Wednesday, November 13, 2013

The Civil War Comes to Life in My Family (& a Book Drawing)

By Miralee Ferrell

I didn't know our family had a direct link to the Civil War, until my mother recently decided she needed to clean out some boxes that she hadn't looked at in years. She sent me and my siblings an email that made my jaw drop...not just what she said, but the pictures she included that I've posted below, along with a full transcript so you don't have to strain to make out the words.

This letter was written to my dad's father from his (my grandfather's) uncle.

 

The script is amazing. I've not seen current penmanship that can match this.


Mom also found another letter that I'm not posting today, written during the same time period by a female ancestor, as well as some ambrotypes of ancestors taken, (approx) during the 1840s to the 1850s, we're not sure of the exact dates.

Here's what the Civil War letter says, with spelling and punctuation slightly tweaked to make it more readable.

Patterson Park Hospital,
Baltimore, MD

July 18, 1864

Dear Brother Will,

It is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to drop you a few lines to let you know how I get along. I am well, all except a wound that I got the 9th of this month in the battle of Fredrick city, MD. We left Washington the 4th in the evening for the western part of Md. We got the next day to Point Rock, a station on the east road near the river where we found some rebels a cross the river where we had a small skirmish that afternoon but none of our boys was hurt. We stayed there till the next day noon when we took up our line of march for Frederick city where we arrived just at dark. I had to stand picket that night. The next morning the 6th after breakfast we had orders to get ready to go again.

We crossed over the mountain where we found plenty of rebels. We had a skirmish with them that fore noon when we had to fall back to the city again where we held them and fought them till dark. I tell you, them shells and balls don't sound very nice when they fly around ones head. But on the 7th, our company ? was sent off to the right to watch the rebels from going around to our rear. We drove in some of their pickets (guards) when they charged on us where we had quite a brisk little fight when our captain was killed. He was shot right through the thigh and three other men in our company were wounded.

One was shot through the right ?brest and one in the leg the other had his arm of the left arm. I was one of the lucky ones that day. That night our picket were all called in when we fell back to the mountain to a junction on the railroad where that big battle was fought on the 9 where the rebels whipped us. We were falling back in the afternoon when the rebel cavalry charged on our regiment where we gave them a warm reception, when I got a ball in my neck right back of them big cords. It was a pistol shot. It did not hurt me much when it struck me. It felt as though someone had struck me on the neck but it pained me some but it feels better now.

After I was wounded, we fell back to the railroad where I got on the cars and went to Baltimore with a couple of hundred more of wounded men. We got in there Sunday evening where we were taken to hospital where I am yet. I hope that these few lines find you all well. I want you to write to me as soon as you get this and give me all the news, and the next time I will give you more of the news.

So goodbye for this time and be a good boy. This is from your brother,

William H Smith.

I've included a number of true happenings from my ancestors in several of my historical romance novels, so I love discovering things like this. I think it adds so much richness to the fabric of a story when real life is included along with the fiction.

Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for my new release, Blowing on Dandelions, the first in a three-book series of historical romances set in 1880s Baker City, Oregon, and available at bookstores and book sellers online, everywhere.

Do Dandelion Wishes Actually Come True?

Katherine Galloway knew this moment of calm wouldn't last, blown away like the dandelion seeds she scattered as a girl. In 1880, three years after her husband’s death, she struggles to run an Oregon boardinghouse and raise two girls alone. Things don't get easier when her critical, domineering mother moves in. Katherine must make the situation work, but standing up for herself and her family while honoring her mother isn't easy. And with a daughter entering the teenage years, the pressure on Katherine becomes close to overwhelming. Then she crosses paths with Micah Jacobs, a widower who could reignite her heart, but she fears a relationship with him might send things over the edge. She must find the strength, wisdom, hope, and faith to remake her life, for everything is about to change.



