Summary of William Duncan Cole Letters - 1862 to 1864

Compiled and contributed by Leah Meador

Unit mustered in Fayette, Alabama, to join rest of 38th Regiment in Mobile.

The following is a summary of regimental highlights contained in letters written from William Duncan COLE to his wife, Cornelia Ann DARDEN Cole, 21 May, 1862 – 4 April, 1864.

Letter of: 21 May 1862: Went first to Montgomery: 300 guarding 1200-1250 prisoners. Thought they would have to guard them to Atlanta, but the prisoners were to be paroled and the Regiment would continue on to Mobile.

28 May 1862, Camp Holt, Mobile, AL: Food in camp = Plenty or Nothing. Stationed West of Mobile about 3 miles. Throwing up breastworks - "It is said to be 14 miles long leaving the bay about six or seven miles below Mobile, running from there to the Mobile River in a circle around the city at a distance from 3 to 7 miles from the City."

6 Jun 1862: Measles in camp.

2 Jul 1862: WDC became 1st Sergt. "Col. Chas. T. Ketchum's Reg't about 3 miles SW of Mobile at what is called the old race track." (Ketchum's Regt., Hardee's Corp., Bragg's Brigade)

5 July 1862: Receives $11 to buy his own food. "A soldier can eat his $11 in one week and not have much to eat at that. I have spent about 40 dollars since I left home. I spent it all for something to eat and but little for anything else."

19 Aug 1862: Dr. Meriweather (From 38th) graduated in Charleston and has gone there to take his exams. When he passes his exams, he will have appointment as Surgeon in Col. Coleman's Regt. Col. Coleman is a brother-in-law of the doctor's.

13 Sep 1862: WDC will become 3rd Lieutenant; pay will become $80/month. Returned the preceeding Wed. from 10 day furlough. Home only 4 days as travel took 3 days each way.

14 Nov 1862: Small pox in camp

11 Dec 1862: Mentions fighting at Fort Morgan and concern in camp that if Fort Morgan falls, capture of Mobile is certain. At this time Grant's headquarters are in Oxford, Mississippi

1 Jan 1863: Small pox is in Fayette County. Is sending home scabs to be softened and used as vaccine. Gives Cornelia instructions on how to soften the small pox scabs and do the vaccinations. Tells her to vaccinate self, children and the negroes. There should also be enough for her father's family as well.

Also reports that Jeff Davis was in Mobile "yesterday and the day before" checking on the fortifications.

10 Jan 1863: Union "badly whipped" at Murphreesborough; USA lost @ 9,000 of 30,000 men.

14 Mar 1863: WDC is now 2nd Lt. Discussion of Gen. Bragg buying up meat, corn and fodder from the countryside for the army in Green, Sumter and Marion Counties. Regimental Commanders are to send out details to gather provisions from the countryside. Lt. Col. Lankford is going out with about 100 men to round up men at home subject to the army in Fayette, Marion and Walker Counties.

20 Mar 1863: "We are whipped and badly whipped." Instructions to Cornelia to put up meat and corn in the house. Troops will not forage food from the house but will take it from the barn, field, etc.

1 Apr 1863: Cornelia is to take the "Georgia Sykes" down river from Tuscaloosa when she comes to visit him. The "Vivian" has been taken over by the government so the "Georgia Sykes" is the only boat running the river.

Apr, 1863: Cornelia had been in Mobile only a short time when he got orders to leave. She had traveled 250 miles and was "unable to walk" when she arrived. They had just 24 hours together before he had to go.

Undated Letter written from Tullahoma, Tennessee. WDC's Brigade is ordered to go to War Trace, @ 12 miles away.

1 May 1863, Tullahoma, TN: All Brigades but WDC's have been sent to the front. His Brigade is putting up a "very large fort" @ 1 1/2 miles from camp. They are trying to make it cannon proof; Will hold 25,000 men. Area is poor ("worse than Fayette") and "entirely abolitionist." "Yanks tend to abolitionize the country where they go." "The South is doomed." Wishes to be with his family in South America!

5 May 1863: Other troops there in Tullahoma: 9th Alabama Battalion, 18th Alabama Reg't. (Henry Wood COLE’s Reg’t), 19th LA Reg't., 38th Alabama Reg't. (WDC's Reg't) and Fowler's Battery. 19th LA going to Shelbyville; 36th Alabama gone to Chattanooga; 1st Georgia (also part of his his brigade) and 18th Alabama have fallen back on the Rail Road as a guard.

