Civil War Letters
Robert Cole Mabry to his wife, Sally
Robert Cole5 Mabry (Charles4, Joshua3, Hinchia2, Francis1) was born in July 1829 in Warren County, North Carolina. He was the 12th of 14 children of Charles Mabry (1748-1844) who was a soldier of the American Revolution. Charles Mabry was first married on 29 May 1783 to Phoebe Gibbs in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Phoebe died in 1816 and ten years later, on 26 January 1826 Charles married a second time to Elizabeth Cole in Warren County. Robert Cole Mabry was the third child of this second marriage. Robert was married to Sarah Reed who was born about 1835.
In 2001 one of our researchers discovered Robert Cole Mabry's letters in the North Carolina State Archives. The collection contains about 80 letters written between 30 June 1861 and 11 December 1864. Most were written by Pvt. R. C. Mabry to his wife Sally, but there are also several letters written by two of Sally Mabry’s brothers. We have selected representative excerpts from some of these letters and offer them below in chronological order.
These letters are of particular interest because they provide us with a first-hand account of Robert Mabry's life as a soldier over a period of three and a half years. They are typical of Civil War letters in that they speak of news from home, concern for family members and about conditions in camp. They also offer insights into the "news from the battlefield". His later letters speak often of his religious faith and sometimes contain comments about the war itself.
The circumstances surrounding R. C. Mabry’s enlistment in the Confederate Army are found in his letter, written from Entrenched Camp Near Norfolk, VA, Apr. 20th 1862:
My Dear wife,
As some of the boys are going home I avail the opportunity of writing and sending my Deguerotype (sic). I feel sad on account of our situation, but think it probable that our place is and will continue to be as comfortable as any Soldiers. I had hoped up to the day I enlisted we would only have to stand a Draft, but we heard although it was kept a secret, that the Conscription Bill had passed and thought it better to enlist than to be signed to our places. I know not the public sentiment on the Conscription Bill, but as for me, I consider it unjust and in direct conflict with States rights and in fact not republican but we must submit to the powers that be. I believe it will be the means of closing the war much sooner as it is impossible to keep such an army long in the field but then it is not justice to those under thirty five.
In the same letter, R. C. Mabry tells of going to Portsmouth to get his picture (Daguerreotype) taken and of seeing, in the Portsmouth Navy Yard, the famous ‘Merrimack’, which had seen action only a few weeks earlier against the Union ‘Monitor’ in the battle of the ironclads:
There is nothing new in camp, heavy firing on the Peninsula yesterday and the impression is there was a general fight yesterday, though nothing positively known and in fact we can rely on nothing we hear in camp. I succeeded the other day after so long a time to get to Norfolk but strange to say could not get a picture in the city and was compelled to go to Portsmouth to get it, and while in Portsmouth I visited the navy yard and the celebrated Merrimack. The navy yard is of vast interest to a stranger. The various branches of work and extensive buildings and ruined walls of houses burnt by the Yankees although they destroyed much, that portion left is of immense value to the Confederacy. The Merimack is certainly a very formidable Battery. The roof is the only part exposed and is about three feet thick plated with heavy Iron and seems to be proof against shot and shell. She mounts ten guns all Dalgreen rifle guns, some of them carry solid shot that weigh 160” I was shown every part of the ship by one of the officers but find it impossible to give full details. I also saw the French Man of War lying in the river but was not allowed to go on board.
On 2 September 1862 R. C. Mabry wrote the following from Prince William County, Virginia:
My Dear Wife,
I am sorry to inform you that I was wounded in the leg last Saturday in the fight. The wound is a flesh wound and not at all serious. I will be sent to some hospitle (sic) today but I do not know where. I will come home if I can though I am out of money. I will write again as soon as I can.
