Submitted by Michael Stroupe; written and transcribed by Cheri Todd Molter
Frederick Washington Dellinger, commonly called “Wash,” was born on Oct. 28, 1834, in the Cherryville area of Gaston County. His name was also spelled “Fredrick” and “Fred” in some records. Wash was the son of Frederick Lineberger Dellinger and Polly Dellinger. 
Wash grew up in a large family: Fred and Polly had eight children: They had three daughters—Barbara Caroline, Margaret Cynthia, and Fannie—and five sons—Wash, Daniel Conrad, Jacob Riley, Peter, and Henry. Wash and his four brothers all served in the Confederate Army.
On March 15, 1862, at Lincoln County, Wash enlisted in the Confederate Army for a term of “three years or for the duration of the war.” According to his compiled military record, Wash served in Company I of the 11th Infantry, North Carolina Troops. To learn more about Wash Dellinger’s war experiences, read “F. Washington Dellinger: The Confederate Veteran Who Said He was at Ford’s Theatre when President Abraham Lincoln was Shot.” (https://nccivilwar.wpengine.com/f-washington-dellinger-the-confederate-veteran-who-said-he-was-at-fords-theatre-when-president-abraham-lincoln-was-shot/). The following is a transcription of the letter Wash’s father wrote to him on July 20, 1862.
Transcription of the original letter (click on image to enlarge):
July 20th 1862
Dear Son
This Butiful Sabath day gives me the opertunity of answoring your kind letter Dated July 5 and was truly glad to hear from you again this leaves me and all of the family well and trusts and Prays that those lines may find you in posession of the same Great blessings I was sory to here that you had the Mesels I hope you are over them till this time.
I want you to let me now when you right Again if you get your Box all rite that we have sent you By your Capt you want to now how your Unkle Moseys Children is getting a long the best they can Sarah has gone home and is taking care of them But I recon she will rite to you how they are geting along her self when she answers the letters you sent her
Your mother say she want you to take good care of your self the best you can till you get over the Mesels And don’t get no backset with them
But I must hasten to a close for this time by saying our [Protracted] Meeting comences at Mt Zion next Saturday. I wish you was here to attend it But you can pray for the Cause of Christ if you ant here at the meeting I will now say that we have got letters from all the boys at Richmond they are all alive and well. You state that you had heard that Wm. B. Brown was killed, we heard it to but it isnt so. Bless God has his precious hand in saving our Children from death
God Bless you is my prayer continually
F. L. Dellinger
To F. W. Dellinger
Transcription of the letter with modern spellings and punctuation:
July 20, 1862
Dear Son,
This Beautiful Sabbath day gives me the opportunity of answering your kind letter, dated July 5, and [I] was truly glad to hear from you again. This leaves me and all of the family well, and [I] trust and pray that these lines may find you in possession of the same great blessings. I was sorry to hear that you had the Measles. I hope you are over them [at] this time.
I want you to let me know when you write again if you got your box all right that we have sent you by your Capt. You want to know how your Uncle Mosey’s children are getting along: They [are doing the] best they can. Sarah has gone home and is taking care of them, but I reckon she will write to you how they are getting along herself when she answers the letters you sent her.
Your mother says she wants you to take good care of yourself the best you can ‘til you get over the Measles, and don’t get no backset with them.
But I must hasten to a close for this time by saying our Protracted Meeting commences at Mt Zion next Saturday. I wish you were here to attend it. But you can pray for the Cause of Christ if you ain’t here at the meeting. I will now say that we have [received] letters from all the boys at Richmond; they are all alive and well. You stated that you had heard that Wm. B. Brown was killed; we heard it too, but it isn’t so. Bless God has his precious hand in saving our children from death.
God Bless you is my prayer continually,
F. L. Dellinger
To F. W. Dellinger