Archibald Currie was a 41-year-old farmer when he enlisted as a private in the Scotch Tigers (Company D, 51st North Carolina). He served with his company unharmed through the end of 1864.
Currie’s letters are part of the Catherine McGeachy Buie Papers in the Rubenstein Library at Duke University. Images are available in the online exhibit of the Buie papers (folder/image #): 1862/163-166; 1863/7-10, 71-78, 87-90, 171-178, 235-238. Transcripts by Kirk Ward.
Kinston N.C, Sept 25th 1862
Miss Kate McGeachy Dr friend
According to promise I now seat
myself to drop you a few lines. I ought to have redeemed
my promise sooner but I never had any news that
I thought would interest you & besides we have been
hauled about from one place to another so much
here of late that I hardly had time to do any-
thing. Another but not the least important excuse
is that I had a lingering spell of sickness during
which I could not write but I am recovering
fast now, am able to go on drills. I was on dress
parade yesterday evening for the first time in
four months. So I hope in the face of all these
facts, your kind and generous disposition will not
allow you to blame my seeming neglect
besides I promise to do better in future if health
& circumstances will allow. In the first
place so far as regards news I must say
I am afraid I have none that will interest
you, but will try & give you a simple un
varnished & incomplete history of our ups and downs
since we left Fort French below Wilmington
The news before that is too old, & by the way
I think we left there in a very good time
as the yellow fever, I understand, is raging
there in all its wanted violence.
[page 2]
We left our Camp just at 10 oclock, loaded with
our Knapsacks, guns & 3 days provisions in our
Haversacks. Arrived at Wilmington about 12 & staid
there at the Depot until about sunset when we
were ordered into box cars, we set sail about sunset
amid shouts & waving of hands, we were very
much crowded – could hardly sleep at all. We
arrived at Camp Campbell about 11 oclock on
Friday & went immediately to work pitching
Tents, & by night we were in pretty good fix
for sleeping & I assure you we needed it. The
Col did us a great favor by not taking
any out for guards. So they all slept but a few
to guard prisoners of whom we have several
for various offences. We remained at Camp
Campbell about a week & were ordered here
We had another terrible march through the
hot sun through lanes without shade or
any thing to cool The Weary Soldier. We are
now quartered in the Edge of the Town or
Village of Kinston in a new unfinished
Church , it is a very large one & we have
pretty good room. We sing every once in
a while & the sound makes me think of
times gone by. I do not know why we came
here how long we are to stay or any thing
about what will be our future courses.
Some think they are collecting troops to try
& take Newbern back from the Yankees
[page3]
Some say one thing and some another. We are
drilling, standing picket guard & guarding
prisoners Commissary Stores &c. One day
our Co was sent on its old trade, working
on a Battery. The Col came round & told us
we had done more work than several
other Cos had done for several days
before, the Col so far seems to be very clever
while he does this well. I will have nothing
to say against him. We had the long
Roll beat the other night, our Co was first
on the ground & got the praise. We had to
go about a half mile further than some
others. The people in the town seemed to
be frightened out of their senses, it happened
about 11 oclock & almost Every house struck
lights & looked as if they thought the Yankees
were just in the town. 5 Yankees were
brought in here yesterday evening. Some
of them talked pretty saucy. One little fellow
said he was a drummer & some of the crowd
asked him to beat it, he replied he would
not beat the drum for our people. The
Pickets catch Yankees every once in a while.
The weather is a little cool these mornings
We will soon begin to need our Winter Stock
but I am afraid the Confederacy will be
rather slow as there are so many to clothe
This is a beautiful country [?] fertile
[page 4]
food water & seems healthy. There are fine crops
of corn and pease. They raise but little cotton
There are some of the finest country resi-
dences along the way as we came that I
ever saw. Almost all the Aristocracy have
gone from here. The town looks rather
dilapidated, it shows the Effects of war, large
stores & no goods, large dwellings and no occupants
Newbern is about 30 miles from here. We can
hear the Yankees shooting their cannons
some times. Please write soon & direct
to me at Kinston. Co D 51st Regt N.C.T.
