CIVIL WAR LETTER - Confederate 5th Alabama Infantry - Very Homesick For Family
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| Reference Number: Avaluer:49872845 |
CIVIL WAR LETTER
CIVIL WAR SOLDIER LETTER - Confederate 5th Alabama InfantryThis Confederate Civil War letter was written by John Whitfield Baker (1821-1891), the son of Peter W. Baker (1796-1878) and Mary Biddlecombe (1798-1890). The Baker’s came from South Carolina but settled in Notasulga, Tallapoosa county, Alabama prior to the Civil War. John’s first wife was Catherine H. Funderburke (1821-1860) who bore him at least five children before her death on 12 September 1860. Thei...r children, enumerated in the 1860 US Census, included Melissa Abigail (age 16), Drucilla (age 14), Mary (age 13), George (age 11), and Henrietta (age 5). Soon after, John remarried Elizabeth (“Bettie”) Jane Baker (b. 1842-19xx), who was 22 years his junior and not much older than his eldest daughter which was apparently the source of persistent conflict in the home. These letters are all addressed to her. [Note: I believe John’s second wife Bettie was the daughter of Conrad R. Baker and Nancy Jane Thompson—Conrad being a cousin of John’s. There is also mention of “Abigail” throughout the letters. She was John’s first-born daughter, Melissa Abigail Baker who married on 16 January 1862 to John W. Walters (b. 1830), the son of Joshua and Sarah Walters (or Watters, spelled variously throughout the letters.]It appears that John Baker had managed to avoid military service up until the fall of 1863. He had several younger brothers who are mentioned in these letters that volunteered in 1862. They included James Jackson (“Jack”) Baker (1829-1886), Turner Baker (1834-1914), Peter W. Baker (1837-1897), and Joshua J. Baker (1842-19xx), all of whom survived the war while serving in Co. B, 5th Alabama Infantry, though not without either being wounded or spending one or two stints in a Union prison. He also had at least two cousins, Herod Baker and Harrison Baker, who served in the 5th Alabama with similar experiences. Most of these boys were with the regiment at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness.The first Conscription Act of the Confederate Congress (April 1862) made any white male between 18 and 35 liable to 3 years military service. At that time, John was already 41 years old and therefore exempt. But in late September 1862 as the need for soldiers became more pressing, the Confederate Congress expanded the eligible age to 45. Suddenly John was no longer exempt and he was called into a camp of instruction at Pollard, Alabama in October 1863. For some unexplained reason, Baker thought he was going to be placed into the 55th Alabama but he would eventually learn that his company C, under the command of Capt. Julis P. Haggerty, would be part of the 61st Alabama. The regiment was first brigaded under Gen. Clanton, but in January 1864 was ordered to Virginia. Reaching Orange Court House, the regiment took the place of the 26th Alabama in Battle’s brigade, Rodes’ division.The 61st Alabama was first under fire at the Wilderness where its loss was severe, but it captured a battery, killed Gen. Jenkins, and almost annihilated his New York Zouave brigade. At Spottsylvania the 61st lost heavily in casualties and prisoners during the several days’ fighting. Its loss was not severe at the second Cold Harbor, and it soon after moved into the Valley with Early, and crossed into Maryland. At Snicker’s Gap and Winchester the loss of the 61st was severe, and even larger at Fisher’s Hill. Rejoining the main army, the regiment took its place in the trenches at Petersburg, and lost continually, especially in prisoners at Hare’s Hill. On the retreat to Appomattox the 61st fought much of the time and surrendered there 27 men under Capt. A. B. Fannin.As we learn from these letters, however, John was not with his regiment when they marched into the Wilderness. His advanced years and want of devotion to the Confederate cause resulting in his “playing off” or feigning sickness (in my opinion) to avoid the risk of injury or death on the battlefield. With a wife and children at home who depended upon him, he undoubtedly felt the need to protect himself as long as possible until peace could be restored and he be allowed to return home. As such, the letters contain some war news, but no first-hand observations of the battlefield. Rather, they capture the anxieties—or “troubles”—of a middle-aged father separated from his family knowing they relied upon him for survival. John’s letters conjure up shades of “Cold Mountain“—telling the story of the war not so much from the brutality of the battlefield as it was for the folks back home who worried about having their food stolen from them by poachers or government collectors, their currency depreciating in value, their livelihood all but destroyed. Most of the farmers from Notasulga and Tuskegee were not slaveholders but poor dirt farmers who scratched out a living in the pine barrens or hill country and who, like John, would gladly “give up the whole Confederacy” to be with his family once again.Ink on this letter is light - but we were able to carefully transcribe under a good lamp.Rev. John W. Baker’s headstone—as difficult to read as some of his letters.TranscriptionCamp near Pollard, Alabama
