Private William H. Strickland Letters

William H. Strickland was a Duplin County farmer residing near Magnolia. On August 28, 1861, at the age of 20, he enlisted as a corporal in Company E, 30^th Regiment North Carolina Troops. Two months later, Strickland was reduced to ranks at his request. The following March, he was discharged for chronic rheumatism.

On February 13, 1863, William Strickland reentered service as a private in Company B, 51^st North Carolina where he served with his father, Jeremiah. He was sick for much of his tenure with the Fifty-First, but he was present when the unit surrendered near Greensboro.

William Strickland wrote the first letter below while he was serving with the 30^th North Carolina. It appears to have been written shortly after he enlisted. When he wrote the second letter, he was home on sick furlough from the 51^st North Carolina. The letters are part of the Sally G. Quinn Papers at the Rubenstein Library at Duke University. Transcripts by Kirk Ward.

Derect you letter to Ralelegh in car of cap McMillin
from Wm. H. Stricklin Miss Mary A Hollin

Head Quarty Camp Crab tree Raleigh N C
Iredial Street No 1
Dear Aunt According to promise
I will this sabath morning offor A
few thought I deem it unnessary
To go through A long de tail of my
Travails as I have Stated to father
Which you will Read there has nothing
new taken plast hear you hir more than
I do I will tell you A part of A
Souldier life hit is a hard one But
We have fun a planty and a planty to
Eat and a good tent to Stay in me and
William Jones lis to garther and W. W. Stri
and [?] Johnson to garther all in one tent
you aurote to See me I am geting is fat
is a pig af I can keep well I think I will
Be a man by the time I come Back I am
puty Well Saitfide oly When I thinks about
all of my people that is in Duplin and
my tru love I laft behind af I could See
her coming I would give a heap hir and
faney and kitey and you you cant tell how
glad I would Be But they is a day a coming
When I hope I will See all of you af I not kiled
tell my gals if I could kiss her sweet lips
I would be better Satisfite Mary A Hollin
[page 2]
Head quarti Raleigh September
Deare unclin Williams and
Aunt and cousin I set by
the Drum to emform you I am
well and harty hopin thous few
line may fine you all the Same
good Blasin Well I Will tell you
Something about our fiar hit is
Better than I thought to fine hit
We have fun aplenty they is
nothing new We are all Well tell
cousin Mary E G how I am how We
is an Whear I am I tell you the
truth I never See the like of Rock
in my life theay is Some as Bige
is a house John you had Better
come With me for I See Some of the
pettey gerls and ugliest that there is in
the world I have Seen Sum of the liest land
that I ever Seen in my life Since I lefte
home Nothing More at presints Only rite Soon
Direct yours letter to Raleigh in cear of capton
Mc Millian Send this to Willis Hollin

from William H Stricklin

Magnolia NC Sept the 6 1864
Aunts and uncal I once more
Take the pleazer of writing you A
few lines Emform you that
my health ins a Enproving Some
But vary little I wount
to See you all vary Bad But
you may Know that I cant
hould out to waulk it yet
and So I wount you all to com
to See me and as Soon as I get
Able I will go as you can
come you All do So you
cant Tell how bad I
wount to See you come
as Soon as you can All
[page 2]
I shall look for you untell
I See you I Can tell you A heap
it has Bin Some time Sance
I Saw you All last
Kate Says as Af you
wount to See Mr Southerland
you had Better Come for
he has got to go of and
She waunt you to See him
before he leaves So I Shall
Look for you to come
As the Famialy
All ar well and Sands
thar love to you All
I shall Clouss
Yours untell Death
Wm, H, Strickland