This letter was followed by another, written from General Hospital, Staunton, VA, on September 26th:
My Dear Precious Wife,
I am pleased to be able to say to you today that I am better. The Dr. says I am nearly clear of fever and that my wound is doing very well. My Dear, I assure you my suffering has been great since I was wounded and I still suffer with my leg, though not so much, but I thank God it has been no worse and I hope soon to be well. My Dear, why is it that I cannot get a letter from you of some of my dear friends. Can it be possible that you do not write or is it that the letters do not reach me. I am sure it is the latter for surely you do write. I hope some one will write every mail. If you knew how highly I prized your letters I know you would write. My Dear I am very sorry to inform when I arrived here that they took off all the Clothes I had on and put clean ones on me to have mine washed which they said was the rules of the house and the result is I lost my Coat Vest, sox, Hhdkf & towel and they now tell me there is no redress so I am here without a coat or vest but I have not needed them yet as I have been confined to my Bed all the time. I hope you will soon have my new clothes ready and that your Pa will come and bring them. If he has not already started to see me. Somehow I sorter expect him here tonight. No news from the Boys. My Dear take care of yourself and our Dear Preston. Kiss him for me. My love to all the Family Tom & Helen, also remember me very kindly to Mrs. Wright. My Dear may the good Lord bless comfort and protect you is the prayer of your devoted husband
R. C. Mabry
Three days later, on 29 September, he still had not heard from home and was feeling very sorry for himself:
My Dear Precious Wife,
My heart is indeed sad to think that you will not write to me here. I am not able to walk one step and no kind friend near me nor nothing to console me. I really think hard that you nor no one will write to me. I have had only one letter from you and I, though unable to have done so, have written twice a week. My Dear I am glad to say I am now nearly clear of fever though very weak. My leg I think is no better. It is true the pain is not severe but it does not heal one bit. I think it will be sometime before my leg is well and as to a furlough I do not know what to say but fear my chance is bad. I see there are a few who have their fathers here with them get furloughs. I tell you my Dear none but a soldier can tell what it is like to be a soldier what they have to suffer but I trust in God that I may survive all and once more enjoy the sweet comfort of home with my Dear family.
The presence of a gap in the R. C. Mabry letters from 29 September 1862 until 21 June 1863 might suggest that he was at home during some or all of that nine month period. That he had been at home at least part of that time is indicated in his letter dated Sunday, June 21st 1863 which was written from ‘Langhorn Hospitle’ in Lynchburg, Virginia:
My Dear Sal,
After remaining at Gordonsville two days I arrived at this place last night about one o’clock. I like the appearance of things pretty well. The ward seems to be nice and the Surgeon quite attentive & agreeable this morning. I am not able to tell anything about the fare as I have had no rations yet. My rations have been of little use to me since I left home. My appetite has been very poor as have been the rations. They are plenty but such as I cannot eat much of fat Bacon and flour Bread. The more I see of the War the more sad I feel. At Fredericksburg there is nothing but desolation, fine mansions completely riddled by shot and shell. In our march from Fredericksburg we passed over the Battle Field at Chancellorsville. I never saw anything like it. The trees are torn literally to pieces and the entire field show plainly that it was a terrific Battle. The dead are not half buried. I saw them with their hands & arms out and I saw one foot lying in the road. The rifle pits were used as graves pile the bodies in them and throw a little dirt over them. I never smelled such a stench. There is no prospect of any crop from Fredericksburg to Culpepper and but little from Culpepper to Gordonsville. From Gordonsville to Charlottesville the crops are good. The balance of the trip was performed in the night so I cannot tell what the prospect are. I hope all are well at home. Tell your Pa I think the money market has a bad face. What does he think of it. If Vicksburg falls I fear we shall have a crisis in Confederate money.
