Bear Creek Station, GA Sept. 5th 1864

Miss M. A. Blackwell

D[ea]r Cousin Agnes – I have to scribble a reply to yours by Cris – he arrived here the 1st inst. in good health. Sherman commenced his flanking run. Mr. Hood thought he was whipt and retreating so it was stated till he had almost driven Armstrong across the railroad, with four Corps of his army – at Jonesboro. Armstrong fought them from near Fairborn to Jonesboro on 30th Aug with his brigade Cavy. killing & wounding a great number of them. In our first position, the regts. of the Brigade were formed one behind the other at distance of 300 to 500 yds apart, Ballentines in front. After driving in our skirmishers, a Yank approached waving a white flag – approached within 75 yds and discovering our position, wheeled and ran off at full speed – Immediately a heavy column moved up and charged upon us flanking our left. We poured it to them till they got within 20 steps of our left when we ran for 75 yds like a drove of sheep, when we formed again – but as they had the advantage of our works to shelter them. We fired only a few rounds and retired to a new position. They came on in heavy force against the next & the next regts. in quick time. And from there back to Jonesboro we had time only to form hastily – give them a few rounds and run to the next position – they pressed us so closely that after we got to Jonesboro they killed our ambulance driver who was driving ambulances in rear of the regt. in three hundred yds of our Infantry lines, two Brigades of Inf[antr]y being there. Prisoners reported their loss very heavy and those captured since confirm the statements of the first. Once they charged us [sentence missing] the squadron in advance or about two thirds of them were left to graze in the field without riders. The next day Hardee attacked them at 2 o clk PM and had a bloody battle near Jonesboro. This next day (Sept 1st) they forced our works near Rough & Ready Station – cutting our army in two, Hardee being on the left, Lee & Stewart’s Corps on the right, at and near Atlanta – Hardee retreated to Lovejoy Station about 27 miles south of Atlanta. Nearly the whole force of enemy following him. Armstrong’s Brigade skirmishing but not able to check them a moment. Hardee held them in check till Stewart got up next day – and next day Lee arrived and there has been heavy fighting all along our lines since. Hardee pronounces it the bloodiest fighting of the war. No less than 125 rounds having been shot (indecipherable) they actually knocked the yanks off our works with their guns till they were overpowered and captured. It is said one thousand will cover our captured but I doubt it, as the men fought with the butts of their guns till they were surrounded. In the 2nd Hardee ordered me with my squadron to watch on his left. I took position 400 yds to the left of his lines & was under fire till night – but lost but one man. Their line of battle extended as far as I could see, one mile, to the left of Hardee’s left – their line skirmishers advancing & driving us back. In the meantime Armstrong’s Brigade was engaging their cavalry 3 miles south west of my position. On the 3rd we were ordered here to protect train and railroad from raids of cavalry threatening this point

I saw Stewarts Corps coming up on the 3rd and I felt sorry for them. They appeared so completely worn out, We lost much provision – ordnance stores and other valuables in Atlanta destroyed by Hood before he left. The explosion of ammunition commenced at 2 o clk A.M. 2nd inst. and there was one continuous roar for one hour. I shall not attempt to give you particulars of the assault upon our works. You will get that from the newspapers. Many of our men captured and escaping and returning to our lines. The Citizens, as usual, are whipt, of course we are always whipt in the estimation of a great many of the citizens and they attempt to make the soldiers believe it – such ought to be made to shoulder their muskets and march to the front at once. We are not whipt but Mr. Hood has been out-generaled. We need Mr. Johnson here. I have endeavored to learn our strength here and from best information I can get we have about [erased] thousand effective men besides the Georgia militia. Sherman crossed Chattahoochie with 125 thousand and yanks claim that reinforcements have kept his forces up to that number all the time, but I doubt if he has more than 100 thousand effective men that is South of the Chatahoochie; Twenty thousand more men would insure us victory, but where are they to come from

