John
Stowers Civil War Letters
This letter is the first and only one on stationery and in the upper corner is a cannon and the flag with stars, but is not the Confederate flag, as we know it. At the top of the page is imprinted.
"Gather around your country's flag,
"Men of the South, the hour has come,
"None may falter, none may lag,
"March to the sound of the fife and drums,
"Confederate States of America 186_
Feb. 1,186_, Camp near
Goldsborough, N.C.
Dear Brother (Thomas Stowers SFoA Vol II Page
T-10), I again attempt to drop you a few lines which will let you know that I'm
in the land of the living yet this don't leave me very well but I am up and
about. I have had a spell of the rheumatism but had been up and about. I also hope
that when this few lines comes to hand that they may find you enjoying good
health. I can say to you that when we first got to Richmond I wrote you a
letter and has never got any answer yet. I can't account for that unless it did
not reach your hand. We left Virginia about the first of Jan. and arrived at
this place when we still remain at this time but I don't know how long we will
stay here that is unknown. To me we had to keep 2-3 days rations cooked for a
while after we got here. We are camp in about one mile and half of Goldsboro.
There has been a great deal of prospect of a battle at this place. Seems we
have been here but there is not so much talk as about it now as that has been
though they may fight here shortly. I can say to you that Lieut. Harris and
Jack Shoemaker have been in Richmond sick ever since. I have been here today
that come to us Jack is tolerable had of I don't think he can stand camps very
well no more the others boys is generally well. I heard that the small pox was
getting all through the country. That I am very sorry to hear that I am afraid
that these will be several lives lost with it these is a right smart of it
about here but you can tell Bill Bottoms wife that I heard from him. Bill was
well and as fat as ever he is in Virginia. Yet I can say to you that I'm Co.,
Commissionaire Issue Rations to the Co., I don't have no drilling nor guard
duty to do my task is very light. Tell Rebecca (Tom Wife) and the children that
I would be very glad to see them. I want you to go down and see my folks every
chance you have and see how they are getting along. I want you to write soon as
you get this and write the times in generally. No more at this time. Direct
your letters Goldsboro, N.C. in care of Capt. E. Smith, 2nd. N.C. Battalion.
John Stowers (SFoA Vol I Page
J-29)
************
Feb. 1st, 186_ (The following follows the proceeding but might be a
part of another letter.)
Fact is here we are with but
few men and worst than that all we have not got half enough for them to eat it
is the fact brother (Thomas). I do not get more that half enough to eat and
that is they way of all of the soldiers lot you go where you will you can see
some poor soldier inquiring for something to eat but that is not the worst of
all the most of us has got families at home or a good old mother and let us
what is the consequences that we here from them what shall we do for something
for our families. Then here we are and they at home can we help them we are
suffering here for the want of something to eat and to war and how can they
make anything the most of them have no chance to make anything to sell and have
everything to buy and nothing to buy with, no one cares for them those could
help them is some in the speculation and would take from then before they would
help them to anything and so must we and I'm afraid the suffering will be for
time to come. The Prospect is very gloomy at this time and the prospects are
that it will be worse. But let us endure it with patience the best we can and
pray God to have mercy upon us and save us from a ruined and lost people for it
may be the mercy of God for us to come out victorious in the end of long
suffering and let us pray God that the time coming will be no worse than the
time present. So we all no that the power is in the almighty and without him we
can do nothing and we must acknowledge that we have been wicked, most miserable
wicked in the sight of God and suffering is no more than we can expect from
such conduct. But we will pray for the future and close for the present. I want
you to pray for me and family and if we should never meet in this unfriendly
world let us pray God we maybe all meet in heaven brother. I can say to you
that my wife started to see me and got as far as Richmond and couldn't get
transportation. I suppose on account of the army moving and expecting a battle.
