COLUMBUS AUGUST 4th/63
J. K. REDD CAPT. CO 9/64 GA REGT
October 21st, 1863
Camp Randolph near
Tallahassa, Fla.
My dear wife
yours of the 11th came safe to hand. It gave me the extream pleasure of hearing that you was all wel. This leaves me in good health at present hoping this may find you all enjoying the same blessing. We have a grate del of sickness here in camp mostly chills and fever. Mr. Peddy is better than he was when I wrote you last. I receved the stamps that you sent me in your letter. The reason I hav been franking my letters to you is that I had no stamps and could get none here. The soldiers all say that letters go through safer without paying the postage here. I have not got anything of importance to-write to you. We get no news only camp rumors and they almost all ways prove to be false. We get no war news only through the officers as there are no privates in hour company that takes any newspaper. We will start out on picket about next Saturday to be gone 15 days. We will go to Newport down near the coast which is abowt 10 miles from here. We are living in hour winter quarters now which we have about completed. When you answer this, direct as you have been doing and if we are gone the letters will go on to the company. I will look for a letter from you this week as I writ to you last Sunday which you had not recd it when you writ your last. I recd a letter from George a day or 2 go which stated they were all wel and that he was improving himself. Write as soon as you receive this. You dount no the pleasure it gives me to hear from you and the children. I want to see you vary bad indeed but I try to bear it the best I can and you must bear it the best you can. I cant think this war can last six months longer. If you happen to get dangerously sick write to me and send your doctors citifiket and I would stand a chance come home to se you. Without something of that sort should turn up there will be no chance for me to come before next spring or summer. Kiss all the children for me and tell them Pa will come home sum time to se them. Give my love to all enquiring friend and shear a large portion yourself. I remain your affectionate husband til death.
E. H. Jones
1863 October 30th
Punchbole Wacale [Wakulla?] County
Florida
My Dear wife
this is to inform you that yours came safe to hand I was vary glad indeed to hear that you was all well you stated that you had not recd but one letter from me since I left home I am vary sorry that my letter does not come through safe. I hav answered every letter punctual that I have recd from you. I hope this will reach you safe and find all well. I have recd 3 or four letters from you since I hav been here and answerd them all punctual. I received the stamps and money that you sent me. This leaves me in vary good health at this time only I am a little sore from marching to this place through the deep sandy roads which is about 12 miles from hour camp. We have dru a suit of clothes which was vary acceptable to the most of the men As to myself I had abowt as many as I could toat. I have now got 3 suits of clothes and 2 blankets with other little things to toat but I have not thru anything away yet. I pay 15 cts a garment for washing.
If you hav not got anything from the county yet You had better get your pa or sume man to se Newt and find out something abowt it. Write to me soon as you receive this and direct your letters as before. Give my love to all and reserve a large portion yourself. I remain yours as ever until death.
E. H. Jones
November 8th, 1863
Camp Randolph
Near Tallahassa, Fla.
My Dear wife,
Yours of the first has came safe to hand last evening. I was glad to hear that you was all in good health when you wrote. I was glad also to hear that your Pa had made his trip to Tennessee and back home. I was glad to hear that he found the boys enjoying a reasonable portion of health. This leaves me in good health at preasant we have just returned off picket duty to hour camps. A good many of hour men got sick while we was out but the most of them are improving at preasant. I fear from the tone of your letter that you are in bad health or a getting so. You dount however write that anything serious is the matter with you. If there is, you must write to me and let me know it. While we were out in picket camp I was posted at one time at a place called Shelpoint on the sea beach where I could see the blockading vessel and by the help of a glass I could see the men walking about on deck of her. I saw also a large number of satt works around on the beach. I saw a grate many curiosities that I could tell you a bowt if I could se you that time or space will not admit of here. You must write soon. Give my love to all. I remain yours as ever until death.
E. H. Jones
December 20th 1863
Camp Randolph near
Tallahassa, Fla.
My Dear Wife
Yours of the 14 Inst has come safe to hand. It gave me much pleasure to hear from you and hear that you was all well and doing well. I am sorry to hav to state to you that I hav been a little sick but nothin serious. I hav had vary severe pains in my head and jaws produced from the affects of cold. I am better off than I hav been for the last 8 Or 10 day. At preasant now dount understand me to say that I hav been vary sick for I hav been doing duty all the time when ever called on. It is vary cold here today plenty of ice this morning and the ground frozen stiff.