The R. C. Mabry letters written in 1862 all refer to his son, Walter Preston Mabry who was probably born in 1861. When he wrote his wife on 27 June 1863 he referred to Preston and to another son, Thomas Archer Mabry, In this and another letter about the same time R. C. Mabry asks his wife if there has been a court decision in ‘Archer’s case’. No other information is given but we assume it has to do with their son, Thomas Archer Mabry. At the same time he refers to Preston and Archer as ‘our children’, but also mentions, ‘dear little Emma’, who seems to be under his wife’s care but not necessarily their child. In the same letter he says that there are ‘fifty two hospitals in this place with about six thousand patients’. Ten days later, on July 7th 1863 he wrote again to say that he was at Winder Hospital in Richmond:
...I have nothing new to write you of interest but knowing your anxiety about me write to notify you where I am. I was much better pleased at Lynchburg than I am at this place. The hospital fare was better and everything much neater than here and there we were at liberty to go where we pleased… here we are kept in by a guard. The trip from Lynchburg to Richmond was unpleasant for me, extremely so. The men were opposed to coming to fight under strange officers and I never saw such conduct shooting at dogs and cattle while the train was in motion and when at the stations on the road. Fruit trees and gardens demolished chickens killed and the most obscene language used in the presence of Citizens Male & Female and to cap the climax when we arrived at the junction we were detained some time. While there a soldier stole a negroes watch. He was arrested and sent under guard. I do not know what they did with him after getting to Richmond. Many soldiers refused to take arms at Camp Lee unless they were sent to their own commanders. Some were forced at the point of the bayonet to take arms and there were about five hundred paroled or rather exchanged prisoners from the Western Army mostly Wheeler & Forests men who refused positively to fight in any other but their own commanders and they could or did not force them. There has been considerable excitement here but it is now blown over. I do not know how long I shall remain here. I am well except my leg. I am not able to march.
A week later, on 14 July 1863 his letter was filled with concerns about the health of those at home:
My dear, how is your health now. Do you still have difficulty in breathing. You had better send for Dr. Jefferson. Perhaps he can do something to relieve you. how are our dear children and dear little Emma getting on. I do want to see them so much. Kiss each of them for me...I hope you will be careful with our dear Preston not let him eat green fruit to make him sick, and talk with him and learn him such things as will expand his mind. Be careful especially about peach seed that he does not get choked. I suppose you feed our dear Thomas Archer now regularly. I hope he grows fast. I expect and hope that dear little Emma can walk before now. I am tolerable well though I cannot walk on my leg well. I do not know how long I shall remain here. There are so many hundred men worse wounded than myself.
On 26 August 1853 he wrote:
All soldiers returning on Furlough are required to report to the Medical director for examination and the orders from Gen. Lee he says is to send all men to the Army who are able to do any sort of duty. Consequently he would be compelled to send me on to my Regt. I shall leave here in the morning for my command near Orange Courthouse. I am aware my Precious Sal this will fall like a thunderbolt upon you. But let me urge you not to grieve nor be sad on account of it but trust in the good Lord and he will direct all things for the best.
Writing from Orange Courthouse on 12 September 1863, R. C. Mabry said:
...There is nothing My Dear of special interest in our camp. The Army has gone through a Gen. review. This week Ewell’s Corpse passed review, last Wednesday and A. P. Hills yesterday. These Gen. reviews are interesting performances and especially so to spectators of whom there was a vast assemblage. All the Citizens for miles around both male and Female old and young must have turned out on yesterday judging from the number present. I could but observe the dashing young ladies as they passed down the front of our lines on their fiery Steeds. Most of the ladies were on horse back. Then when the front was well cleared there comes Gen. Lee followed by A. P. Hill and then Anderson and their Staff of each Gen. Upon the whole it was a grand affair. I wish you could have witnessed it. I think you would have been pleased. Most all the Gen officers have their wives up here but I have not had the pleasure of seeing only at a distance any of them except Mrs. Mahone. She is rather small but very pretty. I think her Baby is very cross. Gen. Lee’s daughters were out but they were at too great a distance for me to see them, so as to judge of their beauty. Lee is a fine looking and very dignified man.
