Letter from Sister to Sister, April 1865
Title
Letter from Sister to Sister, April 1865
Description
This document is a letter from one daughter of Robert Hine, a Surry County resident, to her sister. This letter is an example of a citizens’ reaction to the Union force traveling through Surry County. According to the author, the men of the area left the women behind, and the Union soldiers helped themselves to the supplies they needed. The letter also describes interpersonal relationships during the raid, and how the citizens who were left behind prepared for the coming raiders. Intended to inform a family member of personal events during the raid, this letter shows that the Union soldiers’ presence was well known and that they did physically impact the people of Surry County in many ways.
Creator
Unknown
Source
Letter from Sister to Sister, April 1865, Research Library, Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, Mount Airy, NC.
Date
1865-04-XX
Contributor
Jacob Simpson
Type
Document
Coverage
Surry County, North Carolina
Mount Airy, North Carolina
Original Format
Correspondence
Text
Dear Sister,
I suppose I would write you a few lines. I thought you would be uneasy. Sister, the Yankees have been here. They say there was seven thousand, but I don’t know how many there was but it was the most men I ever saw and some say ten thousand but I don’t know how many there was but it was the most man I ever saw in all my life since they was all cavalry. Oh sister you never saw the like in your life. There was said to be four brigades. They commenced coming about dark Sunday night in kept coming all night. Most all the men in town left and run to the woods. Will and Uncle Yancey and Uncle Frank left but Will staid until he saw them coming. One rode his horse here to Pateses, and Will and Mr. Wil was standing in the road talking and he told Will to halt. He jumped over the fence and run and I did not see him anymore until Monday evening but the town was not clear of them until Monday evening at sundown. I don’t begin to tell you all they all they done. I have to weight until I see you. They plundered Uncle Frank’s house and took all of Will’s and Frank’s clothes all Will’s but what he had on and Sall hid his shoes and we did not know anything about it. The Negros done remarkably well hardly any from this neighborhood went with them. They plundered Aunt Matt’s house but she was here this evening and said tell you that she was alive yet. I did not faint or get sick. I was not scared near as bad as I thought although we had two right good Yankees come in. We got supper for them. Will got a horse from the Yankees to pay for his clothes. They did not plunder our house a tall. They all send their love. Give my love to all and write soon to your affectionate.
Sister
I suppose I would write you a few lines. I thought you would be uneasy. Sister, the Yankees have been here. They say there was seven thousand, but I don’t know how many there was but it was the most men I ever saw and some say ten thousand but I don’t know how many there was but it was the most man I ever saw in all my life since they was all cavalry. Oh sister you never saw the like in your life. There was said to be four brigades. They commenced coming about dark Sunday night in kept coming all night. Most all the men in town left and run to the woods. Will and Uncle Yancey and Uncle Frank left but Will staid until he saw them coming. One rode his horse here to Pateses, and Will and Mr. Wil was standing in the road talking and he told Will to halt. He jumped over the fence and run and I did not see him anymore until Monday evening but the town was not clear of them until Monday evening at sundown. I don’t begin to tell you all they all they done. I have to weight until I see you. They plundered Uncle Frank’s house and took all of Will’s and Frank’s clothes all Will’s but what he had on and Sall hid his shoes and we did not know anything about it. The Negros done remarkably well hardly any from this neighborhood went with them. They plundered Aunt Matt’s house but she was here this evening and said tell you that she was alive yet. I did not faint or get sick. I was not scared near as bad as I thought although we had two right good Yankees come in. We got supper for them. Will got a horse from the Yankees to pay for his clothes. They did not plunder our house a tall. They all send their love. Give my love to all and write soon to your affectionate.
Sister
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Citation
Unknown, Letter from Sister to Sister, April 1865, Civil War Era NC, accessed December 18, 2024, https://cwnc.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/items/show/896.