From the way you writen your last letter you had not reced my last letter which was writen abowt the 12 of this month as well as I recollect. I writ to you in that letter for you to send me paper anowgh in your letters for me to write on. This you can do by writing say half a sheet yourself and send me the other half. Paper is vary scarce and the price high.
You writ that you was kniting me a cumforter which I was vary glad to hear for I knead sumething of that sort vary much at times but there will be no chance for me to get it soon as furlowghs has been discontinwed by a order from old Booragard. I recon however they will be granted again after Christmas. When they get to granting furlowghs again Mr. Peddy will be at home vary soon thare after and I will write to you and you can try and send it down and he will bring it to me. I was glad to hear that you had engaged you some corn. I do not know what you will do for meal it is so high that those that downt raise it will hav to do without. I recon, or at least they will hav to make out on short rations. I do hope however you and my children may never hav this to do. We hav to by a little pork here occasionally and pay from 75 to a dollar per pownd. We by potatoes and pay $3.00 per bushel. You write to me if you hav ever got my money from the court yet. If you hav not drew anything yet you hardly will before toward spring.
I hav not heard from the old settlement since I hav been here only what I hear through you. I wonder if Martha Weever has got shet of her cold yet. I promise to write to Hannah when we started to move and I never have done it but I think I will soon. I hear of no prospect of this cruel war coming to a close soon, in fact I hav come to the conclusion that it will not end before next March at which time old Abe's term of office expires. All most any termes of peace would be accepted by the men this part of the survice for the men is all sick and tired of the survice and wants to go home and quit the war as it is.
Give my love to all enquiring friends and accept a large portion yourself. Kiss the children for me.
Edmund H. Jones
James C. Peddy was born September 11, 1823 in Georgia. He was postmaster at Hannahatchee (later Louvale), Stewart County, GA from December 24, 1845 through January 18, 1847. He married Nancy Ferrer on December 14, 1846. Nancy Ferrer was born on April 19, 1825. Mary Ann Ferrer, Nancy's sister, married Jackson Harrison in January 1849. Jackson Harrison is also mentioned in one of Edmund Jones' letters.
On July 17, 1863, James Peddy, now a resident of Chattahoochee County, enlisted at Columbus. GA, as a private in Company J, 64th Regiment Georgia Infantry. He fought at Olustee and later with his regiment in Virginia. He was listed as a deserter by the Confederate Army on October 10, 1864, and was sent in by the Provost Marshal of the 5th Federal Corps on October 12th. On October 15th at City Point, VA, he signed an "Oath of Amnesty" to the United States and was transported to Cincinnati Ohio to make his own way home. After the war he went into farming - mostly cotton. He was also an agent for a patent medicine from September 1877. He moved with his family to Texas in 1878 where he continued farming. James C. Peddy died on June 7, 1890 and is buried beside his wife Nancy. They had five sons and two daughters. One son died at age twelve.
Dec. 30, 1863
Camp Randolph near
Tallahasse, Fla.
My Dear Wife
Yours of Dec. 20th came safe to hand. It gave me the extreme pleasure of hearing wonce more that you was all well and doing well. This leaves me in good health with the exception of the toothache occasionally which troubles me a goodeal at knight. I recd the paper that you sent me in your letter.
We have recd orders to cook 3 days rations to be ready to move sume whare at a minutes warning but we know not whare it will be. Col. Evans thinks however we will go to Savannah the first place and from there we may go to Charleston. You can direct your letters as you hav been doing here to fore. If we do move I will inform you as soon as we arrive to hour place of destination. I written to George a few days ago.
We had a vary dull Christmas here in camps. It was raining all most incesantly and the wind blew vary hard for a bowt 12 hours or more. If you can se any chance to send my comforter to Collumbus do so. Send it to Greenwood & Gray, office in care of Lieutenant Russel who belongs to hour company and he will bring it to me. You may rap me up a little red pepper and sume sage in the same bundle as I know you have plenty of each. Send it thare by the 7th or 8th of January as Lt. Russel will start to the Redgement about the 10th of January. He told me he would bring it if you would send it to Greenwood & Gray office. Rap it well and have it markt to me. Get whoever carrys it to town to get them to mark it as they will understand how better than you would. If they could se Russel and give it to him it would be safe as he would mark it himself. Peddy will not get to come home as we expected he would in January as they hav quit granting furloughs here for the preasant. You can se by that if I fail to get my comforter by Russel that I may not get it attawl or at least not soon. I must close for this time as I am in a hurry to mail my letter in time to go on dress parade. Kiss the children for me and give my love to all enquiring friends. I remain yours as ever until death.
