The William C. Nisbet Letters [Archive] - Authentic Campaigner Website & Forums

SCTiger

10-01-2006, 10:40 PM

Private William C. Nisbet was a private in the "Lancaster Tigers", Company I, 17th South Carolina, Evan's (a.k.a the "Tramp") brigade. This Brigade fought in Mississippi, Viriginia and South Carolina, William fought along side my ancestors, Joseph, John, William and Lewis Deas, who were also memebrs of the same company. Most of the letters are addressed to his wife Nancy.

The letters are extracted from the UDC collections, Lancaster UDC, Volume 9 page 200.

Wilmington N. C.
April 21, 1861

I take my seat this morning to write you a few lines, this is a beautiful morning and makes me have a great many thoughts about the past and gone. -Nancy you will have heard before this reaches you that we have left the old Palmetto State. We left Green Pond last Saturday. I landed at Wiilmington Tuesday. We had bad luck on the road, the cars run off the track above Florence and made a complete smash up, but providentially no one was hurt, we had to ride all the way on open cars. It rained on us all day Tuesday and nothing to shelter us but our blankets, it was cold. We are camped in one mile of the city. We have splendid quarters, good houses. How long we will get to stay here I can't say. The balance of our Brigade is gone to Weldon. I hope we will get to stay here, although the Picket duty will be heavy. It may be we won't be here for tonight. Nancy, I had the pleasure of meeting W.E. & John W. Stuart yesterday in the city near the same place I met them twelve months ago. I heard they were in town, I got a pal and went over. They told me you were all well when they left home. Nancy, I received your letter after I got on the cars at Green Pond. I believe it was dated the 11th. I have no news to write you. We are all well. H. H. & Marion and all the boys is well. There was eight of our company that run the Blockade from Florence and went home, all from the lower part of the district. There was 27 went home from Barnwell Dist. They uncoupled the train ten miles above Charleston, the engine left most of the regiment standing on the tract, went two or three miles before they found it out. I must close, if I saw you I could tell a heap I can't write. I hope to see you some time again and to hear from you shortly. Give my respects to Mother, Jane and Mary & Children, and all inquiring friends and receive my love for yourself and children. Diirect to Wilmington.

W. C. Nisbet

P.S. Nancy We have got orders to go to Weldon, Good-bye.

Camp Lee near Charleston, S.C.
January 15, 1862

Dear Cousin

After a long delay I will give you a few items from Camp. By the blessings of kind Providence I am in Good health and have been since I left home except the cold. There is a vast amount of sickeness in the Camp, though but few serious cases. We have measles, mumps, itch, catarh, fever, and two cases of congestion of the brain. One of which died a few days ago. He belonged to Capt. Wilson's company from York. Our company has it share of sickness, we cannot parade more than 30 well men. John D., John C. and G.H. McMurry, are in their usual health. Y. A. Craig had an attack of colic night before last and he he is yet lying rather dull and stupid, though not suffering a great deal. N. Y. Draffin, Wilson Wallace, B.F. Whitaker, H.M. Anacrues, W.L. Batree, D. B. Barton and several others are in the hospital and they are as well taken care of as they could be at home. They are waited on by ladies who appear to sympathize with the suffering soldier and anticipate his wants.

We have company drill at 10 o'clock A.M. for one hour, at 1 P.M. for one hour, battalion drill at 3 P.M. fo 1 1/2 hours closing with dress parade. Our Col., Liet. Col., and Major are a set of noble officers. We do most of our battalion drill in double quick time. It is not near so hard as I expected. Some of our Company drill very well. Liet. Steele is a good officer, a noble fellow and a real gentleman. Two companies of this Regt. are armed with Enfield rifles, the rest with smooth bore muskets.

We have nine companies here and expecting one from Fairfield. To-night we are to have preaching in our Street--our Chaplain is a good preacher. He preaches on to-night from these words: "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." In almost every street we have prayer meeting.

William come down here and we wil learn you how to drill. Give my respects to Capt. Rogers and tell him to drill thoroughly.

Give my respects to all inquiring friends-- Aunt Nancy Nelson in particular. Remember to write Cousin Nancy and the children.

A. S. Nisbet to Wm. C. Nisbet*

Below are pictures of an actual 17th SC Regiment "Brown Bess" that was the smooth bore described by Liet. A.S. Nisbet

*It appears that W.C. Nisbet is under another company (Capt. Rogers) and then joins his cousins Company I later

"About the middle of December the regiment was sent to Charleston and went into camp on the south side of the Ashley Bridge. There the men were armed with old British muskets that had been changed from the old flintlock to percussion locks. Eight of these companies were armed with these antiquated guns, but the right and left companies A and E, drew new English made Enfield rifles that had been run into Charleston through the blockade. No better guns than these were used in either army during the war, and these companies carried and used them to the end of the struggle."

Capt. Edwards, Company A, A condensed History of Seventeenth Regiment..."

SCTiger

10-02-2006, 12:29 AM

Camp Simmons, Colenton Dist. (S.C.)
Ravanell Station, S.C. June 25, 1862

Dear Wife:

I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines and you will see by these lines that I am well and I hope when this reaches you it will find you and the children all well. I have had a severe spell of the cold but have get better. I had a severe pain in the head, you will be surprised when I tell you my nose has not bled a drop since I came to Camp. John C. had got a bad cold, he coughs a great deal though I think he is better, the health of our Camp is good as common. We have but two men in the hospital. Wm. Robinson and N. B. Plyler. Plyler is very sick, he is deranged part of the time. Wm. R is better, there is others complaining but still going about. Nancy I have no news to write to you this morning, the reason I am writing to you so soon again is because I forgot to write to you in the letter I sent with Mr. Lathen for you to send my hat, my every day hat down to Craigs & Taylor's store or some place where Lathen can get it and bring it to me as I need it sure. He is home on a ten day furlough if this does not reach you in time it can't be helped. His furlough will be out on Monday. It starts when his furlough is out. I expect this will be too late. I told him after I had sealed my letter about it, he said he would send you word but I concluded I would write. He said he would fetch it.

Tell Mary to keep the ring that I sent her to get home, there was one of them broke. I was ready to put it up in the letter and rubbing it and I broke it. I was sorry for it, I would not have taken 50 cents for it. Nancy, don't fret about me for while I am well, I still live in hopes to see you and the children again. I often think of you and them. I would rather see you and them than the greatest circus that ever showed in America but it is folly to write such. J. B. Nisbet is well and all of our men except Plyler, J.C. and J.B.N. joins in sending thier respects to you, the Wallaces is well, give my respects to Wm. Neill and family, to Mother and all my friends, and receive a double portion to yourself. Wm. C. Nisbet to Nancy Nisbet

Tell the children howdy.

SCTiger

10-02-2006, 09:30 AM

Green Pond Station, S. C.

