Blind Pig & The Acorn

Civil War Letters 13

 
Time to check in with our Civil War Soldier W.C. Penland.

                                                July 19th 1863

                       Sweet Water Monroe Co.  E  Tenn

Dear Father and Mother    I now set myself to write you a few lines in answer to your letter which came to hand some time ago   but there has been a good deal of passing lately but they always started with so little warning that I did not have time to write   I can say to you that I am well at this time and have been ever since I wrote to you   There is a good deal of sickness at this time   John Sherman, S. V. Ledford, Eli W. Lewis, J. P. Cherry are all gone to the hospital at Louden   Andy Carson, J. M. Ownby and H. P. Ownby are all sick besides several others to tedious to mention   Mark Auberry that was left in Kentucky sick came to camp yesterday morning   the Yankees took him and parolle him   he started home yesterday with A. L. McConnell    there has been a talk of several of our men a getting to go home soon but I do not know whether they will get off or not   there is a fine crop of wheat in Tennessee this year   the citizens says that there is the best looking prospect for corn that there has been for some years   my horse is a mending some now   I will send him home the first chance that I have   the boys that went yesterday took some horses and could not take any more or I would have sent him by them   my mare looks very well at this time   there is several of our company at Wattsburgh on picket and have been ever since we come from Kentucky   Lieutenant Virgil Barnard & R. V. Alexander are there with about 16 men   we are a looking for Samuel H. Allison to come into camp now every day   he has been gone a good deal over his time now   I would be very glad to see him come for I think that I will surely get a letter when he comes from home   I am anxious to hear from there now for I have heard that there is a good deal of sickness in that country this Summer   I want you to write to me what has become of A. E. Pendergrass   it is a mistake about Big Jason being shot for deserting he was taken by the Yankees at Wattsburgh by the Yankees   I saw Newton Gibson   he stayed with us night before last a going to his command below Sweetwater   I want you to have me a good pair of Boots made by fall and send them to me for boots can not be had here for less than 50 per pair and I do not expect that they are very hard to get there   but I want them if they can possible be had   I would like for you to come down and see us all and see how we are a coming on and if you can not tell Mr. Sherman or J. H. Penland one or both of them to come   I forgot to state that J. H. Ledford was terrible bad off and has been for several days   I will bring my few lines to a close by saying write soon and often   give my respect to all enquiring   Direct your letters to Sweet Water and as before excuse bad writing and composure   So no more at present but remains your Son as ever

                                        William C. Penland

To H. M. & P. M. Penland

PS   write to me whether you know where Uncle Chamberlain is or not   I have not had a letter from Mr.  E. M. Scroggs now for a long time   he did not answer my last letter   I do not know what is the reason of it   W. C. P.

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Things I noticed in this letter:

• A few new names among the ones he mentioned from home.
• He must have 2 horses-wonder if he's had 2 the whole time?
• He is anxious for word from home-he's worried they may have been sick.
• I would like to have known Big Jason-W.C.'s mentioned him so many times he must have been a character that everyone at home was familiar with.
• The line-Write soon and often tugs at my heart.
• I'm wondering if E. M. Scroggs is from the Scroggs family of Brasstown.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you noticed.

Tipper

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Civil War Letters 12

 
Time to check in with W.C. Penland-our Civil War Soldier from Clay County NC. (to read the rest of the letters-click here)