Miralee Ferrell and her husband, Allen, live on 11 acres in the Columbia River Gorge. They have two grown children and recently their son and his wife presented them with a beautiful new granddaughter. Miralee has been writing since 2005, and her first book was published in 2007. Since then, she’s had 7 books published, both in women’s contemporary fiction and historical fiction, with another 6 under contract. Her western romance, Love Finds You in Sundance, WY, was awarded the Will Rogers Medallion for Excellence in Western Fiction and her newest release, Blowing on Dandelions, is the first in a three book series set in Oregon. Miralee loves interacting with people, ministering at her church, riding her horse and playing with her dogs. She also speaks at various women’s functions and has taught at conferences.

37 comments:

  1. What fun it must have been to read those letters for the first time, especially for a historical writer. Cool post!

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    1. Yes, Vickie, it was very cool, even if I have no plans to write in the Civil War era (yet, LOL!).

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  2. What an awesome link to your past! Truly a treasure that your mother found.

    Your book looks wonderful. I look forward to reading it whether I win it or not! ;)

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    1. Thanks, Candy, we feel the same way, that's it's a treasure to be cared for. I do hope you get a chance to read my book and enjoy it if you do.

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  3. Miralee, what a treasure you have in your letters. Thank you for sharing and thank you for the giveaway.

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post and enter the drawing. Blessings!!

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  4. Miralee, thank you for sharing your letter--a true treasure. I feel sorry for young people who will never know the pleasure of receiving a real letter written on real paper. I have your book and look forward to reading it! Can't wait!

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    1. I agree about the current generation missing out on the joy of getting a letter. I remember as a child writing letters to my best friend, and in college to my fiance (who I later married), and how I haunted the PO each day hoping for a new one. Email is nice, but it doesn't last. I still have every one of his letters. I hope you enjoy my book, thanks!

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  5. Wow! What an exciting find! I would suspect many people have hidden treasures lying around in attics and/or basements. And Margaret, I feel the same way. We've lost a gracious part of our culture with the advent of exclusively email correspondence--not to mention the beautiful cursive handwriting. Thanks, Miralee, for posting the photos of the pages.

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    1. Yes, that letter has been there for over 50 years and Mom didn't know it. I wish my grandfather had saved more of his letters, but we're so blessed to have even one. Thank you for stopping by!

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  6. Wow, Miralee, what a blessing! Nothing inspires me more than old dusty letters. My great great grandfather was wounded with a bayonet and taken prisoner just months earlier. I have a photo of him later in life, with his deformed arm. An Eye for Glory by fellow ACFW author Karl Bacon is one of the best I have ever read on the Civil War - tragic and tender - just like your letter. Looking forward to adding your book to my library!

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    1. Julia, how cool that you know so much about your ancestors and even have a photo. That's wonderful!! Thank you for stopping by and entering to win my book!

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  7. Miralee, Thank you for sharing your families letter. It shows how valiant all of those men were.
    My late husbands grandfather fought and was wounded (not mortally) July 2 at Gettysburg . He served with the union.
    I wish that more of our family history had been preserved at that time, not lost to future generations.
    Your book sounds very good I hope to read it soon.
    Thank You
    mcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Jackie, that's great that you know so much about your family and ancestors, and I agree....it's sad that we don't have more pieces of our past. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!

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  8. Thanks so much for the peek into your family history! Thanks also for the giveaway. Sounds like a wonderful series.
    God bless,
    bettimace at gmail dot com

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    1. Betti, I appreciate you taking the time to stop and read my post. I hope you get a chance to read my entire series, thank you!!!

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  9. This was awesome Miralee. What a great find--attic treasures are the best.

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    1. Thanks, Kathleen, and I agree....finding treasures like this is super special!

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  10. Hi Miralee!

    What a wonderful piece of history! Thank you so much for sharing this letter. Handwritten letters are some of my favorite things and I love collecting them! They are always full of history and details and the penmanship is unmatched, as you said.

