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Letters of Private James H. Lee
43rd Alabama Infantry Volunteers
The following letters were provided by Arthur E. Green of Mobile, Alabama,
author of "Gracie's Pride - the 43rd Alabama Infantry Volunteers" on 8
August 2005.
We are indebted to Private James Henry Lee, Company C, 43rd Alabama Infantry,
from Greene County, Alabama and the providence of fate for his correspondence to
his wife, Joanna Adaline Lee; his father, Ambrose Lee; his mother and sisters.
James Henry Lee was 27 years old when he joined the regiment. The following
excerpts are from the James H. Lee letters, Robert W. Woodruff Library, Special
Collections Department, Emory University. Henry, as he was called by his family,
writes of acquaintances, loneliness, complaints and poor health; and while he
was in the midst of a very strange and interesting situation, repeatedly uses
the phrase that he has nothing strange or interesting to share with his waiting
family back in Union, Alabama. We appreciate the personal thoughts, camp news
and rumors that he did send along. The spelling, capitalization and grammar are
his. I have added punctuation, at a minimum, to clarify meaning.
From the State of Tennessee July 9, 1862, he writes:
Dear Wife,
I this morning seat myself to drop you a few lines in order to
let you know where I [am] and also to inform you that I am still on the land of
the living and in tolerable health. I left Mobile last Monday was a week ago. I
got to my regiment on Saturday evening at Chattanooga, we got orders that
evening to come to this place, we are about fifteen or twenty miles from
Chattanooga now, on the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad between two of the
highest mountains I ever saw, we are down in the valley. ..The mountains are
higher than three of the tallest pines in old alabama. The valley where we are
Stationed is about one hundred and fifty yards wide and Not one bit of air
stering... we are in five miles of the yankees here. They are expecting a fight
here very day... we have good cold water here to drink, it makes my teeth chatter
when I drink any of it. The whole face of the earth is covered here in rocks,
some of them as large as the biggest house in Eutaw [Eutaw, Greene County,
Alabama, near Henry's home] It looks dangerous just to look up at these big
rocks hanging above our heads two or three hundred feet high. I have the head
ache every other day. My head aches so bad now I can Scarcely write. It has been
so ever since I was sick in Mobile. I have never had the Measels yet it looks
like I am never going to take them. I have been amoung them ever since I have
been in the army. There is several of our company got the mumps and Measels at
this time. I am two far from home now ever to be sent back to be barried at home
though it is mu desire to be sent back if I should die away from home. When you
write me direct your letters to Chattanooga tennessee car of J. J. Jolly Capt.,
Co. A. Gracie's Regt. ...
I will tell you about my trip from Mobile to this place. I left
Mobile on Monday evening at four o'clock. We got to Selma at three on Wednesday.
we landed at Montgomery at ten thursday morning. [This early portion of his trip
was likely by river steamer] we lay over there until friday morning eight oclock,
then we taken the cars and come to west point [West Point, Georgia], which is 68
miles. we then changed cars and started for atlanta, we made the trip to atlanta
at 6 oclock which was 80 miles. we then changed cars again and set out for
Chattanooga which is 137 miles. we landed at Chattanooga 4 oclock on Saturday
evening. I found Bill and John Crawford [Pvt. John E. Crawford, Co. C,
form Greene County, Alabama] in tolerable health. The company left behind
John Gosa at Atlanta he has not come to our company yet. [Pvt. J.W. Gosa,
Co. C, died at Gate City Hospital, Atlanta, Ga.] Bud Liles [Pvt. A.F. Lyles,
Co., C?] is very low at this time, I don't think he will ever be well anymore.
Rufus Cockrell, Co. C] is very low two. ...
Little Wm. Lee [Pvt. William C. Lee, Co. C] is very bad off, but he is mending a
little but very little. I have got the worst cold I ever had in my life. I cant
sleep at night for coughing. I do not know how long we will be at this place, if
we should stay here until winter we will all freeze. our cotton clothes will not
do well in this county. we have not drawed any money yet. If we could draw our
money we could buy something that would keep us from freezing. I hant got but
ten cents to save my life in money but I have 7 or 8 stamps and when they give
out I will be compelled to send my letters without paying the postage or stop
writing to you all. I had two dollars of Mobile shin plasters when I left there
but I had to spend them in Montgomery or loose them. None of the Ala. money is
good here. you could not buy your breakfast with a ten dollar bill of Alabama
money. I thought that when I left I would send you some money to help you along
but now it is very uncertain whether is would ever get to you or not if I was
ever to get any to send to you.
