John David McGeachy enlisted in the Scotch Tigers (Co. D, 51st Regiment North Carolina Troops) on April 26, 1862. The 20-year-old farmer had served in the militia, probably the 59th, the previous year. He remained with the 51st Regiment until Company D went home on April 25, 1865. McGeachy was not wounded during the war, but he suffered from various diseases during his enlistment, including mumps, malaria, the “itch”, dysentery, and an eye infection.
Most of the letters McGeachy wrote during the war were to his oldest sister, Kate. The original letters are part of the Catherine McGeachy Buie Papers, Rubenstein Library, Duke University. Images are available as part of an online exhibit of the Buie papers. The numbers in bold preceding each letter indicate the folder and image(s) in the online exhibit.
NOTE: These transcripts are heavily edited versions of the original documents. Most misspellings have been corrected, punctuation has been added, and the page layout has been altered to improve readability. Transcripts by Kirk Ward.
Folder 1863/Images 45-46
Camp Whiting Near Wilmington N. C., Jan 24th 1863
Dear Sister
With pleasure this evening I take my seat to inform you that I am well, the jaundice excepted. They are not very bad but they make me feel sometimes very sick. I hope these lines may find you all enjoying good health. I received your letter By Malcolm McMillan this eve and was happy to hear that you were all well. I have no news to write this time. Things in general are all quiet down here.
Dear Sister, I will send my box back to Fayetteville in the care of John Shaw. You the next time you send to town you can go to John Shaw’s and get it. I will send in an old pair of shoes and two pair of dirty pants. I would have had them washed but I did not think that they were worth it. So now I have only one pair. You must send me another pair. I have put a new hem on my new ones so they fit to a T. I don’t want anything else but the pants, at present. My gloves are good. They will, I think, last me through the winter.
Dear Sister, I expect you feel relieved since your school is out. But you will no doubt feel sad to think of the good times you spent up there. I expect that Crack did think it was getting hard times when both sides was after him. I am glad he got home safe.
Duncan Evans is very sick. He was sent to the hospital this morning. He was talking out of his head. [Died on January 28, 1863]
Dear Sister, as for Ma and Mrs. Evans coming down here, I cannot say for them to come. I heard this evening that the Yankees were coming again. I do not know whether it is true. I expect Mrs. Evans will like to see Duncan, but he is on the Hospital and I out at the camp and I don’t know any place near here that I could get, but if she wants to come I will try and get a house, certain. I could get maybe that house that Alex got by the time I write next. I will tell you all about it.
Dear Sister, I believe I have told you all the news I can think of. I will bring my letter to a close By subscribing your affectionate Bud.
John D McGeachy
1863/53-54
Camp Whiting Near Wilmington N. C. Jan 28th 1863
Dear Mother, I will send you some money By D B McGougan, 16 dollars. I got 6 dollars for my shoes and 22 dollars of my wages. Dear mother, I would like to send you more but I will keep 10 dollars, that will be enough for me. I put a letter in the mail last, so I put all news in that. I never stopped until I read all the news that was in them papers. So I will close.
John D McGeachy
1863/67-68
Camp Whiting Near Wilmington N. C., Feb 16th 1863
Dear Mother
With pleasure today I seat myself to inform you that I am well and hope these few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. We are looking to start to Charleston today. We may start now at any moment. The rest of the Brigade is gone, all but the 61st. We heard that the fight began yesterday. We may not go yet, but I think we will. I have nothing else to write. My own health is as good as ever. You need not write till I write again, then I will tell you where I am. I will close & remain your son.
J D McGeachy
1863/69-70
Camp McKethan Near Charleston S C, Feb 22nd 1863
Dear Sister
With pleasure I take my pen today to inform you that I am well, Hoping this may find you all enjoying the same blessing. I have no news of importance at this time.
