sorts of devil ment that white men couda think of. i will tell you wher we air at. we air three miles from town on the railroad that run from Raleigh to richmond, and the cairs {cars} pass ever day too air three times.
tell W C Copning {that} D M Copning is fat and sases. W E Setser is fat and Sases and can beet eny body in camp a playing marvil {marbles?}, and how bad tha wont to com home to see them girls. So nomore at this time. write to mee as soon as you git this if you please.
T W Setser (4)
1. Private D. M. Corpening of Company F, born in Caldwell County and resided in Burke County. Enlisted at age 17, July 15, 1861. Discharged, May 1, 1862. Likely a brother or cousin of Lawson Corpening of the 16th N.C.
2. John B. Holloway enlisted at age 27 on July 15, 1861, and was elected 2nd Lieutenant of Company F. He was defeated for reelection in April, 1862, but was elected 3d Lieutenant in November of the same year and rejoined the company. Killed at Gettysburg, July 1. 1863.
3. Nathaniel P. Rankin, a Guilford County resident, was 32 when elected Captain of Company F in Judy, 1861. He vas promoted Major of the Regiment is March, 1862, but retired a month later due to ill health.
4. Thomas Setser was 21 when he enlisted in Company F on August 9, 1861.
[editor] On August 27, 1861 the 26th Regiment North Carolina Troops was organized at Camp Crabtree, with Zebulon Vance as Colonel and Henry Burgwyn as Lieutenant Colonel. The Regiment left Raleigh on September 2, moving to Morehead City and then Bogue Banks, where the Regimental camp, called "Camp Burgwyn" was established six miles from Fort Macon, probably in the present town of Atlantic Beach. Sometime prior to October 6, a new camp called "Camp Wilkes" was established two miles from Fort Macon.
Bouge Island Carteret County
NC October the 14th 1861.
Dear father, i now take the oppertunity of droping you a few lines to let you now that i am well at this time and hoping when thees few lines come to hand that they will find you ingoying the same state of health. I have nothing of much importance to rite to you. we have move since you left hear up close to fort Macon. we have had no fight yet but expect a fight vy shortly. we have provisions cooked to do us three dais. they say they yankees have landed on Shaelete foot island {Shackleford Banks}. i think we will have a fight in a short {while}. i hard that yon got home safe. their is two companys of yankees on the fur end of this island. (1) the bois ar all aneious for a fight. we think we can whip six thousand yankees. the bois sais they can whip five a peace. i think i can whip six my self. there is two ships in sight now, and is at the lower end of Shaelete foot now. if the yankees want to get thinder and trim {illegible} just let them land hear or at the fort. we will feed them on canon plates and grape and musketry. tele mother and the reste of the bois that i wante for them to protect tenesee {Tennessee} , so i will bring by leter to a close nothing more at present. Rite to me as soon as you get this leter.
W E Setser to W. A. Setser
1. There is no record of any Federal landings on either Bogue or Shackleford Banks at this time.
Camp Burguin Carteret Co
Bogus island Oct the 14th 1861
Der Cozen, i take pleasher to write you a few lines to let you no that i am well at this time and all of the rest of the boyes is well, and i hope when thes few lines com to hand tha will fine you ingoying the same blesing. i hant nothing of much importance to write to you at this time, only i would like to see you all won time more be fore we all went new york. for i can her from up thair that we air all taken prisners, but i rote hit war a ly before i herd, and when you her of us going to new york you may say tha is a meny sand fiddlers hole stop up with the yankees. the yankes is a landing on this island, so tha say. tha is ship in sight ever day, and some times tha is as high five or six in sight at wonst, and we spect a fight ever day.
The yankees firde on a ingland {English} ship won day last week. we dont now whether tha don eny damage or not. we coulda her the cannon roar and ex pect ted a fight. then tha had us to rud up our gun and giv us tenn rounds of cattereds. and you never .seen boyes so iger to git in a fight as we was.
tha had a larm up her in camp last night, and had us to cook a nuf to doo us three day to and fite the yankees that had landed on this island a belo new bern. whitch was a fault but tha was som of Camels Rigment (1) went, but we hant herd what tha don.
tha was a yankees ship got to the shore wher tha was men fishing on this island, and tha taken the yankees ship and all, and then tha giv the ship up to them and let them go. the yankees giv them knife and hand cufs to kitch niggerse for them, and tha was found out and taken up and put in the fort to thump thunder at five sense a clap (2).
We have move from wher we was when you was down her. we have move in a mile and a half of the fort, but i dont now how long we will stop her. Some sais that we will leav her in too weeks, but tha is so meny tales a going that i dont now the truth when i her hit.
