1863-01-09: Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to Phil F. Mitchell, Letter
This document is a letter from Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to her brother Phil F. Mitchell, written from her home Bright Spot in Line Creek, Ala., on January 9, 1863. She discusses local and family news. The Fitzpatrick family emigrated from Ireland to the Virginia colony in the early 1700s. Ove...
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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?/fmw01,43 |
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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 1863-01-09: Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to Phil F. Mitchell, Letter Williamson, Mary Louisa Mitchell |
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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 -- Domestic Life; Peoples -- Agricultural Life; Peoples -- Rural Life; History -- 1838-1874: Sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction; |
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1863-01-09: Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to Phil F. Mitchell, Letter |
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1863-01-09: Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to Phil F. Mitchell, Letter |
| description |
This document is a letter from Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to her brother Phil F. Mitchell, written from her home Bright Spot in Line Creek, Ala., on January 9, 1863. She discusses local and family news. 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 Louisa, a central figure of this collection, married Dr. Samuel "Trinley" Thomas Williamson in September 1861 shortly after the war began. Williamson was a medical doctor who also fought in the Confederate armed forces. With Williamson and the three Mitchell brothers away fighting, Mary Louisa was left home to run the household with only the help of her sick mother and her sisters. At this time she was also pregnant with her first child who was born in 1862. All three brothers and Williamson survived the war. The family continued to live in Alabama following the Civil War. Since the mid-1900s, some branches of the family have spread out while some continue to live in Alabama. 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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Williamson, Mary Louisa Mitchell |
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Williamson, Mary Louisa Mitchell |
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AUfmw0143 |
| url |
http://content.lib.auburn.edu/u?/fmw01,43 |
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https://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getthumbnail/collection/fmw01/id/43 |
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1705449246322327552 |
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1863-01-09: Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to Phil F. Mitchell, LetterThis document is a letter from Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to her brother Phil F. Mitchell, written from her home Bright Spot in Line Creek, Ala., on January 9, 1863. She discusses local and family news. 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 Louisa, a central figure of this collection, married Dr. Samuel "Trinley" Thomas Williamson in September 1861 shortly after the war began. Williamson was a medical doctor who also fought in the Confederate armed forces. With Williamson and the three Mitchell brothers away fighting, Mary Louisa was left home to run the household with only the help of her sick mother and her sisters. At this time she was also pregnant with her first child who was born in 1862. All three brothers and Williamson survived the war. The family continued to live in Alabama following the Civil War. Since the mid-1900s, some branches of the family have spread out while some continue to live in Alabama. 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]
Bright Spot
Jan the 9th 1863
My Dear Brother
I have a good opportunity to mail a
letter to morrow so I write, knowing you are always
glad to hear from home, wether I have any news or
not, we are all well, Julia has been right sick. she is
better now; we are anxious to hear from you and Bud
Josie, we had no mail last week, perhaps we would
have received a letter from some of you.
There is nothing very new with us, the people are
astir bout the great battle at Murfreesboro; I rode
over to see Cousin Martha Baldwin yesterday even-
ing. saw all the late papers, I tell you I read them
eagerly; I was very much alarmed for fear Trinley
would get in range of some guns, I did n't see any
thing bout Hilliard's Legion, they all think they
were not engaged, when I received the last letter
they were above Knoxville, but the enemy were
heavily reinforced, and I dare say they were sent
to Murfreesboro; I feel very anxious bout it any
how; The papers say we are victorious so far, it
is not decided yet, it is the hardest fought battle
of the war; surely there will be some move for
peace after this victory. I saw a list of the casualties
in Col Mitchell's Regt; Captain John Carter, Matt Hales
and Mr Warren were wounded. I believe I wrote to
Bud Josie that we heard Cousin Green was alive
and would be home soon; it was a mistake
Dr. Jones saw Cousin John this week, he told him
he had just heard from him, he died last Septem-
ber, poor fellow, how sorry I am, I always thought
[page 2]
he was dead or he would have written home. Brother
Phil we are so happy to hear you were well and
better satisfied, but we are as anxious to hear from
you now, where you are, &c; I suppose Tobe has reached
you by this time. I know you were glad to see some one
that could tell you bout us all. There is nothing new
since he left, we are all busy. Mother is working in
the yard and garden; White is busy at the plantation
he is doing very well, but has bad luck to lose the
hogs. a good many have died with the cholera,
every body is losing their hogs; Billie Barnet and Elsie
Smith and at home, they are fat, look well, they came to
see us monday and Carrie Halliday. Mary Smith & Mary
Barnet they are all in a great glee now the Boys
have come, they had a party at Mr Barnet's last
night. White & [Sallie ?] went. Sallie Blakey is married
to Dr. John Farley. brother to Joe Farley. I was surprised
I suppose you have heard of Dr. Pope's marriage to
Miss Brown. There is considerable sickness in the
neighborhood, we have been blessed so far, Uncle Clem
is riding all the time; Ben Phil is very sick, of Pneu-
monia. Brother Phil our office is broken up here
I dont know when we will have a mail again, no
body takes any interest in it, it vexes me, you must
write as soon as you receive this and direct to
Union Springs, there is always some passing from
this neighborhood, if not we can send up there, I
will write to you if they establish another mail
here; Mother says you must write often she is always
anxious to hear from you, she sends her best love
to you & Bud Josie; the children send their love, Bessie
is nearly crazy to see you. I wish you could come
home if it is only to stay a little while, As soon as
[page 3]
[written sideways at left edge of page 2]
you go into winter quarters apply for a furlough, we all want to see you so very
much The baby is well and mighty sweet he rides on my foot to see you all every
night, after I put on his night gown, you might see how he laughs & enjoys it, he
hears so much of you are I think he will know you when you come; I must close
Excuse this. I was obliged to write in a hurry, I will write again soon; give my
love to Bud Josie & Tobe, write soon, very soon, good bye, as ever your own
affectionate Sister
Mary Lou Williamson
[page 4]
[written upside down at top of page 2]
P. S. I wrote to Bud Joe the other day tell
him to write to me. Melissa has a
baby girl, named "Ella Christine"1863-01-09Williamson, Mary Louisa MitchellMitchell Family; Alabama--Social life and customs--19th century; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Correspondence; Letters; Peoples -- Domestic Life; Peoples -- Agricultural Life; Peoples -- Rural Life; History -- 1838-1874: Sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction;Line Creek, Montgomery County, Alabama, United States1863-01-09Fitzpatrick-Mitchell-Williamson Family Papers, 1850-1989, Auburn University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Auburn University, Auburn, AlabamaRecord Group 1223, Fitzpatrick-Mitchell-Williamson Papers, Folder 404 pages, 30 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;1863-01-09_WilliamsonMLM_to_MitchellPF_letter.pdfapplication/pdfDeeply RootedAuburn University Librarieshttp://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/fmw01/id/43 |