E. H. Jones
January 20th 1864
Camp Colston near
Savannah Georgia
Dear Susan you will se by this that we hav moved to Georgia. we left camp Randolph about 7th of this month. we were on the road 8 days. we marched 21 miles of the way through the rain and mud. I have received one letter from you and one from George since I hav been here. George and the other boys were all vary well when he writ his letter which was about the 5th of this month. this leaves me vary well at this time. I was vary glad to hear that you was all in good health and getting along vary well. I saw Mr. Radney a few days ago he is in vary good health he is stationed about half a mile from us. Station at fort Barto. We hear of no prospects of a fight here. there is however a considerable force collected here. some estimates it as high as 20 thousand men. we are attach to General Colstons Brigade. We are living in some old tents which will barly keep us dry when it rains and that is all most every day or knight.
I hav jest received the comforter that you sent me by Lieutenant Russel which I was vary glad to receive. They have quit furloughing the men in this redgement for about one month but since we hav been here it as been red out on dres parade that 2 privates and one non commision officer can get a 10 day furlough at one time from each company to take affect after the 23rd of this month but thare will be no chance for me before March or April as thare is a good many married men here that has been here twice as long as I hav and we recruits has to wait til it comes to hour turn. You stated in your letter that you wanted me to write to you if you could come to see me: I will tell what I think best owing to so much bad wether I think you had better wate until Spring and if I do not get to come home then I want you to come and se me except I should get vary sick. then I want you to come be it when it may.
Write soon direct to Savannah 64 Regt. Good by.
E. H. Jones
February 2nd 1864
Camp Colston near
Savannah Georgia
My wife
yours of the 24th came dewly to hand. It gave me extream pleasure to hear that you was all in the enjoyment of a reasonable portion of health at that time. This leaves me in the enjoyment of tolerable health. I hav received 2 letters from you since I writ to you. One of them come by the way of Tallahassa & consequently it was of old date. I no news of any importance to write to you at preasant. Only we hav been under marching orders again since I writ to you but I believe the order has been countermanded and the probability is that we may stay here sume time as the yankeys keep making sume demonstrations of an attact round about on the coast around about Savannah tho I do not think that they will attact the fortifications around here yet for the yanks downt want this place for the reason they have too many friends in this city. They fire their cannon around on the coast jest to keep a army station here to weken otherpoints.
I have jest returned off picket at which place we stade 24 hours. Hour duty is vary heavy her we hav to stand gard twice a week and drill 4 hours each day when we are not on gard duty. We attended a review in Savannah. Old Buragard was thare to inspect us. It was a grandsight to one who never saw the like before.
I se Mr. Radney about twice a week. He told me he had jest received a letter from home. He said all was wel but there had been a grate many caces of pneumony and other sickness. Old Mrs. Prather is ded. Sorsby has lost 2 negros this winter but I do not know which ones it is that is ded. Peddy started home last Saturday. I sent my old carpet sack home by him and my old clothes and a new shirt and a par of drawers which you may cut up for the children as you will se that they are not fit for me to ware. He left them at Box Spring if he saw any person to leave it with and if not he carryed it home with him. I will send you the key of the carpet sack in this letter. If he carryed them home with him send for them by the first one that passes down that way. I think the chance will be vary good for me to come home this spring as they are furlowghing from this army tollerable liberal at this time. Write me all the news that you hav. I want to se you vary much indeed also the children. I remain yours as ever untill death.
