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Youngs Island March the27th 1864
Dear Sister,
This beautiful sunday morning finds me
with pen in hand for the purpose of writing you a few lines in answer to your kind and most welcomed responce of march the 16th which came to hand in due time and found me well and hearty. I was very glad to hear from you and hear that you was all well and I do hope and trust that you all may continue to share Gods good blessing till this horable war ends and ever afterwards be protected by his all power ful arm and through his ritious will. Well Mary I have no news of importance to write from this abominable state more than they are sending South Carolina troops from there own state to Virginia and leaving the Virginians here to protect this state. It seems that they do not want the soldiers to be close to home they are afraid that they will get to go home but there is a time coming though. it may be a long time off when the soldiers hands will be untied and then if they dont remember how they have bin treated they ought to all be killed but I think that they will remember them of war time and reward them for past conduct. You said that if we could stay here and fight for there property we could stand anything in this world but I will tell you that it is not our will to stay here and fight but we cannot help ourselves. It is not worth while for one nor too to say that they will not fight. they would only bring punishment on themselves and do them no good at all but if all would say no and stand up to it they could stop the war but there are some men that had rather be in servis than anywhere elce but it is such men that had nothing to eat at home and no money to spend and was too lazy to work and went half starved and half naked they can get furnished with food and clothing and they have nobody to care for and nobody cares for them and such men is the first to find fault of there fare. Though I think that we all have resin to complain about our fare for the last week. we have bin living on coars corn bread and water and not anough bread and I think we have resin to grumble whether we do it or not. I will tell you what our rations were last week. We drew a tin cupful of corn meal to the man per day and in the place of meal we drew a tin cup of flour per day. you said that they had called out all the men from 17 to 50 years of age I hope that they will call out every man up to a hun dred that voted for secession and has bin extor tioning on the poor people. I want them to come and get a taste of the war that they caused by seceding. They were all at there post at the election and now I would like to seem them at there post to cary out there princible to the end and I think by the time they serve as long as I have they will get tired of secession and it is right where they ought to be and ought to have bin long a go and if they will bring them out it will close the war that much the sooner for nothing will stop this war but a famine and the sooner all the men is called out the sooner it will stop and the side that can hold out will gain the day, that is my opinion about the way this war will end. The most of our learned men thinks or at least says that this year will end the war but I see no more prospects of peace now than I did the day that I left home though I hope that it will end before saturday night or if it was to end before sundown it would be no sooner than I want to see it. You said that you thought it was hard for the poor men to do all the fighting half starved and only get eleven dollars per month and that worth nothing. I think it is hard myself but we cant help ourselves now and we cannot prevent we must cheerfuly bear and keep our thoughts off of the dark side of things and look forward to better times. You said that you got a letter from [Ed?] a few days before you wrote stating that he was well with the exception of his arm. I would be very glad to get a letter from him and find out what he thinks of this war now but I had a [?] rather meet up with him on flat top where we could both be free as the man we would meet.
You said that when I came home I must come to see you which I will do with pleasure but I am a feared that it will be some time before I will get to come home to see any body at all as I have not reinlisted and the reinlisted men is all that is going home now and I dont expect that any others will get to go before next fall but I am going to stick them out a bout reinlisting and when all the men that has reinlisted gets home and they dont let me go I will quit them then. I have got twelve months to serve that I feel bound for and I think that that is long anough to be bound for at on time and during that time if I [?] to reinlist I will do so and if not I will not that is one thing that I can [?] my own pleasure a bout and I intend to have my own time about it. I would have reinlisted long ago but they seem to want to drive the men into it and I don't like to be driven so well. Well I will close my short and uninteresting letter by asking you to write soon and often and let me hear from you and your little family. excuse bad writing and spelling and all mistakes and believe me as ever your true friend and brother till death parts us good bye till I hear from you yours truly, H. R. Foster
Mary J. Wills
[next letter]
Camp nere Galesburo NC March 30
Dear and affectionate Wife
I have a opportunity of writing you a few lines and sending them by Draper. an some things I will try to send you my old Jacket if draper will take it. I am as well as usual my arm is no better. I dont know what they will doo with me [?] me here. I recon I will send you a conk shell with him if he will take it. I will right to you what I get Draper to bring in my next letter. I dont know what he will carry for me yet. I hope this will find you all well. I think we will go to Smithsville in a short time. I hope we wont have any fighting this spring or summer, Mary I want you to make all of the corn potatoes and every thing you can to eat for if I get to come home want to eat something. Mary I want you to wright to me every week if you can conveniently for I love to read you letters. It is all the pleasure I see is to read your affectionate letters. You have our children to be a consolation to you and I have nothing. Mary try to doo your part right and pray for the Lord to forgive you off your sins and the war to come to a end and me to return home to you in peace to join you in service to God. I want us to spend the reainder of our days in prayer to save our souls. If I cant come home to you to join you in prayer there I can pray here and I want you to pray at home. The Lord will here our prayers as well as if we was together. O Mary I hope it wont be long before peace will be made and me at home with you to enjoy our selves in the service of the Lord. I must close my love to you my dear affectionate wife as long as I live C A Wills kiss the children for me Mary J Wills
