CIVIL WAR LETTERS

LETTER FROM JOHN MARTIN WOOD TO HIS WIFE, HELEN MARR RUTLEDGE WOOD. THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN AT CAMP MORTON AND DATED JUNE 9, 1862

Dear Wife,

I received your letter dated May 24th and would have answered it the 3rd day of June on which was Thursday. I received it but Maj. McGee came from Giles here on that day and I concluded to defer writing until today and send it by him. I also received your letter of May 11th and answered it immediately and can heartily concur with you in saying that it is a great pleasure that we can hear from each other. I am very sorry to learn that you have nearly despaired of ever seeing me again. Nevertheless it is very true that we are many miles apart and it is with deep regret that I am constrained to be separated from you. But yet I hope the time not far distant when I can be with you where I trust I shall ever remain till it shall please God to part us by death. I know that our ___(?) is bitter but we must put up with it as best we can and hope for the better and I do hope my dear, that henceforth you will not allow your spirits to be so depressed on my account. For I am doing well and receive good treatment could not ask better under existing circumstances. Our encampment is a beautiful place. The walls of which contain about 40 acres of ground on which we exercise ourselves by playing baste ball ___(?) and have as good well water as I ever drank. Jeff Walker says tell wife Anna McGaurine that never in prison or in war in prosperity or adversity can he ceast to love her. Joseph Keltner a young man who belonged to the Campbellsville Co. died a few days ago of lung disease. Give my love to all. Tell Johnie and Hattie to write to me and I know you will write every opportunity you have. Wallace* was well when I heard from him last.

Yours, John M. Wood

(*It is believed that the Wallace namd here is Helen's brother, William Wallace Rutledge. His name is sometimes seen as Wallace William Rutledge.)

(When I was a child, I remember my mother having the original of this letter, but when my parents passed away, I could only find a copy. Evidently the original had deteriorated to the point it was no longer legible.)

LETTER WRITTEN BY JOHN MARTIN WOOD TO HIS WIFE, HELEN MARR RUTLEDGE WOOD. THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN AT PORT HUDSON, LOUISIANA, AND DATED MARCH 21, 1863

My Dear Wife,

As some of our nonconscripts are going to start home today I shall write you a few lines and send by them. I have not received a letter since D___(?) came down. I am very anxious to get a letter for I know nothing does me more good than to read a letter from you but it seems that I seldom have the pleasure of reading them. I wrote you in my last about the bombardment which I assure you was hot and heavy the first night. Two of their gunboats succeeded that night in passing our batteries and I learn have gone up to Vicksburg for what purpose I know not. The enemy have not undertaken to pass any of their boats since the first night but have taken a few rounds at our batteries every day since without doing any damage. On the night of the fight we burned a very large gunboat. It was a man of war (the Mississippi) and I tell you it was a very grand scene to see it floating down the river on fire. We could hear the bombs bursting as fast as the fire would get to them all the way down until she blew up. It is supposed that she blew up some ten miles below this place. I saw the flash and heard the report very distinctly. We are waiting very patiently for the enemy to attack us and fully as anxious for we are confidant of success. From the best information we can get, the enemy are only 27000 strong including those regiments of negro. I believe if we fight here we will have to go outside of our works for they are too cowardly to charge them and well they may be. We can whip that number any place I don't care where it is. Although I may lose my life at it yet there is one thing that consols me and that is if I should it would be in a good cause. I am willing to fight the thieves any way or any where yes even under a black flag for I verily believe that would be the surest and quickest way to end the war. Robert Malone is very sick with the fever. Our army here has commenced furloughing the sick home at last. Col. Wilks is going to quit the army and return home. He sent up his resignation a month ago. Wallace* got his boots yesterday and is very much pleased with them. Billie Haswell has lost his pocket book containing fifty-odd dollars. You will find enclosed a ring, which Johnie sends to Fannie. I would send my overcoat but I can't get any of them to carry it. You will excuse this short and badly written letter as I have to write very hastily. I will try and do better the next time. My love to all. Kiss Wallace** and the children. Write soon.

Yours, John M. Wood

(*It is believed that the Wallace namd here is Helen's brother, William Wallace Rutledge. His name is sometimes seen as Wallace William Rutledge.)

(**It is believed that the Wallace named here is Wallace Rutledge Wood, son of John and Helen.)

(Thanks to Mary C. for a copy of this letter.)

Helen Marr Rutledge Wood and John Martin Wood were great great great grandparents of Mark and Judy. They lived in Giles Co., Tennessee. John was killed during the Battle of Atlanta, GA, in 1864. Helen later remarried and with her new husband moved to Texas.

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