Five days later he wrote to his wife again, this time offering some medical advice in response to a letter he had received from her:
My Dear Wife,
Your kind letter of the 12th was received last evening. I was much gratified to hear from you all and learn all were well. But very sorry to hear dear Preston’s hand was so sore. I expect there is something stuck in it. Examine it and make a salve of soft Turpentine and muttons tallow and bind it up. Have a pine tree skinned and get the Turpentine as soon as it comes out. Put one third tallow and two thirds Turpentine mix them in your hand without heating. Keep it well bound up to prevent dirt from getting in the sore. I am truly sorry to hear our dear Boys have sore eyes. I much fear it is caused by what I cautioned you against, that is Mary’s washing their faces with her filthy hands in the morning. Now if you please do not permit her to wash the Children until you have first made her cleanse her own hands. I have already warned you of the danger but fear you disregarded it. If their eyes are still sore you had better have the Dr. to see them, do my dear try and take care of them. I have been trying to get commutation for rations for all the time I was at home but could not succeed. I will get it for only sixty days. My Capt. did all he could for me. He gave me a certificate stating that I was unfit for service during my entire absence and also that I reported in June when I was not able for duty and he believed me to be justly entitled to pay. But Col. Cole, the Qr. Master of our Company said he was only authorised to pay for the time I had furlough though he believed I deserved the pay.
It was about this time that R. C. Mabry began opening his letters in a more formal style that sounds strange to our modern ear, especially in the light of all his previous letters. Here is an example from his letter written “near Rapidan Orange Countyâ€, dated 7 October 1863:
My Dear Wife,
I received your very kind and highly esteemed letter dated 28th Ult., last Saturday, and it afforded me much satisfaction, as I had been expecting one for some days. I promised to inform you what I should like to have brought to me when my clothes were sent but it will be some time yet before we get settled and of course I do not wish them sent until I can remain in camp to enjoy them. It will be attended with some trouble but then I shall need my clothes and to bring some refreshments will increase the trouble very little and to see your Pa or some one from home will be a real treat to me and I assure you I could enjoy something from home to eat very much. Then to begin, I wish you to get two of those large mouthed vials out of that box in the closet and fill one with Black Pepper, grind it, and the other with red. Send me a little Bag of Sage, parch and grind some wheat for coffee put it in a little bag. Send the Bottle of Tomato Catsup and tell Tommie Haskins to send me a bottle of Molasses or Honey if he has taken any. Send some onions, sweet potatoes, Irish Potatoes, three or four pounds of butter, some apples and such meat and bread as you think proper. Any bread is preferable to such as we get. I shall need a pair of sox and if not convenient to procure a pair of thick draws. I can make out without them. Let sister know that I want those things she will send butter & Onions I think your mother raised but few. You can get everything ready so as to be ready when I write for them.
R. C. Mabry’s letters often contain references to his faith, to preaching in the camp and to his attendance at religious services. The following was written in October 1863:
My Dear Sal
Believing it to be the duty of all Christians to connect themselves with some branch of Christs Church, I have determined to connect myself with the Christians at Mount Auburn or with the Methodists at Union Chappel. Now I have no doubt you would prefer my joining at Auburn if so I would prefer to do so. If I knew all its members would receive me cordially; not that I wish to be on intimate terms with all in the church there but would like to be on Christian terms with all. I have nothing against any of them but have forgiven them for all they have done to me and I trust God has forgiven them. I wish you to show this only to your Pa and whatever you and him advise in the matter I shall be governed by. Do not speak of it to any one but let me hear from you soon.
His letter of 8 December 1863 contains this interesting paragraph:
My Dear it will soon be time to hire Negroes for another year. I suppose you want a Girl to attend to our dear Children. Ask your Pa to hire you such an one as you want and he had best buy some provision to feed her on before it gets any higher, but he knows as well and better what to do than I can tell him. I hope he may have come on with clothes before you get this.
On 15 December 1863 he wrote from Camp Mahones Brigade in Orange County to report that the items he had so often requested from home had finally arrived!