I and G T Powell (3) went over to buford {Beaufort} the other day and gorge {George} got tite, and he was the funnis feller i hav ever seen. we have plenty to eat, but not much to drink but som times we git a nuf to git tite.
G. T. Powell and W. W. Cannon (4) is our cooks and tha doo fine. tell Eliza and all the rest howdy for me, and allso howdy your self. So nomore at this time onley remain you Cozin un till dith.
T W Setser W A Setzer
1.The 7th Regiment North Carolina State Troops, under Colonel Reuben Campbell was also stationed on Bogus Banks.
2. The meaning of this colloquialism is unclear.
3. Corporal George Powell enlisted at age 24. July 15, 1861. He died on May 12, 1864 of a gunshot wound, propably suffered at the Wilderness.
4. Wesley W. Cannon enlisted on October 1, 1861 at age 30. He transferred to Co. H, 58th Regiment N.C. Troop. on May 1, 1862.
Bouge island Carteret County NC
{undated}
Dear father and mother, brothers and Sisters, i now take the opertunity of droping you a few lines to let you now that i am well at this time, hoping when thees few lines come to hand that they will find you igoying the Same State of health. i have nothing of much importance to rite to you, only we have 81 prisners. (1) we got them yesteryday. they got Ship Recked night before last about 16 miles up this island. their vesel Run a Shore and broke all to peaces. the yankes go but on land. they had Sixty four horses on bord of their vesel. they all got deownd but twenty four. we got them and lots of other valuble property. the Ship isent worthe any thing, the engine is god. they Said they hand started to hatres {Hatteras} (2), and got washed ashore. the poor felows gave up like courds. we had to double quick about four miles. they said they had no arms but two canons, but i now it is not Sow. they ar from main new hampshir vermont and pensylvany. we ar going to Send them to Raleigh Safe keeping. they said they started from fort Monroe in a fleet of 72 vesels, and they got lost from the Rest. they said they was a going to atack this place yesterd or to day. we bag a hard Storm Ias friday night.
we was ancious for a fight, but they gave up. we ar all well i want you to Rite to me as Soon as you get this leter, for i like to hear from home. i dont think i Shall come home tel my time out. we can only get a Sevn day furlow. tell all of friend howdy for me. i am well satisfed hear. So nothing more at present but your affectional Son.
W E Setser to W A Setser
ther was two negros with them worth a thousand Dollarsapeace
W E Setser to W A S
1. The Federal steamer U.S.S. Union grounded on Bogue Banks about November 3. Companies F, H, and K helped to salvage the wreckage
2. Fort Hatteras had surrender to United States forces in August.
[editor ] In late November the Regiment moved to Carolina City, near Morehead City and established winter quarters at "Camp Vance."
Camp Vance Januar the 12th 1862
Dear Father and Mother, brothers and Sisters, i now seat my Self to Rite you a few lines to let you no that i am well at this time, hoping when theas few lines come to hand that they will find you injoying the Same State of health.
i received yourn and harriet leter the other day and was glad to hear from you, and to hear that you was well. i got that box you sent by John Tuttle (1). i was glad to get them. we have moved in our houses. we have got them finished. i was glad to get in them for i was tired of Staing in tents. we have a good house to Stay in, and plenty to eat, play the fidle and dance and So on.
i think i Shall come home about febuary i wood com Sooner but we received order yesterday for not to furlow no body else tell further orders. they ar expecting a fight at Newbern. they Sent to our Regment for all the extra guns their was. to Regments went to Newbern the other day. their is Seven Steamers thair. i expect that they will have a fight their in a few days.
i will be at home as Soon as i can get a furlow. i cant tell they very time i can come before. it is just as it hapens wether you can get a furlow.
the bois all well. we have had no cold wether hear yet. their was a Ship Recked Close to the fort {Macon}. it was recked the other day. i have nothing of importance to Rit. their has been Sever Storms on the {illegible} this fall.
their was four fish caut the other day between the fort and bofort on the Sound that weighed a thousand lbs a peace. they calde them the black fish. the largest one was 17 feet long, the smallest one was twelve feet long. you Rote to me for to get you Some {illegible} Sheles, but i cant get them unles i go twenty five or thirty miles from hear. i have got Some Small Shells that i will bring home when i come. i will haft Stop Riting for tha keep So much {illegible} no man Rite. Some Singing, Some holering, Some pestering a body. So nothing more at present, but Remains your affectionate Son until Death.
W E Setser
1. Seventeen year old John Tuttle enlisted on July 15, 1861. He was promoted Sergeant in April, 1862, and was killed at Bristoe Station on October 14, 1863.
