Civil War Letters of
Abram Hayne Young
Hayne Young ( my first cousin 4 times removed )
was the eighth and next to the youngest child of Thompson Young ( son of James
Abram Young ) and Martha Hawkins. He was born March 31, 1840 in Prosperity,
SC and was killed in action May 6, 1864 in the Battle
of the Wilderness and is buried near there. There is a memorial stone with a
VA marker for him at Prosperity,
SC Cemetery.
These letters show some of the difficult life a
simple country boy had as a Sergeant in the Confederate Army in the great War
for Southern Independence.
Look away Dixie's Land...
Head
Quarter 3rd S.C. Vol.
Near
Chent [Kent] County, Va. May 13, 1862
Dear
Sister
I am in joying very good health under such Sircurnerstance I suppose you
have heard of our retreete before this time I can'twrite what we have underwent
in the retreet but hope I will live to tell you all about it som day. Our Camp
was 70 strong when we started but the second day it was down to 40. We was
turned back 3 or 4 times in the retreet on Sunday 4th day May 1862 we was in the
fight at Williams Burg but it was aul canonading. Non of us was hurt but the
bauls whisld and bums busted over us but God was with us and we pushed on them
and they give back. 0 Sister I can not pertend to describe it. We are in 18 mils
of Richmond and are expecting a fite most eny day.
We
suffered a grate deel for something to eat in the retreet [from priiinsila] but
it is aul over now and we have plenty to doo now. I stood the march first strate
but it is one to be long remembered. Their was a grate many give out on the way-those that stod up to that
ma well be cald good pluck.
Sister
we are still in a worser fix know for the goverment has redust us dow to only 2
wagoons for the use of the regiment. We wount be having know coocking utensil
only what we carey with us and non be alowed tentes only the Conle of the
regment one tente. We are out in the woodes taken the weather as it comes. Their
is a good deele I complaint about such fair and being prest in for the war but I
take easy for I have learnt that to be the best plan, not to let things me.
Tomorrow the regment is to be reorganized. . . .
Hayne
Campt
on the battle ground of the 1st
July
3rd, 1862
Dear
Parents.
Knowincy
you are ancious to hear from me and I am stil Spard and am injoying very good
health hoping you all are well.
I have
nothing moch to write only I have went thrue or ben in two engagements and have
come out without being tetched while many many others fel dead on eather side of
me or was wounde. I had now idey how So many could come out with out being kild
for I have beard som that was not in the fite [Malvern Hill] say that was the
aufles fite that they ever heard. (Sunday the 29 June & tusday the 1st) we
was engaged in. Dear Parents I most close for the presant. we are under marching
arders . . .
Hayne
Camp
near The James River--6 miles from Richmond. August 11th 1862
Dear
Sister
Your
Letter of the 31st last month came Safely to hand. We have moved three times in
a weeke and have had Several hard marches for the last weeke and when we was not
moving I was on guard.It is very warm hear now ... and it is afle hard on us a
marching.
We have
moved over from the Chicamauga to near the James River to take the plase of
Longstreets divisbon. They are going to Jackson or it is reported so. I saw Som
of the Legeons last night ... they are going to Richmond and from their they
dont no wher . . . . I have been appointed buy the Col. to drile the conscrips .
. . I am all the Sergt in the company at this time.. you have no idey how moch I
have to doo but I get along very well… there is a good many Sick in the regt,
at this time. I know they will get better if we would get to rest for a while…Sister
I doo not know whether to say to make thoas shirts or not - I have two shirts
and three pare of draures which is tolarble good and that is as many as I can
cary…. Sister pleas excuse this bad wrote letter my love respects to all
tell the negros hody, write to me and direct as before from your loving
brother
Hayne.
Camp Near Fredericksburg Va. Dec. 19th 1862
Dear Sister- I wrote you a few lines sence the fight which I hope you have rect.
