William Reddin Best was a 21-year-old resident of Duplin County when he enlisted as a private in Company B, 51st Regiment NCT on February 13, 1863. Best had served previously in 1st Company C, 36th North Carolina from April 1861 to April 1862. He was discharged from the 36th for chronic rheumatism. Best served in the Fifty-First for the remainder of the war. He was wounded in the leg at Fort Harrison but returned to duty within a month. Private William R. Best was paroled at Goldsboro on May 24, 1865.
The three transcripts below are for letters William Best wrote to an unnamed cousin while serving with the 51st North Carolina. The original transcripts are part of the Sally G. Quinn Papers on the Private Voices website (https://altchive.org/node/281) and is Copyright © 2014, eHistory. All rights reserved.
Quinn 15
Transcriber: Toni Mitchell
Transcription Date: January, 2011
Proofer: M. Ellis
Proof Date: January, 2011
James Island Neare Charleston S.C. Apr. the 2 1863
Dear Cosin I now have the pleasure of informing you how
that you may have corrispondence with me if it be disirous of you
I have bin informed through one of my most hily & esteemed
fried that you was at a loss to write to me being you knew
not where to direct your letters I hope that I will be able to
accomplish this as I feel it my duty to do so & I hope that
this poor pitiful script will be acceptable with you I am realy
ashamed to let you read such a script from me for such
a hyly & esteemed cosin to read but it is a poor soldiers chance
that I now [?] & I hope that you will excuse such I
have bin informed that your health was very indiferant
I hope that when you read this that you will be enjoying the
precious blessing of health this leave me well as common
I have no news worth your attenton for there is nothing in
camp worth your attention I antisipate that we will not be
in any fight heare soon this is the day set apart for the
fall of the Sitty Charleston S.C, the yankees fired several
shots around heare yesterday for what is something than I
am not able to say when the Yankees trys this plase they
will find the heardist plase that they have ever found yet
I think from all information that I can accomplish at present
ther is 900 heavy peasis of artilery around this Sitty
you cannot go amiss for them there seems to be a plenty
& they continue to erect more baterees of guns Deare Cosin
[page 2]
I would like to have the order that we should
go to N.C, I do not want to have to fight heare
for they treat us heare but how do they treat us with
contempt &c I do not feel very well satisfied about it
we wer ordered to Wilmington N.C, but S buisy
boddy had to interfeare & hinder us we get nothing
to eat heare in a manner when we wer in Savan-
nah G, A, we fared very well as fare as the people wer
able to assist us we were willing accepted of & I hope
we will get to some good plase before long I would like
to see you very much but this is an unreasonable
& inposible thing with me at preasont but I
hope the day is not fare distant when we all
can meet the day with glad & shouting hands
& return to our own homes that I mean those
that is so fortunat as to have such I have no
home at this time but I hope that I shall then
be able to have the pleasure of enjoying a home
& enjoying all of my friends & relation & acquaintences
O! how can this unholy ware exist among us for what
can we be doing for our selves look around us &
you will see that both parties are worsting them
selves I must come to a close for I think you will get very
tired of read this pease of foolishness you can direct your letters to Charleston
S,C, in care of capt Hobson Co B, 51 regt, N.C. T, So I have
The honor of being your devoted cosin untill death.
William, R, Best
Quinn 17
Transcriber: Toni Mitchell
Transcription Date: January, 2011
Proofer: M. Ellis
Proof Date: January, 2011
James Island Neare Charleston S.C.
Apr. the 25, 1863
Deare Cosin having just had
the Honor of reading your most affectionate
letter wich Found me well as common & I
was sorry to learn that you was not
enjoying the Blesing of health those few lines
leaves me well as common & I hope that those
poore pitiful lines will reach you enjoying
good health. I having no news worth worth
relating to you I am now Pasing my
days off in a most a cruel & Bitter way
But I hope that I shall soon Be enjoying
myself as well as ever I did But I see no prospe
cts of it soon Deare Cosin Fell very much like
I do not ceare what comes it Seems to
Me as I had just as soon Be Dead out of my
Troubles as to be heare it seemes as my life
is Perfect Nusince to me I am not nor
neve will Be as I have once in my life do not
surpose if I eve it is mor than I antisipe
ate I neve will enjoy the good ole North
state a gain I never expect to see it
But once mor & I Shall then Be
[page 2]
After my things never can I Bare
The Idia of staying there though I hope
I shall enjoy myself as well some were
else if it Please the almighty in his good
will I hope that I shall Be able to meete
him in pease if I do not enjoy myself
on earth I know that I have not don
my Duty towards his commandm
ents But I hope I will be able to lead another
life I hope you will excuse Me for my shor
letter for as I told you in the Former
I had nothing worth relating to you so
I Beg to be excused & I also have no
time 1 minite will the male leave
I expect you will regare this as
contempt But I hope not so
must come to a close I have had
the Honor of addressing my most
hyly & esteemed cosin I remain
as eve your until Death
W,R, Best
Quinn 18
Transcriber: Toni Mitchell
Transcription Date: January, 2011
Proofer: M. Ellis
Proof Date: January, 2011
Camp 51 Regt N,C,T, Near Wilmington
N, C, May the 30, 1863
Deare Cosin after a long time silence
I now attempt to write you a few lines
wich will inform you that I am well as
common & I hope that those few lines
will Reach you well & all of your associates
& Relation I have improved very much
since I saw you last & I hope that I will
still improve I have the pleasure of inform
ing of you that I got to camp Monday
morning without Being punished &
I hope that I shall be able to do so
again For it does Revive me very much
to See home & I would of Bin up
thir this day & tomorrow at your
meeting if it had not Bin for moving this
time I could of stayed until monday
night I do not expect I will Be
able to see all of old Duplin any
more I wish I could But no chance
[page 2]
Cosin I have Drawn the song
you Requested of me But it is
so sorrly Don I do not Believe you
can Read it But I hope you will
be able to accomplish it I have no
news worth your attention so I will
not contemplate I have enough in
the letter when I get the Ballet in
I hope to see you some time
and all other that are So neare
unto me I must close By asking
of you to give My Respects to
all inquiring Freinds if
any after heaving a large potion
for your self I close after having
the honor of addressing my
affectionate cousin
I, Remain your as ever &c
W, R, Best
give my love to you know
who &c