The following letter by Daniel Emory Stringer was provided by Lewis Leonard. Daniel Stringer was his wife's great grandfather. Mr. Leonard's great grandfather, William G. McFarlin, was also in the battle, serving in Company I of the 32nd Georgia Infantry.

Mr. Leonard writes...

"David Emory Stringer was born on January 6, 1828 and died on December 23, 1864 in the Wayside (later named the Louisiana) Hospital on James Island, South Carolina having been severely wounded at the battle of Burden's (Burton's?) Causeway. His place of burial is unknown. His wife was Mary Forest Stringer, born December 27, 1832 and died in 1865. Thier children were Jesse Daniel Stringer, Sarah Jane Stringer (died an infant)and Charrles Emory Stringer. Mary Forest Stringer served as a nurse in the Confederate cause and went to the aid of her husband. The children were left in the care of 'Uncle Billy' Knapp in Metcalf, Thomas County. Family lore has it that Mary never returned from Confederate service, her place of burial is unknown."

Saturday March 12, 1864

Dear Mary, I seat myself on a stump this morning to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well. I have not been able to write sooner on account of rain and my paper got wet and I had to get paper from Dan (Daniel Forest, Wife's Relative) and John they are here and well and we are 16 miles of Jacksonville now but we have orders to leave to day at 2 oclock for Jalaca down on St. Marys River I passed by the battle ground of Olustee and saw many dead horses our company is in Finnigans brigade we have been in mud and water for two days without tents. I have to stretch my blanket I bought me a good oil cloth yesterday for 15 dollars large enough to cover me up very well I am as well satisfied as I expected to be but there is not many satisfied here all wants to leave this section of the country. I am afrade that I shall be badly bothered with my clothing Mollie I do not know when I will get a letter from you direct your letter to Baldwin Fla Berniau batallion company C in care of Capt. C.P. Crawford I have but little time write you must excuse mistakes give my love to all the connections and friends kiss the children and pray for me and them I think theres some good folks here there has been prayer meeting several times our company all wants to the guns we are armed with the Austrian rifle write soon yours truly till death

D E Stringer

Dan has got him a watch at 138 dollars

Good by

For further information contact Lewis Leonard at LLL@chathamcounty.org.

Thirty-second Georgia Infantry Regiment
Battle of Olustee home page
http://battleofolustee.org/