1st Lieutenant,
Company E, 1st (Colquitt’s) Infantry
Dear Uncle (Tom Stowers), I
know for the first time in my life to drop you a few lines. I haven't got no
news to write to you. My health has been bad for a long time though it is
better. I haven't heard from you in a long time and thought I would drop you a
few lines. I don't know whether you will get this or not. I haven't been home
in 2 years. I have been in this war. I have been very lucky. I have been in 5
hard battles though. I got wounded in the last fight. My home is in Ark. I got
a letter from father since Christmas, he was in fine health, brother Dock he
died in VA, he belong to my Co., one of my half brothers got hit in a fight,
his name was Charley. I was down at my old home this winter. I saw Jefferson
Battals he told me he was out to see you. I don't know the P.O. but I will send
it to Crossville. I have been here 3 weeks. I don't know when I will leave
here, till I get well. They are looking for a fight some in TN. Will be a hard
fight, I have enough. We will whip them I think. I will be able to go to my
command in 2 weeks. I want you to write where Uncle John Stowers is. I think I
will get to your home this year, if I live and would be glad to come and see
you all this summer but I can't get the chance all officers has to go to
hospital and stay until he gets well. I have to pay $1.00 a day we get very
good faire ate this place. I will come to a close for now, I remain yours most
respectfully.
Lieutenant G. C. Stowers
P.S. Direct your letters to
Ringgold, GA., to the Buckner Hospital, Belong to the 1st., Arkansas Reg. Vol.
G. C. Stowers
Dear Uncle (Tom Stowers), I
received your very fine letter today. I was glad to death to hear from you and
to hear that you and family were all well. My health is improving. I think I
will go to my command in 10 days. I have been in service 2 years, brother Dock
he died and my half brother Charley was killed in a fight. Dock he died in VA.
Charley he got killed in a fight in Ark. I have been in six battles and never
was wounded but once everything seems to be-----ate the fruits; is Hante been
home in a longtime. I can here from home once and a while. I heard from father
a few weeks ago, he was well. We have gained a great victory in VA. If we can
whip them in TN., as bad as they have been in VA. I think this war will soon be
over. You said in your letter you wanted to know if I was married. I can inform
you that I'm not and glad I'll wait. We have some fine girls in Ark., Father
lives near the center of the state, I say some looking girls about this place.
I was down to see brother John Stowers this spring. I stayed five weeks. I saw
Jefferson Battals he seemed to be in fine hearth. I will come to see you I
think before I cross the Mississippi River if I live I think now I want to know
if they is any pretty girls in that part of GA .If there is tell them I will
give them a call sometime. Uncle I weigh 220 lb., so I will close for this time
remains yours until death.
Lt. G.C. Stowers
Dear Uncle (Tom Stowers), I
take the present opportunity of dropping you a few lines to let you know I am
well. I have neglected writing to you. I was in the fight we had down in GA.
You have heard more than I can write. I got struck with a piece of a burn
shell, though it didn't hurt me very bad. We have been lying in line of battle
for the past four weeks. I don't think we will have fight here we are in sight
of each other. We have a great many troops at this place. We have had some very
bad weather. We have to light out and take the rain. I want you to write where
you think John Stowers is and what Regiment he belongs to. I want you to write
what socks is worth and if I can get in down in that part. I don't know what
soldiers will do for clothing this winter they have to pay $7. for a pair of
shoes (?) $40. a pair, there is a young man in our regiment by the name of
Putman Pray(?) said they us to live with you & kin(?). John I want you to
write what P.O. office aunt-------John wife write some & give me the names
of you county. I hope when these few lines come to hand it may find you and
family in find health. Nothing more I remain yours till death. LT., G. C.
Stowers. When you write direct your letters to the 1st. Arkansas Rig.,
Chattanooga, TN. (near Chattanooga)
Liut. G. C. Stowers.