I got the things she started with for me. But I am very sorry that she was
disappointed and couldn't get leave to see me and had been very much troubled
ever since for she had to go back home by herself and I am very anxious to hear
from her. I will be uneasy until I hear from her brother. I am in R.E. Roads
Division, E well core (?) Direct your letters Richmond, VA. Mr. John Stowers in
care of Capt., W. A. Harris, Chief of Ordnance R.E. Roads Division fail not to
write.
John Stowers
*************
This letter is at bottom of
page of a letter from Michael L. Julian to Thomas Stowers. It says to direct
your letter in care of Capt. Direct to Proctor Creek P.O. Smith 2nd., N.C.
Battalion, Chesterfield Co., VA. This letter is from John Stowers.
Dated-28-Dec.1862
Dear brother (Thomas), Mr.
Julian has not quite closed his letter and I will send you a few lines to let
you know that I arrived safe to this command by being delayed a good while on
the way I found all the boys well with the exception of a few. I am very well
pleased with their situation and with their welfare. We get plenty to eat such
as it is. We get bacon, flour, rice, and peas. I think I will be very well
pleased with our officers especially with Col. He seems to be very clever man.
Everything in this county is very high such as eatables. I have never heard a
single word from Wm. Bottoms since Capt. Purcell came from that company. Our
Co. is doing as well as any Co. in this part of the country as some of them
have to do Fugitive duty all the time. Could write a great deal more if I had
space. Give my respects to all the connections and reserve some yourself this
leaves me well and in hope will find you enjoying the same blessings.
Your brother until death.
John Stowers
************
Dear brother (Thomas), I take
this opportunity to drop you a few lines which leaves me enjoying moderate
health at this time hoping that these few lines may reach you and family
enjoying the same like blessings of life. I have nothing of much importance to
right to you. We are stationed on the Rapidan River at this we have been
expecting a battle for sometime the enemy crossed the Rapidan a few days ago as
we suppose for battle their lines of battle and our was in a mile of each other
for 2 days and everything was in readiness for a general engagement we expected
them to advance on our lines as they crossed the river but from what we can
understand the commanding officers tried to get their men to advance on our
lines but failed to induce then to come so they have crossed the Rapidan River
and we have moved back to where we was before. We have had some picketing fighting
yesterday but all quite on the banks of the Rapidan River. We understand by
runner this morning that the enemy has fell back across the Rapidan River but
we do no know whether this is true. We had some skirmishing and some cannons
the other day we lost some few men but very few and took some prisoners. But I
don't know how many our Calvary captured some 40-50 ordnance wagons burned them
up and taken the men prisoners and saved the mules and horses which is very
needful with us for the stock in the Army is like the men and everything else
is nearly exhausted. Brother I will give you my opinion about some things that
fact is we are in a bad condition in this little Confederacy as I say buy the
stock being exhausted how can stock or men live without anything to eat the
forage is nearly all gone or we have got but little this year and the stock is
all generally speaking very poor at this time and how will they be next spring.
It is my opinion that the most of them will be dead and the worst of all is we
have not got anymore to fill their places. But that is not the worst I know and
so do you, that we once had a flourishing army our ranks was full Co., was full
large Regiments and large Brigade and Division and horses but where are they
now their graves is scattered over the soil of VA, and other states and brave
men. Never was then the men has been in this army. But they most of them is
gone never to return and that is bad enough but I fear is not the worst the
fact is we have no more men to fill the ranks and our army is sinking every
battle that we have and we know that the enemy can fill their ranks as fast as
they loose them the most of their army have been hired men from other nations.
I have been through some parts of the country and the men appear to be as
plentiful as if they was no war going on at all their city is flourishing with
all necessities of life as ours was in the time of peace. Plenty of everything
cheap as ever was in anything of peace and in fact I saw no scarceness of
nothing is nearly exhausted.
