SUBMITTED BY: Judy Ellington Stainback; Letters Transcribed by Cheri Todd Molter, Caitlin Crenshaw, Carolina Echeverri, and Daniel Whiting
A note from Judy Ellington Stainback:
I grew up on a 300-plus-acre tobacco farm in Drewry, Warren County, North Carolina.
Part of the farm belonged to the Hilliards and was later bought by my great-grandfather, George W. Ellington (sometimes I refer to the farm as Hilliards Ellington Farm) George’s father, James Ellington owned a few slaves. James also had two other sons, James D and Byrd Ellington who fought for the Confederacy. James D Ellington enlisted in Company C of the 46th Regiment (NC). Byrd Ellington enlisted in the Townsville Guards and it later became Company B of the 12th Regiment (NC).
My parents, William B. and Ella Ellington, my four sisters, brothers, and I grew up on the Ellington farm where Byrd and James, their parents, and their grandparents lived. At the homeplace there was an old black safe in the front hall that held precious Civil War letters that had been sent home from Byrd and James Ellington. From time to time, my father would carefully unfold these letters and read them to us. Even as a child, I was enthralled by the history behind them and by how my father, his father, and his grandfather had preserved these precious letters that give us a glance into the hearts and souls of these two brave soldiers. When I look at the images of Byrd and James Ellington, I am saddened by all the atrocities of war they experienced and by the death of James, but I am so proud to share the same blood and DNA of Byrd and James Ellington!!
Twenty or so years ago, I had copies made from the original images of Byrd and James, and we placed them on the family mantle at the homeplace. Everyone (even my grandchildren) knew their names and stories. In my own home, I also have pictures of Byrd and James Ellington. I am sharing their stories with the N.C. Civil War & Reconstruction History Center so their stories will live on, be preserved, and be shared with others.
James D. Ellington
James D. Ellington was born in Warren County where he resided as a farmer prior to enlisting in Warren County at age 23, on February 12, 1862. He enlisted as private and served in Company C of the 46th Regiment (North Carolina). James was wounded on Sept. 17, 1862 at Sharpsburg, MD. He was hospitalized at Charlottesville, Virginia, where he died on or about October 16, 1862, of his wounds. (North Carolina Troops: 1861 -1865)
About 46th Regiment Company C:
“This company was raised in Warren County and was enlisted at Warrenton in February 1862. It was mustered in at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, April 16, 1862, and was assigned to the 46th Regiment N.C. Troops as Company C.” (Cos. B& C, 46th Regiment N.C, Troops)
Letter from Bettie M. Ellington to her brother, James D. Ellington
Transcribed by Cheri Todd Molter, Caitlin Crenshaw, and Carolina Echeverri
Transcription of Original Document:
April. the 8 . 18 62 Warren Cty NC
Dear Brother James
I seat my self this evening to write you a few lines to let you know that we are all well at this time hopeing when this reeches you it may find you well father received your letter saturday you sayed you wanted to heare from Byrd we got a letter from hym Saturday he is sayed he had been very sick with a pain in his head but had got well when he wrote his letter, he sayes you must write to him and write him word who your Col is and where to direct his letters to you. he says he would liked to hav seen you before you left home he expected when he joyned to came home in a few days but there was no furloughs to be had wen he applied for a them So he thinks it doubtful about coming soon you wanted to know how father was geting on with his crop he has not planted any corne as yet but if the wether gets good he will commence planting this week. I went to Mr Watkinses saturday and we all went to Newhope on sunday there was five of us and no gentleman exep [except] Zack I think it very lonely times about heare now I tell Mr Begans, I think he is missed by some of the ladys more than any one else some of them expected to see you and him at newhope Sunday but you failed to be there. Miss Sallie and Mary Hilliard sends there respects to you and sayes you must make hast [haste] and whip out the yankees and come back and have a joging along.
I recon [reckon] as it is geting late I must bring my short badly written letter to a close
Father Mother Sisters and Brother joyne with me and send there love and best respects to you.
Nothing more only you must write the first opportunity
I remain you affectate [affectionate] sister
Bettie M. Ellington.
Please excus bad writing and crooked lines as I had no lines to write by.
Transcription with modern spelling and punctuation:
April 8, 1862 Warren County, NC
Dear Brother James
I seat myself this evening to write you a few lines to let you know that we are all well at this time hoping when this reaches you it may find you well. Father received your letter Saturday. You said you wanted to hear from Byrd: We got a letter from him Saturday. He is said he had been very sick with a pain in his head but had got well when he wrote his letter. He says you must write to him and write him word who your Col[onel] is and where to direct his letters to you. He says he would [have] like[d] to have seen you before you left home. He expected when he joined to came home in a few days but there was no furloughs to be had w[h]en he applied for a them, so he thinks it doubtful about coming soon. You wanted to know how father was getting on with his crop he has not planted any corn as yet, but if the weather gets good he will commence planting this week. I went to Mr Watkins’s Saturday, and we all went to New Hope on Sunday. There was five of us and no gentleman except Zack. I think it very lonely times about here now. I tell Mr Begans [that] I think he is missed by some of the ladies more than anyone else. Some of them expected to see you and him at New Hope Sunday, but you failed to be there. Miss Sallie and Mary Hilliard sends their respects to you and says you must make haste and whip out the yankees and come back and have a jog[g]ing along.