Feb 22, 1863

Dear Wife:

I take my seat to write you a few lines. I am well as usual. I have the cold and cough some but is well enough other ways. I hope this may find you and the children well. I did not get to my Camp until yesterday, we missed connections at Columbia and had to dray our boys to the Charleston depot, left there at 5 o'clock Saturday morning, got to Charleston that evening, had to lay over there to Sabbath, took the train for Green Pond, which place I found my Regt. It is 15 miles this side of Pocotaligo. We are camped on the side of the Charleston and Savannah R.R. We got our boxes safe to camp. John McMurry and Thomas Baker and I left at Charleston in charge of a man from the 23rd Regt. he said he would take them over to the Camp. Tell Aunt Peggy Adams the things that was in my box for Carrie I had to just fetch on in my box as there was no chance to do other way, if I had a chance I would send them to him, if not Aunt Peggy will have to put it down as soldier's luck, for I done the best I could. I found the boys all well, except the cold. Marion is bad off with it, he coughs a great deal, the boys was glad to see the boxes. It is very warm here now, I will send my coat home with W. H. Belk as he will start home to-morrow on furlough. I like our Camp fine, we have good quarters and handy to wood, I have a new blanket, H. H. had drawed it for me. I have no war news to write you. I saw in to-days paper we had gained a victory in Florida. You will see Harper he can give you all the news. I will close for the present, give my respects to Wm. Neill and family, J.D. Nisbet and family. W. M. Neill sends his respects to his father, mother and the girls, my love to you and the children. Write Soon.

W.C. Nisbet to N. W. Nisbet

SCTiger

10-03-2006, 10:50 AM

Camp near Charleston, S.C.
Apr. 19 1863

Mrs. Mary McCain will you please hand this over to Nancy Nisbet. Nancy as Capt. James Caskey is talking of coming down to see us we have concluded if he comes to get him to fetch us a box of provisions. The men have concluded to have it made at my house, get Mr. Neill and Joseph Rogers to make it for you, you will have to find out when he is coming before you do anything. If you get the chance send me some loaf bread, biscuit, butter, eggs, don't send me any meat for I know you ain't got it but I think you have the flour. Send me a lot of tarts and some dried fruit. Cousin J. S. McMurry says they have got some flour and he will send for my share of meat. You send his share of bread and other things that you have to spare, don't think we are perishing if we don't get it, we can do but we would like have something cooked at home. Thomas McCorkle is to find a horse for the old captain to go to Camden. You can contrive it to Thomas Mc. or to anyone else to send it to Capt. Caskey. Tell Sister Jane to send me a boiling of eggs. We will move to-morrow down th R. R. a mile or two. We have just got our tents put up and the streets cleaned, you see we don't stop long at one place but will be close to Charleston. We are with Evans foot cavalry. I believe there is nothing more. I remain as ever.

Your husband,

W. C. Nisbet to Nancy Nisbet

SCTiger

10-03-2006, 05:22 PM

Charleston, S. C.
Apr. 28, 1863

Dear Wife:

I once more seat myself to drop you a few lines in answer to your letter I read a few moments ago, which I was glad to read for it appeared to me like I was never to hear from you again. I am well and hearty and my sincere hope is that when this reaches you it will find you and the chidren well. I am a little tired. We left Wilmington on last Saturday evening and landed at Charleston on Sabbath morning. We got off the cars five miles from the city, we took up the lines of marching 1 1/2 miles to where we took up Camp. Our Camp is between the four miles house and Cooper River. We stayed there until this morning, we got orders to move to the other side of the Ashley River. The distance we marched to-day was about five miles. You see they keep us moving about. I suppose it is good for our health. I am glad we have got back to our old State. Times are quiet here, occasionaly there is a report of cannon not a great distance off, but it don't leep us from sleeping if we are sleepy. We have got used to it. We are now camped in a mile of A. J. Nisbet. I saw him and had a long talk with him, You had better know I am glad to see him, he is on the sick list, not verry bad. Nancy, you wanted to know about a patch for Dick. There is no place that I can think of that would do, unless the new ground would do, but I don't know how much there is of it, but tell him he shall have a patch or the worth of one. Not to be uneasy about it, if he needs a little money give him some and keep acccount of it. Get Dick to plant the peas if he has not done it.

Tell Jane I received a letter fom her to-day. She said she had received the money I sent her in the letter, but you allowed me to guess about what I sent in your letter as you did not say whether you got it or not, but I suppose you did. Nancy, tell Mary C. that R. Montgomery and Cousin J. T. McMurry wants her to make them a hat and they will pay her price, make them the same size as mine and send them all the first chance. Nancy, raise plenty of vegetables for I will want a mess of beans, cabbage, cucumbers, Irish potatoes. When I get home if the order is not counter-manded I will maybe get a furlough this summer. I think we will get enough for once if we ever get settled. We are stationed near old Camp Lee. There is plenty of vegetables down here. I will get a mess once in a while if I can buy them. Nancy, I don't want you to grieve yourself about me not getting provisions to eat. I will get along if anybody else does. I saw Wm. Stewart and John last Saturday in Wilmington. They were both well. I had not time to talk with them. I merely spoke to them, asked if they were well, had to pass right on as our Regt. had to take the boat in a few moments. It looks a little hard. Let me know how the mule stands the work, and if Dick has done anything with the manure. Attend to the hogs, the best you can. Apr.29 Nancy, I am well this morning, the boys is well as common. I had a good nights sleep. I was on guard the night before and slept none on any account. I must close soon. I want you to write to me often and I wil do the same. Give respects to sister, Margaret, and tell her I will write her a letter the first chance. I would like to see you all but there is no chance yet. You would get a letter about Sunday that I sent with Mr. Snipes. Take a look at my likeness and see how pretty I am. Give my respects to Mother and to all my friends. Tell the children and Dick howdy.

You husband to death.