I was glad to know that Miss Sallie thought enough of me to inquire so “particularly” for me; My regards to her when you see her again. Dr. Tom Miller, his brother was killed recently in Atlanta. H(?) Hubbard was killed and lay on the field three weeks before they got him off. Alex Stacks and Steward and Wm Nance and (?) Walton reported killed the two first certainly so. Jo Wilson & Jesse Darnold safe. Dave Fowler safe. Were on 3rd inst. this for benefit of their friends. I met Kippy Gause on the morning of 2nd safe. Leander Rodgers safe on 1st. I am now called upon for duty but hope to write more today, if not you will excuse it and write me soon. Yrs truly SHB

[the same letter continues as follows:]

Fayetteville Ga. Sept 9th, 1864

Sherman commenced retreating at 12 o clk on night of 5th. We commenced pursuit with our Brigade morning of 6th and drove their rear guard beyond Jonesboro. Morning of 7th had to come back down here to cross river as they destroyed all the bridges. We are enroute for Fairborne near Eastpoint. When we got to Jonesboro we found our dead stript of their clothing lying in the streets and our wounded in the hospital (100) stipt – literally stript – many of them of every particle of clothing – and the very few women left in the place were not permitted to take them water – threatened to shoot them if they did – no men were left in the place – Citizens stript of everything

I have not written what I expected nor as well – you must pardon & each of you write to me. Tell Aunt & Cousins and Caroline and Mary to be of good cheer. A while longer & we will have peace. Eat a few watermelons & peaches for me. My respects to Mr. Braddock and Mary Pagram – Morris sends a heap of word to Jo – but I can’t tell heads nor tails – Tell Jo times grow harder every day – duties severer. If he sees Boone tell him my boots must come. Tell Lina and Eliha I expect to save me a big potato – hope to come and eat them next winter.

Yrs truly SHB

[margin notes:] I forgot to tell you that Tom and myself had no bread to eat from the evening of the 18th till noon of the 21st. You can guess how Tom sighed and groaned

Reynolds Brigade numbered (500 men) five hundred men. Jos[eph’s] gun is deposited with ordinance Sergt. Wilson for safekeeping. I came near swapping it for a pistol as I thought he would prefer it & I could take better care of one than a gun – I failed to get this off this morning but will have another opportunity of sending it tomorrow – shall write you both again first opportunity – no stamps here

[Transcriber’s notes: I believe the author of this letter was Samuel H. Blackwell (1826-1905), son of Rev. Michael Joseph Blackwell and Caroline Harvin of Marshall, DeSoto, Tippah, and Pontotoc Counties in Mississippi. Cousin Agnes is Agnes Martha Blackwell Nance (1835-1913), daughter of Edmund B. Blackwell and Margaret Burgess of Tippah County and cousin to Samuel H. Blackwell. “Tom” refers to Tom Grace (1827-1901), husband to Samuel’s niece Margaret Crawford.

The documentation of the Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers indicates that a Samuel H. Blackwell enlisted as a private in Co. K, Ballentine’s Regiment of Cavalry (known officially as the 2nd Mississippi Partisan Rangers) on July 30, 1862 in Panola County, Miss. After one month the men were transferred to Company H and Samuel was promoted to Captain of the Company. The service records show him present as Captain of Company H through October 1864. No further Civil War records of him are known. However, Ballentine’s Regiment was a part of Gen. Frank C. Armstrong’s Brigade when it participated in the Atlanta campaign from May through September 1864. Bear Creek Station, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, and Fayetteville are all points south of Atlanta. Thus, the events described in this letter bear out that the author was an officer within Ballentine’s Regiment.

Tom Grace also served as a Sergeant in Co. H, Ballentine’s Regiment, as confirmed in an application for a military headstone for his grave.

Samuel had both a brother Joseph B. Blackwell (1831 - ?) and a cousin Joseph B. Blackwell (1845-1924), the latter also being a child of Edmund and Margaret Blackwell of Tippah County. Both men served in Company H of Ballentine’s Regiment of Cavalry and are referred to as Joseph Senior and Joseph Junior within the Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers.

Joseph B. Blackwell “Senior” was a Sergeant and on special service in General Pemberton’s office when captured at the fall of Vicksburg in July 1863. He was paroled to a Confederate Paroled Prisoner camp at Demopolis, Alabama thru at least October 1864. In June and October he was given furloughs “for purposes of visiting his home in Pontotoc, Mississippi.” Since Rev. Michael J. Blackwell and his family lived in Pontotoc County at that time, I conclude that Joseph B. Blackwell “Senior” was their son and brother to Samuel H. Blackwell.