Today was the time set apart by the Yankees to take Charleston but I have not seen anything like an attack so far, but it may come some day. There are any quantity of North Carolinians here now, two Brigades of them and more expected. I heard the 24th was ordered here and I heard they were sent back toward Va, but I do not know what to believe when I hear Camp news.
We get beef plenty [?] but we do not get any bacon. It rained this morning but it has cleared away now. We are near the sounds and we go and get oysters any time we want them. I have eat a few and like them very well.
There is any quantity of breastworks around here and the best that I ever seen. We have not mustered any since we come here.
I intend to write to you every week. There is, I think, a bad chance to get letters. I believe I have told you all the news that I know, so I will close. This is a short letter but you must excuse it, and I will give you a better one next time.
I remain your Brother
John D. McGeachy
1863/79-80
Camp McKethan Near Charleston S. C., March 1st 1863
Dear Sister
It is [with] pleasure I seat myself to inform you that I am well, Hoping this will find you enjoying the same. I have no news of importance to write at this time. Our baggage came to camp yesterday. I got everything of mine but a pair of socks, but I got a pair from the government, but they are cotton socks. I heard that we would move some two miles from here. This place is not large enough to pitch our tents. I am in hopes that we will go back to Wilmington.
Oh, I was so sorry that I was not in Wilmington when my box was there. I heard that Ed sold them. That was right since we were not there to enjoy them. This is most too far off to send boxes now.
So you want to laugh at me about my gal. I will send a letter to her today but will not say a word about the artiste, and if she says anything more, she can have it if it will do her any good.
My Valentine did not go to Miss Mag MW but Miss Mary McF. I composed a valentine for most all the company. I made more acrostics than the law will allow. Miss Mary’s was one and I made one that was sent to [?].
I have as much as I can carry in my knapsacks but one pair of drawers have some holes in them now, but it will be a bad chance to send anything to me here.
Wesley Russel told me to ask you if Puss had moved, said he heard that they were going to move. Where was Henry when he wrote? I hear that he wrote to Capt. Sloan to see if he could get in his company.
I am sorry to hear of Flora’s arm being so but hope it will soon be well again. I would like to see that letter coming signed to Tigers. I expect you all felt like old times to all get together again at the party.
I do not need a handkerchief. My old one is not worn out yet. If I had a good pair of drawers I could get along this year very well, but I can patch my old ones.
Alex says he is much obliged although he did not get the souse.
I believe I have told you all I can think of now, so I will close. You must fly round with them highflyers when they come. I must close.
Your Sojer, Bud
1863/115-118
James Island Near Charleston S. C., April 8th 1863
Dear Sister
I seat myself to answer your kind letter. It found me well, enjoying myself to the best advantage. I have some news to tell you. Yesterday the fleet commenced a fire on Fort Sumter. The fight lasted from between 2 and 3 till after 5 PM. The fort was struck 34 times but was not damaged in the least. The two best ironclads the Yankees had was forced to retire. The report just now come to camp that one was sunk. It must to have sunk after it got over the bar and out of sight of the Forts.
The Yankees need not try to take this place. The ironclads were nine in number. But our three Forts and numerous Batteries was too much for them. It is stated that our men can bring to bear 500 cannon on one ship. Castle Pinckney was idle all the time of the fight but was ready should anything happen. And furthermore, if they should land we have the very best breastworks to fight behind.
One of our Regts is down at Secessionville, the 61st. I would like to get acquainted with Mr. Blanks of that Regt. Perhaps I will find him out some day.
I received a letter from my gal. It did not say anything about likeness or anything of that nature. I have not answered it yet and perhaps it will be some time before I will. She said that all the boys found prettier girls in other parts of the world than at home. So I believe I will make her think that I have found one that stoled off my love. Or at least she will think so.
I am glad to know that the “world wonders” has increased two more, for I, before I left home, worked hard to make them come but they were two hard cases.