I will get it whether we move from here
or not. I believe my news is out. Please
write soon & may the blasts of war never
disturb your peace & quiet is the wish
of your sincere friend & well wisher
Archibald M. Currie
Camp Whiting Near Wilmington Jan. the [4 or 11] /63
Miss Kate McGeachy
This being
sunday and all the boys gone
to preaching, I thought I would
write you a short letter in answer
to one I received from you several
months ago. I have no news of
of any importance to write at
present so you may expect a shirt
letter this time. All the boys got
back to camp last Friday morn-
ing after a very long march from
Goldsboro. They are all in fine spir
it and in good health. The boys
are all satisfide about going in
a fight they all say they hope
they will never witness such
another object I have not heard
one say any thing about the Battle
since I came back to Camp but
says he was sceard all the time
[page 2]
the battle was going on and
from what I can larn they
had reson to be afraid. All
the boys says it was the best
sermon they ever heard if any
of the boys use profain lan-
guage some one will say they
will send for old Foster
to preach for them a gain
I hope they will not hear him
soon again but there is no
telling when we will hear him
It is reported in Camp that he
is advancing on this place with
eighty thousand men (80000)
But I do not no whither it is
so or not But General
Clingman said yesterday that
they were advancing on Kinston
again and if that be so we
will be in the next fight
with them if nothing hapens
[page 3]
Miss Kate I got back to camp in
good time for all that them those who
are absent from our Company are
takeing down as deserters I am
sorry for it but it cant be helped
several of the boys went home since
I came without a furlough T. L. Wallies [Wallace]
M. M. Dougald A. J. Wilk[e]s Davis and
McMillean H. D. White and Malco[l]m
McMillean are also taken down as
deserters thats all the news I
have at present I do hope they will
not punish the boys but I see no
chance for them. So I think
this will do on the war question
Your sweetheart is well and
as prety as ever but wants to go
home verry bad and I dont
blame him for that. I would
like to visit old L. B [Lumber Bridge] this even-
ing myself and perhaps I could
see Miss __ and go to the P. C.
tomorrow evening &c. Miss Kate
I have a good joke on some of the
L B girls if I could see them
You must write soon and let
me know how Miss C. and Mr. Mc
is getting along and give me all the
news in general. I must bring
these baddly writen lines to close
you must excuse bad writing and
spelling I cant write in my
[?] so any person can read it
the boys are all getting back
from church and are all arou-
nd me so I cant write so I
must close Nothing more only
I remain yours in affection
A M. Currie
P S Give my respects to all
the school girls and to Miss
Sallie and Flore &c. Miss __
and keep a goodly portion for
your self
[tops of pages]
Be good to my bright
particular speak good words to her for
me, John D is well and hearty
The sooner [?] write to a
friend the sooner [?] hear
from one
Tis said that absents conquors
love But I Believe it not
Feb 22nd 1863
James Island Camp McKethan
Miss Kate McGeachy
Dear friend
After a long delay I know seat myself
to answer your very kind and welcome letter
which I received some time ago I was more
than happy to hear that you was well
and proud to receive such a long and
interesting letter from one of my
particular friends Miss Kate I hardly
know what to write that would be of
any importance. But I will commence
at a little town belonging to the yankees
on cape fear river we left there last Tuesday
right about nine and a half oclock for this
place. The rite wing of our Regiment
came in first. We traveled all night in box
cars and crowded so we had to stand
up most of the way and you may gage
that we were tired in coming 212 miles
we came very slow a part of the way
[page 2]
We only got to fair Bluff by day
light wednesday morning we saw sever
al little towns by the road and crossed
several large streams or Rivers, tow small
to be caled a river and tow large to be caled
a stream or creek. We got to florance
about ten oclock and change direction
and cars we then had one hundred and
two miles to come we get to charleston
about dark and was marched through
the city to a large hotel where we
was quartered for the night. We stayed
there till next day when we was
ordered to fall in the Rank which was
done in quick time we was then marched
back to the depot where the remm-
ainder of our Regt was. I was in
hope that we were going back to