Wm. C. Nisbet
to Nancy Nisbet

SCTiger

10-04-2006, 11:12 PM

James Island, S. C.
May 13, 1863

Dear Wife:

I take my seat to write a few lines. I am well this morning. I have had for the past week the Dysentery, but it is hardly worth writing about since it so common. I fondly hope when this reaches you it will find you and the children well. Our Regt. is all well as common. I received your letter on the 11th, dated the 4th. Nancy, this makes the fourth camp we have been at since we came to Charleston, they don't give us much rest. We have been on a great expedition to John's Island. We got orders on Saturday evening to cook three days rations. On Saturday night at 9 o'clock, we took up the lines of march. We marched six miles, took a train at the Savannah train, ran down to Rantowle station, we got there a little before day-break, spread down our blankets and rested to-day, took up the line of march for Haulover bridge, a distance of about eighteen, we went within two or three miles of the bridge and took up Camp for the night. We stayed there until Monday, about 10 o'clock we got orders to return to Charleston. What was the reason we didn't go on and attack the enemy in their strong position on Seabrook Island, I can't say as I think that was the object of the expedition, we got back to our Camp Monday night around 11 o'clock. I completely gave out before we got our Camp. I had to get in the rear of the Regt. and take my time, but I was not by myself for there was a great many others in the same fix. I said to James White as he was with me there was only one thing I would do when I got to Camp if there was one there. Sure enough it was there and I read it before I lay down. It was about 24 miles we marched on Monday, the most of it was deep sand, but enough about the march, I have got over it, and will be on guard to-day at the breast-works about three hundreds from the Camp, Guard duty is light here. This is the prettiest place I have seen in the low country, I don't care how long they let us stay here, or that is until the War is done, for it seems like they don't give us any rest. We have been down here only two weeks last Sabbath, and this makes the fourth Camp we have been at. The place is the key that unlocks the door to the City of Charleston, it will be a hard key for the Yankees to turn; it is a strong fortified place sure. I am sitting in the Camp writing and I can look out and count the mast poles of eight or ten Yankee transportation vessels, but they don't make us uneasy. We are looking for a shelling from them some of these days, but if they do, they will get one certain, we can hear their drums every day. Nancy, I was suprised that you had not received a letter from me for I have written two since I came to Charleston. There is something wrong or you would have got some of them before you wrote your last letter. I received the letter Capt. Joe wrote me, it was dated the eight of January and I got it the eighth of May. I don't see where it could have been all that time. I believe there is not much more that I can write you that would be of interest to you. We get plenty to eat. We get meat enough for two meals a day, rice and sugar and meal. We can buy a mess of vegetables once in a while. We don't get any flour, if they will let us rest we cando very well, but it would not surprise me if we were ordered to the West, if we are we will have to go but it will be against my will, but the Lord can protect us there as well as anywhere else. Tell Mary, Freely and Robert to be good children and go to school and learn their books. Give my respects to all my friends and especially to Mother, particularly to Jane and Levina, Mr. Neill and family. Margaret and receive my love to yourself and children. Be sure and write soon, write all about the crops in general.

From W.C. Nisbet

Also for information on the Charleston and Savannah Railroad

http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/candsrr/title.html

Attached; maps of Charleston, Haulover Cut and Rantowles Station.

http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/11600/11689/charleston_11689_lg.gif

SCTiger

10-09-2006, 11:19 AM

Camp near Jackson, Miss.

June 21, 1863

Dear Wife:

I take my seat this morning to write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am well and I hope when this reaches your distant hand it may find you and the children and the friends all well. I received your letter today, dated June 13th. It was eight days on the road I was truly glad to hear from you, but sorry to hear that you and Robert was sick. I hope you are both better now. There is no news that would be of much importance to you that I can wrtie to you. All news is supposed in the direction of Vicksburg. We have order to leave here to-morrow morning, and I don't know where we are going, but will go in the direction of Vicksburg. Nancy, you wanted to lnow what was said to us about coming home. There was nothing said to us, neither at Columbia not after we came to Camp, not one word. Nor I don't know whether there will be or not, the health of our Regt. is tolerably good, though there is a good bit of sickness in the different Camps around Jackson, there is a heap of sickness in the 26th Regt. There has been nine deaths in it since it came out West. There is about 100 in the hospital, but they haven't got used to it yet, they have been lying about Charleston all this time. Moving about don't agree with them. Nancy, I have wrote you two letters since I came to Camp. I want you to write me every week, if you don't write twenty lines. I wrote a letter to Sister Jane this day a week ago. I think as soon as the Battle of Vicksburg is over, we will get to come back to old South Carolina, although many a one of us will never get back, but the men are in good spirits. Nancy you want to know how I found Marion Adams, he said he heard there was a Lancaster Company on the train, he hunted until he found us. Nancy I will send you a ring in this letter, it is if my own make, it is made fo pearl we got the shell in the pearl River, they look like Musle Shell, only they are very large, there is some of them would hold a pint of water, they are hard to make. I paid one-half dollar as my interest in a file to make mine. I have intended to have made one or two more, but no chance now if we move from here. Take good care of it, until i get home again, it is larger than I intended it to be, they sell here in the Regt. from $2.00 to $5.00, if you let it fall it might break. I hate it if you don't get it, but it may be lost anyhow. I will risk it in this letter. Nancy I don't want you to fret yourself about me, if I am far away, for as you remarked in your letter, the Lord is everywhere present, he has protected me so far, and I believe he will yet. I still live in the hopes that I will get home again. I must close. Give my respects to Mother, to Mr. Neill's family and to Mary and children and to all my friends. H.H.J. White, the Craigs, J. S. Mc, and all of the friends send their respects to you. Tell Dick to do the best he can for me. Tell Mary Freely and Robert howdy and kiss little Ginny for me. I hope I get home to see you and the children once more. I will close, my best and warmest love to you and the children.

Your husband to death,

W.C. Nisbet to Nancy Nisbet

Good-bye for the present.

Attached image of South Carolina Monument in Vicksburg, MS.

Iron Scout

10-09-2006, 10:55 PM

Greg,

Stop posting primary source material as it may confuse people! :tounge_sm
Anyway, thanks for your efforts; good stuff.

Neill Rose
PLHA

SCTiger

10-10-2006, 04:21 PM

Evans Brigade

Rankin Co., Miss.
July 19, 1863

Dear Sister:

I will try to wrtie you a few lines this evening to let you know how I am getting along, I am tolerably well, I have got the Diarea but not bad. I had something like a chill on last Tuesday, but did not have any more. I think it was occasioned by over heat coming off Picket, as we were exposed to the enemy's fire nearly half a mile and we run all the way. I hope these lines may find you all well. I received your letter, it was one day ahead of Nancy's. We are on the retreat from the Capital, we are 32 miles from Jackson and are going in the direction of Meridian. I think we will go there before we stop, if we stop there, we have to march. It is 95 miles from Jackson and they can't furnish transportation for such a large army. The cars run daily from Meridian back to the army to take the sick and broke down men and cant more than keep them along. Ving, we are seeing hard times sure but I hope there is a brighter day not far distant, it's a dark time, our independence is quivering, in the balance, the enemy will soon have possession of the West, or a great portion of it. We fought six days at Jackson, I don't know the reason of our retreat yet, it is reported here, Charleston is taken. We are resting to-day. We were in a drenching rain yesterday evening. We had to make fires and dry our clothes last night. I have not got but one suit with me, so you can see what a fix I was in. The health of the Camp is not so good, J. L. took a chill Saturday night, he is bad off, also N. B. Craig has got a chill on him now. I wrote to nancy about the death of R. Montgomery, he was all the one of our Camp we left behind. There was 12 killed and 69 wounded in our Brigade, I must close, give my respects to Nancy and the children and all of my friends. James White sends his repsects to you and Nancy. May God have mercy on us all, I remain.