Dear Sister, we still get nothing to eat but beef. I must tell you what is a fact. I have spent $20 since I drew my money and I spent it all for something to eat. These old negroes have pies for $1.00 but I never buy any of them, and you must bear in mind that it is not any larger than your common pies that you make at home, only a little thicker, and we get 3 potatoes for 25 cts and every day I must spend more or less.
Dear Sister, I have no more news to tell you at this time. We have a very good time, considering. Oh yes, I got an April Fool mailed in Wilmington but I know of some of the H B’s [“Highland Boys”, Co. G, 24th Regt. NCT] has been at home and they might have mailed it as they were going back to camp. I think Miss Mary did it.
I hope that we will get back to NC some day and then I can get taters from home. I will send you that piece of poetry if you can read it. I believe I have told you all that I can think of so I will close.
I remain yours, John D McGeachy
1863/129-132
James Island Charleston S C, April 27th 1863
Dear Sister
Your kind favor came to hand some days ago and I embrace the present as an opportunity of answering it. This leaves me in the enjoyment of good health, Hoping this may find you all similarly blessed.
I have the joyful news to tell you that our Rations are better by a good deal. We get a ¼ of a pound now instead of two oz. And we get one pound of sugar to 5 men now. It was not South Carolina’s fault that we did not get it all the time but our Brigade Commissary was trying to cheat us out of our little mite. But now we get a plenty to eat. They are paying up our back rations. Our officers at last went into the affair and made them come up to the scribe.
Dear Sister, today Lieut. Col. Hobson was tried and found to be competent. The Maj will be too, I expect, when he gets back. He only had 5 days.
Dear Sister, I do not know what to say about sending something to eat for us. I believe we will go back to North Carolina some day. It was Genl Clingman’s negro that told some of the boys that we would have gone back before now, only he knew that he would be sent to Va so he was going to stay till they would get enough of troops in Va and then he was going back to Wilmington and then he can stay there.
Dear Sister, I heard that you are going to teach school in Bladen. That will be most as bad as going to the war. But I do expect you will be satisfied with the people.
Dear Sister, I have nothing more new or funny. So I will have to close. I do long to go back to old North Carolina. I just send this to you to let you know that we have fared so much better than we used to. I sent a letter to Sallie the other day. Malloy Patterson is gone to Va. Hector McEachern is our Lieutenant. I did not vote for him until I had to or vote for a Cumberland man. I don’t care so he will let me alone.
Dear Sister, I must close. Write soon and let me know all the news.
I remain your Brother
1863/135-138
Topsail Sounds N. C., May 5th 1863
Dear Sister
I am happy to inform you that we are in old NC once more, 13 miles below Wilmington in one of the prettiest camps we have ever been at. Everything looks gay and happy. We left James Island on the 1st of May and stayed in Charleston that night and next morning we started and took 2 days and one night. It was a very tiring job. One time we had to get out and push the train. It was going up grade. It run up 5 times and it would just go back.
This is one fine grove. The oaks make me think of trees below the bay. Scotch Hill, about a mile above here, is one of the prettiest places in the Confederacy. There is some very fine houses but the people have all left and everything looks sort of desolate.
Dear Sister, we will have to be on picket. I think I will like it very well. We can get as much fish as we want. We can get very good water here out of the wells. We have not made our camp yet. Our tents have not come yet and only enough of cooking utensils to get along with. I think it will be a very healthy place. I was glad to [be] away from James Island, sure. We are away off from the Brigade now. I think we will stay here some time since we have left the Brigade and railroad.
I tell you we had a time of it marching here. We had been cramped up in the cars. It went hard with us. We can get fish here for 50 cts for 14.
Dear Sister, we have lost another one of our comrades, Mr. David B. Carlisle. He died in Charleston about the time we left there. Dave was a good soldier, but he is gone.
Dear Sister, send me some envelopes the next chance you get. I sent some of my clothes home. They were sent to Mr. McDonald care of Jno Shaw. Mr. Council and me sent together. The canteen strap is mine. You save it. I sent one blanket, my big coat, neck comfort, and cap. I believe that is all I sent.