[next letter] Camp nere Tarbon April 4th 1864
Dear and Affectionate Wife,
I [?] myself this morning to wright you a few lines, this leaves me as well as usual hoping it may find you all well. Mary I havent received a letter from you since I left Wilmington. I received a letter there and sent it to you by Draper a case knife and my gloves one letter for S.J. one for Jinny Daugherty. Mary you wrote to Draper to know of me and said in that letter you hadent had a letter from me in two weeks. I thinl I have wrote to you every week and some twice. I want you to stop every bodys taking your letters out of the office. Go an send to the office and tell [kelly?] to not let Farmer have a letter directed to you. Some one is misplacing my letters that I send to you. You stop his taking them out of the office. He cant be trusted in any thing elce and we ought not to trust him in toting a letter. Well Mary we left Godlsboro the 1st day of this month, and marched to this place. We had the water to wade and was in a very hard shower of rane. The night we camped before we could pitch any tents. I got ringing wet. Mary George is here he is complaining, my arm is no better than it was I him is going to try to make the trip if we can, I shal want Par [?] to come and get my money when I draw it and take my blanket home. I will wright to you as son as I draw my money so they can come and get my things. I think we will go to Pensylvany this spring. I want George to stay with me if he can possibly stand it. We can make the marches better I think. Well Mary I went to the Doct night before last and asked him for a peace of alum to go on my sore feet. he asked me what was the matter I showed him my blisterd heels and toes he gave me the allum and asked me to come the next morning. I never went. I went to him last night after some more allum and I told him he wanted me to come to him in the morning but I thought I could make the trip. He told me it was the best to go if I could. I have very sore feet but [?] is nothing for a soldier I took off one of my toe nales in the clear night before last and some more newley off. if I was at home it would be remarkable thing to loose nales by walking. I dont thinkwe will stay here long. I think we will go to Suffolk and then to Richmon. Me and George will way something of each other when we wright home and you can here from me some how. Well Mary I want you to wright to me as often as you can and I want you to plant all you can to eat. Mary look to the Lord for help and forgive you of your sins. I will go to a [house?] here and try to get some melon seed to send in this letter. Mary I hope the war will end soon so we can all come home that wants to come and them that dont want peace I dont care if they have to stay here always. I must close I remain your true husband until death C.A. Wills
Mary J. Wills
[next letter - fragment? page breaks not accurate, original doc is wider than transcription window]
in we went around on the opposite side from where we were next to the river and lay down the shell and musket balls was whisling again & we went on between the town and the fort. Then we lay down again. Our artilry was came up to shoot down the walls of the fort so our men could get in. They had a deep ditch around the fort and [stobs?] drove in the ditch slanting towards us and sharpened to keep us from going in and had gates that we couldint enter but our sharpshooters cept picking them off of the breast works so they codent fire there canon at our artilry. We battled them some and gunboat was shooting over us all the while while we was marching to that point. The gunboat would fire we would fall flat on the ground till the ball grape canister or shell would go over us. One of our men was struck but dident enter. Joseph Loyd says he was struck. We lay on the ground till day. That was too nights we lay on the battle field, it was monday evening we come here tuesday about light. We went back on the west side of the fort and lay down. The fort surrenderd nere midnight. before we went on the west side we lay there all that day and night. Just before night and irishman was hit. I herd the whistle and hit him. The balls was passing nere all the time, the Irish man was in a man or so of me. Wednesday morning before day we went on scirmush. I was next to the outside man on the right. General Ransoms brigade charged the fortifications around the town. We lay till the yankys began to break out and run off. We saw them and [is?] made after them and some of my Co shot at them. They kept on we got to a canal the men left there bagage with me at a old yanky piquit post and went after them. At 20 minutes after ten in the morning I was standing by a large hickory. I saw the Stars and strips come down. The yanky was distracked & the wost I ever saw. They ran out on the right of the town and some of them started to go off then come back. Mary you know I was glad to see the flag come down. Our men hunted around and got all the [?] overs they could and negro soldiers. You [augt?] seen Col Terry ride in town. I was on guard of the bagage and dident go in town. Our men went in got clothing calico shoes boots sugar molases alls orts of meets sweet cakes hats caps coffy and the best toboco I most ever put in my mouth. They got everything like we use to get in stores and things I never saw before but I tell you the yankeys fights . Some says we took 2800 prisoners. This is paper out of a blank book. The [setisan?] went in got dishes glasses pitchers books of all sorts. I got a testiment [most?] the men had hams of the finest sort. Well Mary dont be uneasy about me the Lord has saved me and thought [?] to let me live. I escpect you ar uneasy about me I have as much as I want to [?]. [Do ish?] asked me this morning how my arm was, I don't think they will put me in any more fights. I hope they wont. You must wright to me I must close may the Lord be with us, pray ernestly, I remain your true and affectionate husband until death
Charles A. Wills Mary J. Wills