Dear Uncle & Aunt (Tom
& Rebecca Stowers). I for the first time in 2 months write to you these
lines. Leaves me in fine health. I hope the few lines come to hand it may find
you and enjoying the same blessing of life. I have been off one furlough to see
my brother. I found him and family in fine health, he is making a heap of
money. I had a nice time with him. I stayed 20 days with him. I heard from my
home a few days ago, the Yankees has torn the people all to pieces they take
all the stock and everything they could get off. I haven't heard from father. I
don't know what they did with him. I am going to resign if I can. I have sent
my papers to the War Dept. If I get off I will let you know. We sent a man home
a few days ago to carry letters home for you all. There is a man to be shot in
our regiment tomorrow for desertion, right hard to shot a man for running away
but we ain’t nothing but right. Everything seems quite in fronts at this time.
I think we will have some hard fighting this spring. There has been some talk
of peace this spring but I think all talk. The health of the Army is better
than for a long time and seems to be in fine spirit than what has been for. I
have got two letters from John and he was well and seems to be in good spirits.
I want you to tell cousin John & Benny badly for all so the rest of the
children. I don't know whether I will be in that part in more or not. Aunt I
had plenty of jeans to make me a suit of clothes. I was proud that I got it for
I was needed very badly. At the time you heard of the fight we had in Feb. we
didn't lose many men Charley the loss of the enemy was much greater than ours.
Uncle Thomas I have a notion to marring this spring. I have gotten hitched all
right, sometime I think hitch want do but if I ever get out of the service I
think I will get in trouble. I don't know but what they will get in trouble,
she is a beautiful girl, her father is very wealthy. I will close for this time
I hope to hear from you soon. I remain Liut. G. C. Stowers. When you write
direct your letters to Dalton, GA., Comp.1st. Art. Reg.
Dear Uncle & Aunt (Tom
& Rebecca Stowers), I again take the pleasure of dropping you a few lines.
This leaves me in good health. I hope when this few lines come to hand it may
find you all well. Our Army seems to be eager for a fight but everything seems
to be quite frightened at this time. Johnson is killing a great many men for
desertion it is a good thing for that is all will stop desertion. I haven't
heard from home since I last wrote to you. We have sent one man out of our Co.,
home to carry letters, he will be back in about 4 weeks. I am sure anxious to
hear from home. Tell cousin Benny and cousin John kindly for me give all the
children my best love. I haven't heard from you in 2 months. I am anxious to
hear from you all. Our rations are pretty scant, though we live and stay in
very good health. I haven't heard from uncle John (Stowers) since I last wrote
to you. He seems to be in fine spirit. I want you to have me a pair of boots
made up if you can get the leather and write what they cost, so I will close
for this time. I hope to hear from you soon, give me all the news of your
county so I will close for this time. I remain your friend as ever.
Liut. G. C. Stowers
Calvin Garvin Stowers
(SFoA Vol. I Page C-22) survived the Civil War, got married in Attalla, AL to
Cynthia Caldwell Choate. He lived until January 9, 1894, and died in Gadsden AL
The Tom he writes to be Thomas Stowers, April 26, 1818 (SFoA Vol.
II Page T-10) married to Rebecca Barker, September 11, 1825. Thomas had
considerable resources in land; timber, wagons and livestock at the time the
Civil War began. Those resources plus his large blacksmith shop and his talents
at manufacturing and repairing equipment became his contribution to the
Confederate Army. He was a Private in Company A, 4th Regiment,
Georgia Militia, 2nd Brigade for Dawson, Lumpkin and White. Stowers
Families of America Volume IV. Six pages of additional information in Vol. IV
Thomas “Tom” Stowers
(Janet C. Turner great grand-father) blacksmith shop was located where Fred
Stowers now lives at 501 Stowers Road West; Dawsonville, GA 30534. Tom was
assigned the duty of “Iron Works” and “Shoeing Horses for the Confederate
Army.” Sometimes in order to get the horses ready by the time they need them,
he would work way into the night and afterwards his hands would be badly
burned. Janet C. Turner records.
These letters and information
was passed down through Charles Marion Stowers (SFoA Vol I Page C-21) his
daughter Lucile Stowers Cox to Janet C. Turner Jturner@america.net . Thank you Janet
for preserving this rich heritage for us!