I reckon as it is getting late, I must bring my short, badly written letter to a close.
Father, Mother, Sisters, and Brother join with me and send their love and best respects to you.
Nothing more only you must write the first opportunity
I remain your affectionate sister,
Bettie M. Ellington.
Please excuse bad writing and crooked lines as I had no lines to write by.
********
Letter from James to his sister, Par
Transcribed by Cheri Todd Molter, Caitlin Crenshaw, and Daniel Whiting
Transcription from the original document:
Chesterfield Co., Va June the 24 1862
Dear Par,
I seat myself to write you a few lines to inform you that I am tolerably well at this time I have been unwell for several days but nothing of a sirious nature I hope and I sincerely hope when the few lines come to hand that they find you and all the rest in the family in the enjoyment of good health For my dear Parthenia we should look upon health as one of the greatest Temperal Ministry that ever was bestowed upon his dear mortal creatures I have been looking for a letter from you for some time I have not received an answer from the letter that I sent you last week I wish that you all would write to me for I am verry anxious to hear from you all at this time for it is the greatest pleasure on earth for me to write to you all and to get letters from that great and ever mumorable place [rest of line illegible due to creasing] should like to be at home now it would be all that I desire there is verry little news in camp at this time our Reg has gone to the Battlefield at last they have marching orders and when they left we did not learn where the[y] was going to [travel] [all] other men left here with me that is not able to march I do not no how long we will stay here the Reg may come back here to night. We are where we can hear the canons roaring all the time the war is continual roaring all day [yesterday] but we hear none to day my dear Par, I hope that it will never be my luck to engage in a battle but I think that the chance is verry great at this time remember my respects to all of the neighbors and tell them that I wish to see them verry bad tell my sisters to write to me and write me word how [remainder of line unclear due to crease] [ ] [ ] [would] them and told them I say that they [ ] inst letter [ ] [ ] until we can [ ] and [ ] [ ] we [] [] just the pleasure of [ ] like old times write soon answer [ ] gets this and write word [ ] [ ] look [] [] looks verry [ ] down here Par when Bob Robertson comes down [] [] me and [Ch…try] hope that he can bring like [something] to eat I must now bring my letter to a close by saying I hope to see you all soon is my sincere desire I remain your affectionate son until death
James D. Ellington
Transcription with correct spelling and modern punctuation:
Chesterfield, Co., Va June the 24 1862
Dear Par,
I seat myself to write you a few lines to inform you that I am tolerably well at this time I have been unwell for several days but nothing of a serious nature I hope, and I sincerely hope when the few lines come to hand that they find you and all the rest in the family in the enjoyment of good health. For my dear Parthenia we should look upon health as one of the greatest Temporal Ministry that ever was bestowed upon his dear mortal creatures. I have been looking for a letter from you for some time. I have not received an answer from the letter that I sent you last week. I wish that you all would write to me; for I am very anxious to hear from you all at this time; for it is the greatest pleasure on earth for me to write to you all and to get letters from that great and ever memorable place [rest of line illegible due to creasing]…should like to be at home now it would be all that I desire. There is very little news in camp at this time. Our Reg[iment] has gone to the Battlefield at last. They have marching orders, and when they left, we did not learn where they was going to [travel]. [All] other men left here with me that is not able to march. I do not know how long we will stay here; the Reg[iment] may come back here tonight. We are where we can hear the canons roaring all the time. The war is continual roaring all day [yesterday], but we hear none today. My dear Par, I hope that it will never be my luck to engage in a battle, but I think that the chance is very great at this time. Remember my respects to all of the neighbors and tell them that I wish to see them very bad. Tell my sisters to write to me and write me word how [remainder of line unclear due to crease followed by unclear section due to fading; each set of brackets signifies illegible word] [ ] [ ] [would] them and told them I say that they [ ] instant [meaning ‘last’] letter [ ] [ ] until we can [ ] and [ ] [ ] we [] [] just the pleasure of [ ] like old times write soon answer [ ] gets this and write word [ ] [ ] look [] [] looks very [ ] down here. Par when Bob Robertson comes down [] [] me and [Ch…try] hope that he can bring like [something] to eat. I must now bring my letter to a close by saying I hope to see you all soon is my sincere desire. I remain your affectionate son until death,
James D. Ellington
*************
Letter from James D. Ellington to One of His Sisters