E. H. Jones
Box Springs, Georgia
The 7th febuary 1864
My Dear husban
Yours of the 2 came to hand last night and I was truly glad to hear from you but you did not say you was well but only talerrable. this leaves us all well and I do hope may find you well. if you should get sick much I want you to let me no it so I can go to you. honey I think you mite have rote by Mr. Pedy and I could have sent you a box by him. I got the carpet bag but never new how it cam untill I got your letter. If I had I could have had a box out at the depot ready for him to carried to you. it would be a great pleasure to me to send you anything if I had the chance to see some of your company but honey I dont see why you let Mr. Pedy get so far ahed of you. honey you dont love as good as he loves his wife. I recon honey that must be it for I no you are as smart. honey you must try next time you send your cotton pants home and I hardly no what to do about making you more cotton ones but if I make any it will have to be that onless I can get some like I rote you about in my last letter. The children all wants to see pa so bad tha say ............. We got a letter from Carter today. He ses he is in sum better health at present but not well by no meanes. Honey I have nothing new to write you. We have not got any letters from the old neighborhood yet. I cant tell why for I wrote in the Christmas to Mrs. Grear and family. To tell the truth it is expensive to write often whare I am not so interested but I would go down thare if I could but I see no chance to go. I have got you one new shirt ready to make and had the warp to spin. It is blue and purple and the one you left is good. I dont think you will nead new drawrs before fall but if you do I will try to have them ready as soon as I can. Uncle ...... and Aunt ....... is talerrable well. The old lady and Carrie about as common. Jim is hear yet he keeps out the way some how but I cant see in to it but has not been home since December tho he is well or was last weak. Honey you must excuse my bad writing for I am siting in corner with it on my lap and the baby trying to pull up by me .................... So I must close. My dear rite soon. yours as ever till death
S. J. Jones
February 17th 1864
Camp Buragard near
Lake City Florida
Yours of the 10th has jest come to hand. It gave me the extreme pleasure of hearing from you wonce more and also of hearing that you was all well. This leaves me in good health at this time hoping these few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing.
We left Savannah on the 10th and landed here the 14th. We had to march 28 miles on foot across the country from the Albany & Gulf rail road to Maddersonville Florida from thare we taken the Pensacola and Jacksonville Road to Lake City. We are about 1 mile east of Lake City in camps on the rail road. It is thought thare will be a battle faught here in a vary short time as thare is said to be from 15 to 20 thousand Yanks about 15 miles from here well fortified. Buragard is to be here today. We expect active movement soon after his arival. Hour Redgement was vary sorry they were ordered back to Florida as we were in hopes we would be permanent located at Savannah. I do not know the exact strength of hour forces here but it is a geting prity considerable as thare is reinforcement coming in every day from different points of the Confederacy.
Hour rassions is sume better here than they were at Savannah. I do not know we will stay here or not but if I had my choice I would stay in Florida til the war ends if it was not so far from home. The people here is much kinder to the soldiers than they are in Georgia. They will sel anything in the way of pervision all most for half what the Georgians ask for the same article. I do not know when I will get to come home. I recon I will be among the next that is furloughed from hour company but I do not know they will commence granting furloughs from this department as thare is a fight depending here.
You may let the ......... alone that you spoke of as I may not knead it. We had to leave all of hour clothing in Madderson as we come through thare so we carry nothing only what we have on and hour blankets. I hav to write on your letter and send it and send it back as you writ on both leaves of the seet of paper. I would write more but I hav no paper nor ........ Kiss the children for me.
E. H. Jones
March 24th 1864
Camp Melton near
Jackson Florida
My dear wife
yours of the 15th came duly to hand. it gave me the extream pleasure of hearing that you was all wel at that time. this leaves me in tolerable health at this time. I hav had a vary bad cold: which prevails to a considerable extent here in camp. the small pox is also raging here in our ridgement. Thare has been 5 cases of it in one company adjoining hours and I dount know how many there is in the ridgement. they hav all been taken off to the woods and put in sume bresh shanties built for the purpose of a hospital. I hav no news of any intrest to write to you at preasant. the yanky hav made no new move that I hav herd of they still remain in Jackson and it is thought they hav been reinforced heavily. but they hav not thought ............ to advance on us any more: we are prity well fortified here at this place we are throwing up a long line of fortifications back in hour rear at Baldwin which is at the junction of two railroads. this will be Buragards strongest position. Hour rations are prity short. we draw one pound of meat for 3 days and a vary scant alowance of coarse corn meal. we draw no syrup nor rice nor nothin elce but a little hand soap. But I suppose that is about as wel as any of the soldiers are faring at this time. Tell Bud that if he has to go in the survice any more and dount hav to go in his old company to come to the 64th as I think he can do as wel here as any where elce.
Thare is no furloughs granted from this department at this time only in vary extream caces. you need not therefore look for me home soon without something more than common turns up. If you hav not had my shoes made you may let them alone for a while as my shoes is tolerable good yet and I can get them half soled here in camp and they will last me through the summer and by that time we will certainly draw some.
Kiss the children for me and give my love to all and accept a large portion your self.