Camp near Clinton   East Tennessee

May 24th 1863

Dear Father

I now seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well   hoping that these few lines may find you all well   I was out on guard last night   we have had to give up our tents   there has not been any rain since we gave them up   I think it will be a tolerable bad chance   when it rains our mess has just a cloth but I do not know how long we will get to keep it   I have heard the boys a talking that we had to leave our wagons   I do not know whether it is so or not   we are a going to start to Ky. this morning   we have drawn list days rations of provisions and I mean we will certainly start to day   we have not been a getting much to eat since we have been at this place but I am inclined to think that men will be healthyer in camps on tolerable short rations as far as I am concerned   I am doing very well on what we get with a few exceptions   James and Prator and Joseph McClure are at the hospital at Knoxville   there is some few sick but none of them very bad off   you can tell Mr Sherman that John is well and hearty at this time   M A Martin is also well and R V Alexander and L C Harper are also well at this    A M Cook is well also & James Wood Crawford   we have been a pasturing our horses now for some days & feed a little on corn   old Rubin Leatherwood's mare is gone and has been ever since yesterday   I do not know what has become of her I would not be surprised if she was stolen for this is a bad place here for such as that   we are ordered to Monticillo KY   it is between one hundred and one hundred and twenty five miles from this place   I expect that it is a tolerable scarce country of anything to eat and feed upon   I have not heard from uncle Chamberlain since I wrote to you   the three Ledford boys are in jail at Knoxville and I expect it will be a good while before he gets out of there   I would not be surprised if they was to shoot Big Jason   His trial has not come up yet   I recon A E Pendergrass is home before this time   I would advise him to come to camp himself as soon as possible   I think that is will go easier than if he has to be gone after   If they do have to go after him this time he will be apt to be brought in strings and it will be apt to go hard with him   we belong to Pegrams Brigade and he and Moore are both in K.Y. at this time   We are to join them   Col Fains Regt is at this place now   I do not know whether they will go with us or not   Riley McConnell has the worst arm that I ever saw in my life   it was lansed by vacination   all of the rest of our company are well of the vacination   I do not know how long we will stay in Kentucky   I want you to continue to write to Knoxville and there will be a chance for us to get them through by couriers going through   write soon   give my respects to all of the friends   and if I have any time to write I will write to you  

I will close

Wm C Penland

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My thoughts or I should say my questions:

• WC seems more worried in this letter-is it because things have gotten harder for him-or since the letter is addressed to his Father maybe he isn't trying to make it sound better for his Mother?
• I'm guessing the Ledford boys and A E Pendergrass ran off from their duty?
• I want to know what the vaccination was for and if Riley's arm got better?
• I wonder if all the initial names-are initials or actual names? I know several older men here that have initial names-but the initials don't stand for anything-the letters are their actual names.

Hope you'll leave me a comment with your thoughts.

Tipper

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Civil War Letters 11

 

When we last checked in with W.C. Penland he was writing home about buying a fur hat, some land, and the coat he still needed. (if you want to read the other civil war letters click here)

Since the last letter, Mike McLain sent me a photo (above) of Patience Mahalia Moore Penland and her husband, Harvey Monroe Penland. They were the parents of W.C. Penland and Mike's great-grandmother, Luola Penland Patton. After reading all the letters W.C. sent home, isn't it fascinating to see who he was writing to?

W.C. wrote today's letter on May 5, 1863.

Camp near

Blontville    Sulivan   Co

East Tennessee    May 5th 1863

                                      Dear father & Mother

I now seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well hoping that this may come safe to hand and find you and all the family well   the last account that I had from Uncle Chamberlain he was very sick   I allowed to get a permit to day and go to see him but there was no chance to get a permit to day for there come orders to this place this morning for us to be in readiness to move to Knoxville in the morning at eight o'clock   I have not heard from Uncle Chamberlain now for two or three days   I would have went up there before now but our company has been out on picket below here   all of Loves Regt but one company has left Zollicoffer last night  Henrys company went with the Regt   all of Walkers Regt left but one company also stayed to guard the Bridge    I expect there is a fight expected down below some where   I sent you a pack of envelopes by Thomas Setser  He said if he did not see you that he would leave them at Fort Hembree   C M Anderson and Thomas Setser went to take the remains of Lieut Anderson   he died on the 28th of April   He was a good officer and a noble Soldier   he was well thought of by all of the men in this company   he died and said that he was willing to die   he had a tolerable long spell of sickness   his death was much lamented by all who knew him   W H Coleman is very unwell yet   he is still at the home of one of his uncles   M A Martin is in good health now   R V Alexander is also well and John Sherman and all of the boys that you are acquainted with but A M Cook   I got my coat that you sent to me I like it tolerable well   it not quite long enough in the skirt   Mr Bristol got with J N  Ownsby at Knoxville and he brought it to me   you wrote to me to know whether I wanted any other clothes as I want one pair of pants and I also want you to get some fur if you can and have Daniel Woods to make me as good a hat as he can make   I do not like to wear a cap and a common cotton hat is worth $20 in this country and I do not like to give this sort of price   my horse is a goodeal reduced on account of getting such short rations for him but he is shed of and in good spirits   I have been offered $350.00 for him but I would not take   I thought that I could not get a horse that would suit me any better   We get a plenty to eat our selves such as it is and that is corn meal with Brand in it and bacon and some of the time we sugar and rice and peas

so no more at present but remains your son as ever

                        William C Penland

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I found this letter very interesting. My thoughts:

• He mentions several companies have left the area-and his is scheduled to as well-then he goes on to say he expects there is a fight coming. I imagine W.C. along with the other soldiers would have been nervous about what was to come in the next few days.
• He tells his parents Thomas Setser may leave the envelopes he's sending at Fort Hembree. Fort Hembree was in Hayesville, NC. The fort was founded in 1837 and was one of the forts used in removing the Cherokees from western NC.
• He mentions W H Coleman. Pap's Grandmother was a Coleman-makes me wonder if W H was one of her ancestors-and mine too.
• He finally got the coat!!
• $350.00 dollars for the horse seems extremely high for those days. But I suppose horses were in short supply and high demand.
• I wonder what Brand is that they put in their cornmeal?
• This part: and some of the time we sugar and rice and peas makes me wonder if he mixed sugar with his rice. Have you ever seen anyone do that? Both mine and The Deer Hunter's family have been known to mix sugar and butter with their rice. When I was little I loved sugar, butter, and rice mixed together-really who wouldn't?

Hope you'll leave me a comment with your thoughts about the letter.

Tipper

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Civil War Letters 10

 

When we last checked in with W.C. Penland it was March 23 1863. He wrote today's letter almost exactly a month later. (if you want to read the other civil war letters click here)

                                                       Apr 22, 1863

April the 22nd

I feel better this morning than I did yesterday   M A Martin is in very good health   Cousin Robert Alexander and the two Crawford are both well   we will not stay at this place long   I will send you one hundred dollars by Liut Cunningham   I would have had more to have sent but I have been loaning some money   I have lent one hundred and twenty five dollars   Mother I want you to send me that coat or the cloth   I do not know when you will have another chance to send it   I also want a pair of pants   That I believe is all that I want at the present   I have heard that Daniel Woods has got to making hats I want you to have me a hat made and send it to me   I want it to be made out of fur if it can possibly be got   tell him to do his best on it but not to make it too powerful heavy ha   I want you to write to me whether Big Jason Ledfords land is worth Seven hundred dollars or not   He told me that he would take that for it if I would give    I want you to write to me as soon as this comes to hand and tell me whether it is worth that money or not   I will send you some envelopes also I would sent you more but I have not got them at the present   I must bring my letter to a close   I have said enough with it was better

so no more at present but remains your affectionate son as ever

                                                 W C Penland

A few things about this letter that make me wonder:

• WC didn't write the address of where he is at the top of this letter like he did on the others.
• He's ask for the coat or cloth in several letters-why hasn't he got it yet?
• Martin and Ledford are still common names in Clay County-how many of the present day Martins and Ledfords are related to M A and Big Jason?
• Seems like he has a lot of money-for that time period of history-he has enough to send home and enough to loan out.
• How many acres would $700 buy?
• My favorite part of the letter- I have heard that Daniel Woods has got to making hats I want you to have me a hat made and send it to me   I want it to be made out of fur if it can possibly be got   tell him to do his best on it but not to make it too powerful heavy ha  

 Hope you'll leave me a comment with your thoughts about the letter.

Tipper

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Civil War Letters 9

 

It's been way too long since we checked in with Civil War Solider W.C. Penland. (if you missed the first letters click here to read them all)

March 23 (on envelope) 1863

Headquarters 65th N C Regt

Zollicoffer Sulivan County East Tenn

Mr James H Penland

I set myself pen in hand to write you a few lines in answer to your kind letter which came to hand sometime ago   I have not answered it as soon as I would have but we have moved a good deal lately   we are stationed here to guard this bridge   I expect that we will stay here for some time   my health is very good at the present and in fact all of company is in tolerable good   all that were sick are on the mend   the last account we had of Arel Henson he was a getting better   we are not a getting much for our horses to eat since we come to this place   it is a very nice day here today    there has been a great deal of rain here lately   we are not doing much riding lately but are not a feeding much   I would like to be with you and talk with you but I can not do so and I will just rite   I have not had a letter from any of you at home in a month   I do not know whether you have not written or they have been miss placed   I would like to hear from there now   Uncle Wm Moores Company is to be here in a few days so I have heard but I do not know whether it is so or not   we are a looking for the Yankees to make a rade into this part of the country but I do not know whether they will or not   write to me as soon as this comes to hand and give the news in general   give my respects to all of my friends and acquantances and especially to all of the family

so no more at present but remains you affectionate brother ever

                               Wm C Penland

to James H Penland

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This letter was especially interesting to me-because it is written to his brother James instead of to his Mother or Father. As in some of the other letters-we can see his longing to hear from home. I'm positive they wrote him often-I'm betting the letters they sent were lost along the way or as he said "miss placed".

