Letter from Ellison Capers to his wife Lottie, May 12, 1863
Title
Letter from Ellison Capers to his wife Lottie, May 12, 1863
Subject
Description
Capers describes his journey from leaving the train at Montgomery, Alabama, to traveling by boat to Demopolis, Alabama. He tells Lottie that the men are exhausted and had to ride in open platform cars or box cars where there was horse dung. He mentions that the Quarter Master has been given no notice of their arrival which is why they are waiting. He closes the letter by looking up at the stars and telling Lottie that he imagined a picture of her and the children drawn across the sky. Capers has also included a drawing to show her the course of their journey.
Creator
Source
A1961.1, Box 3, Folder 12
Publisher
The Citadel Archives & Museum
Date
Rights
Materials in The Citadel Archives & Museum Digital Collections are intended for educational and research use. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. For more information contact The Citadel Archives & Museum, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, 29409.
Relation
Ellison Capers Collection
Format
application/pdf
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/492
Date Valid
Audience
Text
[Page 1]
On the west bank of the Tombigby River
5 miles below Demopolis Ala.
Tuesday Morning 12th May/63
My own precious wife
Here we are awaiting our transportation from this point to Jackson. Since our arrival at Montgomery, at 10 ½ P.M. on Sunday night last, we have had a very fatiguing time. All night at Montgomery we were hard at work transferring our baggage from the train to the boat, & I had to superintend everything, & we did not leave Montgomery until 3 A.M. Arrived at Selma at 10 ½ A.M. & waited until sunset before we could get off, which brought up to Demopolis at 10 ½ last night, & then we were at it all night, struggling away with tired men & heavy baggage, until 4 A.M. this morning, when we came here by the Merengo, (boat) only 5 miles, & now while I write (on mess chest, by the river side) I am awaiting Co. “D”, whom I have sent for to load again, but “Thanky bless,” this is the last shift. This train will take us across the Alabama & Miss line to Jackson. So far we have changed trains & boats six times. Our journey has brought us along some very fine
[Page 2]
country. The most splendid fields of corn, wheat & oats, with here & there a cotton patch. But I am gratified to see that our western farmers have planted almost entirely of grain, & with the blessings of good seasons, we will have an abundant harvest for our noble armies. When we gain our freedom, darling, we will owe it, under the blessing of God, to the noble private soldiers of our armies, under their great Generals. When I see these poor fellows, 45 of them, crowded on an open platform car, or into a box car, which carried horses the trip before, my heart is warmed toward them. The R.R. companies should construct movable seats for their use, so that they could be seated more comfortably, & the Government is at fault for not requiring it. Yesterday at Selma, a company of the 29th Geo. was assigned a horse car, the floor of which was covered in dung. The men refused to go into it, & I interfered, & got it swept for them. The Supt. wanted me to put 50 men on open cars, without seats, to ride at night, & the men
[Page 3]
so sleepy as not be able to keep awake. I told him I would pitch my tents & stay at Selma, before I would do it, when he gave me more platform cars. Neglect of duty here, as everywhere, is palpable. The Quartermasters at Montgomery, gave the Quartermaster at Selma, no notice of our leaving Montgomery, & therefore we had to wait. Here we have to wait for the same reason. Gen Johnson is expected here tomorrow, on his way to Jackson, & I mean to report matters to him as I have found them. But we have to thank God that we have nearly completed our long journey, without accident. I continue quite well. Somehow, this irregular life seems to agree with me. As soon as I become settled, & especially when on furlough, my bowels give me trouble, but now they are quite regular. Last night, at Demopolis, I laid down about midnight, on a pile of tents, & looked at the beautiful stars. I was too weary to sleep, but I seemed to form of the stars a picture of you & Frank & Sue, asleep in Ma’s old bed, just as I saw you week before last. It was a sweet reverie, my
[Page 4]
precious Lottie, & I communed with you, & our dear little angels, beneath the soft stars, & my whole heart went up to Him, who made these beautiful, shining worlds & watches the slumbers of his children, to keep & bless & sustain my darling wife & her precious babies. I will mail this at the first Post office. This is only a landing on the river, (McDowell’s landing) and no office. This R.R., the “Alabama & Miss. Rivers R.R.” has a gap in it from Demopolis to this point, which is only 5 miles long & is supplied by boat, though the rail will be laid from this point to Demopolis. I took a most pleasant wash in the river just now, & feel very much refreshed, though I am very sleepy. I send you a tracing of our route. This will give you an idea of my route. You will see McDowell’s Landing, where we are now on the Tombigby. Good bye now, my dear angel, [illegible words]. I will mail this at Meridian Miss. D.V. Ellison
On the west bank of the Tombigby River
5 miles below Demopolis Ala.