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State of Tennessee, July 13, 1862.
Camp Ledbetter.
Dear Father,
...Some of our men shot off their guns this morning at a spot
240 yards and I could take your little rife and beat any of their Enfield
rifles. the best shot was two feet off. only one in four feet of the spot. I
call it very sorry shooting. they was but four balls hit a plank door ten feet
square. half of the balls would hit the ground before they would get halfway to
the target. ... John Gosa took the Measles and taken relapse with them was what
caused his sickness. You must excuse me for not paying for this letter for I
haven't got the money to pay with. ... James H. Lee to A. Lee & family
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Camp Gracie, Jackson County, Alabama, July 25, 1862.
Dear Father,... I have nothing stange or interesting to say to
you at present. we have a bundance of sickness in our regt. there was one man
barried yesterday evening, another this morning, one ire it is thought will die
today. Thomas Cobb [Pvt. Thomas Cobb, Co., C] is very bad at this time with slow
fever. The Dr. says it is very uncertain whether he will ever get well or not.
Our Company is off on picket at this time. I am looking for them to come in all
the time. ...I want you to ask Marshall [Henry's older brother, Marshall Lee] if
he will come and take my place a while and let me come home and see my family. If he will, write to me and I will tell him how to come. If you hant got the
money to bring him here borrow it from some body and I will relace the same. We
will draw our money shortly. It is wrote here to Col. Gracy [Colonel Archibald
Gracie] that the money to pay off his regt. is at Montgomery for him whenever he
calls for it. Tell Marshall that I say I would do as much for him under the same
circumstances. he can bring his clothes and he can take my knapsack and blanket
and mess in the same mess i do. My mess is Phil [possibly Pvt. Phillip
Jennings, Co C, of Union], John Crawford, Tho. Coalson [Thomas Colson],
Ed Story, B.F. Snell and Charlie Upchurch all very clever
fellows. Tell him to be show and come for I want to see my family the worst in
the world especially my boy. ...I am about 25 miles from Chattanooga in Alabama
rite on the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad. Most of the sickness that is
here is the Measels. The Dr. says when they get through with this complaint they
will all be healthy. The sickly season is over here in this country now.
The settlers say we will have no more warm weather to hurt us this season. ...So
farewell for this time hope soon to hear from you. James H. Lee to A. Lee and
family.
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State of Georgia, August 13, 1862. [Hospital at Dalton, Georgia]
I have got Some good news to write to you this morning. I was up
a the place where we go to eat our little Snack and the first thing I know up
come Pa riding in his little wagon. you may depend I was glad to see him. I feel
a heap better Since he come. it made me feel glad to see him but I would have
felt better if Marshal had been with him to take my place for a while and let me
come home and see you all. ...I remain your husband until death. I hope I will
live to see you again. Kiss little Mary for me and the baby two. give my love to
all the family and to all inquiring friends and receive a large portion to your
self. So farewell for this time but not forever I hope. James H. Lee to Joanna
A. Lee.
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Dalton, Ga., August 28, 1862 [in hospital]
Dear Wife,
...There has been two men died here since I wrote you before,
and there is four or five more that they don't know which one will die first.
They are looking for five hundred more Sick Soldiers to come in this evening.
They have put up twenty six tents for the convalescent Soldiers when them other
sick comes in. We have hard times here now. We don't get anything to eat
Scarcely that is fit for a dog to eat. we get one little piece of tuff bread
made up with water and a little salt and one piece of split bacon twice a day
and at supper we get the same sort of bread and molasses as black as tar and so
strong they take the skin off our tonges. ...I have not heard from my regiment
yet. the last account I had from them they was packed up to go to Kentcuky
guarding the commissary wagons. I have not heard from them since and I don't
calculate on hearing from them any more soon. I am afraid when I get well they
will attach me to some other regiment as there is no chance for me to get to my
own regiment. If that be the case I am going to the 20th alabama regiment if I
have nay choice where I go. ...I weigh one hundred and twenty pounds. ...If you
was to see me you would think I was some old beggar. You also stated that there
was a draft at Eutaw the day after you wrote to me which I was very sorry to
hear for I was thinking I would get Marshal to take my place for a while and let
me come home to see you all but I have lost all hopes of that since I saw the
presidents message. I was sadisfied that all the ages of 35 and 45 would be
taken with the conscript or by draft. There has been a great many conscripts
taken from about here, also a great many has passed up the railroad. I wish this
war would cease so we could all come home to our families, bit I am afraid that
is will last a long time. ...