One other thing I thought of concerning W.C.'s writing style. Has anyone else noticed-kids today don't learn to write in cursive? In this area-it's just not required. Chitter and Chatter are in their first year of High School-when they write an essay or something for school-it  often has to be typed-but most of the time they'll also accept a neatly written version-but cursive is not required (a good thing since they never learned to write in cursive). To not teach cursive writing seems so weird to me. I mean if they can't write in cursive how can they read it-it must look like Egyptian Hieroglyphics to them. But I guess if none of the kids across the nation are learning it-being able to read cursive won't be an issue in another decade or so.

What jumped out at you from the letter? Do kids in your area learn to write in cursive?

Tipper

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Civil War Letters 8

Since today is Memorial Day-I thought it fitting that we check back in with W.C. Penland.

March 23 (on envelope) 1863

Headquarters 65th N C Regt

Zollicoffer Sulivan County East Tenn

Dear Mother

I seat myself this pleasant morning to write you a few lines to inform you that I am well    hoping that these few lines will come safe to hand and find you and all of the friends enjoying good health    I have nothing of much interest to write to you    I can say to you that the health of our company is very good at the present time    Uncle Wyly is still here but I do not know how long he will stay here    his health is very good at the present    he looks as well as I ever saw him in my life    James crawford is a mending fast lately    I think that he will soon be able for duty    John Sherman is at Jonesboro to forward commissaries to the Regt    He was well a few days ago    I believe it was day before yesterday that some of our boys were down there    I want you to have me that coat made and send it to me as soon as you can for my coat is nearly worn out and Jeans is so very high in this part of the country that I do not want to pay it    nice gray Jeans is worth ten dollars per pound in Jonesboro    if you can not have it made and have a chance to send the Jeans I can get it made very easy if there is anybody a comming that will bring the Jeans with them whether you have a chance to have it made or not    send it to me for fear you do not have another chance to send it for I do not think that there will be much passing from here now for some time    so no more on that subject    James Crawford got a letter from John Crawford last week he is well    I believe that I have nothing more to write that would interest you    I will bring my few lines to a close so no more at present but remains your affectionate son as ever to his mother

William C Penland 

I noticed he sent this letter to his Mother-the last one was to his Father. 2 other things jumped out at me-his talk of the Jeans-still needing a coat and my favorite part:  so no more at present but remains your affectionate son as ever to his mother

What about you-what caught your eye in this letter? (to read all the other letters click here)

Tipper

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Civil War Letters 7

When we last checked in with W.C. Penland there was sickness in the camp and he was needing a coat. 

Zollicofer Sulivan County  East Tenn

March 18th 1863

Dear Father

I embrace the present opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well    hoping that these few lines will find you and all of the friends well and enjoying the same blessing    we are stationed about one half of a mile from Zollicoffer Bridge    We have to guard there all of the time    I was there a day and night day before yesterday    the health of our company is good at the present    there is no new cases of sickness at the present    James Crawford is on the mend    he is stouter than he as been since he came from home    I think he will get well now soon    he is in better spirits than he has been    the cars have to cross the new Bridge today    I do not know whether they will or not    they have only been three weeks a making the Bridge    I do think that they have made good progress    there has been a good many Yankee prisoners passed up the road since we come here that were taken between Murforsoboro and Nashville Tenn    I got a letter from Aunt Margaret Mantooth a few days ago    she was well when she wrote the letter I also got a letter from Mr. Kenedy    he is well    I think that we will be stationed here for some time now but I do not know how long    I have heard that Capt M N W Moores company is to be here in a few days    I do not know when    We are not getting enough of feed for our horses but I think that we will soon    When they get regulated about transportation on the railroad    we get a plenty to eat ourselves of meat and bread    we are not a drawing any sugar and rice at the present   John Sherman has gone to Jonesboro to forward Commissaries   he is well    we are a looking for some of our men in now ever day   it may be that there will be another detail in there in a few days but I do not know it for certain    I am not in the detail now    it is made out and sent up for approval    I do not know whether it will be approved or not    if it is they will be at home by the first of April    I can inform you that James Mathison has got into camp he came up on the last nights train    he has had a considerable ride on the cars    he went from Atlanta to Chatanooga and then to Knoxville and on here   Big Jason Ledford has stared to go home once lately and met Mc Ledford and he told him about the Cavalry being in that part of the country and he came back    I wrote that Uncle Wyly was gone home    it is a mistake    he started and did not get his papers fixed  right and he had to come back    I do not know whether he will go home or not    I wrote to mother that I wanted her to send me a coat    I still want her to have it made and send it to me the first chance for my coat is worn out

I must   So no more at present but remains your son as ever

W.C. Penland

Direct your letters to Zellicoffer  Sulivan County East Tenn C B 65th N C Regt

There seems to be a lot of confusion thrown into the mix of soldiers arriving and leaving. W.C. sounds like he is in better spirits himself-I bet getting the 2 letters he mentioned caused the improvement.

