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Camp Tyne's Station
July 30th 1863
Dear Father
As it has been some time since I have written to you I will write you a few lines as an opportunity offers. I am at a loss to write something as my late letters home included all the news you care about hearing; the reason why I do not write often to you is, I never receive any letters from you and a person will soon get tired of ever writing letters and never receiving any; besides I have never drawn any money from the Government yet, and each letter I send costs me a dollar, which you may guess are scarce about my old clothes just now. Times in this country are pretty heavy on soldiers who only get 11 or 12 dollars per month and draw only about half rations. Bacon, Potatoes etc. at about 10 prices, and fruit[,] what little there is[,] enormous. Watermelons at from 5 to 13 dollars[,] peaches 3 to 8 dollars per dozen. Yesterday morning our little squad eat [sic] their last meals and will not get any till tomorrow evening. Pretty bad case but I am willing to "grin and bear it" if it will be the means of saving our country from the Vandal hordes of Lincoln[,] Seward & Co. They are getting a pretty tight hold upon us, but if the people will turn out "en masse" and make one heroic struggle, I believe this year's campaign will settle the matter. I am in for the war, but expect to live in the old Seventeenth if a chance [illegible] offers for me to get there. For I am determined to not stay in this
Object Description
| Title | Letter to George B. Adkins, Sr., July 30, 1863 |
| Creator | Adkins, George B., Jr. |
| Creator Role | Author |
| Creator Information | George B. Adkins, Jr. is the brother of Virginia E. "Jennie" Adkins and was a soldier in the Confederate Army. |
| Date | 1863-07-30 |
| Language | English |
| Content Description | Letter written by George B. Adkins, Jr. to his father, George B. Adkins, Sr. |
| Physical Description | ink-written text on 7.5" x 10" paper -- paper shows signs of creasing, moderate staining and very little fading of ink -- [3 pages] |
| Subject - Library of Congress | Coleman, John N. -- Correspondence |
| Coverage - Place | United States -- Camp Tynes Station |
| Coverage - Time Period | American Civil War |
| Coverage - Date | 1863-07-30 |
| Transcription |
Camp Tyne's Station
July 30th 1863 Dear Father As it has been some time since I have written to you I will write you a few lines as an opportunity offers. I am at a loss to write something as my late letters home included all the news you care about hearing; the reason why I do not write often to you is, I never receive any letters from you and a person will soon get tired of ever writing letters and never receiving any; besides I have never drawn any money from the Government yet, and each letter I send costs me a dollar, which you may guess are scarce about my old clothes just now. Times in this country are pretty heavy on soldiers who only get 11 or 12 dollars per month and draw only about half rations. Bacon, Potatoes etc. at about 10 prices, and fruit[,] what little there is[,] enormous. Watermelons at from 5 to 13 dollars[,] peaches 3 to 8 dollars per dozen. Yesterday morning our little squad eat [sic] their last meals and will not get any till tomorrow evening. Pretty bad case but I am willing to "grin and bear it" if it will be the means of saving our country from the Vandal hordes of Lincoln[,] Seward & Co. They are getting a pretty tight hold upon us, but if the people will turn out "en masse" and make one heroic struggle, I believe this year's campaign will settle the matter. I am in for the war, but expect to live in the old Seventeenth if a chance [illegible] offers for me to get there. For I am determined to not stay in this mixed up arrangement under pre-war commanders. I wrote Lovelady [possibly Pvt. J.C. Lovelady of Co. B] saying, that they had old Gillespie up before Court Martial; it seems that Wilkes is going to get clear and G---e [Gillespie] put in for it. Such is the opinion of all who are concerned in the trial. God grant he may be Cashiered and relieved of command here, for a baser scoundrel never lived[.] I hope too Wilkes may be sent home, for he might raise another white flag the next tight place he gets into. Their trials are progressing slowly and maybe will not conclude in a month. Tell J- [Joe?] McKay, Company "K" doesn't think the better of him for his conduct toward us. He might have come by to see us even if he knew our letters could go home by mail[,] which was by no means the case. The boys are eternally down on him and Ellis[,] our "co devout" 3d Lieut. who was in an hour's run of us with two or three days [sic] notice and wouldn't come to see us to carry letters. 'Tis true he wrote us a note saying he would carry our letters if sent to him, but I would have seen him first. I hear his old Daddy is on his head about James McLellan "slandering" (E) him. What old Ellis calls slander is truth, and I will certify to the same. As for Ed Perry[,] our 2nd Lieut.[,] he has always been considered the best officer in the "lay out", but his whereabouts are now uncertain. He went to his grandfathers [sic] in Nd. [?] the day I left Richmond. The last heard from him was a little while before our retreat from Wartsace. [?] He wrote to Ellis there that he expected to be up in a few days[;] if he does play off on us and leave us here without anyone as all of our old command, he may expect the cold shoulder as well as the others mentioned above. An officer of late has become the object of my supreme contempt. Very few consider the interests of their men and thereby damage the interests of the country, for how do they Expect [sic] Soldiers [sic] to fight and make heavy marches with no food or clothing, and how is the country to Sustain [sic] herself without fighting material. [sic] So, damn them, so they get their money and thereby obtain plenty to eat and wear, the[y] can not [know] how hungry and naked a Soldier [sic] goes for the want of his money; not only do they not try to get it for him, but use all their endeavors to keep him out of it, for fear, I suppose[,] he might live as well as they do. I have expressed myself pretty freely to them and will continue to do so until matters change. If a substitute cannot be hired try and get J.E.A. to come and take my place for a month or two, if he will, which I know almost he will not do. All the boys are well except Thom Sanders who by his imprudence has made himself tolerable sick[;] he goes to the hospital this evening. Give my love to all the family[,] best respects to all inquiring friends. Tell Arie I wrote to her a day or two ago[.] Write soon to your affectionate son George B. Adkins[,] Jr. |
| Collection Title | Guthrie Civil War Letters |
| Institution | Baylor University, Waco, Texas |
| Rights | http://www.baylor.edu/lib/digitization/digitalrights |
| Resource Type | text - letter |
| ID | 1863-07-30 |
Description
| Title | 01 |
| Transcription |
Camp Tyne's Station
July 30th 1863 Dear Father As it has been some time since I have written to you I will write you a few lines as an opportunity offers. I am at a loss to write something as my late letters home included all the news you care about hearing; the reason why I do not write often to you is, I never receive any letters from you and a person will soon get tired of ever writing letters and never receiving any; besides I have never drawn any money from the Government yet, and each letter I send costs me a dollar, which you may guess are scarce about my old clothes just now. Times in this country are pretty heavy on soldiers who only get 11 or 12 dollars per month and draw only about half rations. Bacon, Potatoes etc. at about 10 prices, and fruit[,] what little there is[,] enormous. Watermelons at from 5 to 13 dollars[,] peaches 3 to 8 dollars per dozen. Yesterday morning our little squad eat [sic] their last meals and will not get any till tomorrow evening. Pretty bad case but I am willing to "grin and bear it" if it will be the means of saving our country from the Vandal hordes of Lincoln[,] Seward & Co. They are getting a pretty tight hold upon us, but if the people will turn out "en masse" and make one heroic struggle, I believe this year's campaign will settle the matter. I am in for the war, but expect to live in the old Seventeenth if a chance [illegible] offers for me to get there. For I am determined to not stay in this |
| Rights | http://www.baylor.edu/lib/digitization/digitalrights |
