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Yorktown Va
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.............................................December
Saturday the 14 /61
.. Dear Father +
Family I again seat my self to write you a few lines to let you no that I am well at present hopeing this may reach you well
we are 130 miles from Rich we come down on the boat and then we march 15 miles and I tell you it was hard work we can see
the Yankees vesel from hear and I exspet we will move to day near the _____ will hour Arms to day I Hope, we left several
of hour boys at Rich with the mumps I mighty sure from the march Edward + Daniel Griffeth + J R S Marcus say air all down
the River abot 8 mils I regin I will get to see them when we goe dow, they air exspect a figh hear soon I dont no wheather
we will figh or not. Cobs Regiment + Cobs Legian air boath hear, I saw Pink Barke in Richmon Argustus Patmon was in Rich Joneses
Regln was sent to Norfolk, I never saw them, I heard that all the Commissioned officer but three perticion him to Resine but
he would not do it he had Dave Ford arrested and one mour of them
.. I sean a Great
deal since I left home I want you to wrie to me, I saw some of the Whiteheads in Atlantah I saw the Yankes you cant tell them
from hour peopel, the die evry day then I guarded them one day, the was verry unabl
.. We air under
General Mcgruder he has charge of this division. cant think of any thing to write I will come a close
Your Son until Death
DSAGriffeth
Give my love all the Childn
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Jan the... /62
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Yorktown
Dear Mother
I this evening seat my self to write you a few lines to let you no that I am well with the excption of the mumps they
havent heart me yet my jaw is swell up I weigh 150 ½ lbs I want you all to write to me often Mother I aim to send my Leams
Coat home by Feard if he can take it I have got mour close than I can toat, I would like to be with you all one hour for I
think I could tell a great deal that would interrest you and I no You could interrest me you must write often I cant think
of any thing, will come to a close
Mr Patmon + F A Mayes + J B Lane have all got discharges
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Yorktown Va
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Jan the /62
Dear Father
....... I received
you last monday which was thankfuly received and read with great interrest I was glad to hear that you all was well and am
thankful to say to you it reach me enjoying good health though I had to hol House Logs Sunday and Monday I had to go to get
Bard timber and the ground was covered with Sleete and it give a bad Coal but that is not strange hear you sated in your letter
that you understood we was expecting a fight hear ever day I exspect we wil have one hear but it may be a long time first
and then again it may be soon the Kanon heir fireing now dow on the beach but it is a long ways of I saw J R F Maek T L Ross
+ Pope + David Bentelocot + Dick Smith last weeak they was well and several others of my Schoolmats, Too of the Trout boys,
William was sick + Too of the Whiteheads
I am dining well Fleably well you sated in
your letter that if we did have a Battle that you want me to go over my self and do Justice my self and comp + Contry I will
try and do so I dont care when it come for I have come to the pass where I had just a leave fight as not and had I leave I
not do it as any way for if the yanke kill me I will be dead and if I am to come clear I will not be killd
Your Truly
write soon for...........................
D Griffeth
it does me a heap of good to hear from you
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Pa
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Jan the 23rd /62
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Yorktown Va
Dear Mother I this received your letter and
it was thankfuly received I was truly glad to hear that you all was well I am well with the exception of my very bad Coal
I was in the hospital have ben sick evry since. Feard left infact but I was sick a day or too before he left, A J Yeargin
died the 20th he died in the hospital about 2 weeaks, he had the Pneumonia in ______ ___, the health of the Com is good as
could be exspct we have got hour winter quarters Completed it look sorta like living, I havent any news to write at present
we dont have much news hear we havent Drawed yet, but we will Draw soon I think we need it bad enough, for money is scarce
in this Com J B Fowler is sick I Cannot think of nothing to write. Mother when you send any thing Cloathing mark it the one
you wan to have it for their some I dont want you work for, I would like to have some of the good thing you all have their
at home, for we have got nothing good to eat, we drawed a little surup yesterday, your letter was dated the 12th and it wasnt
mail until the 17th that mad it lay righ their at home 5 days I though you all had daily mail and if that be the case McC
did not do his duty I want you to write wheather you did have daly mail or not. I will come to a close
Your Son until Death
DSAGriffeth
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Dear Sister
Sue I was glad to hear from you but I dont
no of nothin to that will interest you, you must write often, I aim to write ____ in soon, I have the mumps but I am a getting
