Jeremiah Strickland enlisted as a private in Company B, 51st North Carolina, on 29 May 1862. He was a 43-year-old farmer, living in Duplin County at the time of his enlistment. Strickland served with the company throughout the war, although he was hospitalized at least three times for illness. His son, William H., enlisted in Company B on 13 February 1863 and served with his father to the end of the war.
Jeremiah wrote the letter below to his sister-in-law, Mary Ann Holland. This presentation of the letter is a heavily edited version of the original transcript contained in the Sally G. Quinn Papers on the Private Voices website (https://altchive.org/node/281). A copy of the original transcript is available HERE.
Camp near Charlston, James Island, April 22th 1863
Well dear sister Mary Ann,[1] as you do not think enough of me to write a few lines to me, I will drop a few lines to you. Dear sister, I haven’t forgotten you. If you have me, I have tried to hear where you were so I could write to you but have never heard from you since I left home until today & I was glad to hear from you but sorry to hear that you were not well. These lines leaves me well & fat. Mary Ann, if you was to see me, you would not know me for I am a fat man. My beard is about 5 inches long.
You may think that I am mad with you, but I am not nor never was in my life. You feel like a sister to me. I got a letter from home this week. They were all well. Dear sister, I am happy to tell you that my family & me is all in peace & I hope that we will stay so as long as we live on earth. Mary Ann, please kiss little Wilsey[2] for me & tell him how glad his uncle Jere loves him. Give my love & respects to Marry Ellen[3] & to Rebacca[4] & to your brother[5] if he will receive it. As Wm. H[6] has wrote all the news, I will stop for this time. Please write soon. So my love is to you until death.
J E M I Stricklin
Please hand this to Mary Ann Halling, her loving brother. Write soon.
[1] Mary Ann Holland, Jeremiah’s sister-in-law.
[2] Wilson Holland, Willis Holland’s son.
[3] Willis Holland’s daughter.
[4] Willis Holland’s wife.
[5] Willis J. Holland, Jeremiah’s brother-in-law.
[6] Jeremiah Strickland’s son.
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