I know you all was very ancious to hear from me for I supose you seen somthing
in the papers a bout the 3rd Regt getting cut up so. Our Co and one or 2 others
that was on the left wing of the Rtgt was not exposed so moch as the wright. I
supose you have seen the casualites of the Regt by this time so I will not say
eny more. Every thing is quite a long the lines now but I expect old Burnsides
will turn up son other plase, and then we will have to go doble quick to face
him a gane, I am in hopes we will get tentes sone now. The weather is prety cold
hear now but we are geting uster it. A grate many of our boys got Over Coats
&.,Blankets of ove [off of] the battle field but I did not get eny thing-for
I never cear a bout teehing the dead Yankees-and som got Loads of U S money. . .
. Sister I rec. letter from Abbie a few days a go and stated that A. Thompson
was suffering very bad-he had now clothes nor Shoes and the snow was 4 inches
deep. 0 that is bad. We think it bad hear when the most of us have good clothes
and shoes. I havent heard from Brother Henry in some tim, I hope he is all safe
altho I have heard that they had a fight at Newburn N.C. I cant got to see nor
hear eny thing from Brother Joseph. . . . my coat that I had last Spring was
left at Richmond in a box when we got our uniform . . . Hope you all are well
and wish you a mery Chrismas. . . .
A. H Young
Feb. 3rd 1864
Dearist Sister-Mary ( this would be Mary Jane Young w/o Henry Sheppard Boozer
)
To day one weeke a go I bid You all fare well . . . It makes me
feel melincoly when I think of ... the prospect before us Tho I believe oue boys
are generly in good spirits yet. And from what they tell me I think if eny
troops have seen hard times it is thoas under Long Street. When I reflect on
that it almost makes me shed tears.... I feel a little lost as it has ben so
long sence I was in camps. The eitch is but little better. I hope you all are
well and those hoo was sick are better. . . . Sister I want you to write to me
whether you hear eny body talk a bout me sence I left a bout me staying off so
long (or what the girls
have to say). It is very coald so you most excuse me. . . .
H.
Camp Near Russlville Tenn Feb 3rd 1864
Dear Father and Mother
I am now in Camp-I arived hear yesterday all Safe and Sound ... only bad to walk
a bout 10 or 12 mile.morni. . . Last night . . . it raned Sleeted and Snowed,
but this morning it has cleard off very coald and windy . . . I found the Boys
genly wel1 and tolarble well fixed to Shelter them Selves tho their huts are
very Small. Our Divishon has gust returnd from a big Scout-they went down near
Knoxville but did not get in to a fight. They say that the Yankees have all
falling back to Knoxville. They say they had a very hard time while they was out
... it is very onsertan how long we will remane for we are not in the armey that
lays still and doos nothing. . . . we are geting som free clothing and shoes our
boys are mosley all shod but are in need of clothing yet. . . . Dear Father, I
evere remanes
Your affectionate Son
Hayne
At present our Rgt is over stocked with old clothes. Capt Shell our Q. R. came
in with all of our old clothes that had ben sent of to Richmond. I and N. H.
Young got our blankets and quilts that we left at Manassas 2 years ago, but did
not get our shirts nor drawers that we left that time. . . . A day or two ago we
had to bundl up and march, down hear which is a bout 25 mils . . . from
Knoxville Tenn. Wher we are now we have ardors to not fix up any bivoacks-by
that I dont think we will stay long. I dont care if we would only move camp to a
better place for their is now watter near than a mile.... The weather changes
hear very often. . . . I would like to see somthing from home a bout this time.
Tho we are faring tolarable well on bad flour and poore beef. . . . I havent
seen very much yet but have a very poor opinion of the people hear.... My health
is better to day tho I have a boil on my back which pesters me some-a long with
the eitch it is only a little better than when I left home. . .
Hayne
Armey East Tenn: Camp near
New Market. Feb. 171h 1864
Dear Sister Mary
... Sister I understand that thoas at bome that has to go out in survis has ben
stoped from going to the Coast. If so and eny of them talk of coming to our Reat
and you should hapen to have the chance try and get one to come to our Co. and
recruit for me. I would like to get home a gane wors than ever as their is a
good many getting home that way-but Sister don't show this or let it bee known
that I am writing for a recruit, tho it tis no disgrace to get a recruit. . . .
