Overview
William Henry Grady was born to Sherwood and Harriet Grady in Duplin County on October 7, 1841. Sherwood was a wealthy farmer, and William grew up on his father’s farm. William was a student when war broke out. He left school and enlisted as a private in the “Duplin Rifles” (later designated as Company C, 2nd North Carolina Volunteers) on Aril 15, 1861. The regiment was assigned to the defense of Norfolk and saw no action. The Second Volunteers disbanded on November 18, 1861, after completing its 6-month term of enlistment.
William Grady enlisted again on March 17, 1862, as a corporal in Company C, 51st Regiment North Carolina Troops. He was promoted to sergeant the following year, and then to First Sergeant in May 1864. During the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff, Grady was wounded and hospitalized in Richmond. He was later transferred to the hospital at Goldsboro and returned to duty in November or December 1864. He was wounded again at Kinston in March 1865 and hospitalized in Greensboro. Grady was taken prisoner and paroled on April 28, 1865, at the Greensboro hospital. William H. Grady died in Duplin County in 1921.
The William H. Grady Letters Collection (PC.1933) in the North Carolina State Archives contains five letters that William Grady wrote while he was serving in the army. The first was written to his father when Grady was serving with the Second Volunteers. Grady wrote the other four letters to his sister while he was serving with the Fifty-First North Carolina. [NOTE: Grady had two sisters, Martha (b. 1839) and Mary Elizabeth (b. 1845). It is not clear which sister he was corresponding with.]
August 18, 1861
Camp Fisherman
Sewell’s Point Augt 18/61
Dear Father
You must not think hard about me not writing to you last week. I was expecting a letter from you so that I could answer it, but I did not receive one nor have I received one this week. You must be so busily engaged that you cannot take time to write. Louis[1] wrote to Uncle John Monday. I reckon you saw it if he got it Friday. I reckon that you are supprised at the head of this letter by it being dated near Sewell Point.
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Six companies of our Regt moved here this week (the Granville Grays [Company B], Townsville Guards [Co. F], Catawba Rifles [Co. K], Lumberton Guards [Co. D], Nash Boys [Co. I] & Duplin Riflemen [Co.C]). Our company came on Tuesday it was a cool day for marching but rather dusty. The remainder of our Regt was left at the old Camp. Several new Companies have been attached to our Regt. I do not know the names of them. We are camped now about one mile from Sewell Point and about three Quarters of a mile from James River which is one of the prettiest places for bathing that I ever saw. We boys haul the seine and catch about a half barrell of fish at a time. We have a seine about one thousand yards long but we only pull about one fourth of it. We can see Newport News and Crany Island from the beach it is about eight miles to Newport News (water all the way). We can see one of Lincolns war vessel laying close to it but they dare not come down in this direction for she would have to come in range of the guns of one or two batteries. We are about eight miles from Norfolk and our camp is in a very
(next [ILLEGIBLE])
[Letter abruptly ends; the image I took at the State Archives is a little blurry. I recall that the statement at the end of the letter implies that the rest of the letter will be sent later.]
[1] Louis Debonair H. Grady, William’s cousin on mother’s side; served in same company as William.
February 21, 1864
Camp Hill near Petersburg Va. Feb 21/64
Dear Sister
As it is time for me to write & having just returned from Church in the City where I had the pleasure of hearing the Rev. Mr. Hagle deliver one of his able sermons. I shall attempt to drop you a few lines, but I cannot think of any thing that will prove interesting.
I received a letter yesterday from L. D. H.[?] Grady[1] he was at Kinston & said that he was about to eat nearly every thing there was in Duplin, for the Citizens continued to come to camp & they bring any quantity of eateables.
I understood that Mrs S. M. Hill was dead. Louis did not say any thing about it, consequently I do
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know what credit to attach to the report.
The weather has been very cold here during the past week & a good supply of snow too but it is very agreeable at present.
What is the cause of you not writing last week. I have not had a letter from home since we left Kinston.[2] I guess that I shall receive one the day after tomorrow.
Has any one been married recently It is about time to hear that some of the little Outlaws[3] are married. I thought they made a beginning some time since & I was of the opinion that they had not given the command to Cease Firing yet.
Tell Margaret Ann[4] I would like to see that valentine she got
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from _ in [BLANK] st Rgt n.c.t.
As I cannot think of any thing more to write I’ll close this letter by saying give my respects to all enquiring Friends & etc. I remain your afft. Brother.
Wm. H. Grady
Co “C” 51st N.C.T.
Clingman’s Brigade
Petersburg Va.
[1] Louis D. H. Grady (the “H” looks more like an “M”), serving as a private in the 43rd North Carolina at the time this letter was written. He was killed in action on July 18, 1864.
[2] The 51st North Carolina participated in the failed attempt to take New Bern back from the Yankees on February 1, 1864. The regiment returned to Petersburg (from Kinston) on February 8.
[3] Grady was related to the Outlaws through his maternal grandmother.
[4] Margaret Anne Grady, Louis Grady’s younger sister.
March 29, 1864
Camp Hill near Petersburg Va Mar 29/64
Dear Sister
I was expecting that we would be in N.C. to day or with Cousin Robert[1] for we have been getting ready to move all the week but we have not got off yet.[2] It has been the rumored here that we were going to N.C. to meet Old Burnsides who is said to to be some where down on the Coast. Wo unto him if we get after him through the Piney Woods in N.C. We had a heavy snow here during the past week but it has disappeared & the weather is pleasant at present.