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    1. Hi Britney, I loved sharing our family's letter, and I'm hoping it will be mine one day, when my mom decides to pass it on. I love the history and sense of 'belonging' that comes with family heirlooms. Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. What a special find to have those original letters! Pretty incredible that they have survived.

    I have already read and enjoyed Blowing on Dandelions, so don't enter me in the drawing!

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    1. Thank you for being willing to stop by and leave a comment even though you aren't hoping to win my book. That's such a blessing!

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  12. Letters just like that are what led me to genealogy and research into the family history. That led me to write my latest novel, Love Stays True. One thing that fascinated me with one of the letters is that it was first written across the page and then turned sideways and written across that way. Very hard to read. Be sure to put those letters in acid free paper and not handle them any more than absolutely necessary. The one from my great-grandfather to his true love, Sallie, is torn and very fragile. We put in in an acid free folder in a way that both sides can be read without touching it.

    These letters are a priceless treasure. BTW: My great-grandfather was one of them there Rebels. :)

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    1. Martha, you are so right about protecting the letters properly. My sister mentioned that to my mom and I'm going to see if she's followed through, They are such a treasure and so fragile. How wonderful that you have one from your great-grandfather to his true love. I'll have to check out your book, as well!

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  13. I completely agree about how mixing in fact with fiction creates a richer tale. I love knowing that events in the story may have actually happened. Thank you for sharing. pudy68 @ gmail dot com

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    1. I agree, love reading or writing a book that contains real history as part of the story line. It makes it so much more intriguing! Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment!

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  14. Thank you for sharing your letters! I love it when history comes alive like that! I am adding your books to my wish list! jumpforjoy at gmail dot com

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    1. Thank you, Joy. And in the second book in this series, Wishing on Buttercups, there's an episode with a paint can that actually happened to my grandfather so I included it in my book. I love doing that!

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  15. You were right about his beautiful handwriting! How exciting to find such a treasure as a letter written in that time of war and this link to history for your family! Thank you so much for sharing such a special post and thanks for the chance to win Dandelions!
    kam110476 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Hi Kam, yes, it was so cool to discover this letter and the other that I'll feature sometime from my great-great grandmother. Thank you for stopping by to enter and taking the time to leave a comment.

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  16. Hi Miralee. Really enjoyed this Wish I had stuff from my Ancestors. I do have a WW ll letter from a real close friend, and brother-in-law to one of my sisters. Possibly would have married my next youngest had he made it back. But he and a brother lost their lives. The letter was written to my grandmother. I treasure it. My grandmother gave it to my sister. I have made bunches of wishes on the puffy dandelions. Was fun! I have your book "Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming". I lived in Jackson Hole, Wy. for 6 years. Loved it. I would love to win your book. Thanks for a chance. MAXIE mac262(at)me(dot)com

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    1. Maxie, the letter you have is definitely a treasure, as it gives us insight into the past and those we've lost. Thank you so much for stopping by and for sharing your story. I'm thrilled that you have my Sundance book and hope you enjoy it if you haven't had time to read it yet. It's one of my favorites of all the books I've written. Hope you get a chance to read Blowing on Dandelions, as well!

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  17. So vivid in his descriptions ~ you are there. Thank you for sharing this letter with us. We are all a living letter. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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    1. I agree, Kathleen, about the descriptions being vivid. I found it interesting how he spelled some of his words....again was written agane, breast we brest, and more. I thought about transcribing exactly the way he wrote but didn't want to cause confusion. Thanks for stopping by!

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  18. Interesting letter you posted and I think you wrote it was from someone in your family. I would love to win your book which is first in a new series. Thanks for the contest. sharon, ca wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Hi Sharon, yes, the letter was from my ancestor, and I appreciate you stopping by to leave a comment to win my first book in a series of three. Good to see you here!!

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  19. That is an amazing find for your mother and all of your family. Loved reading about it. Blowing Dandelions looks like a book I would enjoy. Thanks!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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