North Carolina Carterete Co
Campe Vance
January the 13 1862
Dear Cozen, after my best respects to you I can informe you that I am well at this time, and hoping when thees few lines Com to your hand tha may fine you and famly well and ingoying the grates plesher that is a loude for folks to ingoy.
I recive your leter the other day, and was glad to her from you, but hit was a longue time before hit Com. we hav got in our houses donn, and move in them. tha air a range So tha make a fore Squair pen, and all inside is as Cleen and won of the purtes plases that you ever Seen. hit is in a pine grove of longe leaf.
you ought to Com down and See this plase. you and father and uncle daniel Com down and see us, and the Curosity is to be Seen her, and Stay too or three weeks with us. I now you could Com if you would.
we hante had eny fite it, but I cante tell. how Soon we may have won. tha air a mity talk of a fite at new bern. tha is twenty yankee Ship at the mouth of nuce {Neuse} river, and thay Say tha air a going to attack new bern in a few days.(1) tha is seven or eigh thousand of our men at new bern, and more Coming, an if tha doo hav a fite I donte think we will be in hit for this reason: that will leav us to defende the forte. I expect when you her from us a gain you will her of a big fite Some wher a about her, all tho hit may not bee.
tha has another Ship run a Shore between wher the other won was and the forte. Som say hit is a inglish Ship, and som Say hit is a yankee Ship, and So I Cante tell you what hit is. but I hope hit is a yankee Ship.
The {Colonel Vance} has stop given furlows for a while and for my Self and Eli to Com I Cante tell you when we Can git co Com home, but if we Can git a furlow we will Com Som time this winter or Spring Some time to See you all won time more, and if we donte when our time is oute you may look for us then if we air a live.(2) W E Setser, D M Courpen, J A Tuttle, W W Cannon, H C Courtney, G L Powell(3) and all the reste of the boyes is well at this time. tell my folks that I am well. So nomore at this time, onley I wante you to write to mee as Soon as you git this leter, and donte lete hit bee as longue as hit was before. So nomore at this time, only I remain your Cozen until deth.
Thomas W Setser to W A Setser
1. This flotilla was the Burnside expedition, which attacked and captured Roanoke Island prior to the assault on New Bern in mid‑March.
2. "Eli" may refer to W,E, Setser
3. See notes above for Corpening, Tuttle, Canon; and Powell. Henry C. Courtney enlisted on July 15, 1961 at age 18. He was wounded on July 1, 1963 at Gettysburg. He died near Spotsylvania Court Hone on May 15, 1864 of a wound inflicted . either at the Wilderness or Spotsylvania.
[editor ] The Regiment abandoned its newly constructed winter quarters on January 26, 1862 and moved to "Camp Branch", within four miles of New Bern.
North Carolina
Cravan County
Febreuy the 9th 1862
Dear father and Mother, brothers and Sisters, i now take the opertunity of riting you a few lines to let you now that i am well at this time, and hope when theas few lines come to your hand that they will find you injoying the Same State of health.
i received your kind leter dated the 30 and was glad to hear from you. we have moved from Camp Vance up close to Newborn on the Nuse River. we ar working on the river evry day a making brest works and {illegible}. Thers three or four forts on the river.
we had a general review yesterday at Newborn. their was Six Regments their.
you rote to that you wanted to now something about Milus Edmiston (1). you said that he come home a told that we was the worst set of bois he ever saw. the reason he got mad no body woud pay any attention to him. the reason be left so soon is this: we got orders to cook three days rations. we was expecting a fight at Newborn, and be got scard and left. He will get a whiping if be don't mind how be talks, he is the bigest courd is the Southern Confedracy, he never don any think to be put in the gard house, hary cook (2) is as good as Milos. i will stop riting now about the rascal.
you rote that you wanted me to come home about the fifteenth of this month, but we dont get a furlow, but i Shall be at home when my time is. they ar a going to try to get Some regulars out this regment. if they can get four hunder Regulars, they will be at home the first of April. i think perhaps i Shall join the regulars. if i do i will be at home Shortly. (3)
tele Harriet that i received her leter yesterday morning. i will stop riting now. give my beste respects to lum and rom and give and Elizabethe (4) and Albert. we dreu twent two Dollars yesterday, and i will Send you five, i.wood send you more, but i am afraid it wood not get thier. granny and granfather that i am well.
1. unidentified.
2. This was probably Private H.H. Cook of Caldwell County, who enlisted at Camp Burgwyn on October 14, 1961, age 22. His died in Kinston of diesease on May 15, 1862.