[next letter] Camp ner Plimoth April 22nd 1864 Dear affectionate wife Wife it is with the greatest pleasure that I am aforded the oportunity of writing you a few lines this leaves me in as good health as usual tho I have no more use of my arm than I had when you saw me last. Well Mary I have bin in a good big fight. The canon balls shell and grape canister & musket balls whistled around me. I tell you I felt very bad but thank God I am yet spard to wright to you. We got down here last Sonday & just before night our artilry opened on the fort. The upper one and the next day evening we left that fort and went to the fort next to town. Got there nere dark we formed a line of battle again and the N Carolinans was charging the fort. Then the canon and musket was dooing all they cood and the balls was whisling. We lay down for a while it was (April 8th 1862) dark by this time. I saw men going off from the fort in (1862) gangs wounded and men toting others off some lying on the grass and dead and dying. Them that was nere the fort was cheering and fighting. They got to the fort and found they couldent get in the fort they had to fall back and they placed out sharp shooters to shoot them that [next line cut off]
[Wills writes some lines on register of men] Mary this is the yankey Discriptive roll this is names age hight inches complaion eyes hair town or country where born occupation This is a yankey Descriptive roll, Mary the yankey General some one on horse back with our officers in the cavelry seemed to injoy himself very well he is a small man I wish I could get some of my things home now for I carry them much longer the weather will be too hot. I am looking for the male. I haven had a letter since I wrote to you me and murrell Mary as soon as I am paid off I will try to have my likeness taken and send it to you kiss the children for me and tell them to kiss you for me every thing is quiet here now.
[fragment] I have plenty of paper and envelopes I want to know who is staying with you every time you wright. Wright what the boys is dooing what [?] is up to Mary if Par comes or Alen [?] you tell them to bring me some croton oil secretly. I want to here form your Father uncle James Will & family and all of the neighbours is
Well Mary must close we have orders to carry all of our bagage to the wagon that we cant carry. I am in hopes we will go to Tarboro where our other bagage is. Mary look to the Lord and he will bless us. O that the war would end so I could come home to see you I shall continue to pray. I want you to doo the same I hope god will bless us and send me home to you soon. I remain your true true and loveing husband until death Charles A. Wills
Mary J. Wills
[?]
[next letter]
Camp N C nere Plymoth on Roanoke River April 24 1864 Dear Wife I am thankfull of the opportunity to wright you a few more lines this morning by the great mercies of God I am yet spard yet to wrigt to you and I hope he will continue his blessings to us. I am as well as usual as to health my arm is the same. I received a letter from you yesterday. I was glad to here from you and here you was well and the children. I will answer your letter here, your letter is dated the 13th of this month. Mary don't fret at the way the officers [?] men for they will have to give an account of there deeds. I will try to doo the best I can for myself and take the best care of myself I can. Mary dont be uneasy about me more than [?] cant help, for I will doo the best I can for myself and I want to come home very bad and would if I could. I want to see you and the children so bad and I hope it wont belong till I can come home to stay with you the remainder of my days and spend them in umble prayer to God. Mary what [?] did you mean was with you, Mary I want you to tell old [Ned Thanton?] if he dont do what is right when I come home I will settle with him. You must have your provisions or I will come home the first chance I get. If they keep me in the guard house twelve months. I am very glad to here our boys look well as for the wheat if it looks bad now it may come out & be good yet. Well Mary I will try to give some description of our fight down here at PLimoth. We got here last sunday and went in a line of battle. Our artilry commenced firing on the [?] fort they returned the fire. They kept up the fire that day right over us as we was between our artilry and the fort. There was a house nere us the yankey fired several shot through the house. Wounded [?] in his back [?] Robertson in the arm and in the mouth. At that fort McMin is the worst off we stayed there till monday evening then we went to fort Jackson. We charged the fort in the night or the [Hokes Brigade?] charged the fort. WE was cept for rezerve and the hoks men codent get in the fort and had to fall back. We then was ordered on from where we was we went through a shower of shells grape canister and minea balls and went from where we was to the left side of the fort and lay down again. The yankee gun boat had fare play on us there but never hit a man but ther shot whistled close over our heads. We then was orderd on our feet again and went half way around the fort. When we was going on we could see the canon fire. We would fall to the ground and when the shot would pass we would rise and go again. We went on and lay down between the fort and the town. As we went our sharpshooters was holering at the yankeys and telling them to surrender and loading for life and shooting at them to keep them from loading there canon to fire on us. We lay on the ground all night nere midnight the fort surrendered. About day we was ordered up and went back behind a [bank?] from the town we lay there till tuesday morning. We then about light went on skirmish nere the town. That day before we left nere morning there was an Irish man wounded. I herd the ball whitle and hit him. He was in a man or so from me We lay there in sight of town till we saw some of the yankey and negroes come over the fort to make there escape. We rose from the ground and run after them. They went into a swamp. The men left there baggage with me to guard and they went on after them. I staid there till nere night before they come to me again then I come here to this camp. I havent bin in town yet to plunder, the men brought some of a most everything from the town. All sorts of books I got a very nice little testament with a clasp to facen it with. I asked a [siterson? citizen?] for it who had a sack of plates pitchers dishes and glass tumblers and other things.
