29 April 1863, W[illia]m Jerdone, Ch[arle]s City [County, VA] to [his brother, Francis Jerdone, "Bloomsbury", Orange County, VA]
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Ch City Apr 29th 1863
Mr dear Brother:
It has been a long time indee, since I had this
satisfaction of hearing from you at all except from [?] casual reports which
we occassionally receive, but nothing of the kind can now be relied on.
the last authentic account was from [?] little we gleaned from a letter that
your man Robt wrote to M[?]ing (his Mother) the domestic afflictions in your
family have been truly very great, and this added to the terrble condition of our
country, makes it almost aunbearable within all. We were all very much
shock'd to hear of the death of our beloved Sister Coleman, which Sad went
took place on the 15th Febr, I thought she bid as fair for long life as any person
[?], I suppose it will almost be the breaking up of the family, fortunately
her children were allready grown. We had a great deal of sigkness in our
family last Summer, with Mumps, diptheria, Typhoid four &c &c, it was con-
fined almost entirely to the blocks, but we lost none. Mr Gill my late overseer
told me we had spent a night or two at your house in his movements up &
and dodn with his regiment, and was much pleased with your kindness
to Him. I suppose he gave you a meagre account of what had traspired
here up to that time. The first beginning of our troubles was just about this
time last year on the retreat of our aArmy from York town, and the advance of
the Enemy close behind them. Most of the troops of both armies passed up through
New Kt county, the confederates fighting and kicking back the close advances
of the Federals until they reached the Vicinity of [(Romed)?] We had a heavy rain,
of ordnance quartered on us for about a week some 150 Waggons & a good died
of cannon. Then cam the Gent Longstreets divisin of 13000 men and enca^mped
in my middle field, destroying a great deal of the wheat & oats and burning
entirely up in one night tree three miles new fence, so we made but very little of either
after this we had the pickets and Scouts of both Confederates, and Federals
frequently with us, The first Yankees that came in the county paid us a visit
about the Middle of last May. After the battles were fought about Rmond, where
the Enemy were so badly beaten, they were compelled to retreat down James River.
and in this retreat the memorable battle of Malvern Hills was fought. 4,000 of
Genl Stuarts Calvary pass over the Ridge that day, Some 200 of them came up to the
[P. 2]
House, with Stuart along they left Hanover at House the morning before, fought
a battle at the Old Church in Hanover, and swept entirely through McClellan's
army ccapturing many prisoners and destroying an [?] quantity of army
stores and provisions for thing. These troops gave us the assurance that ^we would see
no more of the Yankee Army as they felt almost Sure of capturing the whole of it on
James River. They left here to take part in the battle and shortly afterwards this
thunder of cannons was heard p the river, this began about 12 Oclck in the day
at Malvern Hills, and lasted until near 10 Oclck at night. This was a time of
most awful suspense with us. Cannon of every concievable size from the heaviest
to small field pieces, so of the reports seemed to jar the House to the foundation,
and the small arms sounded to us like the tapping of a drum. It appeard at times
9and I was very apprehensive that such was the case) that the Enemy were cut off
from their Gun Beats on the River, and they were making their way to cross the
Chickahominy at this place, for it appeared that the battle was only a few miles
off. If such had been the case I should not now have been addressing you this
Latter, as we should certainly have been all killed. About 10 Oct it all ceased
and the next day not a Soul was seen passing to give any account of the results,
but on the following day we heard sad news that the Enemy had succeeded in
getting inside cover of their Boats at Harrison's Landing without being captured.
They remained there until the Middle of August, during the whole of the time
they wore these which was upward of 6 months, they had possession of all of this
county, and we had a great many visits from them. whcih among [?] accordig
It was on the 30th day of June we had the most trying time with us; Sunday Evening
the 29th a body of Yankees Calvary & Infantry with 2 or 3 pieces of artillery, suddenly
made their appearance, planted the military about 100 yds from the House in the road
just in front of the overseers house. My House had a strong guard placed around it
with the ostensible purpose of protecting my property, but the true object was to prevent
my leaving it. The next morning they commenced building the bridges with Genl Stuart
had burnt; they soon Got all my negroes out of the Harvest field, Mules, Horses, &c; and
a great deal of fine timber that I unfortunately ^had packed up at the House, While they were
at work about the bridge, a body of confederate troops opened with musketry upon them,
from the other side which soon ^put a stop to their work, they then opened with their cannon
upon the Confederates from this side, and the confederates replied with theirs from the
[P. 3]
other side where it was planted in the Road at the lower end of the Forge Lane where
you turn round to go to Karnes. That cannonade was kept up for 4 or 5 Hours, during
which time a great number of bomb shells were thrown, which placed the lives of us
all in great jeopardy. Many of the shells passed directly over my House, one of them
exploded almost directly on the House Scatterly the fragments about the yard, one or two
of the engroes Houses were struck but the Shells did not explode, and they did no mis-
chief, a great many fell in the orchards, truck patches &c &c. Every negro upon the place
men, women, & children left there Houses and took shelter in the moor as soon as the battle
commenced and there was not a living soul left at the Houses Except my white family.