well I think I something to write, me and Mr Bray air goin to write together as Feard has gon home Sue you must write soon
and often – tell Jef that he he must take good care of my dogs and I want you to write wheather you all have have give
Bour away or not, So I will close
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DSAGriffeth
Dear Father it is with great pleasure that
I seat my self to write to that I have not got nothing to write to you, I have the mumps and they fell on me though they havent
not harm me much yet, but I am about over the you must write soon for I have to hear from home often to write what W A Bray
ia a goin to do I will come to a close, your son
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DSAGriffeth
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Jan 29th /62
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YorkTown Va
Mr ELW Griffeth I again seat my self to write
you afew lines to let you no that I am well at present hoping that when this comes to hand it may find you all well thou I
havent any news to write at present the health of the Com is tolerably good their is not much chance for a fight hear soon
the excitement is not as high as it has ben I wrote to you to have me a Hat like Feard made was though you can have me a Soft
Wool hat made like EW Patmons I think I can ware a soft wool hat it will cost $2.00 and will last longer than a fur hat that
cost $5.00 and I have concluded to try a wool hat, I have commenced to read the Testiment through I have read, I commence
at the first and have got through the Corintians I commence new years day, we have got it in hour houses it seams like liveings
now, I want you to write often for it does me a heap of good to hear from home I would not have wrote as soon as I have but
I wanted to write of Feard and I thought I would write home too. Your Son Until Death............ DSA
Griffeth
To Sarah Griffeth
Dear Sister
.......... I this
morning seat my self to write you a few lines to let you no that I am well at present I for got to write to tell, and in this
next letter who was excited in hour County, we air all fatning now we Drawed some pork the last draw day, Sarah tell Mother
that I sold my mix jean shirt for $2.50 for one is enough for one with to, we have to make out on as little as poserable for
if have to march we would throw away some of them, you must write soon give my love to all the Family and receive a good portion
your self and wheather any of you have got the mumps or not
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Feb the /62
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YorkTown Va
Dear Father
....... I this evening
to write you a few lines to let you no that I am well at present hopeing that when this come to hand that it may find you
all well Lieu Mayes is a going to start home in the morning I though I would write you afew lines to as it would not cost
any thing I want you to send me something good to eat, Some cake if he can bring it he can tell more than I can writ, I swaped
my watch for a repeter and swaped it for another watch and I have mad it bring me $20 I made $10.50 on it I will send you
some money by him, I give him $30.00 to give to you I though you might nead it to pay your tax and I had mour than I needed
hear I have abot $18.00 yet I thought that would do for me until we Drawed a gain if nothing hapens I we will draw in March
and if I have the chance I will send you some mour then, I dont no wheather you have sold your Cotton or not and I though
this money would pay your tax and you woul not be Corse fel to sel it I want you to write how much this makes you me just
put it on the note I am on guard to night, I am a guaring hour wood I took 3 prisoners but I am sorry to say they weair Georgians
they was trying to steal hour wood. Father I want you to get me a pocket Book like the one that I got from McCullough and
send it me by Lieu Mayes for the one I have is not fit to tote paper money in I aim to ____ed to morrow if it is a fit paper
is worth 75 cts a quire hear and envelps 65 cts a pack and sorry at this excus all mistakes I received letter to day from
AJ Arnold he has ben sick but was better, the health of their Reg is improved mor. I got a letter from E.A.V.D.H. Griffeth
the other day they was well and well satisfied they air at ports mouth Buter is worth 75 cts a lbs eggs 25 cts a Doz. I Capt
Thomson the other day he said the Boys was all well Lieu Ross has ben home he got last weeak the people we all generaly well
I will have to come to a close as my paper abot full you must write soon and write about what you air doing I want to no.......
Your Son until Death
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DSA Griffeth
to ELW Griffeth Esq
Give my love to all the Family
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To Mr. E.L.W. Griffeth
Floyd Springs
Floyd County
Ga
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To E L W Griffeth
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it is reported hear to day that Merrimac sunk
one of Old Abe Vesels last night and wounded inother and set Newport news on fire but it is only report but it come strate
they say there was 500 men on the one that sunk it sunk it at eight rouns. 2 Reg went from hear down that was this moring.