My dear Wife,
Your very kind letter of the 8th came to hand last Saturday night and afforded me much pleasure to hear you were all well except colds, which are so common at this season that they are not regarded as sickness. This leaves me only tolerable well. I was taken Saturday night with a severe headache which lasted until Sunday night. I feel a little unwell yet though not much. My Dear you all will please accept my kindest thanks for the nice and highly appreciated articles sent me . Although the Fowls & Bread were spoiled the other things were good and are quite a treat to me. I sent you by Mr. Fleming a watch apiece for our dear Boys. You will please put them away and save them for them. I am sure you will consider it a very bad investment but it is my misfortune to have no confidence in Confederate Scrip and I wanted to give them something and concluded the watches would in the end be worth more to them than 50$ in Confederate money. I sent a pair of Pants which I wish you to resew. Cut off the wood Buttons and put on horn Buttons. Those on the old pr sent home will do and send them to john bullock to sell for you at Forty dollars ($40) and no less which will help to buy you a dress. I sent two cotton shirts which you can use to make you a night Gown or any other purpose you think best. They are worth Fifteen dollars each (15$). I also send a pr of cotton draws which you can cut up for the children or exchange them for three yards of cloth to use for the same purpose. If you should think proper to exchange the shirts for cloth they are worth Four yards each. I sent a lot of buttons which I knew you needed for the children to be sure to take care of them. The Metal buttons save for me some of them are from Bristow. My old knife take care of until I can have new blades put in it. I intend my two broken knives at home to be repaired for our dear children. My old coat and Pants have washed and boiled thoroughly and make into clothes for Preston. The pr old draws I intended to send home were out to be washed and I forgot them. I hope my Dear you took the things out of the trunk yourself and not let them be destroyed as the other things I sent home. There may be other things sent I do not remember now. Take care of all, My Dear you express much uneasiness about me and sorrow for my suffering. Let me urge you to cheer up and hope for the best. Tis true the life of a soldier is one of danger and hardship but perhaps I am frequently more comfortable than you imagine.
R. C. Mabry’s letters continued from Orange County through the winter. On 21 March 1864 he wrote about the scarcity of provisions:
...I am sorry to hear my dear Thomas Archer had been Sick though gratified to know he had recovered. It is now about the season for children to suffer from worms. It would be well therefore to notice them closely and if any sign of suffering from them is detected commence at once to Dr. them. I suppose you have some Vermifuge, if not you had best get some be sure to keep some on hand. You can buy it in Warrenton or Boydton. I am Truly sorry to hear Grand Ma does not improve in health. My kindest regards to her. I am very glad to hear Tom & Lou have some prospect of keeping out of the Army. I do so much hope they may escape. We are faring tolerably well for soldiers but I cannot tell how long it may continue for I am of the opinion of yourself that this will be a year of suffering. I cannot see what some families are to do. Provision is not only high but it is very scarce and what are those to do that have but little money. Here in camp we have to pay very exorbitant prices for what we buy; we cannot get anything from the Citizens. They have not the first article of provision to sell. I buy peas of the Sutler at two dollars per quart. I shall not be able to buy many more for some time as I am low in funds and I refused to be paid off in the old issue so I will not get any money until about June. Though be not uneasy I shall not suffer if they continue to present rations.
In his letter of 2 May 1864 he responds to the news of the death of our dear Grand Mother:
...Your kind letter of the 22 ult. Bearing the sad intelligence of the death of our dear Grand Mother reached me on last Wednesday. While we mourn her loss we should humbly submit to the dispensation of God and take comfort from the bright testimony left us by her that her angelic spirit is now basking in the sunshine of a Saviours love and oh may it prove a strong incentive to us to be more zealous in our Masters service that when the summons of death shall come to us we shall meet it with joy and soar away to meet our sainted grandmother in the Paradise above which God hath prepared for his people.