Your brother

W. C. Nisbet

Camp Johnson, Savannah, Georgia
August 26, 1863

Dear Wife:

I will write you a few lines this morning in haste. I am well and I hope when this reeaches you it will find you well to. We are under marching orders to Charleston. Nancy I am starting some of my clothes home, it is a company box and is directed to Rock Hill to the care of D.C. Roddey. I have sent one pair of pants, one shirt, one pair of slips, my coat, my old shoes, and one pair of new shoes. They will do you to wear if you get the tacks pulled out and the pegs put in the place of them. I also sent my Bible, it is almost to pieces. I hate to part with it but I did not want it to go to pieces. I can get me a testament that wont be so unhandy to carry. We have drawed another uniform suit, I have not drawed pants yet but will soon. Nancy, Thomas has a pair of pants in one of my bundles. Nancy, you do as you please about the clothes, give what of them to Dick that you please. We drawed money yesterday and I will send you a little when I get it changed. I expect you need some but I can't spare you much for I must have something to eat when I want it, if I can get it for money. I have got myself a pair of shoes. I am entitled to four pair of shoes a year and I am going to have them if I can get them, So I am going to make presents of them to you; wear them if you can and if you can't, make the best out of them you can. Before you receive this we may be in Charleston. The Bat. will be brought to Craigville and opened there. I believe I will have nothing more to write. A.C. lathan, D.A. Lathan, W. J. Robinson, John Snipes and B. Whitaker were sent to the hospital. Give my respects to all of my friends. My best love to you and the children.

W. C. Nisbet

P.S.

I have not had a meal of Irish potatoes this year yet, but will to-day at 50 cents per quart, if we leave here we don't get them. Excuse bad writing for I am in a hurry. Turn my envelopes and send them back to me.

Thanks for the comments Neil. We are indeed lucky to have so many well detailed accounts of the 17th SC. I would like to compile a book on Company I. One of the facts that strikes me is the amount of packages and boxes being sent back and forth, it does explain some of the logisitcs, it would seem that some soldiers sent their extra gear home, and receive the same back later along with some food. Hopefully I will have a comprehensive list, with accurate names of all the members of Company I. Now we just need a accurate repo of the British Musket to reenact this company, or we can always opt out for Captain Edward's Co. A., they had Enfields from the start. The primary source stuff is clear, it's all the history thereafter that's confusing.

Paul Beall

10-10-2006, 05:23 PM

Mr. Deese, thanks for making my stop worthwhile. Is there a note elsewhere as to the camp(s) Nisbet was in in Wilmington?

SCTiger

10-10-2006, 06:22 PM

Paul:

I have several books to look that up, from my own knowledge, they were routinely on picket duties on the coast, they were actually in several camps.

They probably stayed near the R. R. in Halifax, Tarboro, Kinston and were engaged in a fight in Goldsboro on 17 Dec 1862, 9th of February 1863, they were at Camp Jenkins, about 15 miles from Wilmington near the Albermarle Sound. Another camp was within 4 miles of Wilmington. April 20, 1864 they returned to Wilmington to guard 2370 Union prisoners, captured at Plymouth, NC. April 24th, they went to Tarboro, then back to Charleston.

From June 1864 to March, 1865 they remained in Petersburg, VA.

Paul Beall

10-11-2006, 07:54 AM

Thanks, I'll post some modern pictures of some of the camps frequented by South Carolinians.

Locally, Masonboro Sound is flanked with four dozen large camps and heavy fortifications. Topsail Sound in what is now Pender County had a few forts and outposts. The Albemarle, which held many important strongholds and saw dozens of various sized engagements, is to the north of us above Hatteras.

SCTiger

10-11-2006, 01:24 PM

Mt. Pleasant, Charleston, S. C.

Sept. 3 1863

Dear Wife:

I take my seat this morning to write to you a few lines. I am well hoping this may find you all in the same condition. I have nothing new to write as I started a letter to you on yesterday. J.S. McCurry is writing home for J. D. Caskey to come down and see us and fetch us some provisions if he comes if you can get a chance send me something of what you have to spare, a mess of Irish potatoes, beans, butter, bread, tarts or anything of that sort, don't rob yourself and children for I keep well I can do. Thos. Mcarell is in the hospital, he is close to our Camp, if he don't leave there he would like to have a finger in the box. Send word to his wife and she can do as she pleases. It may be there will be some one coming to Camden for sale and there will be a chance to get it there. I don't expect much to get the box but I did not want to be behind the rest. You and Mary Mc. can fix about finding the box, you found it before I believe yourself. Mark everything sent to me and Henry, send me some onions if you have them and some flour if you get the chance. Nancy I send a few watermelon seed. I will close and ly down and take a sleep. I was on guard last night, all is quiet about Charleston. "A calm always precedes a storm." J S McMurry will have his box to himself I suppose as old Mrs. Bailey is coming with Captain Caskey.

Yours as before.

Wm C. Nisbet

Tell the children howdy for me. (May God bless us all).

SCTiger

10-11-2006, 08:04 PM

Camp near Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Sept. 8 1863

Dear Wife:

Through the kind mercies of God, I am permitted once more to seat myself to write you a few lines. I am well, indulging the fond hope this may reach you and find you all well. I recieved your letter on the 6th mailed the 3rd. I would have written you on yesterday but we were working all day Sabbath on Fortification and I was verry sore across my back and shoulders and did not feel much like writing. We were on Picket last night. I did not sleep but verry little and don't feel much like writing to-day, but thought you might get uneasy. Nancy, it is stirring times here. The enemy is still gaining ground on us, but they have to fight for every inch they get. They have got possession of Morris Island. Our men evacuated it night before last and Gen. Gilmer gave the noncombatants on Sullivan Island to 10 o'clock to-day to leave the Island and the ball has already opened. I fear the result, although we will have to put our trust in God and hope for the better. Where I am sitting I can hear the whiz of the deadly missils. Its an awful sound, its continual clash of heavy guns. I cannot use language to describe it. The health of our co. is about as usual, all the boys from our neighborhood is well. Nancy you done very well about the sheep, if you had sent Dick on down here with it, I would have gave you $20. for it. I received a letter from John Stewart on the 6th. dated the 5th., him and Williams was getting better. I rec'd a letter the other day from J.D. Nisbet to H. H., it was a good letter, he said he wrote to me twice I never received them. I must close, give my respects to all of my neighbors. I hear that Hugh Wilson was dead, tell Mary, Freeling, Robert and Jinny howdy, tell Mother, Mary and children howdy for me. My best love for you and the children.

Yours,

W. C. Nisbet

SCTiger

10-13-2006, 10:00 AM

Sullivan Island, S.C.
Dec. 20, 1863

Dear Wife:

I once more take up my old pen to write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am well at this time, except the cold, which is common in camp. I fondly hope when this reaches your hand it may find you and the children in good health, for it is one of the greatest blessings we enjoy on earth and for which we ought to be thankfull to the Giver of all good, for so distinguishing a blessing.