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Our Brigade will hold a meeting this evening & invite Gov Z. B. Vance to address us while on his way from Lee’s Army to N.C.
Tell Hepsey she must not thank me for favors that I have not done for her. She is mistaken. I do know why she harbored the opinion that I sent her a Valentine but since she accused me of such I wish that it was true.
B. H. Whitfield[3] Esquire has gone home on furlough. I give him a Blanket, an old Pair of Pants & one shirt to carry for me with instruction to leave it at Bryant’s or Uncle Winks. If any of them little Outlaw girls gets them
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& weares them awhile I will not claim them any more.
I told him to tell Delia not to get married until she heard from her humble servant if she does not comply with my order I shall be compelled to enforce the severest penalty of the Law of Matrimony against her & employ Cupid as my Attorney &c![4]
Poor Margaret she caused her Old Friend to go blind with a Valentine. I shall never correspond with her.
Some of the boys has ruined my pen & you see the result by looking at this letter!
What is the cause of you not
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writing last week. Was the snow so deep that it was impossible to get to Fords! Write soon & give me all the news.
Your aft. Brother
Wm. H. Grady
Co. “C” 51st N.C.T.
[1] General Robert E. Lee.
[2] The 51st North Carolina left Petersburg on April 19, 1864, and made a reconnaissance-in-force towards Portsmouth. The regiment returned to Petersburg a week later.
[3] Private Benjamin H. Whitfield, served in the same company as Grady.
[4] Grady married Emmaline Simmons in 1870.
May 29, 1864
Chimborazo Hospital
Richmond Va
May 29th 1864
Dear Sister
I wrote to Pop last week but I do not know whether he received it or not as the mail is rather irregular. You see I am yet in the Hospital my wound is doing very well. I hope that it will soon heal up. I have been here every since the day after I was wounded the (15th). There is several Tar Heels here but none of our Co. They were in a different Hospital one of our Boys John James[1] come here with me his arm had to be amputated and he
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died his wife come to see him but got here a day or two after he died. Lam Sullivan’s[2] wife (Rachel James) come here To see Lam “she is one of them” she thinks the world of Lam or a least she appears to.
I have not heard from our Regt since I was wounded. I do not whether they are below the Bluff or up with Cousin Bobb.
One of the 43rd is here he said that Stephen Miller was killed[3] and he thinks one of the Gradys.[4]
Lee and Grant are manouvering. Grant is making for the Peninsular to join
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Butler & Lee is keeping his army between his & the city. Robert will keep thing all right on his side of the house.
As I can not think of any thing to write I had better close. Wonder if my “sweet Heart” has been informed that I have a Yankee ball in the side of my unmentionables.[5]
Write soon and give me all the news for I have not heard from Duplin since I left Ivor![6]
Dinner is about ready & I will close. To day is Sunday if I was at Wilmington or Petersburg I would go to church
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with somebodies daughter &c.
I remain your afft Brother
(Direct) Wm. H. Grady
3rd Division Ward 2
Chimborazo Hospital
Richmond Va
[1] Served in Company C with Grady; wounded in left arm; remains were taken home by wife, Charity.
[2] Private Lemuel L. Sullivan served with Grady in Company C; he survived the war.
[3] Sergeant Stephen H. Miller was killed at Hanover Junction, VA on May 24, 1864.
[4] None of the Gradys serving in the 43rd North Carolina were killed before this letter was written.
[5] Grady was severely wounded in the left buttock.
[6] The 51st Regiment left Ivor Station on April 26, 1864.
January 4, 1865
Camp Whiting N. C.
Jan 4th 1865
Dear Sister
The first letter I received from home since I left Goldsboro Hospital was written the day before Christmas. Some one give it to Dr Morisey[1] at Goldsboro as we passed through on our way to “Dixie”
I wrote the day we arrived at Wilmington.[2] I suppose it got to Ford’s last Saturday or will get there Saturday after next for mail matters Don’t receive much attention at present. I expect I’ll have to manage affairs yet before it is concluded in a proper manner.
I expect we were going to have a “hot place” down here, but the Yanks concluded they couldn’t stand the Veteran Division & left in Double Quick.[3] Some body would have been hurt if Clingmans Brigade had encountered the Yanks in our old “Haunts”.
We are located near Old C. W.[4] & every thing is quiet. Don’t know how we’ll remain here, but I hope till the war is over we’d have a gay time.
I saw Uncle Frank a few days ago he’s all right.
What has become of Rom,[5] Fraklin[6] & [ILLEGIBLE]. I haven’t heard from them in two month’s. Write give me the news
W. H. Grady N C [ILLEGIBLE]
[1] Dr. Samuel B. Morrisey, the 51st North Carolina’s surgeon.
[2] The Fifty-First arrived in Wilmington on December 28, 1864.
[3] Union troops landed near Fort Fisher on Christmas Day, but General Benjamin Butler, commanding the force, lost his nerve and quickly withdrew without attacking.
[4] Camp Whiting, located just east of Wilmington.
[5] Romulus M. S. Grady, Louis Grady’s brother, served in Company A, 43rd North Carolina; wounded in July 1864 and returned to duty in March 1865.
[6] Probably Benjamin Franklin Grady, Louis Grady’s oldest brother.
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