1862-04-13: Phil F. Mitchell to Clement T. Fitzpatrick, Letter
This document is a letter from Phil Mitchell to his uncle Clem Fitzpatrick, written from camp near Norfolk, Va., on April 13, 1862. The writer describes life as a Civil War soldier and discusses the sea warfare between the Monitor and the Merrimac. The Fitzpatrick family emigrated from Ireland to th...
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Auburn University Libraries
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| Online Access: | http://content.lib.auburn.edu/u?/fmw01,28 |
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Electronic |
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Fitzpatrick-Mitchell-Williamson Papers 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 1862-04-13: Phil F. Mitchell to Clement T. Fitzpatrick, Letter Mitchell, Phil F. |
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Family letters Mitchell Family; Alabama--Social life and customs--19th century; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Correspondence; Fitzpatrick Family; Peoples -- Military Life; Peoples -- Domestic Life; History -- 1838-1874: Sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction; |
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1862-04-13: Phil F. Mitchell to Clement T. Fitzpatrick, Letter |
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1862-04-13: Phil F. Mitchell to Clement T. Fitzpatrick, Letter |
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This document is a letter from Phil Mitchell to his uncle Clem Fitzpatrick, written from camp near Norfolk, Va., on April 13, 1862. The writer describes life as a Civil War soldier and discusses the sea warfare between the Monitor and the Merrimac. The Fitzpatrick family emigrated from Ireland to the Virginia colony in the early 1700s. Over time, the family moved from Virginia through the Carolinas and into Georgia before finally settling in Line Creek, Alabama and Verbena, Alabama. Several members of the family were active politically including William Fitzpatrick, who served in the Georgia legislature, and Benjamin Fitzpatrick, who served two terms as governor of Alabama. Sarah Fitzpatrick, a descendant of this family, married Columbus White Mitchell who was from a prominent Alabama family. The couple had ten children, seven of whom survived infancy. Three of their sons served in the Civil War on the side of the Confederacy (Phil F. Mitchell, Joseph A. Mitchell, and Columbus White Mi |
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Mitchell, Phil F. |
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Mitchell, Phil F. |
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AUfmw0128 |
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http://content.lib.auburn.edu/u?/fmw01,28 |
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https://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getthumbnail/collection/fmw01/id/28 |
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1705449246203838464 |
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1862-04-13: Phil F. Mitchell to Clement T. Fitzpatrick, LetterThis document is a letter from Phil Mitchell to his uncle Clem Fitzpatrick, written from camp near Norfolk, Va., on April 13, 1862. The writer describes life as a Civil War soldier and discusses the sea warfare between the Monitor and the Merrimac. The Fitzpatrick family emigrated from Ireland to the Virginia colony in the early 1700s. Over time, the family moved from Virginia through the Carolinas and into Georgia before finally settling in Line Creek, Alabama and Verbena, Alabama. Several members of the family were active politically including William Fitzpatrick, who served in the Georgia legislature, and Benjamin Fitzpatrick, who served two terms as governor of Alabama. Sarah Fitzpatrick, a descendant of this family, married Columbus White Mitchell who was from a prominent Alabama family. The couple had ten children, seven of whom survived infancy. Three of their sons served in the Civil War on the side of the Confederacy (Phil F. Mitchell, Joseph A. Mitchell, and Columbus White Mi[page 1]
Cantinment at Moseleys Church Apr
13th 1862
Dear Uncle Clem
I received your letter yesterday
I havent written to you as often as I intended to.
but it was because I am unsettled. not determined
what course to persue under the circumstances. I have
not come to any deffinite conclusion yet. but think
it probable I may not come home. So I write you. enough
of the Regt have not enlisted to insure its reorganization
I think I can better my position as a private. I
dont like [Andrewse's ?] Company. the Sect men have not
[gone ?] in again under him. I think it rather a rowdy
Set and if compelled to go in here I shall [find ?]
some other company in the Regt with men that
will do to be to for the war. if the Conscript Law dont
pass I think I will come home for a short time.