Nancy, I received your letter yesterday which was read with pleasure. I was glad to hear from you once more. I read a letter the other day from J.D. Nisbet which was a great pleasure to me. He spoke of seeing you at Church on Tuesday, and you had not received a letter from me in some time. I write to you every week. I wrote one to John D. yesterday, I wrote to him to come down and see me and bring me something to eat at Christmas, but I guess you wil get this by the same mail if he comes down. I think I will get to buy me some sale. I want him to come if he can. Nancy, i want you to send me some meat, some cookies, and some ram, the ram thing had better not have any bone in it. We don't get any meat here except beef and very little of that, no flour, only about one little muffin a week. I buy some little potatoes once in a while; three verry little ones for 25 cents, they are verry dear, but about the cheapest thing I can buy. If you send some meat this time. I won't ask you for any more soon, but I want one mess. I have the jug you sent molasses in. If I get a chance I will send it home for I would like to have it filled again. The sausage and bread you sent me by N. B. were great, but of course I had to divide with Henry White and McCorkle. The health of our boys is verry good. Henry is well, McCorkle, Craig, Belk and all of the boys from our neighborhood is well. Nancy, I have no war news of much interest to write to you. The Yanks have about give up Fort Sumter as a bad job, although it appears like it is in ruins. Yet the huge pile of brick and sand is visible to the naked eye, and every evening you can see the dense smoke and hear the sound of her signal from here parapet. The attention of the enemy is now drawn to shelling of the City, but our batteries can silence them in one hours time when they get at that. We have one 300 lb. rifle gun on the Island, one on James Island at Fort Johnson. They wake things up when they open fire on the Yanks. I was detailed the other day to help move a gun from Battery Beauregard to Battery Marshall. It weighed 11,000 lbs. We hauled it 1 1/2 miles by hand. It was hard work.

Nancy, I had a notion of sending you ten dollars in this letter, but I will wait and see if any one comes down. Nancy tell Cousin Wm. Neill that I will write him a letter some of these days . I want you to get Dick if you can. I would like to get home to hear them chickens squall. I saw Tom Neill the other day he wants to get into our company. We would swap for him S. Oliver if we could get a chance. We have made two swaps with the Regulars here of late, although you you don't know the names of the men we swaped, their names was Horn & Threatt, the men we got is Perry and Joiner, they say they are tired of the Regulars. I must close for the present. Give my respects to Mother, J. W. S. and family, Wm. Neill and family, Mary C. and the children and all of my neighbors and receive my best wishes for yourself and the children.

Your husband,

Wm. C. Nisbet

P. S. If can get a recruipt I can get a 20 day furlough

The transfers WCN speaks of are as follows:

R.L. Horn goes to Company C. 1st SC Regulars (Butler's) on December 7th, 1863, he is later wounded on James Island, July 5th and 6th, while on picket duty from a iron clad attack consisting of two monitors, one gunboat and two mortar boats. [I]

July 2–9, 1864; Single-turreted monitors USS Lehigh, Lieutenant Commander A.A. Semmes, USS Montauk, Lieutenant Commander A. W. Johnson, and other ships of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron supported Army troops in a demonstration up the Stono River, South Carolina. Hearing that Confederate forces were about to move against the blockaders off Charleston , Rear Admiral Dahlgren and Major General Foster planned a diversionary expedition up the Stono River, in-tending to cut the important Charleston-Savannah railroad. Union monitors and gunboats shelled Confederate works on both sides of the river with telling effect in support of movements ashore. Brigadier General Schimmelfennig, troop commander, reported to Dahlgren on 6 July: "I take pleasure in informing you of the excellent practice by your gunboats and monitors on Stono River yesterday. They drove the enemy out of his rifle pits and prevented him from erecting an earthwork which he had commenced. As I shall probably have to occupy that line again before long, this fire of your monitors will undoubtedly save many lives on our side, for which I desire to express to them my thanks." Dahlgren's vessels later effectively covered the Army withdrawal from Stono River.

See:

http://www.usnlp.org/navychronology/1864b.html

Burell R. Threat (Threatt) goes to Co. D, (Butler’s) 1st SC Regulars.

Company I receives in-turn Hiram G. Joiner from Company D, Butler's
and Robert N. Perry from Co. C, Butler's.

Butler's existed also as the 3rd SC Heavy Artillery Regiment. It's soldiers were trained as Infantry and Artillerymen.

Amos Leander McManus of Company A, 1st Butler's and Lewis Deas of Co. I, 17th SC, both were my G-G-G-Grandfathers, both served at Battery Marshall at the same time. Just realized that fact today, so it's a high possibility that both of them were helping William drag that 11,000 pound cannon to Battery Marshall!

Battery Marshall was also the staging point for H.L. Hunley which launched it's attack on the U.S.S. Housatonic on 17 February 1864. I am wondering if either got to see the "fish boat" at the pier. From some indications, the Hunley was at Btry. Marshall in December, 1863.

http://www.researchonline.net/sccw/unit96.htm

Pictures of Battery Marshall attached:

Charles Heath

10-13-2006, 07:55 PM

Gribble,

Thank you for transcribing and posting these letters. A great many hints big and small are contained within. One minor item in one of those letters is yet another mention of making sure the manure is not wasted back home. This is a common thought for many.

SCTiger

10-14-2006, 01:12 AM

Thanks Chawls:

It would seem that the Confederate women are really an over looked impression in our hobby. The civilian women that planted crops, plowed fields, collected nitre, tallow and other valuable materials, raised livestock and children, made uniforms and hats, rolled cartridges, nursed the wounded, sent packages and letters and plus they managed businesses, plantations and farms in their husbands absence. They really were the backbone of the Confederate war effort that didn't have the surplus male population, outside of slaves. I am almost willing to bet that "Dick" was a slave, but I haven't proved this yet.

When I see people trying to justify female soldiers or rare/non-existing roles of vivandieres etc., it irks me to no end, those people have never read about the toughest job in the world, being an Army wife. It really discounts and neglects the extremely vital role that these women had on the home front, as Capt. Edwards stated "those Confederate women were pure gold." I can also imagine Nancy Nesbit wearing her husbands Army brogans and running the Nesbit Farm, meanwhile "Dick" gets a new Confederate uniform to wear, that fact really made me smile. Lancaster District was never easy to farm either, all sandy soil, scrub brush and pines, it wasn't a black soil region. Farming there was tough.

Just imagine the joy those soldiers felt when those "boxes" arrived with food, clothing and other comforts. Who sent those boxes? The Confederate women. Roles not interpreted or represented enough in this hobby. I doubt that I could have kept up with Nancy for even one morning of chores. I would love to have seen her letters, but they are probably with William in that mass grave in the Old Blanford Church cemetery, Petersburg, Virginia.