His letter three days later is interesting for his opinions about the war:
...My Dear you wish to know my opinion in regard to the war’s coming to a close. My opinion is perhaps worth less than most any other man’s. As an evidence I would state that I find but few who agree with me. I can see no more reason now for a defeat of the Yankee Army bringing them to terms than heretofore. I take the past as an index to the future. McClellan’s Army was driven from the Peninsular in 1862. His defeat saved Richmond, nothing more. Then followed the second Manassas defeat and our forces entered Maryland only to retreat back and be a flank movement. La_____ ___ attempted to cross the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg. His forces were driven back greatly slaughtered only to return under the command of Hooker via United States forces more determined than ever. Our great victory at Chancellorsville is fresh in the minds of all. Then Lee’s campaign into Penn Gettysburg being the only field in which our arms did not achieve a signal success. And I would inquire where is the good resulting from all those victories. What do we see today, an army in our front on the banks of the Rapid A____ as large perhaps and more determined under the leadership of their young ____ lean to accomplish our subjugation than any that was yet attempted it. I believe their defeat is almost certain but I can see but little reason for believing it will close the war. Military dictators seldom tire of war. I see very many intelligent men who say if we defeat Grant’s army peace will be the inevitable result. Captain Hardy told me yesterday when this war commenced he thought it would last eight years but now he fully believed it would end this year. He is intelligent and his opinion is based on the recent peace demonstrations in the North. The unsettled state of the money market and the interest felt by France for our success so as to give some advantage to her enterprise in Mexico. I humbly trust we may have an early peace.
By early May R. C. Mabry’s company had left Orange County and by July he was writing from ‘the trenches near Petersburg’. His letter of 8 August gives a vivid description of the battles there which he believed his wife might have ‘heard from home’ which was perhaps only about fifty miles distant. Two months later, on 11 October 1864, R. C. Mabry wrote home from Camp Mahones Brigade Near Petersburg:
My Dear Wife,
...My dear you speak of the untold trouble caused by this useless war. True it is unsurpassed by anything in modern history but I doubt not it will prove a blessing to many by causing them to feel their dependence upon their Creator and seek the forgiveness of their sins and thereby secure the salvation of their souls by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am sometimes disposed to murmur at my lot but then I am cheered by the words of St. Paul, my light afflictions here which endureth but for a moment and I feel that if I can only hold out Faithful I shall enter into that rest which endureth forever. Then my dear let us cheer up and trust in our blessed Saviour and all will be well. I truly sympathize with Helen and pray that Tom and all our dear Friends may erelong be safely restored to their homes and loved ones. You wish to know what I think of Lee’s ability to retake the Weldon Road. I think it is beyond his power. If he will hold the south side he will do more than I fear he can. As to the prospect of peace my opinion is unchanged. Peace must come through the people and not by the heads of government though many believe the election North will close the war. I pray it may be so. All is quiet in our Front and along the entire line. So far as I know we are still in reserve though I prefer the Front line and I hope we will be sent to the Front soon as we are not so liable to be moved as when in reserve. The weather has been quite cool. For two or three days and wood is very scarce. I fear there will be suffering for fuel as well as for food. This winter our rations are rather short now the beef is very poor and nothing like grease to cook it with. A man sometimes get a pound of Liver for a days ration which you know is not enough and a beef tongue was given to four of us the other day as our ration for a day but I spend what wages I get and do not suffer with hunger often. My Dear thank God this leaves me tolerably well. I have a boil in my ear which is a little painful though improving now. My Dear my love to our dear boys. Kiss them for me and take care of them my love to your Pa and all the Family. Tell Pat to kiss dear Emma for me, my love to Helen and Mr. Haskins to Tom & Lou when you write them also my love to Jno Read & Family. May the good Lord ever be with and take care of you my Dear is the prayer of your devoted husband.