E. H. Jones
March 30th 1864
Camp Melton near
Jacksonville Florida
My dear wife
this is to inform you that yours of the 22nd of March came duly to hand. I was much gratified to hear that your Pa was able to be up and walk about the house and yard. I was truly glad also to hear that the rest of the family was all in good health. This leaves me in vary good health at preasant hopeing these lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. we are still lying here at the same place. thare has been no new movements made by either army since I writ to you last that I have heard of but we are expecting sumething to turn up every day. we hav jest received hour knapsacks a few days ago which contained hour clothing ........ were very black and dirty and lousy if you will alow me the expression but we are nearly clear of all at preasant: we hav to pay 50 cts a garment for washing or do it hour selves. My money is getting prity short as I hav never been paid off yet oweing to the fact that I would not receive it when the rigement was paid off about 4 weeks ago for the reason I prefered to wait and get of the new issue which we will sume time in May or June. You knead not send me any money as I fear you may not hav more than will answer your own perposes, and I can get as much money here as I will knead before I am paid off. I fear you will run short of money as I dount think you will ever draw much from the court in Chattahooche County.
You knead not hav the shoes made that I writ to you about in my last letter more espetially if you hav to pay more than 15 or $20 dollars for them as I may draw sume by the time I knead them vary bad. good shoes is selling here for $75 to $100 a pair. my shoes is good yet that I brought from home or will be when I have them half soled which I can do here almost any day. If you hav not made up the Janes that you bought for me dount do it untill next fall as we dount know what kind of garments I may knead most by that time.
I was surprised to hear of Dinks marriage to Miss Cobb. They were quite smart to plant the corn before they made the fence. I recon you will hav sume news to write to me from hour old settlement in your next letter as you stated that Ma was going down thare soon. write whare the boys is and their Post office. You knead not be surprised to hear from me at any other point by the time I write again as hour movements are a going to be vary uncertain during this spring. Write soon and direct as before. I dount think you hav the first letter I writ you after the battle. it is delad from sume cause. Give my love to all.
E. H. Jones
The Battle of Olustee was the first major action for the 64th Georgia. When I first read these letters I was surprised that Edmond Jones didn't include in his letters home some account of the action. Especially since he includes some details of other actions later on. However, his letter of March 30, 1864 (see above) includes the sentence, "I dount think you hav the first letter I writ you after the battle." Looks like the Confederate Postal Service lost it. What a shame. After all, this WWW site is on the Battle of Olustee. And the more eyewitness accounts from the common soldiers who fought it, the better to help us understand what those Americans thought. - Thomas R. Fasulo, Webmaster
April 26th 1864
In camp near
Gainesville Florida
My Dear Wife
this is to inform you that I am well at preasant hopeing those few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. You will se by this that we hav moved from where we was when I writ to you last. we on the march to Tamperbay or to sume point near that point. Tamperbay is a bout 150 miles south of this place. it is not thought that we will hav much fighting to do thare as we are mostly ordered thare to guard that point a while: we will hav to leave hour knapsacks here a gain with out knowing when we will get them a gain there is a grate many deserters in that part of the state and we may get in to a bresh occasionally with them:
It is likely to be a difficult matter in refference to getting mail through to whare we will be station tho you must write and I may get your letter. it is uncertain when you will hear from me a gain but I will let you hear as early as poserable. when you write direct your letters to Gainesville Florida Co F 64 Ga Vol. I wrote Carter a few days ago but I hav not reed any answer yet. honey I never was so tired of looking at men in my life I dount get to se a woman wonce a week hardly and I hav not spoke to one in 3 months until yesterday and I got her to wash sume clothes for me.
I must come to a close as I hav not time to write any more and there is so much confusion that about camp one can hardly think
of what he wants to write. give my love to all and kis the children for me and accept my best love yourself good by.
May 28th 1864
In camp near
Petersburg Virginia
My dear wife:
This is to inform you that yours of the 13th came safe to hand. It ......... with much pleasure to hear from you and hear that all was well. This leaves me in good health at preasent hopeing those few lines may find you injoying the same blessing. Every thing has been qiet here for several days until this morning they commence cannonadeing round at a short distance. we are here at the same place we was when I writ to you last [Another missing letter? - Editor] but I hav no idey how long we will remain here. we expect to be ordered to Lees army before a grate while. as they are sending a grate many troops up thare to reinforce Lee as I suppose he has lost a grate many men in his last battles above Richmon. Thare does not appear to be any more excitement here about the war than thare is at home. I recon Johnson has fought a big battle in the upper part of Georgia before this time from what I can gather from the Virginia papers.