3. W. E. is referring to the fact that the 26th N.C. was a volunteer regimant of 12 months service. Prior to the reorganization of the the Army for the war by the Confederate Congress in March, 1862, these men fully expected to be discharged after their term of service. Evidently there was a plan to transfer some of them into the State Troops, or "regulars', which were enlisted for three years.
4. This was probably a sister of W.E. and then or soon thereafter the wife of Thomas Setzer.
[editor ] On March 14, 1862 the 26th North Carolina "saw the elephant" at the Battle of New Bern. The Regiment anchored the Confederate right, but their position was made untenable when a militia force on their left routed from a position in a brickyard. The Regiment suffered several casualties, particularly in Company D and including Major Abner Carmichael killed. The Regiment was able to escape the trap they were in largely through the heroic efforts of Lieuenant Colonel Harry Burgwyn, and retreated to Kinston.
Northe Carolina Lenoir County
March the 21 st 1862
Dear father and mother, brothers and Sisters, i this morning take the oppertunity of riting you a few lines to let you now that i am in the land of the the living yet.
the yankes havent got any of us yet, but come very near it. they have taken ar kild two men out of our company, we lost Some 95 men out of our regment. i wood a bin at home last thursday, but we received order that the fleet was coming up the river, and we coudent get off thursday.
we was orderd to our brest works. we staid their a while and they we was ordered to Croatany six miles from the Brick yard. we staid about one hour and the we was orderd back to our entrench ments. the yankes we a landing above Croatany.
we got back to our entrench ments. their we staid all day and night. Soon a (illegible) morning the enemy was in about a mile of us. we wer ready for them. at 8 o clock the firing comensed, and continud three hour and a half. the Malishia was stationd close to the Brick yard. our regment was on the rite of them. the enemy flanked us on the rail road. they Malishia run and the come rite throuy. they yankes got in thee rear of us and we was bound to retreat. if we could had men that wooda fought their at the Brick yard, we wood a whiped them. we repulsed them two times. their forcus was from twenty to forty thousand, ours from four to five thousand.(1)
we dont no how many men we lost, but some say that we had kild and wonded about two hunderd, and about two thousand of the yankees, but i think we kild more than that. (2)
the enemy dident come a near the rite wing of our regment. the four left companes fierd some twenty rounds. part of our company fierd about ten times. the yankes got evry thing we had ‑ all our clothing. we havent got a thing, only what we have got on. Rom Tuttle (3) is a coming home. i want you to `send me some close and a quilt. i dont no when i will be at home. we stationd at Kingston. we ar expecting a fight evry moment. we ar ready for the blasted thing again. they had some fifty or Sixty gun boats. let them come out from the cost, and we will {illegible} them. they may over pour us, but they cant Scear us.
i will bring my leter to. a close. So no mo, But remains your affectionate son. Rite to me as Soon as you get this lete.
W E Setser to W A Setser
dont no when i shall be at home
1. Burnside actually had 11000 man, while the North Carolina troops numbered 4000. Boatner, Civil War Dictionary.'
2. Federal casuslties were 471, Confederate 578. Ibid.
3. 18 year old Romulus Tuttle enlisted on July 15, 1861. He was Captain of Company F at Gettysburg, but at this time he was 1st Sergeant.
Camp Near Kinston
April the 19 1862
Mr. Setzer
Sir: I can inform you that I am wel at this time, hoping theas few lines may find you wel. I hav nothing to write. we hav not had any fite yet. Eli (1) is well. I, dan, and Powell (2) is also well, and all the rest I belive. Sir, I send you your money by John Ballew (3), which is 50 dollars. do with it as i told you to do. Dan also sends 20 dollars which he wants you to give to father: So no more, as i hav not got time to write any more. write to me Soon.
W W Cannon (4) to W A Setzer
1. 'EH" is probably W. E. Setser.
2. Probably George Powell. Sea note above. "Dan" is unidentified.
3. Unidentified.
4. For Wesley Cannon, see note above
North Carolina Lenoir County
April the 20th 1862
Dear father and Mother, brothers and Sisters. i now take the oppertunity of riting you a few lines to let you now that i am well at this time, and hope when theas few lines come to hand that they will find you injoying the Same State of health.
i have nothing of much importance to rite at this time, only i wood be glad to See you all. i cannot tell when i will be at home. i have reinlisted and drew my bounty.
we ar expecting a fight hear. i have bin on picket and have lust got back. the yankes ar advancing. they ar Some fifteen miles from Newborn.
we have fine weather and have had for the last month. it has bin very hot hear for the las week. i got them boxes from Kinston that day. the Recruits have got heir. Some of them ar well Satisfied and some er not.