It was indeed an awful day, but God protected us thro' it all, we were in a direct
line between the cross fire of two batteries of cannon. The Yankees also threw numbers
of shells in the [?] from their [?] boats at Windsor Shades. In the Evening they
made a Hurried retreat back to James River again. We only heard of three Yankees being
killed and some of the confederates. One of the Enemy was killed by a shell, also His Horse
night in front of my overseers hHouse, and another at the bridge, and it is said they carried
away with ^them the body of an Officer that was killed at the overseers House. The middle of Aug
McClellan commenced his retreat from Harrison's Landing, and it was supposed that
the whole army would have kept near James River under cover of their Boats, but
only a small part of it about 10000 with McClellan along, took that route the
balance of them about 35 or 40000 came this way, we were not aware of this
until they were within sight when they pour'd in upon us adn the officers notifi
-ed us that my House was to be used as Head Quarters. I asked permission to
have enough of the building for my family for the use of my family, which was
granted. The whole of the open land was soon covered with their troops, cannon,
Waggons &c &c. of the latter they informed us they had 1242 and the cannon
was placed chiefly about the House, and around the hill about the icehouse.
All my truck patches, with vegetables of every description fruit &c were soon all des-
troyed. Every Grain of Oats, and most of my little stock of fodder, Every Sheep killed,
Eight of my Hourses and Mules carried away. Many of the cattle, milk, cows, and
nearly all of Hogs destroyed, I did not have a single Hog to kill. but worst of all
they eat up a vast dial of my Growing crop of corn for wasting Years and their quad-
rons of House riding about in it ruined the balance, so that we only got about 250
bbls out of the whole field, and burnt all the new fence that I had replaced after Genl
Longstreet last. So that we are dreadfully of for provisions now. I have not Enough corn
[P. 4]
to last us longer than the 1st September and then what we shall do I cannot say.
We are trying to make a small crop this year, but the weather has been so wet that
we have been only able to do ^but one days planting yet. The article is now worth $30 per bbl
but soon to sell about Here. I have about 100 souls to feel, and you may be sure our
situation is becoming desperate. Only One of my negroes have left me.
Ever Since the last of Septem we have had confederate soldiers quartered in our
yard, in the weaving room, Either as couriers, or Guards to guard some provisions
they had in one of ^my corn houses. This has been a very great annoyance to us; Genl W's
without his brigade has had several raids into Wmsbg since the 1st Oct; but I
think each one makes things worse. He always passes down from Chafin's farm
where his head Quarters are about 8 or 10 miles below R[?] and crosses the bridge
at the place; it annoys the people and in a masure serves to exhaust what
little is left in a country that has been savaged repeatedly with contending enemies.
We scarcely pass a day or night but some straggling soldiers call in for something
to Eat, and get Quarters; and then they must be set across the river, which has been
all over the flat land over since Oct. The Generals that staid Here on the Federal
retreat in Aug, were [?], Heintzelman, and Birney, Hooker was also along the road
but did not come to the House, The army got hear [sic] about 10 Octk on friday, and left
on Sunday morning; and I think it cost me at least 12 or 15000 dollars at the
high price of provisions are selling, during their stay I received nothing like insult from
any of them, but was treated with [?]. I have heard nothing from my brother
John for 12 months past, I expect his situation is bad enough. God only knows when this
disoluting war is to End, for my own part I cannot see the least prospect of peave tho others
think differently from me. We are trying to do something, in the may of Gardening, our
peas are about a foot High and the potatoes are coming up. It is very difficult to
get any kind of seed to plant, as scarcely any were saved last year.
This leaves us all in usual Health, Except myself, I am fearful the agony, and distress
of mind I have suffered for a year past has undermined my constitution beyond
recover. I hav ehad a diarrhea all the past summer & winter and I am afraid
it has assumed a chronic form. and besides this I suffer with Rheumatism and
in other ways, my Eye sight has also given way very much and I am afraid the
sight is affected in the right Eye. My whole family unite with me in best love
and the most sincere wishes for the Health & Happiness of You and Yours, and believe
my My Dear Brother as ever your Sincere & affectionate Well wishes,
Wm Jerdone
[In a different ink and hand]
Letter to Francis Jerdone
"Bloomsbury" Orange Co
Va
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