the old north state but it was
not so the Regiment was
formed and then marched through
[page 3]
the city to this place distant
of about six miles We are in camp
in and old field it is a very pretty place
to camp. I do not know how long
we will stay in s. c. But if I had
my way I would leave in lest than
ten hours. it is reported in camp
that our Brigade is going to savannah
Georgia and since they have carred us
this far I want to go farther
altho I am going far away from
my little [?] but I hope to go
back some time But from what I can
learn it will be a while for
General Clingman has ordered our
baggage to be sent to this place
and if that be so we will stay in
S. C. till next summer and
maybe longer. There are looking
for a fight here every day and
if they do fight at charleston it
[page 4]
will be a fight long to be
remembered by those who will
be ingage in the fight and those
who have sons brothers husbands
and friends in the fight for
charleston is a large place I think
it is about four miles square and
the finest kind of houses from
three to five stories high I
went into the city yesterday
and walk from ten oclock till four
and I dont believe I went over
one half of the city Miss Kate
there are more goods in one
store in charleston than there
are in the whole town of
Wilmington but every thing is
very high as plenty as it is
I though I would buy some little
fine pressents for some of the Robeson
ladies but the blame rascal
[page 5]
would not take North Carolina
money and I had none of any
other kine. I can tell you I dont
like that a bit for us, North
Carolians to come here to fight
for them and they will not
take our money. and I know it
is as good and alittle better than
there money. I took a general
vew of fort sumter yesterday
it is a fort that the yankees will
pass on there way to charleston
there are too gunboats of iron
clad to defend the city I also
took a vew of them I was all
over them it looks to me
that if the men in these
boats will manage rite the
yankees will never get them
they wants recruits on them
and it was not so far from
[page 6]
home I believe volunteer on
one of them. Miss Kate
it is a raining so today that
I cant write so I will wait
till it quit raining. The rain
is slacked so I will proceed to
finish my letter. There are
several Regiments going in the
direction of savannah the
15th North Carolina went on
yesterday and the 46th and 48th
North Carolina is on the train
know to leave for savannah
the 46th Regt says that General
Ransoms Brigade is on the way
for this place we are looking
for the 24th North Carolina
this evening I think there
will be something done in a
few days one way or the other
Miss Kate I thought this time
[page 7]
last Sunday that I would be
in Fayetteville to day but if I know
any thing about it I am farther
from Fayetteville to day than I
ever was before But if we had
not been ordered to this place
I would a been in Fayetteville
for I had every thing ready to
start and had orders to go the
same day we left for this place
so I am in charleston insted of
Fayetteville Miss Kate is raining
again and I have such a bad chance
to write I must come to a close
I could write you a long letter but
I have such a bad chance I cant
half write I got one of the best
Valentines the day before I left
Wilmington you ever saw I
would like to know who
sent it but that I dont know
[page 8]
Your sweet heart is well
and in good spirit and as prety
as ever all the Boys are well
an in high spirit this letter
is not in reply to yours for
I left in my knapsack and
I have forgotten your points
but I will try and get it when
my knapsack comes. With this
I close by say these badly written
lines leave me well at present
Nothing more only I remain yours
in affection A M Currie
I cant forget one look of thine
Tho miles a part we be
While life shall last and [?] reign
I will remember thee
Write soon soon soon
James Island March the 17th 1863
Friend Kate
I take the pleasant
task of writing you a few lines after waiting
too or three days to have something of interest
to write you but have failed as yet. But I
will try and write something so as to claim
an answer from Little Kate You cant imm
agin the pleasure it gives me to receive a letter
from one of my particular friends. you said in
your last letter that cousin Emma was staying
with you and that Ed stayed a night with you
I have nothing much to say on the subject
But I wish I was “thar” with you insted
lying on James Island eat up by the blame
gnats. Besides waiting for the yankees. It
is reported in camp that the yankees will
attacked this place on the 20th of this