James H. Lee to J. A. Lee
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Oct. the 18, 1862
...it is reported here that Nashville is evacuated but I do not
credit any such reports. they started three from our ward to there respective
regiments yesterday. they have appointed me ward master now. I have been so busy
that I have not had time to finish your [letter] till now. the Post Sergeon says
he is going to send every man off to his regt. next wednesday that is able to
travail. it is very likely he will send me off among the rest. when I start to
my regt. I will write to you immediately and let you hear from me for the last
time in all probability,...
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Cumberland Gap, December 22, 1862
My dear much beloved Wife. ...We have got us a snug little house
built. I tell you we sleep as warm as a Bug in a rug. When Phil ant on duty he
is always piddling at something. He is makeing us some stools to set on now.
This is the coldest country I ever saw in all my life. I was compelled to spend
fifteen dollars for clothing to keep me from freezing until I can get some
clothes from home. It is reported here that the ladies of Mobile have sent
plenty of clothing for the 43 regt. if that be so I will draw some clothing
here...
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[Cumberland Gap] December 25, 1862.
Dear Wife,
...I am still on detached service. I have been on detached
service since I have been here, bit I am idle to day. My boss told me that I
might have to day to rest. This is the dullest Christmas I have ever seen in all
my life. It is here like any other day. Phil just came in off a picket. we had
quite a alarm here last night at 12 oclock. They beat the long roll and had us
up and out in the cold about 2 hours. Capt. Jolly [Captain John J. Jolly]
is elected Lieutenant Colonel of our regt. Lt. Gordon [Jesse A. P. Gordon]
is our Captain now. He is a heap better Capt. than Jolly was. I am very well
satisfied with the way the election turned out. ... I have been busy twenty two
days making coffins, house building and repairing old wagons. I have no leisure
time at all scarcely. ... the furloughs are all stopped except on a certificate
of disability from the Surgeon of the regt. There was a man got a furlough out
of our Co. yesterday morning for 40 days. He has been home this is four times
since we come out. Some men can get furloughs but it is only some few ones. The
men here quarrel about it but it is all they can do. ...So Farewell, when this
you see remember me though many miles apart we be. Kiss little Mary for me. I
want to see her the worst in the world. J. H. Lee. [to] J.A. Lee.
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Cumberland Gap, March 23, 1863.
Dear Wife, ...The Regt. is gone over to Kentuck. It left
yesterday morning. We don't know when it will get back. The officers said that
they would be gone about ten days or probably longer. There is a great deal of
sickness in our regt. at this time and a great many dieing. ...Thomas Cobb is
improving slowly. The fever fell into his feet and the Dr. has cut off the toes
of one foot except his big tow and too off the other foot. I am afraid that he
will loose all his toes off one foot. ...Dr. Smith is Sergeon of our regt.
now. [Dr. John James Alexander Smith was a neighbor of Henry Lee in
Greene County, Alabama] I heard that Marshal was comming and we turned in
and built another house. I and Phil and Tom Coulson is all that is in our
mess now. I tell you we live fine. We are not crowded like we was through the
winter. ...
J. H. Lee to J. A. Lee
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Camp 43rd Regt. near Chattanooga Oct. [?] 12, 1863
Dear Wife, ...There is general orders here now to furlough men.
there has been one of our men furloughed & another application started up
yesterday. It will come my time some time if ever but there is several comes
before mine. the order is to furlough all men that has never had a furlough
since they left home. I want you to send me the jacket that I wore the spring
before I left home by the first one that passes. I want you to bake me a cake &
send to me. I reckon you have got something to make a cake out of. ...Tell Pa to
send me a small piece of sand paper in the next letter you send me. There is so
much rain that our old guns rust so bad we can't keep them clean, but when I get
some sand paper I can bring the rust off in a hurry. The piece of your dress you
sent is real pretty. ...there is no news here of any interest. they are
cannoning more or less every day but very little damage done on either side. I
tell you they are trying to starve us out now. we haven't had a mouthful of meat
in three days. the commissaries say that we are not going to draw any more meat
of any kind, but if we do not draw any meat in ten days the men say they are
going home any how. ...Our regt. will go out on picket to morrow but I will be
on camp guard, so I will get out out of it this time.
