Twenty-year-old James A. McDonald enlisted as a private in Co. D, 51st North Carolina on April 26, 1862. He was wounded at Petersburg and transferred to headquarters as a teamster after he was released from the hospital. McDonald returned to his company in October 1864. In March of 1865, he was furloughed from the hospital after being treated for rheumatism.
The four letters below are part of the Catherine McGeachy Buie Papers at the Rubenstein Library, Duke University. Images of the letters are online; the number preceding each letter represents the folder and scan number of the document. Transcribed by Kirk Ward.
NOTE: the letters appear to have been written by at least three different people.
1862/151-154
Fort French, Sept 3rd 1862
Dear Miss Kate
As John D [Kate’s brother, John McGeachy] is going
home I have concluded
to drop you a few lines
to let you know I am
well & hearty & hope this
may reach you in the
highest state of felicity
There is but little news
in camp. The health
of the Co is but tolerable
there are several cases
of fever &c. We are working
at our Iron Battery, drilling
half the day. I have no
idea how long we will
continue here but I hope
[page 2]
be good while, the news
from the seat of war
in all directions is
cheering, but I see
Lincoln is gathering
his men & I am afraid
we will have to destroy
six hundred thousand
more men before we can
think of peace, & before
that is done many a
fireside will be bereft
of some of its most
pleasant associates
but we must put
our trust in him who
is able to preserve and
defend us that all
[page 3]
will be right,
it is night & I have
no candle to write
by. I am writing by
a lightwood fire
So you must Excuse
a badly written & composed
letter. I think we
will soon have the
river defended so
the yankees would
have a hard time
to take Wilmington
I want this place
defended above all
others, as they would
almost ruin us if
they could take it
[page 4]
This is the last
page & my news is
out. So you must
look over this letter
& I will do better next
time. Please write
soon & give me all
the current items of
the day & till I
hear from you
may Angels bestrew
thy path with flowers
& may all things
Earthly combine
to render you happy
is the wish of yours
Jas AM. Donald
1863/59-62
Camp Whiting Near Wilmington N. C.
Febry 6th 1863
My Dear friend Kate
I write once more to
let you know I am still on the
land of the living & enjoy my-
self as well as the circumstances
of our situation will allow. I
have been sick awhile back
but got well again. The health
of the Co. is tolerably good. S. J.
Cobb is sick in the Hospital
There were some Cases of Small
Pox in the Regt but I hear
nothing of it now. I am in
hopes it is gone. We have tolerably
good quarters. Tents with chimneys
which answer a very good purpose
but they are rather close, we
dont have much room to receive
company & have but few so far
and other articles of luxury
[page 2]
The weather is rather cold &
rainy. We have had a good deal
of rain & wind & a little snow
They say the salt water from
the ocean affects the atmosphere
in such a way that it never
snows here. We get plenty
to eat with what we get from
home. I assure you it is much
better here than to be on Marches
with out tents & no cooking Materials
nothing but a blanket and sleep
by log heaps & sometimes not
even have fire. We are looking
for an attack or rather were
but I hope they will let this
place alone. Our Brigade left
here Yesterday for South
Carolina, as they are expecting
an attack on Charleston &
Savannah, there is no doubt
but they will make one more
grand attempt, but they
cannot operate in Virginia
[page 3]
on account of the mud &c
I sincerely hope that we
may soon be free once more
& return to our quiet & [?]
avocations more suitable to
our natures & more in accord-
ance with what the god of
nature intended us than to
be trying to kill each other
like Demons or Madmen
but let us hope that there is
still a being who looks on us
in compassion & mercy & will re-
deem us from all our troubles
News is scarce. Everything
is dull – all the consolation
we have is getting letters from
our old friends & those we esteem
I hope you will write & give
me all the news. Valentine
day is near at hand & the
Ladies may look out, the Boys
are preparing. A Vessel came
to Wilmington from Bermuda
[page 4]
a few days ago loaded with
Government Stores. I see the
Blockade is opened at Galveston
Would that our Port was so
but let us hope for a better
time coming & if we all get
home after acquiring our hon-
orable peace & independence
would it not be joyful? & should
we not sing Hosannas of Praise
to him who is the author of
all good for our safe deliverance
I hope you will look over all
mistakes, Blots, &c, & will
write soon giving all the news
& till I hear from you Good Bye
& may the time not be long
when I can go to see you
& talk with you. May
Holy Angels preserve you
is the Prayer of your [?]