I seen Aunt Kathy’s Jonnie. He did not know me at first. I have enough of clothes now. I wish I had sent my new blanket. I would like to make a swap if you see a chance. Send it back, and I will send this one home.
I am going to the sounds after fish. I believe I have told you all, so I will close.
Yours truly,
J. D. McGeachy
1863/153-154
I have a splendid lot of paper. The Boys have come back. They did nothing.
Camp Florida N. C
May 11th 1863
Dear Sister
I received your kind letter some days ago. It found me in the enjoyment of good health. Oh, how much I did want to be at the sacrament yesterday, but it was my lot to be on guard round camp that day. I have been from home in the war twelve months. I have been truly blessed with health for which I am truly thankful. Our company and Co. B was sent off on a scout last night. The Yanks are making the negroes walk. They get some every night, and our company went to try to catch them. They will not be gone long. The Col told me to not go to them.
Gib Little has got to go home at last. I will send $10 home by him. We are living finely. Please to send me the envelopes by Gib or Jim. I have a good lot but they are too dear to buy.
Try to find out how much our taxes will be and let me know. I have a piece of poetry that I will send to you as I have not much news to write.
[POEM]
John D. McGeachy
1863/145-148
Camp Florida N. C., May 13th 1863
Dear Sister
It is with pleasure I seat myself to answer your kind letter and to thank you for the goodies you sent me. I engaged a good breakfast this morn. My chicken was spoiled so I had to throw it away. I do not think you need to send any more of them. They are so apt to spoil.
We drew our money, and I will send you some of it, $12. I expect it will be a long time till we draw again so I will keep a good supply.
There is no men in camp at this time. We boys are all happy now, not much drilling to [do]. We can lie up and eat all the things come safe to hand.
The envelopes will do to send to Mollie. That likeness was intended for Caroline and Al, but I forgot to say anything about it. I do not care, though. If you want to, you may send it to them to remember Cousin John. I had it taken in Charleston for $5. I think myself it is a very good one.
It is as hard to get boxes from Wilmington here as from home to there.
Dear Sister, I have sent you all the news in my letters by Gib, and so forth.
Dear Sister, I must bring my letter to a close because I have nothing to write. I believe I have told you all the news I can think of, and I am in a hurry. I expect you cannot read it, it is written so badly.
Believe me as ever, Bud
I must write to Kate the first chance. I expect she will feel lonesome of first.
1863/157-160
Camp Florida N. C., May 15th 1863
Dear Sister
It is with pleasure I seat myself to answer your kind letter. And so you have taken the school. It will does it does appear that you are [?] way down in Blade. But we must not be sad or gloomy view.
Dear Sister, we are now living in the joyful heart all the times. Pen nor tongue can’t tell you how much we are indebted to our friends at home. But we are drawing very good rations now. It is not old S C bull or 2 oz of bacon.
Dear Sister, I will keep the roses you sent me as a memento as long as I can. I will send you some flowers back.
With flowers of the wilderness
Dear Sis I’ll answer thine
May pleasure ever cling to thee
As grows the jasmine
Dear Sister, I have sent a likeness to Caroline and Al. I sent it home and did not tell them what to do with it for a long time. You must fly round and get acquainted with all the people. I expect you will go to sleep in the school house with so little to do.
I went out on picket night before last. Twelve of us volunteered to go. We went and all went on very well. Late that night and the sentinel heard a boat coming and they run and got all the crowd together. We thought we were going to have a little fight but we hunted up and down but could not find them. We found out next morning it was Capt. Walker.
We then got a boat. Some went to the beach. But the boat I went in [?] in the sound and went to fishing. We caught a good many. I intend to go to the beach the next chance.
It is rather a dull time in camp for news. Do you know where Dick Bradley was taken? I should think Puss was in a bad row of stumps. Our boys are getting furloughs. My time will come some time, I hope.