Transcribed by Cheri Todd Molter, Caitlin Crenshaw, and Carolina Echeverri
Transcription of Original Document:
Camp Lee July the 20th 62
Dear sister
I now seat myself to write you A few lines to inform you of my health I have bin right sick with the bilious fever but I have got sorter over that and now [line illegible due to tape] I have drawn me [ ] but I have nerly spent it I gone to town and buy [] what I want there is pies and most anything you could call for brought here in camp too [ ] every day but they are [ ] dear you must write to me [line illegible due to tape] is it [rest of line illegible due to creasing] home tell the [ ] [ ] [ ] my opinion about it I should be alod [sic] to come home and see you all but I cannot come for they say there will be no furloughs granted under any circumstances whatever the things that you sent by Robert J. Robison the 9th was left at [wid…] […y] to the train being so crowded and they have not come to hand [ ] [ ] the letter that he [illegible due to tape] would’ve wrote sooner but I left the old camp and did not have any paper to write on [ ] [ ] now in camp at shore ten miles from Petersburg on the south side I hear and it is talked here in camp that the reg will be disbanded in [line illegible due to tape] Bird and how he is give my love to all the family and all iquiring [inquiring] friends direct your Letters to Petersburg to car of capt S.W. Jones 46 Reg NC troops
Transcription with correct spelling and modern punctuation:
Camp Lee July the 20th [18]62
Dear sister,
I now seat myself to write you a few lines to inform you of my health. I have been right sick with the bilious fever, but I have got sort of over that. And now [line illegible due to tape] I have drawn me [ ], but I have nearly spent it. I gone to town and buy [] what I want. There is pies and most anything you could call for brought here in camp too [ ] every day, but they are [ ] dear you must write to me [line illegible due to tape] is it [rest of line illegible due to creasing] home tell the [ ] [ ] [ ] my opinion about it. I should be [allowed] to come home and see you all, but I cannot come. For they say there will be no furloughs granted under any circumstances whatever. The things that you sent by Robert J. Robison the 9th was left at [wid…] […y] to the train being so crowded, and they have not come to hand. [ ] [ ] the letter that he [illegible due to tape] would’ve wrote sooner but I left the old camp and did not have any paper to write on [ ] [ ]. Now in camp at shore ten miles from Petersburg on the south side I hear, and it is talked here in camp that the reg will be disbanded in [line illegible due to tape] Bird and how he is give my love to all the family and all inquiring friends. Direct your letters to Petersburg to care of Capt S[tephen]W. Jones, 46 Reg NC troops
***************
Letter to James Ellington, James D. Ellington’s Father, from Jas T. Alford
Transcribed by Cheri Todd Molter, Judy Ellington Stainback, and Caitlin Crenshaw
Transcription from the original document:
Charlottesville, Del[e]van Hospital Ward M Oct 21st
Mr. James Ellington,
It becomes my painful duty to inform you that your son was dead when your letter came to hand. I just read it this evening. He died on the 16th at 8 o’clock A.M. He had no friends with him or rather acquaintances. He said little or nothing after the writing of the letter in that I give you his exact words. He bore his suffering very patiently. He was not afraid to die. He met death comly and quietly never murmured at his fate. He was not at all frightened when I told him he must die. He was very quiet all the time he was here. Never had mutch to say. He was not conscious for 24 hours before he died. He was buried here in the Grave yard where many a Southern soldier sleeps the sleep that knows no waking. The head board has his name inscribed on it. He was burried in his soldier clothes in an ordinary but neat coffin.
Yours Truly,
Jas T. Alford
Transcription with correct spelling and modern punctuation:
Charlottesville, Delevan Hospital Ward M Oct 21st
Mr. James Ellington,
It becomes my painful duty to inform you that your son was dead when your letter came to hand. I just read it this evening. He died on the 16th at 8 o’clock A.M. He had no friends with him or rather acquaintances. He said little or nothing after the writing of the letter in that I give you his exact words. He bore his suffering very patiently. He was not afraid to die. He met death calmly and quietly, never murmured at his fate. He was not at all frightened when I told him he must die. He was very quiet all the time he was here. Never had much to say. He was not conscious for 24 hours before he died. He was buried here in the Graveyard where many a Southern soldier sleeps the sleep that knows no waking. The headboard has his name inscribed on it. He was buried in his soldier clothes in an ordinary but neat coffin.
Yours Truly,
Ja[mes] T. Alford
***************
A closing note from Judy Ellington Stainback:
After 115 years of lying in the Charlottesville Graveyard, James D. Ellington’s descendants paid their last respects to him. His headboard had been replaced with a Confederate Monument to honor James, as well as the other Southern soldiers.