The old veterans of Longstreets Armey is good yet if they only get plenty to
eat-that causes more disadiffaction than eny thing els....
A. H. Young
Armey East Tennessee Feb 25th 1864
My Dear Sister
. . . I was very tyard last night being the third day on the march I dont think
it would eny story to say that I had the soarst feet I ever have bad sence in
survis. It was not becaus we marched so far but the roads was so very bad. Every
morning the ground was frose as hard as a rock-by the middle of the day it would
bee nothing but mud and the slickest hills to clime that I ever saw and the most
them. That is one grand objection I have to this country. Then watter is not two
pleantifull hear. The armey has falen back a bout 50 or 60 miles and I doo not
know that we will make a stand hear-for Longstreet fawls back and then advances
a gane. So to day we know not we will doo to morrow nor which way we will go. We
are continuly going. When we was at New Market we had fixed up very comfortab
quarters but did not get to stay but a few days after we got them built-that has
ben the way all this winter and we have been fooled so often that I dont think
eny of us will take much panes to fix up any more this winter for I dont expect
we wile be still moch more until a big fight comes off. Sister, Their is a good
deel of excitement here bout going in to Cavalry; not exacly cavalry but mounted
Infantry. The talk has got up that Longstreet wantes all his men that can
mount-that is fernish themselves with horses in 30 days-to it be knone and it is
thaut can get horses will be allowed 30 days to go home and get themselves
horses. And if that is so we will find out in a few days and I am very ancious
to get in to it. We are stopped today and it mabee for some time at the blue
springs on the RR a bout 10 miles from Greenville, Tenn
Brother Hayne
Camp near Greenville, Tennessee
March 8, 1864
Sister Mary
We have sent off all of our heavy bagage. It is to go to
Columbia, South Carolina for storage as we think pece will be made before we
need it a gane. Longstreet is still granting furologhs as free as ever and from
that I don't think he entends dooing moch yet a while. Tho it is hard to
tell for the yankees may move so as to make us do something. My health is
very goos at present tho the eitch is a little troublesome yet. Give my best
respects to all inquiring friends and love to Pa Ma and Martha to you and Lilla
and kiss Lilla for me. Tell Lilla for me to kiss my sweete hart if she nowes hoo
it is for me,
From your true and most affectionate brother
A H Young
( Lilla is Mary Jane Boozer's 2 year old
daughter )
April 21st 1864. Camp of the 3rd S. C. Reg, near
Gordonsville, Va.
Dearest Sister-
. . . It was very reviving to me tho tiard from the march and very to little to
eat yet amidest theas tryals the eavning and night past a way very pleasant to
me. And after Sleeping and dreaming about home I was aroused from my Slumbers by
the drum and sone we was on the march without eny thing to eat for breakfast,
and we had to march to this place before we could get eny rations which was 7
miles to go today. And to our surprise when we got hear, we drawde more at one
time than we have draude in 6 months before. First draude corn meal one and a
fourth bb pr day to the man, bacon one third of a bb per day.
And boath very good quality mocb better than we ever draude in Eas
Tennessee. And also draude Some Shugar & coffee a nof to give us a cup full
to the man one a day. And Some Soap the first Soap we have goten in more than 6
months. And also some rice. Three days rations of each and all. So you see that
at present we are geting plenty if it will only hold out. . . . I am like the
most of our boys. Virginia is my home for it seams that we allways get better
fead hear than in eny other State. Tho we expect to have some hard fighting. And
as we have been run about so much Sence we left Gen'l Lee last year that he
is feeding us a little high Sence we came back to Him, to encourage us to
stand to the rack, fodder or now fodder. Of corse be expects to neede us sone or
be wouldent have Sent for us.... All of our division is hear and in 3 days more
all of Hoodes old divishun will bee hear. We rode on the cars as far as to
Shollitsville and from their hear we had to walk. We are in two miles of
Gordinsville now. Expect to remane hear untill all of our Corps Comes Up, then
will move up on the line which is some 10 or 15 miles. We have now waggons with
us now and will be in bad fix untill ours comes up if we should have to move a
bout moch, but I irill trust in R.E. Lee to provide for all such, for when we
was under him before we was well cared for in every respect. And I am glad we
are under him a gane. Hope we will draw some clothing & shoes and also some
money, for we are all with out money. Sister, our men, Longstreets men, look
like ragged rebbles "as the Yankees calls us" beside ,the men hear of
Lee's armey. They have good clothes and look fresh but now wonder for they have
been in winter quarters ever sence we left them last September, while we have
trafalde over 2000 miles and dont now what winter quarters are.... I am sorry to
hear that the fruit is all kild and that every thing is backward this Spring
& doo hope a good crop will be made for it will be grately needed. . . .