John Stowers
************
Dear brother (Thomas), I
received your very welcome letter of Jan. 24 and was glad to hear from you and
to hear you was all well I can say to you I am in excellent health. I have but
little news to write. I have just returned from off a 9 days forage trip in
which I have had a very pleasant time. The weather was fine. The people here
are having a hard time the county is so destroyed by the armies since I have
been gone the Yankee made an advance but we soon taught them that the South
Bank of the Rapidan was anything but pleasant to the invader. They crossed over
on the morning of the 6th and returned that night after receiving a sound from
the Rebels. I am sorry to hear that times are so hard in old Ga. But we must
bear it as patiently as possible and I hope all will be well with us yet. I
hope you may not have to go in service it is quite a hard life and full of
trouble and dangers. Yet let us be ready that we may do our duty when called up
I will close for the present. I remain your affectionate brother.
John Stowers
P.S. Brother I will say to
you I am in charge portion of division commissary train it is a tolerable easy
position and I am well satisfied. Mr. John Stowers, c/o Maj. J.D. Rogers,
Rhodes Div. Richmond, VA. Care Maj. James C. Bryant Chief QM Rhodes Div.,
Richmond, VA.
************
Dear brother (Thomas), your
letter of the 6th was received today. I hasten to answer your letter from the
fact I feel interested I am anxious to retire from the field and join my
family, besides I have lost a considerable portion of my best days and shall
have to engage in some enterprising work to make up for the past. I hope you
will do what ever you can for me if I can get free from this service. I would
like to take an interest in the work but if you think I can't make it
profitable to take an interest there I wish you to do what ever you can toward
having me detailed. You know such things must be done through Gov. J.E. Brown
and the secretary of the War Dept. I also hope you will my Major T.J. Beck of
Co., A. GA. Vol., as he might prove to be of much service to you. I have but
little else worth troubling to read. Times are quite here some little talk of
our going north again this spring. I hope we will not attempt such a thing, I
was sorry to hear of the sad affair that occurred in your neighborhood the
shooting of the little girl. I don't recollect this fellow Cantrell. I hope he
will be caught and brought to justice. Let me hear from you as soon as
convenient and I will write every opportunity.
I remain your brother as
ever,
John Stowers
To Thomas Stowers, P.S. We
are having some fine weather for March but everything is very backwards and no
vegetation putting out yet. Myself and Lieut. Edwards of 22nd Ga., are trying
to get furlough to come home. I think one if not both of us will soon get off.
We have been talking about going into it if we can get off to attend to it.
Give my respects to Rebecca and Children.
I remain yours,
John Stowers
*************
Dear Brother (Thomas), your
letter of April 3rd has been received. I was glad to hear from you all and to
hear you were well. I am in moderate health have but little news great
preparations are being made for the coming campaign the boys all seem to think
that all depends upon our next battle and under these circumstances the Yankee
that meet them must look well to what they are doing or they will be badly
beaten. Our army are recruiting very rapidly considerable reinforcements coming
in the Yankee have moved up to the front and are just on the opposite bank of
the Rapidan River. So you may listen out to hear of a bloody encounter on one
in which no child play must be performed. You stated in your letter that you
would continue to try to get me detailed see if I can come by staking an
interest if so I would like to go in with you and let us try our hands together.
I am very anxious to come. I am tired of the war you tell me that you have
another fine daughter, tell Becky I'm glad to hear she is doing well and I will
send it a name if you will call it by it. It is "Altha Lee" this is a
beautiful one. Give my compliments to James Barker tell John and Benny they
must go to school and learn to read and write. Well I must close direct your
letters. John Stowers Care Major James C. Bryan Chief, O.M. Rhodes Div.,
Richmond, VA.
I remain your brother as
ever,
John Stowers
John Stowers (SFoA Vol. I Page J-29) was wounded only once, that not seriously, having been shot in the hand. He surrendered with Lee’s Army at Appomattox on April 9, 1865. He was very thin, very tired and a most disheartened man when he walked home to his family in Georgia. His family had not seen him for three years and his children did not recognize him. The house from which John and his family departed in Oct. 1866 is still standing in Forsyth County, Georgia. The first house on the left on Highway 9-E where it leaves Highway 19, in the Coal Mountain Community.
These letters and information
was passed down from Thomas Stowers to his son 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!