I hope it may be soe their fifteen of Old Abs Vesels in sight to day but they air at least 10 mils off, write often your son
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DSA Griffeth
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to ELW Griffeth
read this and send it to Father
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(I can date this letter as March 8th 1862 from
the event he’s wrote about)
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March the 9th 1862
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YorkTown Va
Miss Sarah A Griffeth
............ I this
beautiful Sabbath mouring seat my self to answer your kind letter which came to hand yesterday I was glad to hear that you
all was well and at the same time I am truly thankful to day to you that it reach me well and well satisfied I enjoy as good
health as ever did in my life, the health of this Co. is very good, my mess air all fat, I havent any news to write at present,
their is not much prospect of a fight hear soon though their is no telling they have ben moveing troops from hear, Cobs Reg
+ Cobs Leigon + 5th N.C. Reg has all ben moved from hear last weeck they all went to Suffork it is below Norfork I surpose
G Kinny is a going back I guess it will goe har with him take a privates place, WL Selman sends respects to you all I am sorry
you all and Mrs Guine cant get along for she is rite at you, I wish she would move away, it is had for neighbor to she like
you all air, I come to a close as I havent any thing to write at this time
Your Brother ................Davis
S A Griffeth
To Fanie tell hear I want to see her very bad,
tell her to be a good Girl, tell to write to me abid, tell me how hear sweethart is a get one .........
DG
To George tell him to bea a good boy and take
good care of his lams and his little Buls and my dogs, tell brake Ball from sucing eggs but not let him be kill DG To Mother,
I received your letter yesterday and was glad to hear that you was well but sorry to hear that you was in so much Trouble
I would let it me if I could help it for you can live without it if she will I was alis for it, she is welcome to it wont
profit her any, I havent any thing to write at this time. Tell Father to stay at home for he cannot stand it the Boys all
get hear safe if this gets their before the ballance of the Boys Start, if you have any clothes you my send a pair of pants,
I have bought me three guirs of paper I will come to a close, write soon You Son................. David
SA Griffeth
To Sue I want you to write what one of those
Gals you was wanting to no to see for I dont what one you was talking about you must write soon and write the news, theirs
a heavy Cannonading down the river now they sent hour Reg from hear down their this morning + to Cav Com + onr Aartilria Com
compose of six peases it any for that they air fight in now, we had a alarm hear last Tuesday night at 1 O’clock and
we were drawed up within the line of battle and Stade their until 4 O’clock when we left, order not to strip for they
did not, but we woul have to go back at day light but the Yanks did not come it not have no effect on me J C Boswell send
his respect to Pa and says for him to Stay at home they all say for him to stay I say for him to stay too, but if he goes
to any where for to come hear they say they air fighting at new port news now the kannin air roaring now George Fort says
tell his uncl Will to send him a pair of pants your Brother David SA Griffeth
To Charly tell him take god care of my dogs
tell to keep Bartos till I come home and we will a rabbit hunting, tell all the negres how’d for me
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March the 30th /62
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YorkTown Va
Dear Father
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It with pleasure that I seat my self to write you a few lines to let you no how I am getting on I am thankful to day to you
that I am well at present and infact I enjoy better health now than I have in five years I havent much news to write, their
has ben some excitement hear for the last few days, they had us up in the line of battle fryday morning before day but the
Yanks did not come it has ben the report that about 60,000 Yanks were advancing on us son Fary day they fel back and yestiday
they were advancing again we expected to have ben drawn up before day this morning, but they didnt disturb us, we have ben
reinforcing for four or five days, I have no idea how many has come in, they say the 18th Ga Regt has come but I havent sean
it, their air three Ga Regt on the penensula and if the 18 Regt, it will make four their, four or five Ala Regt hear and some
formming evry State, the health of the Com is very good, A Eale says you must come over some Saturday night and we will have
fish for breakfast, you ought to have ben hear this morning to him eat fish I tell you we made them get further. A Eale was
sick for a few days when they first got hear but he has got well, I Burney was sick too but he has got well now, I tryed to
swap horses with jude Thomas but he would not swap I offered him fifteen Dollars to boot, he would not swap for that, I want
you to write often, I will close So nothing at present, Your Son until death....................................