month which will soon be here. But
I hope there is nothing of it for I am in
[page 2]
no notion of going in a fight around
charleston for they will not know when
to quit. Your are good on a guess when you
thought we were in savannah when you
was writing my letter. I Believe you are a
yankee to guess any how. We stayed most a week
in savannah it is a beautiful place the
city is most as large as the city of charleston
But savannah is far the prettiest place
the park at savannah is just pretty
enough a great place to fly round the
girls and there are some of them about
savannah if I could see strait But I did
not see a pretty young lady since I left
N.C. But every boddy cant see a like
Lieut J. D. [Malloy] arrived with his recruits also
S. J. Cobb and Archie Shaw they are
getting along very well J. D. says the
girls is getting prettyer every day that
suits me I begin to want to see them
[page 3]
you better believe But as the saying is
wants will be my master I am afraid
Miss Kate I declair I dont know what
to write you that would be of any importance
at all. I know you get all the news
about here for I believe one half of the
tigers is writing to Little Kate I can see
a letter for her most every day going to the
office. Besides getting some from other com
pannies & from [?] sound Miss Kate
I know it must be lonesom in
old Robeson know since all the Batc-
hlars are gone to the war and getting
married I suppose Daniel Shaw and
Daniel Sinclair are married that’s doing
rite well. Miss Kate it is reported in
camp this evening that General Hill
has retaken Newbern thats good
news if it is true but I am afraid
it is not true I will turn a leaf
[page 4]
In the first place I must say
it was not I that wrote Alex Valentine
But I can guess in less than forty
guesses But will not say this time
I have found out who wrote one of my Val
entines I think I will reply in April
Miss Kate staying on James Island is not like
going home from school trimming holly
trees if I know anything about it and
I have tryed both I think about those
happy evenings a many time since
I see the end of my paper I must
bring this baddly written letter to a close
by saying your sweet heart is well and
as pretty as ever Nothing more only I
remain yours in affection
Write soon and give me all
the news. give my respects to all
the girls and keep a double portion for
your self Pleas excus this ill composed letter
A.M.C.
Camp Davis N. C.
May 31st 1863
Friend Kate
I take the
delightful task of answering
your very kind and welcum letter
which came to hand a few days ago.
I was more than happy to know
that you had not forgotten A.M.
I had about come to the conclusion
that Little Kate had forgotten me
but your welcum letter has changed
such superstitious notions as
that Miss Kate I hardly no what
to write that would be of any interest
or importance to you but I will
write something to pass off the
time is nothing els. In the first
place I will let you no some [?]
about our moveing since we came
back to North Carolina. [?] was
first sent to Camp Florida
[page 2]
about thirteen miles east of
Wilmington in too miles of the
sounds in a beautiful oak grove
it is a beautiful place for a camp
but just as soon as we got every
thing in order and fixt up nicly
for the summer we had to leave
it and give it up to the 8th Regt
I tell you I hated to leave camp
Florida it was such a pretty place
it made me think of old Lumber
Bridge had such a nice shade
And the best of all we had but
little drilling to do and that
pleased me these warm days
We left there last sunday
night for camp Whiting we left
about nine oclock and got to
camp Whiting about tow oclock
Our Col showed us no quarter
in the march he only rested us
twice in marching thirteen miles
[page 3]
and only fifteen minutes at a
time but when the Col sop
stoped he only had about 75 men
out of the Regt with him he got
a little mad about it but all
for nothing. We pitched our tents
at old camp Whiting built bunks
halled straw and fixed up nicly
Just about that time old Cling-
man sent orders to Lieut Col
to go down in the sounds and select
another camp about this time
a notion struck me that the 51st
Regt ought to point a guardean
for General Whiting and Clingman
for I believe they are both crazy
When they move us about so
much. We left camp Whiting
Friday evening and got here about
dark this is a rite nice camp
if we can just get to stay
here this summer [?] [?]
[page 4]
they will sends us to the
eastern part of the state I
read a letter for the old 24th
Regt and it said that there
Brigade was ordered to Petersburg v.a.