2 other things I found interesting:

*James Crawford is on the mend I still hear folks talking about someone being on the mend from a bad accident or illnes-neat all these years later the word is still used near WC's home.

*I can inform you that James Mathison has got into camp he came up on the last nights train  he has had a considerable ride on the cars he went from Atlanta to Chatanooga and then to Knoxville and on here I imagine in that day and time-James Mathison would have been amazed over the train ride he took-and with the speed in which he reached his destination as well.

Was there something in this letter that caught your eye?

Tipper

p.s. To read the previous letters click here.

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Civil War Letters 6

(If you dropped by looking for essays written by students at The Learning Center! Click here Appalachian Writers.)

When we last checked in with W.C. Penland he seemed kinda down but still determined to fulfill his duty. He was sick with a bad cold, he spoke of deserters, and a friend who thought the counties of Clay and Macon had forgotten him. 

Today's letter was written just a few days after the last one I shared. (to read all of the letter's click here)

Washington County    East Tenn

March 12, 1863

Dear Mother

I seat myself this morning to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well hoping that these few lines will find you and all of the family well    we come in from the Greasy Cove yesterday to Johnson Depot    there has been a good deal of rain here lately and the waters are very high    we aimed to go to Zollicoffer but we can not get there until the water falls    I was sorry to hear of Uncle Maturnic Moores death but it is a debt we all have to pay    and there gone where there is no more war and distress there    the health of our company is tolerable good at this time    James Crawford is a little better the last time I heard from him    I do think that he ought to have a furlough    but he can not get it all I do not think    it is said that he started to go home which I expect he did    but it was when the small pox was reported to be in camp    he met some of the boys and came back willingly    he had been sick for a long time and was very timid and easy excited    the doctor Moore signed a fourlough but the Colonel would not allow it    Uncle Wyly has resigned his Surgeonship because he and the Colonel could not get along together    he was very well liked by nearly all of the men    I was not in camp when he started   I want you to make me some mixed Jeans    to make me a coat    my coat is worn out and either make me a coat and send it by the first chance or send me the Jeans and I will have it made    I do not care which    if you make it the same fashion as Capt Moores as you can    I do not want any other clothes a the present    I must bring my few lines to a close at present but remain your affectionate son as ever

  William C Penland

Address Zollicoffer East Tenn

65 NC Regt B

Things I noticed in this letter:

• W.C. was feeling better.
• He wrote: "I was sorry to hear of Uncle Maturnic Moores death but it is a debt we all have to pay and there gone where there is no more war and distress there" sounds like he had witnessed enough pain to know death would have it's benefits compared to fighting in the war.
• He used the word Jeans-like cloth. 

Hope you'll leave me a comment with your thoughts about the letter.

Tipper   

p.s. Thanks to all of you who supported the students essays last month-the project made the front page of a local paper. Click here to read the article.

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Civil War Letters 5

It's been a while since we checked in with W.C. Penland. If you need to be refreshed on his previous letters-click on Civil War Letters.

Greasy Cove Tennessee Washington County

March the 2nd 1863

Dear Father

I seat myself to write you a few lines that I am still in the  land of the living   hoping that these lines will find you and all of the family in good health   I am not very well at this time but have been well all of the time until a few days ago   I have the bad cold very bad   I think that I will be well in a few days   we have been doing some very hard scouting   we started one morning last week at two o'clock and walked all day until night over the mountains and did not get anything to eat until between one and two o'clock   some of our boys went to the limestone cave and they got back   and they got two bush whackers   General Jackson is in this part of the country and a part of our men crossed Chucky to go with the general   they are a going to give the mountains about the line a general scouting   they killed one of the bush whackers yesterday   they found three of them at a camp and they started to run and they shouted and they would not and they killed one of them and the others got a way   there is camps nearly anywhere in this country   where there is there is a thicket    Arch Henson met with a bad accident the other day   I believe it was yesterday morning   he was going to get into a canoe   had his gun on a rock and hit the cock on a rock and it went off and hit him in the back   I do not know if it went to his hollow or not   the doctor says that he will get over it    I expect it very uncertain whether he will