Tuesday Morning 12th May/63
My own precious wife
Here we are awaiting our transportation from this point to Jackson. Since our arrival at Montgomery, at 10 ½ P.M. on Sunday night last, we have had a very fatiguing time. All night at Montgomery we were hard at work transferring our baggage from the train to the boat, & I had to superintend everything, & we did not leave Montgomery until 3 A.M. Arrived at Selma at 10 ½ A.M. & waited until sunset before we could get off, which brought up to Demopolis at 10 ½ last night, & then we were at it all night, struggling away with tired men & heavy baggage, until 4 A.M. this morning, when we came here by the Merengo, (boat) only 5 miles, & now while I write (on mess chest, by the river side) I am awaiting Co. “D”, whom I have sent for to load again, but “Thanky bless,” this is the last shift. This train will take us across the Alabama & Miss line to Jackson. So far we have changed trains & boats six times. Our journey has brought us along some very fine
[Page 2]
country. The most splendid fields of corn, wheat & oats, with here & there a cotton patch. But I am gratified to see that our western farmers have planted almost entirely of grain, & with the blessings of good seasons, we will have an abundant harvest for our noble armies. When we gain our freedom, darling, we will owe it, under the blessing of God, to the noble private soldiers of our armies, under their great Generals. When I see these poor fellows, 45 of them, crowded on an open platform car, or into a box car, which carried horses the trip before, my heart is warmed toward them. The R.R. companies should construct movable seats for their use, so that they could be seated more comfortably, & the Government is at fault for not requiring it. Yesterday at Selma, a company of the 29th Geo. was assigned a horse car, the floor of which was covered in dung. The men refused to go into it, & I interfered, & got it swept for them. The Supt. wanted me to put 50 men on open cars, without seats, to ride at night, & the men
[Page 3]
so sleepy as not be able to keep awake. I told him I would pitch my tents & stay at Selma, before I would do it, when he gave me more platform cars. Neglect of duty here, as everywhere, is palpable. The Quartermasters at Montgomery, gave the Quartermaster at Selma, no notice of our leaving Montgomery, & therefore we had to wait. Here we have to wait for the same reason. Gen Johnson is expected here tomorrow, on his way to Jackson, & I mean to report matters to him as I have found them. But we have to thank God that we have nearly completed our long journey, without accident. I continue quite well. Somehow, this irregular life seems to agree with me. As soon as I become settled, & especially when on furlough, my bowels give me trouble, but now they are quite regular. Last night, at Demopolis, I laid down about midnight, on a pile of tents, & looked at the beautiful stars. I was too weary to sleep, but I seemed to form of the stars a picture of you & Frank & Sue, asleep in Ma’s old bed, just as I saw you week before last. It was a sweet reverie, my
[Page 4]
precious Lottie, & I communed with you, & our dear little angels, beneath the soft stars, & my whole heart went up to Him, who made these beautiful, shining worlds & watches the slumbers of his children, to keep & bless & sustain my darling wife & her precious babies. I will mail this at the first Post office. This is only a landing on the river, (McDowell’s landing) and no office. This R.R., the “Alabama & Miss. Rivers R.R.” has a gap in it from Demopolis to this point, which is only 5 miles long & is supplied by boat, though the rail will be laid from this point to Demopolis. I took a most pleasant wash in the river just now, & feel very much refreshed, though I am very sleepy. I send you a tracing of our route. This will give you an idea of my route. You will see McDowell’s Landing, where we are now on the Tombigby. Good bye now, my dear angel, [illegible words]. I will mail this at Meridian Miss. D.V. Ellison
Collection
Citation
Capers, Ellison, 1837-1908, “Letter from Ellison Capers to his wife Lottie, May 12, 1863,” The Citadel Archives Digital Collections, accessed May 10, 2024, https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/492.