Dear Sister, I have told you all the news. I can think of so I will close. I sent a piece of poetry to Sallie that you ought to see. I remain as ever
Your Brother, John D. McGeachy
1863/179-182
Camp Davis N. C. June 2d 1863
Miss Kate McGeachy
Dear Sister
It is with pleasure I seat myself to write you a few lines to inform you that I am well, Hoping this may find you in the enjoyment of good health. I had the pleasure of seeing Cousin Bob yesterday. I found him to be the same old Bob, only more lively. And I had the pleasure of seeing a Mr. Lewis. He said that he had seen you the week before.
I sent one letter to you. I expect it got lost. We were ordered to Camp Whiting and stayed there but 4 or 5 days when we came here. I have been on guard up at the breastworks ever since Saturday evening and was relieved this morning. I liked it very well, only the rats went into my haversack and eat all my meat, so I had to do without till I got back to camp this morning, only what I would buy.
Dear Sister, I started this letter yesterday but did not finish it. I heard the Yankees shooting last night but do not know what they were shooting at. Perhaps they were firing at a vessel. The vessels are in Wilmington by the half a dozen. I do believe they are Yankee vessels. But one brought bacon, the very [?] sort. I don’t think they would give us bacon at any rate.
Our men are still getting furloughs. I expect I will get one almost August. That will be just the time to go home. The fruit will be in good [?] about that time.
Dear Sister, Mr. Taylor is close to here. I am going to see him the first chance and Eliza Jane of Laurel Hill is in Wilmington. Some of these [?] times I will go to see her if I get Siddey P to go with me. You see, they are kin. Sid was there one time and she was asking about me.
Dear Sister, I believe I have told you all the news so I will close by saying write soon and tell me all the news.
I remain your Brother, J D McGeachy
1863/199-200
Kenansville, N. C. July 9th 1863
Dear Sister
With pleasure I seat myself to inform you that we have had some hot times since you left me. The Yanks made a raid to Warsaw last Sunday. Saturday night we got up at 12 o’clock and we started for this place but we did not go but three miles when we heard that they were in Kenansville. We went back to a swamp and made a stand but about 12 o’clock we heard they were in Warsaw so we went toward this place to cut them off but they had passed by so we went on after them. Next morning about day we got in hearing of them. We heard them crossing the Bridge and we fell out in the bushes and sat down to wait till they would come on but they were crossing the other way. We stayed there until daylight and we went through their camp. The Maj found lots of things, saddles and a pair of cotton cards, and they left crackers. You ought to see us boys eat them. We then went on in to Hallsville at a double quick and the ladies ran out to meet us. I tell you, I felt more like fighting then than ever. We then rested a while and then went on some seven or eight miles and then came here that evening. Our men took two Prisoners and the Yankees killed 7 of their horses but they took lots of negroes and horses and I don’t know how many men. They didn’t get many. We went from Sunday morning till Monday at dinner without anything to eat and did not rest but one hour Sunday night. I am sorry they got back without being shot one time. They might
[PAGES MISSING; END OF LETTER]
1863/205-206
Citadel Hospital, Charleston SC, July 15th 1863
Dear Sister
Today I seat myself to tell you that I am in the Hospital with the chill and fever and I am glad to inform you that I am well pleased I missed the chill and fever yesterday and I hope I will soon go back to my company again. I am faring very well in ration line gets plenty to eat and plenty left.
I do not know what has become of the boys. They went to Morris Island Monday night, and I have not heard from them since. They went where the work was to be done, but I can’t tell whether they had to fight any or not. Alex didn’t go over till last night. He was left behind at Magnolia. So he did not get there till after we did.
Dear Sister, you must excuse a short letter this time. Direct to Charleston as before. I expect to leave here soon. I believe I told you all the news so I will close.