October 24th 1863Dear Wife, I again take my pen to write you and to let you know that I am well. I hope these few lines will find you and my children well. I have nothing of interest to write you. Capt. Smith is here now and he thinks he will get but a poor showing for his company. But if he does not get his company & we under the best kind of [ ] Captain and Lieutenant if does not get his company, I expect to stay with the company I am now with. You wanted to know whether I wanted my [ ] or not. I can do without it. I drew me a good woolen short coat and two shirts. I shall get a new pair of britches soon. I will get the pair you make me. The britches I spoke of you can also have her [ ] his clothe you have made him. You can do as you like about them.Dear wife, take good care of everything. When you write to me, if you have no convenience of sending your letters to Notasulga, let George take them to Dr. Johnson’s and he will take them to Lookahatchie [?]. My dear, write to me every week. I remain your loving husband, — John W. BakerDrucilla, Mary, George, & Henrietta, be good children while your poor father is in the army exposed to everything that is ill. Keep peace among yourselves and pray for me that I may again get home to enjoy your society and be with you. Drucilla, I want you and Mary and George to write to me. Write some to mr for Henrietta. Tell Abigail to write to me for I want to hear from her and tell her to write to me where John is. Take good courage yourselves that your health may be preserved. I have no room to write more. I must close. I remain your loving father until death. — John W. BakerTERMS$3.00 postage in the United States. We accept Paypal.Postage combined for multiple purchases. Please wait for me to send the invoice, otherwise you will pay a higher rate.For International buyers, we utilize eBay’s Global ShippingProgram. We had too many packages sentvia the post office go missing. So webelieve this program will be safer for us and for you.We are members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S.Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the IllinoisPostal History Society.We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies orreproductions). Some of our letters havebeen transcribed and nicely presented for future genealogists and history buffson the Spared & Shared blog.We have been selling on eBay since 1998. BID WITH CONFIDENCE !
00368
CIVIL WAR SOLDIER LETTER - Confederate 5th Alabama InfantryThis Confederate Civil War letter was written by John Whitfield Baker (1821-1891), the son of Peter W. Baker (1796-1878) and Mary Biddlecombe (1798-1890). The Baker’s came from South Carolina but settled in Notasulga, Tallapoosa county, Alabama prior to the Civil War. John’s first wife was Catherine H. Funderburke (1821-1860) who bore him at least five children before her death on 12 September 1860. Thei...r children, enumerated in the 1860 US Census, included Melissa Abigail (age 16), Drucilla (age 14), Mary (age 13), George (age 11), and Henrietta (age 5). Soon after, John remarried Elizabeth (“Bettie”) Jane Baker (b. 1842-19xx), who was 22 years his junior and not much older than his eldest daughter which was apparently the source of persistent conflict in the home. These letters are all addressed to her. [Note: I believe John’s second wife Bettie was the daughter of Conrad R. Baker and Nancy Jane Thompson—Conrad being a cousin of John’s. There is also mention of “Abigail” throughout the letters. She was John’s first-born daughter, Melissa Abigail Baker who married on 16 January 1862 to John W. Walters (b. 1830), the son of Joshua and Sarah Walters (or Watters, spelled variously throughout the letters.]It appears that John Baker had managed to avoid military service up until the fall of 1863. He had several younger brothers who are mentioned in these letters that volunteered in 1862. They included James Jackson (“Jack”) Baker (1829-1886), Turner Baker (1834-1914), Peter W. Baker (1837-1897), and Joshua J. Baker (1842-19xx), all of whom survived the war while serving in Co. B, 5th Alabama Infantry, though not without either being wounded or spending one or two stints in a Union prison. He also had at least two cousins, Herod Baker and Harrison Baker, who served in the 5th Alabama with similar experiences. Most of these boys were with the regiment at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness.The first Conscription Act of the Confederate Congress (April 1862) made any white male between 18 and 35 liable to 3 years military service. At that time, John was already 41 years old and therefore exempt. But in late September 1862 as the need for soldiers became more pressing, the Confederate Congress expanded the eligible age to 45. Suddenly John was no longer exempt and he was called into a camp of instruction at Pollard, Alabama in October 1863. For some unexplained