DSAGriffeth
To Mother I wish I could think of something
to write to you but all the news that I had put in my letter Pa letter, am as fat as a pig, I wiegh 166 lbs I want you all
to write to me often for I cant see you, write we cant talk so let us write, I havent received a litter by mail in a long
time it look like the mail is stoped but the rest of the boys can get letters by mail, I will answer evry letter you will
write to me, write soon Give my love to all the Family, it has got so we cant get postage for nothing holy, Goul or Silver,
I just now that the Yankes has got Savannah but I hope that is a mistake if they will try us I think we can take some of them
prisoners and kill some of them to, all the Boys air keen for a fight, I must state, Your Son DSAGriffeth
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April 11th /62
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YorkTown Va
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Dear Father + Family
......... I seat
my self to write you a few lines to let you no that I am still a live their air a great deal of excitement hear now we have
ben in the line of battle evry since last Saturday morning at day light on Saturday we had some Canonading for a right Smart
while but no damage on hour side hour batry fired some few times at them I tell you the Bums Sung pretty over hour heads one
of the bums tore a negrows arm off that all the damage as yet, I dont no when we will have a general engament it may be to
day and it may bea severald days I saw Cousen John King yesterday he is in the 17 Regt Miss Vol.
I am well at present I will write as soon as
its over if I dont get kiled I am to send this by hand a part of the and I will not have time to write much.
I sean the Yanks Balloon go up sever time I
will come to a close for the present as the gen’l is in a heary to start write soon give love to all the Family, it
has not frighten much yet I dont show it would be if they wer heavy fireing going but it dont seam right now without. I can
hear Cannon fireing all of hour boys but 4 air able to be in action we air all anxious for a fight I want it to come of for
I think we can whipe, you must excuse my short letter for I have wrote as long as I can for he want to start, your son
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DSA Griffeth
dont be uneasy for I dont think they will hurt
me
Letter wrote in April 27th 1862
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Year of our Lord /62
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Yorktown Va
Sunday morning the 27th
......... Mother
it is with great plesure that embrace the present in answering you favor of the 13 instant which was long looked for and was
thankfuly received, when it got hear I was truly glad to hear that you all was well and doing well and I do hope thes few
lines may find you all still well, with the exception of Coal form and the caus of that is from the exposer that we have to
endur goe, I have not slep but one hole night since the fifth we have to ly by the breast works both day and night the Yanks
has ben insight evry since the fifth and we have ben pasing shots at each other evry day since that time, theirs has not had
much effect yet and I cant tell what effect hours has had on them but I hope they have had mour than theirs for I exspect
that we will have quite and ods to contend with and we air willing to do so if they will ever make the attact for we have
ben so expose that I think it would make the bigis coward that we have brave we all had just adhav live as die mother I dont
think it will agitate me half as much as I thought it woul my reason for thinking is they have throwed a great many shell
ovr us and roud about our Camp and it has not excited me much yet I felt just about like I would if I wer at home and had
a pork of hours after a fast so I will not say any mour about the war. Mother you said in your letter that you had lot of
shirts and drawers on hand for us I wont want but one shir if that for I have not had on one of my shirts since I left home
and others air good yet and my drawers air tolerby good Mother if it wont be too much trouble make all of my pants thicker
so as I can put them on and ware them out before I peel them off for I dont want to be taking two or three pair of old pants
that air not worth mour than one new pair is wen it woul not be a waist to toat them, a pair that is wore out I can make out
a good while yet for clothing, I have two tolerable good pair of pants yet and I can patch them with the pair that is worn
out. Maj Best told me to remember him to you all, J R Burney he says that he would like to see Father now J W Madden told
me to remember him to you all. Mother I would like very much to see you all but I no it is not worth while to be realess about
it so I tak it fine and easy I am no ways home sick but would like to see you all, I would like to go home on a furlough after
the fight is over if I am so fortunit as to get through it but I no their is no chance for me to get off but if I live I am
to try and spend my next birthday with you all and make you give me a diner. Mother their air a great many Ga Regt hear but
I dont no wheather the 22nd is hear or not. I regin Kinney has left again I just them Resived letter from you all dated the
20th I was truly glad to hear from you all I hope and trust that we may meet in heaven where air no wars to disturb us and
no death part us, I want you to pray for me for this is the hardes place to live rite that I ever saw for the bad get war
and the good. Mother I want you to write often for it is all the privilegs that we have and I want us to be sure and use it
for it affords me a great deal of satisftion to hear for home Mother I have spent my pleasure days for I never exspect to
live as easy as I have in day that air pas I spen many a day in Sparting about I will come to a close.........