A. H. Young
This morning it is raning but it is the first rane sence
we came to Va.
We are camped about 8 miles from the 151h Reg't camp. A grate eet [from
y of them have been to see us but we cant get off like them. Our officers are a
grate deel strictar than theirs. Their is a good deel of disisfaction in our
Reg't a bout the officers but I will not say what,a grate many of us are very
anxious to get bome in peace, then the stars and bars will come down and we all
will be on an equality. . . .
A few nights a go their was a one leged Soldier caught in
our regiment stealing. He Stole Lt Wilsons coat and Several other things from
others but was caut gust as he was leaving. . . . be did belont to the 1st
So. C. Regt-lost his leg at gettersburg. . . .
A. H. Young
Company C. 3rd S. C. Regt Camp near
Gordonsville Va April 301h 1864
Ever Dear Sister-. . .
As we have a little quite time now and are geting preety
plenty of rations we all are feeling quite lively and chearfull. . . . we are
campd in a beautifull place and have good watter and are drilling every day. It
looks like old times in Va. And am proud to say that we are having preaching
nearly every night tho I cant say that it have been moch change raught bout yet
but hope it will be sone.
Their is only two preachers in the Brigade and they need assistance but the
ministery is like all other departments. Their is some ones that doo not doo
their part for I think the minersters have a grate deal to doo if they will doo
it in this war. In one of our Brigades (Humphres Mississippi Brigade) Their is a
grate revival going at this time. Hope it ma continue untill it spreads throu
our hole Divishon.
Yesterday we had a grand review by the greatest of Generals: Genl R.E. Lee
reviewed Lonastreet's hole Corps; There was a grate many of the fair sex out to
see us. And after the review was over they all crowded a round the old Gen'l to
shake handes with Him. And some said they bad shuck handes with the gratest
general in the world, but none but those that wore stars and bars could Shine
with the Ladies on yesterday. And I believe that is prety moch the case tbrou
out Dixie land but I need not dwell on that subject now. Sister, I am very moch
obliged to you for the paper and envelops you sent me, also for the soap. . . .
We have not got eny money. . . . I heard to day that we would not get eny untill
the first of July. I doo not no that it is a corect report-if it is their will
be a grate deel of discayisfaction with the mer. Some Say that they are going to
give us tobacco. If so it will not be quite so bad, but I want money. . . .
Sister, we have drawed some shoes and some clothing. I drawed a round jacket And
Person M Hawkins drawed a pare of pants and they was too small and I let him
have a pare of mine . . .
Letter to
Thompson Young Informing of the Death of His Son
May the 7th 1864
Field Infirmary
On the [?] range C.H. & T Fredericksburg
Mr. Young Sir:
I avail myself this morning to drop you a line
to let you know that your Son (A. H. Young) is dead. He died last night. He was
shot through his left lung yesterday morning. I have all his things and I wio
take care of them the best I can.
I will try to get some of the boys to mark his grave, Our infirmary are on a
small branch between the railroad and Chancellorsville on the left hand Side of
the road as you go down from Orange C. H. Chancellorsville and on the Side
of the branch next to Chancellorsville.
I must close. My wound are paining me so I can't write any more.
Yours Respect fully
Henry W. Reagin
Co. C 3,d S.C. Regt.
So closes the life story of one of America's
sons who perished in that senseless war. Rest in peace, my cousin.