R. C. Mabry
Eleven days later he wrote again, saying, among other things:
...My Dear I am sorry you see so much trouble on account of our separation but it seems to be unavoidable. The Lord has been very merciful to us. He has taken care of us in the fury of Battle has shielded me from harm then let us cheer up and trust in Him and all will be well. It is a sore affliction to me to be separated from you and our dear boys and the separation causes me much depression of Spirits but thank God for the blessed hope I have of erelong meeting you in that bright clime where wars nor separation never come.
This is the last letter in the file written by R. C. Mabry. The next letter in order was written three days later, on 25 October 1864 by his wife, Sal Mabry. It was apparently returned to her when he could not be found. The next letter is addressed to Sal Mabry’s brother, Charles F. Read:
Co. K 6th Regt. Va Infy
November 18th 1864
Sir,
Your enquiry of the whereabouts of Pvt. R. C. Mabry of this company received this morning. Pvt. Mabry was missing after the Battle of the 27th October but I think there is but little cause to doubt of his safety as he was seen after the principal fighting and was unharmed. I wrote to his wife a week or two since. I would have done so immediately after the battle but could not learn her address. Trusting the above may prove satisfactory, I am
Yours Respectfully
Theodorick A. Williams
Lt. Comdg. Co K 6th Va Infy
On 20 November, 1864 Sal Mabry’s brother, Stephen R. Read, wrote to her saying, in part:
My Dear Sister,
I have written to you all recently but I believe I have received a letter from you since my last was written. I am very anxious to hear from home indeed. When you wrote last you had not heard from Mr. Mabry. I truly hope you have since heard. I hope to get a letter tomorrow. We have written to his Captain. I fear you all will be uneasy about us if you have seen the papers. Gen’l Pickett got in motion a night or two ago to play a Yankee trick on the Yankees. Last Thursday night we made a break on their pickett line and captured five officers, one Colonel, two Captains, two Lieuts. and 115 men. Our loss was a few wounded.
On November 28, 1864 Sal Mabry’s brother, Charles, wrote to her from ‘Line of Battle’ near Chester, Va:
Dear Sister,
As I have not written home in some time I embrace the present opportunity of writing of you a short letter letting you know that we are yet in the land of the living. We are all very well at present. We have received several letters from home lately. Stephen was home a few days ago I guess you have read his letters before now. I know of and am very much troubled about Mr. Mabry being a prisoner. I know it is bad being a prisoner but if he can keep his health and can get something to eat I think he will be as well off there as he would be here. It is pretty certain that there will be a good deal more fighting before the winter sets in and in Petersburg I don’t much think there will be any fighting of any consequence in this part of the line though may be. I sent a note already from the Captain of Mr. Mabry’s Company. He thinks he is a prisoner and isn’t _____. I would _____ give myself as little trouble as possible. I hope he may be exchanged and probably he may get through with the 1000 that is to be exchanged.
The final letter in the file is another from Sal Mabry’s brother, Stephen R. Read. It is dated 11 December 1864 and was written from Headquarters, Co. F. 14th Va Regiment.
My Dear Sister
I this morning for the first time in two weeks I think received your letter. I am always happy to hear from home but particularly so at this time. When I learn all my friends are well I forget my own troubles and try and work my way through this troublesome world. There is nothing of interest with us. We continue to be harassed by orders expecting to move but as yet we are states ___. I do not think that we will be much interrupted by moving. Winter seems to have set in for good as it hailed, rained and snowed last night and this morning I find the ground covered to a depth of two or three inches with a slick. If it continues bad it may put a stop to military preparations. I hope it may. General Lee is granting a limited number of furloughs to the men but none to officers. I hope he will soon grant them more profusely. I do not however expect to get one by xmas as there are one or two officers ahead of me. I hope however to see you all soon. I am happy to see that you stand Mr. Mabry’s capture so well.
R. C. Mabry was captured on 27 October 1864 at the Battle of Burgess Mill and was held until 28 March 1865 when he was exchanged. We have no further record of him or his family except that his son, Walter Preston Mabry, married Christina Elizabeth Wertz on 20 October 1892 in Roanoke County, Virginia.
Don Collins
August 2014