We have moved Since you was heir About half a mile. tell mother that my close Suted me very well. tell the bois that i wood like to See them. i will haft to stop Riting now. Rite to me as Soon as you get this leter. So no more at present, But Remains your affectionate Son until death.
W E Setser to W A Setser
North Carolina Lenoir County
April the 20th 1862
Dear Sister,
i now rite you a few lines to let you now that i am well at this time, and hope when these few lines come to hand that they will find you injoying the Same State of health.
i Received your kind leter and was glad to hear from you, and to hear that you was well. you have Rote to me in evry that you have rote me in four ar five months that you have Some thing to tell me. i am very ancious to now what it is. if it is any thing good, I want to now it, and if it is any thing bad, i want to now it. i want you to rite to me as Soon as you get this leter and let me now what it is, for i am always ancious to hear Something. i will Stop riting now. Rite to me evry chance. when this you See, Remember me though many miles apart we may be.
W E Setser to H R Setser
North Carolina Lenoir County
April the 20th 1862
Thomas Setser to Elisabeth Setser
Dear wife,
i now rite .you a few lines to let you now that i am well at this time, and hope theas few lines may find you well. rite to me as Soon as you get this leter, and let me now how you and the children is a giting along. if you nead Any mony rite to mee as Soon as you can, and i will try and Send it to you. i got you a leter rote yesterday, but i dont no whether you can read i ar not. i am well and well Satisfied hear. i have nothing much to rite at this. So no more at present, but remains your affectionate husband until death. hand this to my wife. i will direct my leters to Lenoir all of them.
North Carolina Lenoir County
May the 2nd 1862
Dear father and mother, brothers and Sisters, i now take the oppertunity of riting you a few lines to let you now that i am well at this time, and hope when theas few lines come to hand that they will find you ingoying the Same State of health.
i have nothing of much to rite at this time, only i wood be glad to See you all. i was sorow to hear that you had hurt your Self.
uncle Tom is not well, he has got a bad cold. Neal Crump (1) and Bill Bean (2) has got the measels, the rest of the Bois ar all well, and well Satidfied.
you wanted to no wether their was any chance for me to come home or not. their isent any chance for to come home now. the second Brigade is ordered to york town, and we may be orderd to Some place before long . we have bad Severl pickets fite Since you left hear. our pickets taken three men prisoners yesterday.(3) it is Supposed that the yankes will attack Wilmington in a short time. if they do we will be orderd their.
i got them Boxes to the camp that day, and all the close that was in them. me and uncle Tom and Joseph Winkler and Mat Crump and tom Crump and Neat Crump and Bill Bean and John Kincaid and Elisha Sberill and Cum Tuttle tents together.(4) we have a jolly time to gether. i have Bout me a fiddle, But the worst of it is that i cant play.
i wood have Sent my money home, But i lond Bill Gather forty Dollars the other day. i want you to tell mother to try and rite me a leter, for she has not rote me Since we Ben in Camp. and tele uncle Joseph Corpening to Rite to me, for i havent herd from him Since he was on the island. tele him that i wood be very glad to hear from him. i wood be glad to See them, but you See how it is. it is hard times now, but were a Coming. tele Harriett to Speak a good word to the girls tell i come home. tele grandfather and grandmother that i am well. tell give gran ma mbest respects. i havent herd from her Since i left home. i want you to rite to me as Soon as you get this leter. So no more at present, but remains your affectionate Son until Death.
W E Setser to W A Setser
1. Unidentified.
2. Pvt. William Beam enlisted at age 17 on March 20, 1862. He was wounded in the foot at Gettysburg , and wounded again at Bristoe Station.
3. The area between Confederate Kinston and Federal New Bern was a virtual "no man's land" at this time.
4. Pvt. Joseph Winkler enlisted al age 45, March 20, 1862. He was wounded at Gettysburg. Corp. James Crump enlisted at age 25, March 20, 1862. He was wounded at Bristoe Station in October, 1863, and captured at Burgess' Mill is October, 1864. Pvt. Thomas Crump enlisted at age 20, March 20, 1862. Mortally wounded at Gettysburg. Pvt. John Kincaid enlisted at age 20, March 20, 1862. Wounded and captured at Gettysbury. Pvt. Elisha Sherrill enllisted at age 17, July 15, 1861. Captured at Bristoe Station. Pvt. Columbus Tuttle enlisted at age 16, December 17, 1861, Wounded at Gettysburg, wounded At Bristoe Station, wounded at Wilderness, paroled at Appomattox.