Private Archibald Shaw Letter

Brothers Archibald, Daniel, and John Shaw enlisted as privates in Company D, 51^st Regiment North Carolina Troops on March 5, 1862. On December 18, 1862, they were joined by two other brothers, Malcolm (“Make”) and Norman. Archibald, the author of this letter, and John were captured at Bermuda Hundred and died in captivity. Daniel and Make were both wounded at Cold Harbor but returned to their company before the end of the war. Brother Norman was captured at Globe Tavern and was exchanged in March 1865.

This letter is a part of the Catherine McGeachy Buie Papers at Rubenstein Library, Duke University. Images of the letter are available in the online exhibit of the Buie Papers, Folder 1863, Images 241-244. Transcribed by Kirk Ward.

Sullavens Island S C

September the 15 1863

Miss Cathrine McGeachy

Dear Frind your

most efectonate letter has com to

hand it aforded me a great deal

of plesure to her from my frind

Kate one more and I Avail my self

of the present opertunity of writing

you a few lines this evning all though

I have Nothing of enterest to write

to you we have sene tolerable hard

times sinc I last Rote to you but

a soldier canot expect enething else

in this Cruel War but we still

hope to be able to drive the

Ruthles fo from hour beloved soil

and we be permited to enjoy pease

and harmony one more, there

is northing New or strang stiring

up about her the yankees are quite

still since last Monday Week they

[page 2]

Come very Near Fort Moltrie

whitch is on Sullavens Island and

shelled it all day doing the Fort

a great deal of damage but it has

bin sinc Repared and I think its

stronger than it was before, the

old 51 Regt has don a great deal

of hard work on it sinc the fight

but we are of the opinon while

the yankees were shelling hour

Forts that they were badley damaged

by the constant heavy volleys

whitch ragned apon them while

they were trying to Reduce hour

Forts they have bin lying well

of ever sinc, the sick is all on

the mend Brother John & Make

are both sick and in the hosptil

John is very bad of there complain

is fever your Brother John is well

with the exception of a bad cough

all the rest of the boys are well

[page 3]

are well and in fine spirit

hoping to Repulse the enemy

from the city of Charleston

we have bin in one hard fought

Battle the old 51 stoad up to

the yankees and Negrows till

they were compeld to fall back

the musket balls were ragned on

thim so heavy that they could

not stand it we have bin

subjected to a heavy fire of

shell from the yankees Feight

but I am afraid the worst time

has not com yet we are looking

for a bloody fight her some

of those days and I am in

hops whin it comes off that

they yankees will be Repulsed

with heavy loss we are all

ancious to get back to old

North Carolina but there

Is know telling whin we will

[page 4]

get there I must close

pleas write sone to your

frind I Still Remain

as ever your Frind A J Shaw

Write sone sone

Good By

Miss Kate