I will type the last letter tomorrow, it's a sad conclusion. You see, William doesn't make it home. So Nancy has to pull the load until she dies, for her that "war role" never ends. I can see why the UDC women were so patriotic and fervent about the Lost Cause, they had worked their fingers to the bones for their country and lost their husbands in the process.

Sometimes we need to humanize this war, you have to admire the people involved, regardless of politics. I just wish I could have known them.

SCTiger

10-16-2006, 06:54 PM

Sullivans Island, S.C.
December, 29, 1863

Dear Wife:

I take my seat this morning to wrtie you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am considerably better this morning. I have been pretty bad off nearly a week, but will be able for duty again in a day or so, if I take no back-set. I had something like a chill yesterday, but it may be it was from cold as that is I believe what is the matter with me, but that is bad enough. I cough a good deal and is spitting off freely. I hope when this reaches you it will find you and the children well. I rceived your letter by Mr. Wallace and was glad to hear from you. I was disappointed on Saturday when the mail came and I did not get a letter but when Mr. Wallace came in I got better all at once.

I got all the things you sent me, I have not tried on my pantaloons yet but I know they will do fine, but you had better know I tried your biscuit and sausage, when I was eating I told the boys if I was where they come from I would be a happy man. Nancy, I will send you ten dollars that will pay you for your biscuit and sausage. I have no war news of any interest to write you. there was an alarm last night but, it is proved to be a false one. H. H. and all the boys is well . The envelope that I send this in will do to send back again. I will close for this time. Oh! If I could get home I could tell you a good deal more than I could to-day. Tell Mary and Freeling to feed my lambs and pigs good. Tell Robert and Jinny howdy for me. Nancy give the stock salt nothing means more. I remain your husband to death.

W.C. Nisbet

War record of Private William C. Nisbet:

May 10th, 1862, enlists for three years at Camp Pillow, John's Island, SC.
Paid by J. H. Means to 31 July 1862
November 30th- December 1862 present
January-February, 1863: present-sick
March-December, 1863 present
Paid by J. H. Means, October 31st, 1863
January to April, 1864 present
May, 1864 present

June 2nd 1864, William C. Nesbit dies near Peterburg, Va. Vulnus Sclopeticum to the head. William died at the Episcopal Church Hospital, admitted on June 2nd.

In August, 1864, Nancy petitons for her husbands pay. In January, 1865. Nancy W. Nesbit receives $227.13 in back pay, clothing allotment and bounty money,
Sent to H. R. Price at the Lancaster C.H.

1860 Lancaster District, Federal Census
Post Office Jacksonham.

William C. Nisbet age 27 Value of Real Estate 1000
Value of Personal Estate 636
Nancy W. age 29
Mary L age 5
John J. age 2

Pvt Peck

11-02-2006, 02:36 AM

Thanks Chawls:

I would love to have seen her letters, but they are probably with William in that mass grave in the Old Blanford Church cemetery, Petersburg, Virginia.

I will type the last letter tomorrow, it's a sad conclusion. You see, William doesn't make it home. So Nancy has to pull the load until she dies, for her that "war role" never ends. I can see why the UDC women were so patriotic and fervent about the Lost Cause, they had worked their fingers to the bones for their country and lost their husbands in the process.

Thank you for taking the time and posting these letters, I am not ashamed to admit I about started to cry when I read your line about Nancy's letters in the mass grave at Petersburg. In another post regarding letters I bemoaned the fact that my great, great grandfather did not leave any letters during his CS service, but he survived the war which is probably why none of his letters did. Thanks again for sharing.

Ted Parrott

SCTiger

12-06-2006, 03:32 PM

In Volume V, page 347 of the UDC Records, there are more W.C. Nesbit letters, in this case they are listed as the "Letters of N.W.C. Nisbet to Wife." I have no clue as to where the "N" came from, but perhaps it was a misprint or misread of N. Nesbit, which is of course Nancy. Consequently these letters were overlooked and not included with the others! It pays to continue searching.

May the 20 1862
Camp-near Rantowles Station

Dear Wife

I seat myself this morning to let you know how I am well this morning though I feel a little fatigued from our march yesterdy and I hope when this reaches you it will find you and my little children well our camp is not named yet nor I don't know that it will for it is reported in camp that we will leave our present camp to day we marched some ten miles yesterday. We are stationed near the savannah R. R. we can see the iron horse whistling by. Nancy I have nothing of any importance to write you we get plenty to eat we had a fine pot of Rice cooked for breakfast this morning our water here is good though it is a good piece to carry it while we were on Johns Island we got plenty of blackberry we had blackberry dumlins regular Nancy I have to write any fashion this morning some times on my knee or lying down. may be you can read this. We left Johns Island yesterday morning at 8 oclock the health of our company is tolerably good at present we have only five on the sick list this morning Nancy. I saw a greadeal more if live Lieut Faulkner and myself walked up to the station yesterday evening we heard the rorar of the telegraph wire that was something new for I did not know that it could be heard the thought struck me that it was wonderful the inventions of man. the news from Charleston to savannah or from savannah to the former place like the flash of lightning on the stormy cloud Nancy I must soon close write to me when you can I am looking for a letter from Capt. Rogers give my respects to Wm Neill and family tell the children howdy for me and kiss Robert for me Give my respects to MM Ross and receive a husbands portion to yourself Direct to Charleston P O not to Johns Island

Wm C. Nesbit N.W. Nesbit

farewell for present

SCTiger

12-22-2006, 07:50 PM

This first letter I transcribed for this thread, dated "Wilmington, N.C. April 21, 1861" was an error in the UDC recordings. The 17th SC Infantry was organized for Confederate service on April 28th, 1862 and didn't leave South Carolina until July 19th, 1862 bound for Richmond, Virginia.

On April 16th, 1864, Evan's brigade (Now Walker's) left Charleston bound for North Carolina. On that same day, General Evan's had a carriage accident in downtown Chalreston, that resulted in a head injury, that kept him out for the remainder of the war. He loss wasn't lamented by his soldiers.

Back in February 16th, 1864, while at Green Pond, S.C., the entire 17th SC Regiment formed up and every man re-enlisted "for the war." Each man was promised a 20 day furlough, with four men from each company rotating out. The remaining days at Green Pond were spent building corduroy roads, breast works and felling timber. The volunteer soliders were very unhappy with the conditions.

When the 17th received orders to once more leave the state for North Carolina, many had yet to receive their re-enlistment furloughs. When the northbound train reached Florence at 1 p.m. on April 17th, 1864, eight men from Company I left the train for the "lower part of the district." Three of these men, my ancestors, Privates Lewis, Frank and William Deas, returned home AWOL for exactly twenty days. They returned to the regiment in Wilmington, N.C. on May 7th, 1864.