friend. [signature TORN]
1863/113-114
James Island S. C March the 31 1863
Miss Kate McGeachy
Dear Friend I avail my self
of the Present opportunity of Writing you a few lines to
inform you that I am well and harty hoping that those
Few Badley Writin lines will Reach you in the best of helth
and All the Rest of the Fambly & all the Neighbors I have
Nothing of emportens to Write to you as every thing semes to
be very still at this time but we are constantly looking
for the yankees to atack this Place but I do not think
that it is they yankees atention to atack Charleston this
Spring I think the greater part of the Fiting is over with and
I am in hope it is for it is not at all [?] work and I
do not think there is mutch Fiting going on at present
and I do hope that the time is not [?] [?] whin we
will have Peas and harmony [?] [?] but
[ILLEGIBLE]
bear it with pations and hope for better days and a Spedy
Peas that we may once more be permited to Return Holm
in Peas to those that are ever Dear to us and thin we
could have the Plesure of enjoying hour selves as we did
in gone by days but I fear that there is a greate many
of us that will nevor meet again one this Sinfull
World [?] have to regret the loss of Som Near
[page 2]
and Dear Frinds who have bin called from time to
a long Holm but I hope they have All gon to Rest
we regret the loss of another member of hour Company
G. W. Legget he Dide in the Hospital in Charleston
his complaint was knot None he only lived three
days after going to the Hospital he was Burrid in the Semetery
in Charleston & the wether is very Cold her and has bin
ever Since Sunday and it looks like if it mite Snow
and I expect it is Snowing up in old Robeson and I am
afraid that it will kill all the Fruite this year we were
Revewed by general G. T Beaureguard on last Saterday he
is a very Small man but he is Braive looking he is a Frenchmen
he praised hour Brigaid and he sed he thought that we
would do creted to hour Selvs and to hour Cuntry on
day of Battle and he sed that the day wont far distant
win we would have to meet the yankees and he said
that [?] [?] have the least doubt but what
we [TORN] to hour State well miss Kate
I expect you are geting tirid of Reding this unteresting
Letter and know doubt but you will Say I wish he
could have thought of that Soner I Resevd your very
kind letter Som time a go and it aforded me a great deal
of Satsfaction to her that you were well and harty
give my Best Resp to all the girls with this I must
Bring my letter to close Pleas write Son Pleas excuse
Bad writing and Spelling and Composition your Frind
till Death Good Night J A McDonald to Frind Kate
1864/9-12
Camp Hill Petersburg v. a.
January 24th 1864
Miss Kate McGeachy
Dear Miss
It is with pleasure that
I seat myself to write
you a few lines thinking
you would like to hear
from an absent friend
although I have no news
of any importance to write
In the first place I will
commence in v.a. I like
to stay here very well
but every body says that
Petersburg is the best place
in v.a. and I am about
to believe it. The city of
Petersburg is a beautiful
place, also a business
place more so than any
[page 2]
I have seen since I
have been in the war
We are camped two miles
east of the city we are
well fixed up now if
we can get to stay here
the health of the
Regt is verry good at
present and I hope it
will continue so
Well Miss Kate the Drum
has beat for preaching
and J. D. [Kate’s brother, John] is waiting on
me so you must excuse
a short letter. I could
tell you lots of good
jokes if I had time.
Your bright Particular
is well and as pretty as
ever and wants to go
home verry bad
[page 3]
And I hope he will soon
for I Know you want
to see him
As J D. is waiting on
Me I must close
Write soon and
give me all the news
in general
Yours in Affection
James A. McDonald