1861-07-23: Phil F. Mitchell to Joseph A. Mitchell, Letter
This document is a letter from Phil Mitchell to his brother Joe Mitchell, written from camp near Norfolk, Va., on July 23, 1861. The writer describes life as a Civil War soldier and discusses the Battle of Bull Run. The Fitzpatrick family emigrated from Ireland to the Virginia colony in the early 17...
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Auburn University Libraries
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| Online Access: | http://content.lib.auburn.edu/u?/fmw01,30 |
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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 1861-07-23: Phil F. Mitchell to Joseph A. Mitchell, 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; Letters Peoples -- Military Life; Peoples -- Domestic Life; History -- 1838-1874: Sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction; |
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1861-07-23: Phil F. Mitchell to Joseph A. Mitchell, Letter |
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1861-07-23: Phil F. Mitchell to Joseph A. Mitchell, Letter |
| description |
This document is a letter from Phil Mitchell to his brother Joe Mitchell, written from camp near Norfolk, Va., on July 23, 1861. The writer describes life as a Civil War soldier and discusses the Battle of Bull Run. 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 Mitchell). Their daughter Mary Loui |
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Mitchell, Phil F. |
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Mitchell, Phil F. |
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AUfmw0130 |
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http://content.lib.auburn.edu/u?/fmw01,30 |
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https://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getthumbnail/collection/fmw01/id/30 |
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1705449246218518528 |
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1861-07-23: Phil F. Mitchell to Joseph A. Mitchell, LetterThis document is a letter from Phil Mitchell to his brother Joe Mitchell, written from camp near Norfolk, Va., on July 23, 1861. The writer describes life as a Civil War soldier and discusses the Battle of Bull Run. 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 Mitchell). Their daughter Mary Loui[page 1]
Near Norfolk Aug 25th 1861
My Dear Brother
I received your
letter a few days ago and have been
waiting to find something to write
that would interest you, but havent
succeeded so I write any how, Ben
is in front of the Tent pitching
quoits he is in a very good humor
to day. we have been doing without
Sugar for the last week and the
Quarter Master has just announced
that we get back rations to day
Ben took Bil (that is our cook) &
a big tin pan and went after it
he come back with a big lump in
his hand and a smile on his counte-
nance perhaps the sugar caused
it. Littlepage is cleaning his gun
[page 2]
as he sais to keep off of the [durned ?]
old double duty. he has cleaned the
barrel and got to the lock, he curses
it two with more vim than any man
you ever saw. Tobe is hard to keep
up with, he is off some where now. up
with the Southern Rifles, I expect.
he stais with Lamar & Troup bout
half the time. he knows more men in
the Regt. than any man in it I think
and if there is a chicken fight going
on he is the first to find it out. we
had two yesterday. it has almost
superceded card playing, I have
been playing cards all the morning
(not for [variance ?]) and being wearied
with that thought of nothing I
could do better than answering your
letter, we are still here and seemingly
no nearer a fight than when we
first come. we have all sorts of
[page 3]
Reports through the camp that
keeps us from wearing clean out
the last is that we will have a big
fight before three days. it may
be so. I hope it is. they are under-
[stedly ?] preparing for some big move
and that France has recognized our
independence, by telegraph. news con-
firmation I havent been to Norfolk
here in six weeks, not since I was
sick there. nor out side of the Senti-
nels lines but once and that was
the other night. Littlepage and my
self went to a party across the
River bout two miles from Camp
there was sixteen of us in all
we went in a sail boat and
had a nice time. I enjoyed my
self more and felt more like
my-self than I have at any time
since I left home. we had the
[page 4]
The most glorious music I ever
listened to. perhaps my pleasure
was enhanced by the time place
& scenery. I mean in the trip
up the River. at every dip of the
oars (there was no wind we had to row)
you could see the phosforescent
light sparkle and flash like dia-
monds (well Ive been to dinner
Beef and put it so ill commence
again) there was only a few girls
there one right pretty little black
eyed one that I danced with
most. we had a nice supper
and plenty to drink. danced
until just time enough to get
in at Revilee. after we got
back Littlepage sais Phil that
black eyed girl sais you were
the most graceful dancer there
[page 5]
Tell Sister the remark reminded
me forcibly of our Line Creek
frolicks and how she entertained
me in our rides back home by
similar remarks, it flattered me
to some extent. but I think myself
that I was looking unusually
well. it may have been because I
had'ent seen my self [before ?] in so
long. I took a good look in old
Man Pattersons glass, I weigh now
just a hundred and seventy neat
I mean in my shirt sleeves with
my slipers on and if Ide quit smo-
king. (I have quit chewing) I think
Ide get up to 190 in a month or
two. My hair is almost down to my
shoulders. but its coming out I
am afraid Ill have to cut it
off. caused perhaps from my
sickness. I am proud to hear your
[page 6]
crop is fine and that the Confederate
is improving. I hope to have a ride
with my sweet heart behind him ag-
ain some day. and about your comin-
g to the wars. I dont begin to want
you to come now. the fact is I begin
to want to see her right bad and
I want you to come on and take
my place in two or three months
thats my only chance. You must
save money enough to come when
I write for you. I am sorry I
can't be there to Sister's wedding
but you must all enjoy yourselves.
and write me all about it. I know
you will do your duty and attend
to every thing about the farm
how are the Mitchell pigs getting
on. I got a letter from Cousin
Mary M. yesterday looking
for one from Mrs. Wells every
[page 7]
day. I received Dr Williamsons letter
Ill answer it in a few days. I
want to answer Whites letter is
he at home or at Uncle [Huveatt's ?] Kiss
my little baby sis for me. love [illegible]
a kiss to Sallie and Julia to Mother
and Sister I am expecting letters
from home to morrow love to Auntie
and all the family. I was sitting last
night in front of my tent thinking of
you all. it was a beautiful night the
moon was full and I thought of
what Aunt Lucy said when Clary
went to Texas. that it was some
consolation to know that the same
bright Sun Moon & Stars are Shi-
ning upon us all. A beautiful thought
write soon to your Brother.
P. F. Mitchell1861-07-23Mitchell, Phil F.Mitchell Family; Alabama--Social life and customs--19th century; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Correspondence; LettersPeoples -- Military Life; Peoples -- Domestic Life; History -- 1838-1874: Sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction;Norfolk, Virginia, United States1861-07-23Fitzpatrick-Mitchell-Williamson Family Papers, 1850-1989, Auburn University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Auburn University, Auburn, AlabamaRecord Group 1223, Fitzpatrick-Mitchell-Williamson Papers, Folder 217 pages, 20 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;1861-07-23_MitchellPF_to_MitchellJA_letter.pdfapplication/pdfDeeply RootedAuburn University Librarieshttp://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/fmw01/id/30 |