...Jas. H. Lee to J. A. Lee
[Private Lee finally received his furlough as we learn from his
following letters]
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Coffins [Chaffin's] Farm, Va. May 28, 1864
Dear Wife, ...Some think that we will remain here for some time.
The troops that are relieved here have been stationed here since last August. I
hope we are stationed here for the war. I have been detailed off from the
regt. ever since I got back. I am doing work for Maj. Hood our quartermaster.
my work is repairing wagons... The boys that are on duty every other day whether
on picket or lying in the intrenchments but when they are off of duty they have
good day houses to get in out of the weather. The boys that are here are all
well but there is but few of the company here now, in fact there is but few of
the regiment here. there is but few of our officers here now. there is a great
many of them wounded in the hospital will not able to be with the command for
some time...
James H. Lee to Joanna A. Lee
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Camp 43rd Ala. Regt. near Petersburg, Va. July 24, 1864.
Dear Wife, ...It is reported that Gen. Hood had a fight down in
Ga. & completely routed the enemy, [General Hood and the Confederate Army of
Tennessee suffered a defeat at the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864.] killed
three Generals & captured three & a number of prisoners & 26 pieces of
artillery. as for the news about this place there is nothing uncommon. both
parties are firing away with mortar cannon & field pieces & small arms but very
little damage done on our side. though there is a continual fire kept up all the
boys from our neighborhood are in tolerable health, or was when I saw them last,
which was wednesday morning last. I am now detailed off from my regiment
perminately. I now belong to the first engineer regiment (or Sappers & Miners
Corps) the same detail that I was telling you about when I was there. I am very
well pleased with my position so far. I have been here only one week. the regt.
hasnt organized yet.
...James H. Lee Joanna A. Lee
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[James Henry Lee's final last and final letter is written only
three days before he is captured at the Battle of the Crater, July 30, 1864, at
Petersburg, Virginia. He will die a prisoner at Point Lookout, Maryland, in less
than 30 days, on August 23, 1864.]
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Petersburg, Virginia
July 27, 1864
Dear Wife, I this morning seat myself to finish my letter. This
letter leaves me in tolerable health only I have had the diarrohea for several
days but I still keep up & do my duty which is to work half of every night. it
is some better that living in the ditches all the time. I hope this letter may
reach you in due time & find you all enjoying the best of health. I have no news
of importance to write to you today. The papers give & account yesterday of some
hard fighting being done down in Ga. The papers stated that the yankees was
throwing shells into Atlanta occasionally. The paper also stated the yanks had
taken wetumkia [Wetumpka, Alabama] & was on their way to Montgomery [Alabama].
If such is the case there will be something done some way before a great while.
You wanted to know whether them men that robbed me took my pipes or not. they
did not. they was in the sack with Davis & Esles things. you wanted to know if I
brought Capt. Mc's [likely Captain Samuel W. McAiliey of Co. C.] things
through or not. I did not but could have brought them through safe but
every thing that I had got wet. his cakes among the rest & the cakes were about
to mould so I eat them myself rather than let them spoil & do no body any good.
...I am most fearful that this letter will never reach you so I will draw to a
close by -- saying give my love to all the family & to all inquiring friends and
accept the same for you self.
J. H. Lee. to A. Lee.
There is an enigma associated with James Henry Lee's capture and
death. His company muster roll shows that he was captured on July 30, 1864, and
that he was received at Elmira, New York, as a POW on August 12. He is also
shown as a POW who died at Point Lookout, Maryland, on August 23 of inflamed
lungs. His record states that "some prisoner unknown assumed his name and was
transferred to Elmira, N.Y." The name of James H. Lee appears on the monument at
Point Lookout, as having died there.
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