Your Brother, J D McGeachy
1863/209-210
Charleston S C July 18th 1863
Dear Sister
With pleasure I seat myself to inform you that I am still with the baggage. I went to the Hospital and stayed 4 days and then came back here. I am well now but not strong yet.
They are shelling the Forts today very rapid, but I can’t hear what they are doing. Our boys are in it, sure. I am very anxious to hear. As soon as I hear, I will write up in that country. Last night they were all safe.
I fared very well in the hospital. G G Little got here this evening from Wilmington.
Dear Sister, the Yankees seem determined to take this place. They have not killed or wounded many men, but they may get it after a long time.
I believe I have told you all the news so I will close. Write soon and give me all the news.
I remain your Bud, J D McGeachy
1863/217-218
Sullivan’s Island S C, Aug 10th 1863
Dear Sister
I received your kind letter yesterday evening and was glad to hear from home and that I sent a letter to Sallie the other day. This leaves me sick again. I have the bowel complaint but am a good deal better today. We get nothing to eat here but fresh beef, and the water does not agree with me, but the last two days I have been to the doctor so it is almost checked, and I hope it will remain so.
I spent one tour of five days in Battery Wagner but came out safe. It is a bad place, but it has been sorter calm since we left there. One night they bombed the place all night. The time I stayed over there I ran many narrow escapes. But He who rules all things saved me, and to Him must we look. Yes, Dear Sister, you must remember me in your petitions to Him.
Dear Sister, I have no news to tell you. A good many of our boys are sick but not dangerous. I will send you some needles. I will send you half this time and next time, the rest.
You need not be uneasy about me for I soon will be well again. I can’t frank my letters to my lady correspondents, so they must wait till I get money. We will soon draw again. Excuse a short letter this time, and I will do better in future. I believe I have told you all the news so I will close.
I remain your Bud, J D McGeachy
1863/239-240
Sullivan’s Island S C, Sept. 14th 1863
Dear Sister
With pleasure I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well, Hoping this may find you enjoying the same. As I have a chance to send this by hand, I will do it. Mr. J P Mercer will start home tomorrow on furlough and will give it to Mr. Rozier, and you can get it.
Affairs are unchanged here. The fleet keeps its distance since last Tuesday, and the Yankees have not fired any from their land Batteries yet. They have not finished them yet.
Dear Sister, we boys have right smart hard duty to do here. Sometimes aroused at midnight then have to work till day. The report is that tomorrow is the day that the Yankees are going into Charleston, but that is uncertain for we cannot find out what they are going to do.
The Yankees have torn up the houses on the Island by the wholesale, and they burned a good many. They have not done the works much damage yet. The Yankees will find it a job to take Sullivan’s Island, but it may be that it will not stand as long as Morris Island did.
I sent that piece of poetry to the Observer, but old Hale would not publish it. I expect it was too long, or he didn’t it worth publishing. I sent it in Arch N. McDonald’s name.
Dear Sister, I have no news of importance to write at this time. One line can tell all the news from this place. The health of the company is better now. This water suits them better, and we draw very good rations now and plenty of it, too.
Dear Sister, I believe I have told you all the news so I will close. Write soon and give me all the news.
I remain your Bud, John D. McGeachy
1863/263-264
Long Island South Ca, Oct 26th 1863
Dear Sister
With pleasure I seat myself to answer your kind letter. This will inform you that I still enjoy the best of health and Hope this may find you enjoying the same blessing. Nothing new or important this time. Our men and the Yanks are very quiet now, not half so many big guns firing now as used to be.
Dear Sister, please send me by James A. McDonald that blanket you fixed up for me last winter. I have come to the conclusion that it will be the very thing on the beach. If you can send me a box of potatoes by Jim, I would be very glad. You need not send me anything but potatoes. You need not send me my shirt yet a while as I have enough without it. I think I can get along with my blanket. I believe I can get along very well this winter and perhaps I may get to go home some time. I believe I have told you all, so I will close.
I remain your Bud, John D McGeachy
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