reason, Baker thought he was going to be placed into the 55th Alabama but he would eventually learn that his company C, under the command of Capt. Julis P. Haggerty, would be part of the 61st Alabama. The regiment was first brigaded under Gen. Clanton, but in January 1864 was ordered to Virginia. Reaching Orange Court House, the regiment took the place of the 26th Alabama in Battle’s brigade, Rodes’ division.The 61st Alabama was first under fire at the Wilderness where its loss was severe, but it captured a battery, killed Gen. Jenkins, and almost annihilated his New York Zouave brigade. At Spottsylvania the 61st lost heavily in casualties and prisoners during the several days’ fighting. Its loss was not severe at the second Cold Harbor, and it soon after moved into the Valley with Early, and crossed into Maryland. At Snicker’s Gap and Winchester the loss of the 61st was severe, and even larger at Fisher’s Hill. Rejoining the main army, the regiment took its place in the trenches at Petersburg, and lost continually, especially in prisoners at Hare’s Hill. On the retreat to Appomattox the 61st fought much of the time and surrendered there 27 men under Capt. A. B. Fannin.As we learn from these letters, however, John was not with his regiment when they marched into the Wilderness. His advanced years and want of devotion to the Confederate cause resulting in his “playing off” or feigning sickness (in my opinion) to avoid the risk of injury or death on the battlefield. With a wife and children at home who depended upon him, he undoubtedly felt the need to protect himself as long as possible until peace could be restored and he be allowed to return home. As such, the letters contain some war news, but no first-hand observations of the battlefield. Rather, they capture the anxieties—or “troubles”—of a middle-aged father separated from his family knowing they relied upon him for survival. John’s letters conjure up shades of “Cold Mountain“—telling the story of the war not so much from the brutality of the battlefield as it was for the folks back home who worried about having their food stolen from them by poachers or government collectors, their currency depreciating in value, their livelihood all but destroyed. Most of the farmers from Notasulga and Tuskegee were not slaveholders but poor dirt farmers who scratched out a living in the pine barrens or hill country and who, like John, would gladly “give up the whole Confederacy” to be with his family once again.Ink on this letter is light - but we were able to carefully transcribe under a good lamp.Rev. John W. Baker’s headstone—as difficult to read as some of his letters.TranscriptionCamp near Pollard, Alabama
October 24th 1863Dear Wife, I again take my pen to write you and to let you know that I am well. I hope these few lines will find you and my children well. I have nothing of interest to write you. Capt. Smith is here now and he thinks he will get but a poor showing for his company. But if he does not get his company & we under the best kind of [ ] Captain and Lieutenant if does not get his company, I expect to stay with the company I am now with. You wanted to know whether I wanted my [ ] or not. I can do without it. I drew me a good woolen short coat and two shirts. I shall get a new pair of britches soon. I will get the pair you make me. The britches I spoke of you can also have her [ ] his clothe you have made him. You can do as you like about them.Dear wife, take good care of everything. When you write to me, if you have no convenience of sending your letters to Notasulga, let George take them to Dr. Johnson’s and he will take them to Lookahatchie [?]. My dear, write to me every week. I remain your loving husband, — John W. BakerDrucilla, Mary, George, & Henrietta, be good children while your poor father is in the army exposed to everything that is ill. Keep peace among yourselves and pray for me that I may again get home to enjoy your society and be with you. Drucilla, I want you and Mary and George to write to me. Write some to mr for Henrietta. Tell Abigail to write to me for I want to hear from her and tell her to write to me where John is. Take good courage yourselves that your health may be preserved. I have no room to write more. I must close. I remain your loving father until death. — John W. BakerTERMS$3.00 postage in the United States. We accept Paypal.Postage combined for multiple purchases. Please wait for me to send the invoice, otherwise you will pay a higher rate.For International buyers, we utilize eBay’s Global ShippingProgram. We had too many packages sentvia the post office go missing. So webelieve this program will be safer for us and for you.We are members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S.Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the IllinoisPostal History Society.We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies orreproductions). Some of our letters havebeen transcribed and nicely presented for future genealogists and history buffson the Spared & Shared blog.We have been selling on eBay since 1998. BID WITH CONFIDENCE !
00368