I hope you dont advocate it. I would see any man
in h_ll before I would vote for him that votes for
the bill. you perhaps will think that spoken like
the Soldier. not as a man. I know there is wiser
heads at the helm than I. but every man had a
wright to an opinion. and I do honestly think that
it will help whip the Confederacy. I had as soon be
Lincoln's slave as Davis's. I saw a piece in the Day
[page 2]
Book yesterday written by a Georgian that are my
Sentiments exactly. he said you ask a foreigner about
it and he will tell you he left his home to avoid it.
it had its origin in Royalty. you brand Conscription
on my brow. you bow my head in disgrace. I am willing
to Serve my country. to die for it if necessary. but I
will not be forced. we are just saying here yet [doing ?]
nothing. plenty to eat, and good cabbins to sleep in. read
the news of the big battles at Shiloh and Corinth and the
immortal honors won by Alabamians that left home six
months after we did and curse the luck that keeps us
here inactive is doing a great deal to demoralize this
Regt. I think one half of them would join John Morgan
right off if they could leave here. I had rather be under
him than any man Ive heard of. if I can get away
from here I will join him. there is something there to divert
a fellows mind from himself. a reckless kind of a life
that I long for. I could die under him and never feel
bad a bout it. I wrote to Mr. Clepton the other day to
find out if the Government would recognize a Greenville
company. If they will we can get a crack Company of
about an hundred men most of the Southern Rifles.
to go into it. I have just heard that the conscript law
has passed. So that knocks every thing in the head except
to stay here. I expect there is some provission made in
it for twelve months men. I went down to the Beech
yesterday to see another fight between the Merimac and
[page 3]
Monitor there had been a storm raging for a day or
two before. and the Beech was strewed with peices of
wrecked vessels. dead hogs dogs and one dead man
a yankee Sailor the hogs had been eating him it was
an awful Sight. our pickets buried him we went to
the far end of [Milenbee's ?] point oposite the Rip Raps or
Fort Wool as the Yankees call it. and saw every thing. the
Merimac went nearly under the guns of the Fort and
dared the Monitor out but she wouldnt come. Shot at
her two or three time. took two little transports and
went back to Norfolk. and we came back to the Camp
had some fun getting back. the Tide had backed
up a little Creek we had to cross and we had to
wade for it a good many officers and bout half
the men were there. you would have been amused if
you could have seen us. nothing but our jackets on.
toating our unmentionables and wading over like
Cousin Sallie Dillard. the officers presented a laugh-
able appearance. But we all felt better after our
walk. for the cold bath. the boys are all in fine
health and spirits. Send any quantity of [love ?] and
howdy to you all. if we ever get into a fight I dont
think we ever will if we stay here I hope to get a
better position than Corporal No. 3. I expect Line Creek
does present a deserted appearance if all the boys have
gone. I want to see you all. but I have no desire to
come home and see every thing looking so desolate. I consider
[page 4]
Going to Mobile more in the light of a pleasure trip [though ?] they
will all be back in three months. has Cousin Graves enlisted or gone
as an independent. I think Dr. Williamson had better stay at home any
way unless he can get a position. I threw my self off like the mischief by
leaving so soon. but every thing is for the best. Uncle Billy would say. I
may make my jack here yet. I was amused at one line in your letter.
(the girls have shorn their locks &c) I misconstrued it. but knowing Uncle
Clem did not indulge in any thing [secretly ?]. I read it over again and
got it right. I am afraid the girls will have to live a long time in
a state of single blessedness if they have to wait for our return. I
think the war will last a long time if we come out unscathed we may
be way worn or weary. with our heads [blossoming ?] for the grave and
not a vestige of what made home dear to us remaining. but it will be
glorious to know even if we can't crown our heads individually with laurels
that [scratched out words] we belong to a nation that sustained its independence with
the hearts [illegible] blood of her countrymen. Ed Hart sais tell em all farewell he is
a conscript for seven years. Phil Townsend. sais find out whether Miss Carrie
Holiday will have him or not. he wants to come home they will give a fellow a furlough
that wants to marry. if you can find any body that will have me Ill come two
[page 5]
[written sideways on page 1]
Ive written all the news &
foolishness I can think. If
you must write to me I cant
afford to write and get no
answers. it cheers a fellow
up to get a letter. I get two
few now. I will answer Cousin
[Fannies ?] letter in a few days
may you and yours always
receive the reward of the noble
generous and pure. for as
such you ever were in
the eyes of your Nephew
Phil
1862-04-13Mitchell, Phil F.Mitchell Family; Alabama--Social life and customs--19th century; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Correspondence; Fitzpatrick Family;Peoples -- Military Life; Peoples -- Domestic Life; History -- 1838-1874: Sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction;Moseley's Church, Virginia, United States1862-04-13Fitzpatrick-Mitchell-Williamson Family Papers, 1850-1989, Auburn University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Auburn University, Auburn, AlabamaRecord Group 1223, Fitzpatrick-Mitchell-Williamson Papers, Folder 295 pages, 26 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 the Auburn University Libraries Special Collections & Archives Department at archives@auburn.edu or (334) 844-1732.Stillimage; Text;1862-04-13_MitchellPF_to_FitzpatrickCT_letter.pdfapplication/pdfDeeply RootedAuburn University Librarieshttp://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/fmw01/id/28 |