Nesbit also gave an accurate account of the Barnwell District men uncoupling the train, the men where from G and H companies, I assume that they received their reenlistment furloughs as well.

In February, 1863, the Evan's brigade was inWilmington, North Carolina and wouldn't return to SC until early May, 1863. They only stayed two weeks before being shipped off to Misssissippi.

So the letter dated "Green Pond Station, February 22, 1863", was actually wrote in 1864 as well. Nesbit's letter alludes to "a victory in Florida" whic refers to the battle of Olustee, also the 17th SC was stationed at Green Pond in February, 1864, as previously mentioned.

So even with primary source material, printed in a secondary source, you still have to check the facts. I will eventually compose an accurate track record of the Evan's Brigade after comparing the various books, letters and official records. I found two mistakes in history and I am sorry about the confusion. They went to many of the places twice. I owe it to William C. and the South Carolinians to correct the record. I also hope that these new finidngs will shed more light on the era.

Today I found the real reason three of my ancestors went AWOL on April 17th, 1864, they were due a reenlistment furlough and they were going to take it before they met the adversaries again in combat. Nesbit never left the trian at FLorence, I really wish he had. I also don't believe he got the furlough he so richly deserved.

SCTiger

12-23-2006, 09:32 PM

March 21, 1863 (verified date)
Wilmington, N.C.

Dear Wife

I seat myself in my tent to drop you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along, I am well and I hope when this reaches you it will find you and the children in good health. I received your letter on the 19th, dated the 14 of March, I was glad to hear from you and to hear you were all getting along so well. There is no news in camp, we have moved our camp again, they don't let us stay long in one place. We are now in two miles of Wilmington, we can see the Steeple from our camp, this is a cold wet day, it has been raining for the last two days. We fare very well now, we get flour and bacon enough none to spare, we get some rices and sugar not much of the latter. There was one time when we did not get much to eat the morning we left Camp Jenkins, had nothing to eat but the night before and we marched 18 miles and I eat two handfuls of parched corn, it seemed a little tough, but not as bad as it might have been. All that you sent me by D. M. Craig came safe. You aught to have seen me a flying round making tarts when I got my peaches the biscuits eat sweet, any-thing from home eats good here Nancy. I would like to eat a mess of turnip greens with you some day, we get no vegetables and I am tired of eating meat and bread. I recd Janes letter by Thomas Mcorcle, tell her not to think hard of me not writing to her, for ink and paper is high and hard to get, so you all hear from me once in while is all you may expect, but would not care to read a letter from home every day or so you don't know how anxious I am to get a letter from anybody near home. I recd a letter from A.S. Nesbit on the 5th of this month, he was well but, from the way he wrote I don't think he is satisfied. I answered his letter, I must soon close, the health of our regt is pretty good at this time, the boys from our neighborhood are all well except Harper Belk*, he had a chile last night. Wm. Robinson is not very well but is able to go about. James S. Murry has got back again he is better, there is some getting furloughs from our camp, but I don't know when it will come my time-not soon. Tell Capt. Rogers that letter has not come yet, I don't count that little scrap a letter, tell him if he haint got paper to borrow some enough to write a letter on. I will finish my letter in the morning, it is almost Dress Parade, I will quit for the night.

Good bye for present.

W. C. Nesbit

* Belk has a nephew, William Henry Belk, age 3, in Lancaster who will later start the successful "Belk" department store chain, his father is drowned in Graham Creek in Lancaster when General Kirkpatrick's cavalry enters the district in March of 1865.
Just a piece of trivia I thought you would appreciate.

Charles Heath

12-24-2006, 11:28 AM

Gribble,

I'm sure you wonder if hardly anyone actually reads these letters, but more folks look than ever comment. As you realize from the OTB Forum and elsewhere, one of my favorite CW subject is vittles, so I went through the letters and pulled out mentions of foodstuffs, livestock, poultry, general subsistence terms, etc. that may be of interest.

5 Mentions

flour
meat

4 Mentions

bread*
potatoes
vegetables

3 Mentions

biscuit
rice
tarts

2 Mentions

beans
butter
eggs
ovines**
provisions
sausage
sugar
swine***

1 Mention

bacon
beef
blackberries
cabbage
chickens
cookies
crops
cucumbers
dried fruit
dumplings
meal
molasses
muffin
mussels
onions
parched corn
peaches
salt
ram
turnip greens
watermelon (seed)

*Includes one specific mention of "loaf bread."
**"Lambs" and "sheep," once each.
***Pigs" and "hogs," once each.

He mentions ram without the bone, and sending home a molasses jug to be refilled in the same letter. I do remember hearing "ram" used as a nickname for spirits within my own lifetime. He mention ovines at least twice, but the wording in his letter in that instance is sly. I can't help but wonder if that is what he really meant.

Contrasting this to some of the issue ration items from the Iron Brigade in 1863, and I admit this is apples and anvils in terms of who had what, but I still find it interesting to these tidbits lay side by side.

1,337 barrels of pork

29,694 pounds of bacon

35,593 pounds of ham

528 pounds of fresh beef

742 cattle slaughtered

1,748 barrels of flour

487,307 pounds of hard bread

1,764 pounds of cornmeal

60,820 pounds of beans

9,336 pounds of rice

16,420 pounds of dried apples

884 pounds dried peaches

55,565 pounds of coffee

715 pounds of tea

124,898 pounds of brown sugar

917 pounds white sugar

8,659 pounds of candles

18,007 pounds of soap

19,672 pounds of salt

571 pounds of pepper

24,241 gallons of vinegar

1,062 gallons of pickles

232 cabbages

458 gallons whisky

2,080 desiccated vegetables

20,436 pounds potatoes

7,962 onions

3,210 beets

2,782 turnips

1,158 pounds of carrots

The Iron Brigade information is from the book Echoes From the Marches of the Famous Iron Brigade, and if anyone happens to have a copy handy, I'd appreciate a quick look up to verify a minor but pesky transcription error.

SCTiger

12-24-2006, 05:47 PM

Thanks Charles for the stats!

Seems that you and old WCN would have had a lot in common, he seemed very preoccupied witht he food and his remarks about " flying around making tarts" was rather very humanizing. Of course food and home was always on the minds of the soldier. I had a mess of turnip greeens the other night.

I have three new letters about the Mississippi campaign.