Your son until death....................................... DSA Griffeth
Father I received your letter a few nights
a goe and was glad to hear from you their was a bum jus then come over from the river and busted but I regin was like all
the rest of them with out any damage I believe Tha they have began to the shell us in ______ now Father the Yanks ben lying,
sits hear at us evry since the fifth and no fight a consiquince yet and the air fortifying them selves in sight of us it is
thus hour General air smarter than I but it took to me like they have don rong in letting lay hear fortify for we could of
ralied the 10th of this mont easer look to like then we can now, if it was first that the general air smart men I would be
out fast but I intend to live in _____ if I die in dispar, I it rumored hear that the Yanks has taken New orleans but I dont
intend to believe it until I am oblige to, I tell the Shell air whising ovr lot off a boat 10 to15 Kennon just then at the
yan on land were the let one come back at us from watter, the health of the Company is very good, Ishmael Broom is rite bad
off with Coal but I hope he will soon be well, Father you must write often I will come to a close
your son Until Death
DSAGriffeth...........
Good by
To Sarah was glad to hear from you but am sorry
that I havent got no news to write to you, but I will write alittle any, the Boys air all as healthy as ever, Sarah I wrote
a letter and sent to Ga by hand and I sent you a lot of Postage in it, want you all to write wether you have got it or not,
I saw A R Johson the other day he looks better then I ever saw him, their air alot of the floyd boys hear, but we can get
out to see them, you must write soon what I write to one I write to all and dont have any thing write to you for I have wrote
all of the news to Father and Mother give my love to all of the Family tell Mrs Bray that Mr Bray is well, me and him air
not at the Cannon and I don no whether he wants to write or not and I want to write, I will send this Ga to bea mailed Your
Brother.... DSAG
To Caroline + Evaline + Ga I want you to continue
to write, would have writen to you before now but I thought that when I wrote to one it would do for all, you all must bea
Good Girls learn fast and make smart women, if I was their I could tell you a heap but cant think of nothing to write, you
must not write, wieght for me to write, you must write and I will write to someone of the family and that counts for all,
I get a letter MD Greer occasionaly, She give me all the news on that side of the river you mus write soon
Your Brother........
DSA Griffeth
Sue I was glad hear from you, you write mour
to my notion than any of theirs for you tell me all that is going on and the balance write a little scrib and stop. One of
the Yanks shells like to have kill Agiten and _____ frost best it didnt hurt them, Sue if you do get to see Miss Mat Mgr spend
a good word for me, tell her that I hope to bea in floyd again and see all of the pretty Girls, it would do me a heap of good
to see a Floyd Girl now, Su th bum air whising ovr me no while I am writing I wish we could have a fight and Hesin it for
I am geting tier of being up, mayby I will rite you a joke in my next letter about some of the Boys they air all lively, I
dont think any of hour Com will get in the ditch and hope they worn for their is as much danger at one place as another
DSA Griffeth
I will have to come to a close as my paper
is out
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May the 18th /62
Camp Winder Richmond Va
Dear Mother
.......... I this
beautiful Sabbath morning seat my self to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am Stil alive but not to say well, but
on the mend, I left my Com last tuesday moring I have improved a great deal since that time, if nothing happens, I will try
and go to it to morrow or next day, I saw Pope Penticost yestiday sayed that John + Mark were well I have sean a heap of my
old school mats hear, hour Boys air all well, verry much fatigued but they take it cheerfuly, some of the boys have come since
I left, they left the Regt about 15 miles below, still marching on up this way and I hear yestiday that it was in six miles
of hear
Mother every thang that we can by to eat a
lot we have to give three or four prices for it, I give 20 cts for a quart of milk and glad to get it at that, I want you
to write often and wieght for me to write for we have a bad chance to write now. W H Terry told me to write how he was and
for you all to tell his father, he started to write to send it up by me but did not have time, he is tolerably well, he stands
it as well as any of the boys
I will close your son
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DSAGriffeth
give my love to all of the family and tell
them all to write
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Monday morning the 19th /62
..... I will start
for my Com in a few mints it is about 1 mile or two from town I will write first chance and I want you to do the same, the
Capt is in town now, I surpose he is very much fatigued, it is reigning now it is a bad time on sralgars without any tents
I will close Your Son
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DSAGriffeth
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