8 May 1863: Still building "forts and batteries" @ Tullahoma.

26 May 1863, War Trace, TN: Have moved to War Trace and are now within 8 miles of the Yanks. Belief in camp is that they will be whipped at War Trace and at Vicksburg. The Yank prisoners say they have plenty more men and will continue on while South already is using all of its good men. Only 60 of the 88 men in his company are well enough for duty. "There is more sickness in this company than in any other." They are working everyday at fortifying the breastworks, even Sundays.

6 Jun 1863, Murfressborough, TN: Got orders 2 Jun to prepare two days rations and be ready to march. 3 June they left about sunrise for Murfreesborough; Marched 15 miles by 2 p.m., which placed them within 10 miles of Murfreesborough. Troops believed they would fight the next day but Bragg saw they were outnumbered and ordered a retreat early the next morning: USA @ 75,000 and CSA @ 25,000 in area of Murfreesborough. "Tennesseans, Kentuckians, and Indianians are as game as we are and I see no reason why 25,000 of our men can whip 75,000 of the same class. We will be badly whipped if we fight in this portion of Tennessee." WDC is now 1st Lt. He and Capt. Wright are the only officers in the company at this time.

8 Jun 1863: Very bitter letter. "I see no chance for this war to close so long as there is enough men left to resist the Yankees atall, and they can protract this thing until they exterminate us. That is beyond a doubt."

18-19 June 1863: (Letter scrap) – Discusses lack of recognition by European powers, particularly England, having “urged secession so as she could have the opportunity to acknowledge our independence.” Expresses belief that recognition will never come. Reports in camp of “at least 50,000 Yankees lost at Vicksburg.” Officer of the guard next day – from 7 a.m. to same next the following day. Encourages Cornelia to “get for yourself and children anything that is necessary for you or their comfort, let it cost what it may,” as the time will come “that it will be with those that have as they possess not.”

8 July 1863: Chattanooga, Tenn: Left camp evening of 24 June, traveled all night until about an hour before dawn to Hoover's Gap. Halted about 1 1/2 miles from Yankee army. Placed in line of battle at day break and artillery placed on the highest points. Pickets firing on each other all day. Ceased at dark but "commenced again next morning at day." Kept in line of battle over 30 hours and it rained nearly all that time. Then told the "Yanks were entirely too strong for us and were flanking us." Ordered to doublequick to the rear @ 4 miles. Left blankets along the road so as not to have to carry them further. Battled in the woods, both armies bombarding each other. WDC heard first artillery shooting on 25 Jul 1863 that he had ever heard.

Left there on the 27th and went back to War Trace. Didn't halt but came on to Tullahoma. Were in line of battle 2 or 3 days and then ordered to retreat. Went to Chattanooga and are there now in the woods.

Most men have lost most of their clothing. Army is "allmost all naked and barefooted and considerably demoralized." 40 men deserted from 9th Alabama, Battallion and is told about a quarter of the Tennesseans are gone. Reports that Vicksburg has fallen and 18,000 CSA prisoners taken. Address now: Co. F, 38th Reg't Alabama, Vols., Clayton's Brigade, Stewart's Division, Hardee's Corps, Army of Tennessee

14 July 1863: Tyner’s Station, TN: (about 12 miles east of Chattanooga along the Railroad) – This letter is written to Cornelia’s father, Sampson Harris DARDEN: Left War Trace 24 June and marched toward Hoover’s Gap. Speaks of his own low spirits and “The whole of Bragg’s Army are low spirited, deserting continually.” Believes South is lost and loss of Vicksburg, splitting the Confederacy, was worse than if they had lost Richmond, Charleston, AND Savanah. “Health of the army is very bad at this time.” Reports that the regiments numbers about 1000 and only 400 are fit for duty, “and not all of them well and stout, able to undergo a march.”

6 August 1863, Tyner’s Station, Tenn: No news in this letter. WCD talks about the devaluation of Confederate currency and urges Cornelia to hoard what gold she has as “Confederate will be used to light pipes and sigars”.

10 August 1863, Tyner’s Station, Tenn: Notes that it takes 15-20 days for CAD’s letters to reach him. Speaks of his desire to be at home; desertions continuing; little money and little food in camp. The army is sending out troops at night to guard the local corn fields so that the “starving soldiers” won’t rob them.

22 August 1863: Brief note as a compatriot is leaving camp to go home and will carry a letter for WDC. Location of regiment not indicated but they are “now about 26 miles above Chattanooga.” He reports he is in command of the company and can’t write much as he has to get furlough papers in order for the two men heading home. Now is in Hill’s Corps and not Hardee’s.

26 August 1863, Hd Qtrs, Clayton’s Brigade: Health of self and company has improved. He s only officer in the company at this time and has had the duty of procuring provisions: “grain, beef, hogs and rations of any kind.” Yankees have the high ground of the other side of the River. They have been shelling Chattanooga 3-4 days and are very close. Troops are discouraged and there is little hope that they would prevail against the the Yankees I they fight near Chattanooga. Address now is Clayton’s Brigade, Stewart’s Division, Hill’s Corps.