Jackson, Mississippi
June 6, 1863

Dear wife

I take my seat this morning to drop you a few lines. I am well and I fondly hope when this reaches your distant hand it will find you and the children well. We landed at Jackson yesterday evening, we found the Regt camped about one mile from there, we were eight days on the road Nancy, its a long road, it's 900 miles from Fort Mills.
I will name the different we had to change cars. We got to Columbia about daylight Saturday morning, we left there at six in the morning, we did change at Atlanta, we run through to West Point, from there to Montgomery, there we took a Steam Boat, we sailed down the Alabama River 110 miles to a place called Sulmer, there we took the cars again ren to a place caleed Demopolis, there we took water again, sailed about 5 miles down the Tom Bigba river and landed at a place called Mcdowels landing, there we took the cars again run to Meriddian, from there to Jackson. So you will see a heap of changing. We found the boys tolerably well. Nancy I have no news to write to you about the war, we don't know what is going on. Nancy I saw some of the finest farms in Alabama that I ever saw in my life, I saw thousands of acres of corn ready for laying by, the best I ever saw. Nancy you must write often to me if you only wite a little at a time, I will try and write once or twice a week. I read a letter this morning from John M Stewart, it was written the 14th of may, he was well then. The Yankeys destroyed a good deal of property in Jackson, they tore up the R.R. on this side pretty bad but they will soon have it laid down again then have retreated back 20 miles from this place , we may have a scrape with them some of these days I must soon close, my provisions held out verry well we drawed some at Mongomery Alabama.

Give my respects to all my friends, especially to mother, Cousin Wm Neill and family, tell Marion I won't forget him, let me know if Capt. Rogers has to go to camp,
give my love to Mary C., to Jane Wing, Margaret, My best love to you and the children, tell Mary anf Freeling to go to School and be good children, tell Robert to kiss the babe for me. (Tell Dick howdy for me) Farewell for this time.

Yours truly,

W.C. Nisbet

N. W. Nisbet

Some of the letters I typed, spell the name Nisbet as N-e-s-b-i-t, reversing the vowels and I believe this has lead to some confusion and misplacement as well. The letters as you can see are definetly from W.C. Nisbet. The state archives and census, list him as "Nisbet." When I finally produce the letters in chronological order, I will use the proper "Nisbet" name, sorry for the confusion. It was probably pronounced phonetically as NEZ-Bit.

Citation:

Attached images of Confederate troops on a Mississippi train ride are from this site about the " Illustarted London News", I think you wil find it very interesting!

http://beck.library.emory.edu/iln/illustrations.php

SCTiger

12-25-2006, 09:17 PM

Until I discover more, these are the last two Nisbet letters, for now. I will keep looking.

Scott County Miss
July th 23 1863

Dear Wife

I take my seat to answer your letter which I received on yesterday evening dated the 13th instant, I was more than to hear from you I was sorry to hear the children still had the cough, I hope they are better by this time. I am well as common, I still have the diarhea but can eat when I get it. I am thin in the flesh to what I was at home but it may be for the better this is the time of year that I always do fall off, this is a warmer climate than about Charleston, I sweat a great deal, my clothes is never dry on me from morning to night, I think that is one reason I am falling off in flesh. But I am thankful to the Giver of all good to his mercies to me. He has preserved me when the deadly missles of the enemy was raking the ground on each side, front and rear and not one hair of my head was hurt. There was no general engagement but the officers all say the heavyest skirmishing they ever saw. General Grant would not advance on us in our breast works, I suppose he was getting around us in some way or Gen Johnson would not have fallen back, for my part I do not know how what was the reason probably you know about it than I do. We fallen back 40 miles from jackson, we have gone into regular camp again, how long we will stay there I cannot say. I stood the march so far tolerable well. Our retreat from Big Black to Jackson broke me down the first day I went to our Sergeon, I told him I could not go any further to I would rest a while, he gave me a pass to go in rear of our Brigade, I got in rear of our division, I went as pleased notwithstanding the Yankees was a following us. I was not by myself I believe there was eleven of our comp went to Jackson, I did not get to company to the next morning after it got there, we were two days on the road from Big Black to Jackson, we suffered a good deal for water on the road and I never though green peaches was fit to eat before, but Nancy I cannot use language to describe the scene, the citizens from Big Black were moving on with us, leaving their homes bringing with thenm what of their property they could. I could see the old lady and her daughter riding in the wagon with their bonnets drawned down over their faces and almost covered with the dust. You can imagine their feelings better than I can describe them if I saw you I could tell you a great deal more than I can write, Nancy there was a few lines in your lettr from T. B. Craig, he wanted to know how many schollars would go to his next school. You can go one and a half, I think that will do, I am anxious for the school to go on tell Tom if he goes to see Miss-------I do know who he won't be in no fix to learn the children anything, tell him to excuse me for not writing directly to him. Nancy you had better get a careful hand to cut the wart of the mule, Milton would be a very good hand, it aught to be seared. Let me know if Dick got the fense fixed around his corn, try and have some good melasses made, don't cut the cane too green. I was sorry that Mary's ring got broke, I will make her another one if I get the chance but, we have left the Pearl River and no shells to be got. Our knapsacks is all sent back to Alabama. I have not got a change of cloths nor haint had for three weeks. J. S. Mc and N. B. Craig, Thomas Mccor, D C Wallace, John Snipes and SJV Faulkner is gone to the hospital at Centreprise H H and the rest of the comapny is tolerable well. I must close, my respects to Mother and all of my friends and receive my best love for you and the children, tell the children howdy for me. We get plenty of roasting ears, but they don't agree with me.

W.C. Nisbet N.W.N

Nancy I read all you write.

Scott Co Miss
Aug th2. 1863

Dear Wife:

I once more seat myself to write you a few lines, I am well and I hope these lines will come to your hand and find you and the children well, I received your letter yesterday evening dated the 21 and 22, I was glad to hear you were all well, I have no news of any importance to write to you, the health of our regiment is improving, I have not heard from N B Craig, J.S. MC Thorn since they went to the Hosbitol. John Snipes got back to the regt to day but he did not know anything about them. All is quiet here now, Gen Grant has fallen back to the other side of the Big Black. Our cavalry made a dash into Jackson the other day, took several yanks prisoner and got a good many negroes. We have been resting over a week, but we don't recruit much for we don't get enough to eat. We drawed flour to day and bacon, me and Henry bought a dozen apples a piece at one dollar per dozen and you aught to have seen me and White making tarts, we had one tart apiece and 7 biscuits apiece, I tell you I had one mess, we get enough only for one meal a day, if we get any more, we have to buy. I got my dinner the other day of beans and cabbage. I paid a dollar for it, I did not begrudge my dollar. I have drawed a good wool hat, one pair of cotton socks and 20 dollars since I came here, I spend a good deal of money for something to eat don't fret about me I would be a heap worse if I heard you were not getting enough to eat, I think times will be better before long, that is in the way of provisions, its reported we will come to Charleston before long, I can say as the truth of it, I hope its so. I will soon close for this time. H. H. is well and sends his love to you and children. I hope we will meet on earth again, if not on earth in another and better world, give my love to Mother, Mary C. and all of my good neigbours, my best love to you and the children.

Your Husband to death

W. C. Nisbet

Chawls, I think you would appreciate that last letter, so what's the revised ration stats now???