Joseph B. Blackwell “Junior” served as Private in Company H and was wounded at Manning’s Mill outside of Atlanta in June 1864. He was furloughed at hospital in September/October 1864. Thus, I conclude that “Jo” refers to Joseph B. Blackwell “Junior”, being his cousin and Miss Agnes Blackwell’s brother, as he may have been recuperating at home after being furloughed from hospital.

This letter is included in a small collection of letters received by the family of Edmund and Margaret Blackwell from 1839 to 1866, mostly from his brother Rev. Michael J. Blackwell. Photocopies of the collection were kindly provided to me by the John Davis Williams Library at The University of Mississippi.]

6 o’clk A.M. Thursday Aug 25th, 1864 2nd sheet

To save Jo from guessing I will tell him that the boys engaged in shelling out the Militia as far as I could afterward learn were Jimmy Matthews, Bob Chandler, Ben McGehan, Alex Whitten and boys of that ilk. After their victory – being barefooted – they thought it no harm to supply themselves with shoes the Milish had left upon the ground. I must make some other statements for Jo’s & Chris’ benefit – Baugh has not been seen or heard of since about 28th July and is thought to be captured – Jentry was captured a few days after Jo was wounded. A few day ago Dick Porter, Rufus Garratt Munns and Hooks were captured of Co. C. Several of Anderson’s men have been captured & some of Co. F. Bob Simmons has been heard from, was captured. Wills of Co C accidentally killed himself while in line of battle a short time ago – Zeb Morris is in fine health and has been wishing that Jo’s clothing had been sent – said he would have been in [illegible] and considered his fortune made. He turned Jo’s rubber cloth to me a few days ago, as he had more than he could well carry. Jno Henderson & Bonden & Old Ben “Rawhide” went to the rear near Dallas & captured a horse each – Rawhide had his stolen from him. I have succeeded in mounting the most of the men. Jo’s horse is at Eufaula. Jess Wilder and Frances Duke there in charge of the horses. Lossett Ragsdale & Ivey lost their [sentence missing] fight that day about 25 miles below [illegible] I will send you a published account of it which is correct. If I find it is too large to go with this, I will enclose to Pa and get him to send to you. Ivy thought he was gone up when his horse was shot under him. The 4th & 5thSquadrons of our Regt. alone of our Regt – were present and they lost 4 horses killed and 4 men wounded – one only dangerously – Right Light of Co. I. There were three division of Yankees, numbering 3600. The 4th & 5th Sqdrons our Regt chased them to South River and we returned to this place on Monday 22nd inst. The hardest fighting took place on Saturday 20th The Yanks ran over Ross’ little band of 300 men – over his horses – upset wagons ambulances & caissons – but they suffered more than he did. I rode over the field early next morning before starting in pursuit and I tell you it presented a confused spectacle. Dead Yanks dead horses in heaps and almost everything else lay scattered thick. Yanks got off 22 ambulances loads of their wounded. I have just been notified that I can get this off in half an hour by hand & I hurry as they are calling now for the letters.

[Missing]…some [illegible]…all my old manuscripts & letters I will be much obliged. I would like very much my razor to be saved. Also Ma’s and Pa’s miniatures. Tell Jo & Chriss to return promptly at expiration of furloughs and have them renewed if necessary. I shall get Jo in some department or extra duty when he gets fit for it, as he will not likely be fit for field service again. I have to give up my boy Charlie this morning and don’t know what I shall do. I have two horses and many things I can’t carry. Tell Chriss to bring me a boy about the size of the one I had, Charlie. I would like much to have Jim and would be willing to pay $20 per Mo for him if I could get him all the time, or the same for Charles. If they will come and aren’t disposed to send them I will take one of them & take good care of him. Could be sent by Criss.

[Transcriber’s notes: The above 3 page letter is attached to the previous letters, although it pre-dates them. It appears to be a serial letter, and page 1 is not included. The writer is likely Samuel H. Blackwell, and the recipient is likely one of his cousins in the household Edmund and Margaret Blackwell. I believe “Jo” refers to his cousin, Joseph B. Blackwell.]

Samuel H Blackwell