26 September, 1863, “Chatanooga”: Reports: ”I have great reason to feel thankfull to the Lord for his mercies and protection for the last few days. I have been spared through two days hard fighting where it appears like mortal man could not have escaped only by the protecting hand of a Kind Providence.” The company went into battle with 34 men and came out with 17. Losses thought to be about 15,000, and expect Yankee loss to be about the same. “I was in charge when we routed the enemy and taken a very fine battery.” The taking of artillery by the 38th in the Battle of Chickamauga is confirmed by military records and is portrayed on the regimental flag. He recounts by name several men killed or injured. He speaks of helping move injured soldiers from the woods that caught on fire (also confirmed by military records). One officer in the company – only 10 of the 40 regimental officers are left. Talks of wanting Cornelia to have boots made for him and for her to make him a jacket.

25 October 1863, Camp near Chattanooga: Has been raining three days and nights; no fires. In plain sight of the enemy; he can see their tents as he writes this letter. Believes they would already have been in battle but for the rain. A call has gone up for 300,000 more Union troops and he compares this to CSA troops being used to scour countryside for deserters and conscripts. Instructs Cornelia not to slaughter the hogs and sell for Confederate script. Sell what she must to provide for the family but no more.

12 November 1863, Camp near Chatanooga: Rations are: a pint cup full of meal – about one table spoon full of rice and about one spoon full of brown sugar for days’ rations. Desertions continue; weather is cold. Pickets for the two forces as close as 100 yards apart. Yankees shelling during the day so they are fortifying the breastworks during the night. He doubts they will try to retake Chattanooga as it is too well fortified.

22 November 1863, Camp near Chattanooga: Constant fire or cannonading by the Yanks on both sides but little damage being done. March toward Wills Valley or Sand Mountain near Georgia-Alabama line rumored. They are camped on what was “one of the finest Plantations that I have seen since I left home, and was the first time I saw it in the finest kind of condition – well improved, 500 or 600 acres of cleared land, fine dwelling and one of the largest and best stables that I ever saw. I donot think that there is 300 rails on the place, and cut in ditches from one side to the other. And it will not be long before we will have the last sapling and tree cut off of the timbered portion.” Daily rations now are: one half pound poor beef and about 5 gills unsifted meal, 2 table spoons of rice. Urges her to have her father to tend to sowing enough wheat for 100 bushels.

29 November 1863, Camp near Dalton, Georgia: Fighting opened Monday (23 Nov) and lasted two days, when they retreated “in bad order,” having to leave the dead and wounded on the battle ground. Only three officers remain in the regiment: Capt. Welch, Lieut. Davis, and Lieut. WCD. The went into the fight with 300 men and came out with 85, with some coming back into camp later. They are retreating in the direction of Rome and Atlanta and his, Stuart’s Division is in the rear watching for the enemy. Rumor is that Burnside surrendered to Longstreet but WDC doesn’t believe it; thinks it is being said just to raise morale. Reports on some friend missing since battle.

29 December 1863, Camp near Dalton, Georgia: Suffering from cold, wet and hunger. Sending some items home with the Lt. that will carry this letter to Cornelia: Cloth, a fine pistol, a bullet mold, a tube wrench, powder flask and books, and a Bible for Fannie as she is the oldest. He asks Cornelia to send him back his coat and the boots if they are ready. Extends appreciation to “Anthony” for making so much corn this year and says for Cornelia to have him split rails to repair the fence on the side of the river next to the house.

31 December 1863, Camp: Brief letter written hastily as he has a means of getting it to Cornelia hand carried by a neighbor going home on furlough. Decries the fact that the children have been sick and have no shoes at this time. Talks about items he just sent home and items he wants Cornelia to send to him. Reports on “tolerable” health of some and bad health of others. Expresses fear that times will get worse.

26 January, 1864, Camp near Dalton, Georgia: “Excitement” in camp as many are talking about heading home. There is much concern that wives and children are starving at home. Lists items of clothing he wants Cornelia to send him. Instructs her to have more of the fence reset. Expects the army to move again “in the spring.”

4 April, 1864, Tuscaloosa: Pleased with his “change of service”. One research source indicated he was made a 1st Lt. and another than he received a promotion and a transfer to the 8th Cavalry. Neither is verified by military records. This “change” may merely refer to the move to Tuscaloosa. Relays request for a bridle to be made for him (consistent with a change to the Cavalry-?) and sends instructions for plowing to plant corn.

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