I hav jest received a letter from Carter writen April the 28th which stated that himself & Bud was both wel at that time and doing about as wel as could be expected. we fare about as wel here as we ever did anywhare since we left Camp Randolph. we have had no tents to sleep under since we left Savannah last winter to go back to Florida. we make us bush shelters to keep the hot sun off and when it rains we stretch blankets & oil clothes to brake it off: hour washing we do hour selves when we get it done attawl. I bought me $5.00 worth of soap the other day and got a piece about 3 inches long off of a bar jest a common bar at that. we hav no way of boiling hour clothes we jest take them to the creek and set on a log or sume other convenient place and wash them in cold water. I can wash better than you would suppose. my shirts is getting pritty much thred bare but we will draw sume in a few days as hour quarter master has them in hand for us and he will issue them out to us before a grate while: I begin to knead sume socks vary bad but I recon we will draw sume when we draw shirts and drawers and if we dount I see no chance to get any from home. Jest know too I will try to make sume shift if we dount draw. I hav plenty of other clothing at preasant so you kneed not be uneasy in refference to my clothing.
I hav never received any pay yet and dount know when I wil but I hav got plenty of money yet to answer my purposes. One kneeds but little in this country as thare is scasly any thing here to sel and what little thare is, it is so high that a soldier cant by it if we get a glass of butter milk we pay $1.00 for it $2.00 for a mes of greens and every thing elce in proportion. I hope the hardest of the fighting will be over with here before long and whenever it does I think there will never be much more hard fighting during the war. I strong hope that this war will close between now and next spring as I think both partys will be exhausted fully by that time. when you write send me sume little brades of the childrens hair & you own allso. I do want to se you all so bad I dount know what to do. Keep the ...... a going to school if you se they learn any worth speaking of. I hope I will get to come home by Christmas and se you all wonce more. Tell Georgia & Minnie they must learn fast so they can write to Pa. tell them they must be good little girls at school. You must write to me as soon as you get this. I hav writ you about all I can think of at preasant. Give my love to all and acept a large portion yourself. I remain yours as ever until death.
E. H. Jones
June 6 1864
In camp near
Petersburg, Va.
My Dear Wife
I seat myself this evening to let you know that I am well and hoping that these few lines may find you all enjoying the same like blessing. I have been looking for a letter from you several days but I have not received one yet. Since I writ you last I fear something is the matter or you would have written, I heard bad news from Chattahoocie County a few days ago. Word came that several were wounded and that George was killed. This of course was very sad news I hope however that it may not be true. We are still here at the same place we were at when I writ to you last at which place I hope we may stay for some time to come. There has not been much fighting here lately altho we have been in hearing of the roaring of cannon almost every day since we have been here. Last Friday we heard Lee and Grant fighting nearly all day. The fight was a very bloody affair more particular on the part of the Yanks as they attacked Lee in his entrenchments. Our loss is said to be about 600 and that of the Yanks ten or twelve thousand. There has been no effective blow struck yet between Lee and Grant. The people here seem to be in tolerable good spirits in reference to the final issue.
Provisions are very scarce in this country around Petersburg. I wil give you some of the prevailing prices: corn meal $45.00 per bushel. flour $2,00 per pound. bacon $6.00 per pound, small chickens $6.00 a piece grown ones $15.00. One can get a pretty good meal in Petersburg for $25.00. vegetables in proportion to everything else. The soldiers live about as plentiful as the citizens in the way of meat and bread but not in vegetables. These articles we suffer for. Also milk and butter.
We are on what is called Swift Creek just above where it empties into the Appomatox River about 3 miles from Petersburg. The Yanks are only about 2 or 3 miles below us on the river. They may advance on us but I do not think they are likely to do so. There have been thousands of soldiers transported through these lines since we have been here. This makes me hope we will not go to Richmond. Our duty is pretty heavy. We have to stand on duty 2 days and nights out of four days and nights. This is not the fighting however all day and then perhaps throwin up breast works all night or lie in the ditches with the Yanks a bangin at us.
This is Sunday and it has been very quiet. We never have any preaching in the Regiment of late days as we have no Chaplain at present. Give my love to all.