March the 3rd

I feel some better this morning but not at all well   Big Jason Ledford and Hezakiah Smith runaway a few days ago   I recon if he went strait on he is at home today   he did not tarry with us long   I think that he just come after his money and not as he aimed to stay   he is a true lover of money   and at least he thinks more of money than he does for his character   we a getting a plenty to eat for ourselves and our horses   my horse is in a little better condition than he was when I wrote you last   our men are very much scattered    Lieut Barnard and about twenty four are here   and there is a detail of fifteen with Lieut Feancher   Lieut Anderson and all of the rest of the sick a way down below Johnson Depot and the last that heard of Lieut Cunningham he was in the Elizabethton area   I do not know here James Crawford is now   He was a getting better   I have not got a letter from home for some time now   the last one I got was from brother James H Penland   I got a letter from Mr E M Scroggs   he is well   he says he thinks that the folks of Macon and Clay have forgot him   I expect that would be glad to hear from you all at home   I do not  know when I can write again for we are all nearly out of paper and we can not get any paper in this part of the country    we can get some by sending to Jonesborough or Greensville   I want you to write me as soon as this comes to hand   I must bring my few lines to a close   give my love and respect to all the children and Mother and grandma and also Mr Sherman   still address to Hanesville Washington County Tenn   tell Uncle Charles and family howdy for me   so no more at present but remain your affectionate son as ever

to H M Penland

                            William C Penland

Reading this letter-makes me sorry he's sick-and sorry he hasn't gotten a letter from home. I'm sure the reason he had not received a letter was the mail system itself.  I imagine in those days, the mail would have been slow and not very dependable. Much different from the 'instant contact' we have with loved ones today.

What jumped out at you from the letter?

Tipper

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Civil War Letters 4

Last weekend we spent the day at the old house that sits beside the TVA Lake. Chatter and Chitter found tons of old plate and bottle shards while searching the shoreline.

Each piece of history they carried back to show me, made me think of W.C. Penland-even though I'm sure most of the pieces aren't from the 1800's and I'm not even sure W.C. ever lived near the big house- but my mind still thought of him.

When we last left W.C. he had witnessed the first fierce fighting of his service. Let's see what he has to say in his next letter home.

Washington County Tenn

Feb 16th 1863

Dear Father and mother

I avail myself of the fineses opportunity to let you know that I am well hoping that these few lines may find you and all of the family & friends enjoying the same blessing (there was a hole in the paper) kind providence    it is raining here today and is warm and pleasent    James Crawford is still very very low but is a little better than he was the last time that I wrote but is not out of danger yet    George Loyd is sick yet and I do not know what is the matter with him    A M Cook has got into camp again and is a gitting right smart better    Capt moore has gone to Knoxville and has been for several days    I think that he will be in tonight    he will come home in a day or two after he comes to camp    cousin Robert Alexander is well and uncle Wyly is also   the health of our Batt is tolerable good at this time    Samuel Justice is sick but is a gitting better    When I heard that you had come to Macon to see me I was very sorrow that I had not have stayed there a few days longer I could have stayed until monday if I had of tried to have done it    We are a gitting a plenty to eat at this time and tolerable plenty for our horses    there will be four or five men that will come with Capt Moore when he comes home but I do not know who they will be   I do handly expect I will get to (hole in paper)    I think I will come about fifth of this month I have been to (hole) today   we have a chaplain now    I hope that he will stay with and not do like the other one that we had    He stayed until he drawed a hundred or two dollars and only preached one sermon but I do not think that the one we have got is a very clever man    his name is Harris    We have had preaching every Sabbath for three or four weeks    as it is a gitting late I will bring my few lines to a close    write soon and give me the news    Address  Jonesborough  Tennessee  65th NC Reg   our battalion has been turned to a Regm

give my respects to all of the friends and relatives

so no more at present    but remains your affection son as ever

   to H. M. Penland

W.C. Penland

2 things jump out at me from this letter-the amount of sickness he talks about-and that his family made a long trip to see him-but didn't get there in time. Can you imagine how they must have felt when they realized they only missed him by a day or so? And how he must have felt to know he almost got to see them?

What jumps out at you?

Tipper

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