1863-01-23: George Washington Cherry to Home Folk, letter
This document is a letter from George Washington Cherry near Shelbyville, Tennessee, to his family at home in Alabama on January 23, 1863. In it Cherry writes about food and life in camp, and prospects to send letters and parcels with traveling soldiers. The letter also describes family conflicts. T...
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| Format: | Electronic |
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Auburn University Libraries
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| Online Access: | http://content.lib.auburn.edu/u?/cherry01,35 |
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Electronic |
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| collection |
Cherry Family Civil War Letters Collection |
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Auburn University Digital Library |
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Auburn University Libraries |
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Family letters |
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Family letters 1863-01-23: George Washington Cherry to Home Folk, letter Cherry, George Washington |
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Family letters Cherry family; Cherry, George Washington--Correspondence; Confederate States of America. Army--Military life; Soldiers--Confederate States of America; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Operational rations (Military supplies); Government & Politics -- Military; History -- 1838-1874: Sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction; Peoples -- Domestic Life; Peoples -- Agricultural Life; Peoples -- Military Life; Religion -- Christianity; Geography & Environment -- Natural Environment -- Climate and Weather; |
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1863-01-23: George Washington Cherry to Home Folk, letter |
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1863-01-23: George Washington Cherry to Home Folk, letter |
| description |
This document is a letter from George Washington Cherry near Shelbyville, Tennessee, to his family at home in Alabama on January 23, 1863. In it Cherry writes about food and life in camp, and prospects to send letters and parcels with traveling soldiers. The letter also describes family conflicts. This item has been aggregated as part of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL)'s "Deeply Rooted: The Agricultural & Rural History of the American South" project. |
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Cherry, George Washington |
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Cherry, George Washington |
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AUcherry0135 |
| url |
http://content.lib.auburn.edu/u?/cherry01,35 |
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https://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getthumbnail/collection/cherry01/id/35 |
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1705448444917710848 |
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1863-01-23: George Washington Cherry to Home Folk, letterThis document is a letter from George Washington Cherry near Shelbyville, Tennessee, to his family at home in Alabama on January 23, 1863. In it Cherry writes about food and life in camp, and prospects to send letters and parcels with traveling soldiers. The letter also describes family conflicts. This item has been aggregated as part of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL)'s "Deeply Rooted: The Agricultural & Rural History of the American South" project.[page 1]
Camp near Shelbyville Tenn Jany 23rd 1863
Dear "Home Folks"
It has been some time since I have written
to you and longer since I have got a letter from any of -
you. I write this, not because I have anything interesting
to communicate but because I feel like, that there ought
to be letters passing between us all the time. I heard that
you were all well 3 days ago from Dr Christian. he had
a letter dated Jany 20th from miss Sue[?] Flournoy. I must believe
that you have written a letter or two that have miscarried
Surely you have not let two weeks pass without writing
My health still continues good, except a cold that I
have had until I have almost got used to it and an -
occasional slight attack of bowel complaint. I wish I
could get a chance to weigh. I think I would not
miss 150 lbs much. My fare is "tolerable" plain if
"very" coarse corn meal not sifted and bacon, or pork with very
little salt is considered plain fare. Flour has about "played
out" and so has beef. Another great inconvenience is the
lack of soap. I was lucky enough yesterday to buy
4 lbs of soft soap at 25 cts per lb and am now supplied for
several days, provided I do not lose it.
We have had some very hard weather, but to day is
warm and pleasant. This is a very disagreeable country
in winter. The ground is generally either frozen or very -
wet and muddy and as slick as soap.
I received a letter from Fate a day or two since
[page 2]
in which he endeavored to justify his course in writing to
Ma as he did, and his arguments are his trials.
No doubt he has had many and severe trials, but I can-
not see what connection they had with his letter to Ma
Oh that his jealous disposition and fractious temperament
could be altered and that he could be induced to rely
more upon himself. I wrote him in answer
a plain friendly letter and (shall never write harshly to
him for I do pity him.) Yet I thought it best to
let him know that I am not deceived. He wrote to me
that when he applied to Ma for the $100.00 that it was
to relieve the necessities of absolute want, and when he
wanted the money he said it was to start him in business.
I expect I have written more on this subject than I
should and will stop, trusting that his future may
be more bright. You have learned before this
that Capt Williams is again at home. He is
a very unlucky man to get sick and a very lucky
one to get home. I believe I would not mind a little
sick spell myself to get home on if I knew that
I would get well soon. Please write me to whom
you have hired the negroes and for how much.
"25th Jany" I have now waited two more days and
still do not get a letter from home. There is some
prospect for Lieut Worthy to go to Opelika. if he does
I will send this by him and you can send by him
anything in the way of letters or nicknacks when he
returns. I learn that he with others have been detached
for service somewhere, and the probability is that it may
[page 3]
be to collect stragglers from the regiment. if it is, I
wish I were in his place. I am getting pretty
homesick. Yet I will bide my time. It may be
that my good luck is in the future, at least I am
determined to hope so and trust to the Great disposer
of events.
Evening. Thom Page has come and brought the butter
and sausages & pants & letters at last I consequently
feel better than I did this morning. Worthy will leave for
Opelika tomorrow. he leaves for Shelbyville this evening
and I have not time to write much more. May
God bless you all. Artie & Buddy, Papa got your letters
and he hopes to be able to get the things you want some
day and bring them to you. be good children and do
as Ma says. Ma I got your letter and my trust
is just where yours is. I know we could not trust in
a [crossed out] Being more able to benefit us.
Em I got yours. I promise you that I will
the first convenience make you the ring if I
can get a file. I will also try and answer your
letter individually. I do hope you may all
be favored with the blessings of Divine providence
and that it may be His will to again unite us
around the family fireside.
Write soon Yours Truly G.W. Cherry -Cherry, George Washington1863-01-23Cherry family; Cherry, George Washington--Correspondence; Confederate States of America. Army--Military life; Soldiers--Confederate States of America; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Operational rations (Military supplies);Government & Politics -- Military; History -- 1838-1874: Sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction; Peoples -- Domestic Life; Peoples -- Agricultural Life; Peoples -- Military Life; Religion -- Christianity; Geography & Environment -- Natural Environment -- Climate and Weather;Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee, United States1863-01-23Cherry-Goldsby Family Papers, 1827-2018, Auburn University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Auburn University, Auburn, AlabamaCollection 1262, Cherry-Goldsby Family Papers, Box 1, Folder 173 pages, 24.7 cmengAuburn, Ala. : Auburn University LibrariesThis image is the property of the Auburn University Libraries and is intended for non-commercial use. Users of this image are asked to acknowledge the Auburn University Libraries. For information about obtaining high-resolution copies of this and other images in this collection, please contact Auburn University Libraries Special Collections & Archives Department at archives@auburn.edu or (334) 844-1732.Stillimage; Text1262-18-027-038_Letter from George Washington Cherry to Home folk 1863 January 23 Shelbyville TN.pdfapplication/pdfDeeply RootedAuburn University Librarieshttp://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/cherry01/id/35 |