E. H. Jones
July 31st 1864
In the trenches
near Petersburg, Virginia
My dear wife
This is to inform you that I am again permitted to write you a few lines through the mercy of God to let you know that I am yet alive and in the enjoyment of a reasonable portion of health at preasant, After the bloody days work of yesterday. The yankeys blew up about 75 yards of hour works and then made a charge on a portion of hour works and taken possession of about 300 or 400 yards of hour works and we had to charge them and retake them. hour loss was vary heavy in hour redgiment in both officers and men. Colonel Evans was killed ded on the field. Lieutenant Parks was sevearly wounded. we lost 5 killed out of hour company. Mr Jackson Harrison was killed. he was one of my mess and a very clever man. we recaptured the works and still hold them and I recon we will still hold them until another blow up takes place. our Brigade does not hold that portion of the Brest works whare the blow up was. we are about 2 miles to the right but we are subject to be ordered to any point on the line. Mr. Petty was not in the fight as he is cooking for the company. honey I hav not received a word from you since I was at home which is one month today. I hope I will hear from you soon. when you write to me back your letters in this wise: E.H. Jones, Co F, 64 Regt. Georgia Volunteers, Wrights Brigade, Petersburg Virginia and I think your letter will certainly come through safe.
I hear the yankeys are invading Georgia with their raiding parties. I fear they will over run the state before this cruel war closes. but they ever do come to whare you are they will not trouble you I dount think. write me all the news you can. I want to hear from the boys vary bad. I am afraid I hear bad news as thare been so much hard fighting about Atlanta. Oh when will this cruel war close. give my love to all. kiss the children for me. I remain yours as ever until death.
E. H. Jones
A Jackson Harrison of Wilkinson County, GA enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private on May 3, 1862 and was assigned to Company D, of the 57th Georgia Infantry Regiment. He was captured with the rest of his unit at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863 and exchanged about August 15, 1863. He was transferred to Company H, 1st Engineer Troops Regiment, GA on November 1, 1863. Afterwards he may have been transferred to the 64th Georgia. There is some confusion as to whether this Jackson Harrision was the same one who married Mary Ann Ferrer.
Petersburg Va. Aug. 22, 1864
Mrs. E. H. Jones
Dear Madame
It becomes my painful duty to inform you of the death of your gallant husband E. H. Jones, who fell in the engagement near Deep Bottom on the 16th inst. In him we have lost a dear comrade, a true and noble soldier and one that did his whole duty cheerfully. He fell at his post endeavoring to repell a charge made by the enemy. He remained in the trenches after they had been abandoned by the greater part of his comrades and fell by a shot that caused instant death. He is buried near the spot he fell. I will take charge of his effects as soon as I can find some one to testify to them, and either send them to you, or make any disposition of them you may advise.
My personal and immediate attention will be given to any information or service you may desire. I feel a deep and earnest simpathy for you in your great affliction, and hope "God who doeth all things well" may comfort and console you.
Very Respectfully,
T. M. Beasley
Lieut. Comd. Co. F, 64th Ga. Rgt.
Petersburg Va Aug/64
Mrs. E. H. Jones
Dear Madam
I now seat my self to drop you a few lines to in form you that this finds me well and I hope that this will reach you and find you in the best of health,
I now in form you that Mr. Jones was killed on the 16th of the inst at Deep Bottom on the James River. the Yanks charged our breast works and he was in them. he was shot through the breast and died instantly. they took a good many of our boys prisoners .............. and Lieutenant Rusell. Mr. Welch was wounded. I never saw him myself but William Rusell saw him. he was buried the next day after the fight. I will also in form you that his pockets was ........ of every thing he had in them. I dont now how much money that he had as I understand that he had sent som of his money home. he sent a hundred dollars home. I dent think that he had more than fifteen or twenty dollars in his pocket.
I'm sory that we had to loose so good a friend as him but you must bear it the best you can as that is one det that we all hav to pay and we are all subject to here for we cant tell ...... when we hav to fall as there is a heep of hard fighting to do here. you must excuse this short letter as I havent but little chance to rit to you.
yours respectfully,
James Peddy
The four children of Edmond Hardy and Susan J. Jones were:
The above letters were originally transcribed by Mrs. Addie Lee Jones while writing a history of the Jones family. They were forwarded to me by Bill Cudlipp , via Charles L. Jordan who is also a member of the Jones Family. Mr. Jordan has given his premission to reproduce the photo and letters on the Battle of Olustee WWW site. My thanks to all. - Thomas R. Fasulo, Webmaster
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