|
Camp’s 23rd Geo Regt
Kinston, North Carolina
June 7th 1863
*
Dear Cousins Uncle and Aunt, I am again permitted the pleasure
of writing to you again I acknowledge neglecting writing to you as I should have done but still I hope there is nothing lost
– as you have heard long before this that we was taken prisoners and trotted around through Yankeedom & while I
know you have not thought the least hard of not getting letters from us, I am sorry to say that in my rambling I lost the
letter I received from you a while back and have forgotten how you said direct a letter to Bud and since we got back I hear
that they have been into a fight and got cut up pretty badly, now I want you to write to A.G. and I will try an be a little
fast next time.
*
This is a low swampy country and bad water we may all get
sick but we are satisfied with the swap yet for they will fight in Virginia and they fight to kill, that is decidedly the
worst part of the war according to my experience.
*
Dock & Jake dident get hurt in this last fight but I havent
heard a word from Tomy & Martin since the fight I dont know how they come out this time, Tomy had been badly wounded at
Sharpsburg but was well again We dont draw much to eat from the government but you ought to see the boys grazing round in
these swamps gathering huckleberries and anything else that they can find the same as a head of catle
*
Vegetables are coming in now and for the highest kind of prices
we can buy a litle one dollar a gallon for milk $1.50 per pound for butter $1.50 a doz eggs and everything else in proportion
I recon we will perish after a while
*
I also hear that Littlefields Battalion has been into it and
like us all got taken I am sure I dont want any of them hurt but I think it is time they had done something I saw some of
the kinfolks here yesterday the hardin & putman boys but they are gone now to take our place in Virginia and let us rest
a while I hope, for our boys all look badly since our trip North I dont think the climate suited them – and some of
them are very sick but all the connection is tolerable well so far as I know except Bro John he is sick and has been ever
since we left Fort Delaware but he is still able to knock about we sent him to the hospital but he wouldent stay Asbery Parks
was very sick at Fort Del and was brought on back with us to Petersburg Va and there left in the hospital and I have not heard
a word from him since I fear he will never be well again Nance F was left at Richmond sick but was mending at last account
*
We have an order to furlough one man from every 25 present
for duty provided there none absent from the company without leave that will take a long time to get any body home giving
each one 20 days but it keeps a body in a little heart
*
Diney you must give my love to all our kinfolk to Grandsir
& Grany peticular tell all about what I have wrote I hope this may reach you in due time and find you all enjoying good
health and in fine spirits I cant see any end to this war yet I recon it will out last us all yet but I still I hope we all
may meet again in this life but if not I hope we may all meet in heaven from your cousin Step Roberts
*
P.S. Direct – Kinston N.C.
23rd Ga. Regt Co ( I ) Step Roberts
.
.
Note: The Martin mentioned in this letter is Grandpa Wm. Martin Roberts, known as Billy. Typed from a xeroxed copy of
a letter that Nala Hamrick has with her Family History material.
Step[hen] Roberts was a sergeant in Company I , 23rd regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry. He was captured May 3rd 1863
near Fredericksburg, Virginia and exchanged at City Point, Virginia, May 23rd 1863. Muster roll dated Feb 29th 1864, last
on file, shows him present. No later record.
|