and was to start last thursday
at six oclock I know the boys
all hated to go back to Va. the
letter was from Mr W. S. John-
son and he said he new it
was to Fredricksburg they were
going so I think they will
send us to Kinston in its place
and if they do we will be on
our way to v.a. and if they do
its good bye Little Kate But I
hope I am wrong in my
opinions I was in hope that
this awful war would end this
summer but I see no sign
of it ending soon But if there
be many more such battles as
[page 5]
the last battle they fought
at Fredricksburg it will end some
time our North Carolina soldier
suffered awful at that battle
There are several reports from Vicks-
burg Tenn. I am afraid it will
fall and if it do great will be
the fall. Miss Kate I know
you will say this is enough
about the war therefore I will
change my subject You said
in your letter that you would a
wrote to Archi M. or cousin Carries bright
Particular. I think I am out
flanked there from what some
of the boys tells me who just
came from the neighborhood a few
days ago Capt Bob [Robert McEachern] told me it
was current every where he went
while he was at home that she
was going to get Married or was engaged
to a young man in co. D that’s rich
Not A.M. tho
[page 6]
I hear from Ant charlotte once and
a while they tells me she is all
rite in the [?] Miss Kate I have
one of the best jokes to tell you [?] in
this little confederacy If I ever see
you to tell you I wish some of the
old Bachelors would call round and
take her as they are getting married
so fast. It seems that Little Kate
will waite for a soldier Boy that’s
suits me. You said you were
going home next week and if you
do you will meet your Bright
Particular there he is going home
Next Friday. I have not seen him
in five months but he lives on long
sound I xpect you will kill
those too pigs this time what
you think eh, Miss Kate I could
write mischief all day
but I will write a few lines of
poetry on the Holly Tree
[page 7]
[poem]
[page 8]
I told John D. what you said
he is well and hearty you said
you saw some replies to valentines
at the Post office if you did it
was not I that wrote them you
will have to guess again. Well
miss Kate I must bring this
baddly written letter to a close
Pleas excuse bad writing and
spelling and all imperfections
in this uninteresting letter
Write soon to your Best friend
A,M.
P. S. Miss Kate I am ask to
A bee party next thursday
Night in Robeson will I
meet Little Kate there No
No good bye A.M.[?]
Camp 51st Regt Sullivans Island S. C.
September 4th 1863
Miss Kate McGeachy
Friend Kate
In the first place, I [?] inform you that
our gallant little Wagner has fallen
Morris Island fell in the hands of the
Yankees last night after about
Sixty (60) days bombardment. The fleet
commenced on Wagner last Friday
morning and kept up regular shelling
till this morning. Our troops
left the Island last night takeing all
the wounded off before the yankees found
out that our men was leaveing the Island
our troops suffered awful on the Island
since Friday. I dont know what troops
was on the Island besides the Utah Regt
it was on the Island for the first time
since we came here Our men left
Battery Wagner & Gregg and never
Blowed up the bomb proof of eather
[page 2]
I hate that part for the yankees got
the best fort in the confederacy now
they are gone to work at Battery Gregg
they have a splendid fort and bombproof
to shelter from our shells. Fort Moultrie
is playing on them but they continue
to work. General Gilmore sent
a flag of truce in the morning for the
surrender of this Island and says that
if we dont surrender this Island he will
commence shelling at nine oclock to
morrow so we will have and awful time
on this Island soon. Friend Kate the
yankees are shooting us today with our
own guns our men did not spike
the guns at Battery Gregg when they left
if they did the yankees unspiked them
mighty quick Miss Kate there is such
an uproar in camp I cant write so
you must excuse bad writing I cant
begin to tell you half how we fair
here. If I could see you I could tell
[page 3]
lots that I cant write. When you made
that visit to Magnolia you found all the boys
in high spirit but if you was to see them
now you would say that it want
the same company. We boys was fairing
well at Magnolia to what we are at this
place there are several of the boys sick
Hugh McGoogan is very sick J. A.
Shaw is a little better J. D. health
is getting better. Miss Kate I have to
write on my knee with a very bad pen
and the cannons are roaring so I cant
write so it can be read but I know you
will excuse me this time I will
excuse your long delay this time
since it was the first time I must
fess that you is a yankee to guess
I wish I could see you I have several
little jokes to tell you but as it
is we must let them go for what
they are worth. I wish I was in
the Big Swamp at this time
[page 4]
Miss Kate my hand is so bad for
writing I must close I hope you will excuse
this baddly written letter. I will look for
an answer soon from Friend Little
Kate that is all the pleasure we boy
see or have is receiving letters from there
friends at home. I have lots to write
but I cant write today so I must
close by saying these few lins
leave me well hoping that these few
lines will reach you enjoying the same
great blessing. Write soon to your
friend A. M. C.
P.S. Give my respect to Miss
Ann tell her D McG [Currie] is well.
Yours in Affection
AMC
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