[sketch map of the battle of Plimouth]
[next letter] On a march April 29 1864
Dear and affectionate Wife
I seat myself this beautiful evening to write you a few lines. Mary I am so thankful to God that I am yet spard and have the oportunity of writing to you again, this leaves me in usual health. I trust to God it may find you and the children and them that is with you well. Mary I received a letter from you day before yesterday. I was so glad to here from you and here you was all well. I was sorry to here Shollott was complaining. The letter was dated the 17 of this month. Mary you wrote you wanted to see me come home. O that I could get home and peace would be made. I went to here on of the 7 Regt preach last night. He preached to soot me if what he preached was carred out by all. If the opeole would doo as he says there would be no more fighting. he says we must love our enemeys and pray for them and if we ar smitten smite not again. He said we aught to be thankful that it was as well with us as it was. I am thankful I know for being spard for there was dainger in such work. WEll I will try to answer your letter. Mary wou wrote that you dident know what folks was to doo for something to eat. Neither doo I tho by this time next year I dont think there will be more than of the men to feed that is now if they keep fighting. I am sorry you havent drew your provision yet. The meb who protend to attenbd to mens wives will carry sore heads when the men comes home and gets there freedom. Mary I have no napsack. I have a large haversack which I put my close in and as soon as I draw my money I want some one to come and get my money and my close that I can spar. I havent bin paid anything since Capt West paid me in Richmond at the hospitle. Mary you said if I came home what a happy time it would be. I hope to injoy that time. Lord send the time soon i pray O to come home to you and my dear little children and for us to get down on our knees and thank God for the blessings which has bin bestowed on us but if we at the present time cant kneel in the present of each other we can kneel in the present of God and I am thankful to him and to you that you join me in prayer. Mary pray that peace may be in a short time. I may come home and pray for him to pardon your sins. I want us to meet in heaven where there will be no more sorrow. Mary you wrote you had something to tell me when I come home that you wont tell any one elce. I would like to know what it is. If there is no harm in it wright it to me hint me with it on a small peace of paper. Is it about [tod and bill Tinch?] or who? You must let me know some how if you can and if it is too much for you dont wright it. Mary I was very glad to here from the boys and here they was all well. I wish to be rememberd by them. I think we will go out that way before long. I believe I had as soon be there as here we ar going to fight this year very hard becaus we are nerly [min aground?] for something to eat. Mary I hope bob can stay at home the balance of the war. Mary I hope the fruit wont be killed. I hope you will have plenty of fruit. Tell me whether it is killed or not. Mary I am glad that Jimmy or you father is going to plow and plant your corn. Mary I know you want me at home and I want to be there. I am glad you think you have a good husband. I know I have a good and loveing wife one that loves me. I have no doubt of it, Mary we have had trials enough to love each other well. Mary I must close by asking to you pray if we fall lets fall in prayer and strive to enter in at the strate gate. Let us not strive to gain the whole world and loose our souls. I want peace with God and man. I have to contend with enimys. I try to forgive them the best I can God being my helper. Mary less try to doo better every day we live if we doo any thing through the day that we dont think is right at night less try to get forgiveness for it and the next day try to doo better. If we become Christians we must wean our selves from sin, give my love to your Father Mother and the family Jim Ann and family Par Mother and family. Kiss the children for me and tell them to kiss you for me. My love to you and the children as long as I live. Give Shollotte my love I remain your true affectionate husband until death
Charles A Wills
Mary J. Wills
