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.” (link here: 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 are transcriptions (one exact and one with modern punctuation and spelling) of the letter Wash wrote to his father on Nov. 5, 1862. (Click on images to enlarge.)
Transcription of the original:
November the 5/62
South Hampton County
Franklin Depot Va
My Dear Highly Esteem Father and Mother brother and sister it is with great pleather that I seat my self to let you know that I am well at this time and Do hoape these fow lines may meet with shorte conveyance and find you all ingeoyin the same good blesing of good health I Canin form you that we have tolerable had times hear now we have so much garde duty we are on garde aboute every third day and every nine days our company has to go,on picket I must tell youthat welive tolerable well hear wedraw flour for once a day and meal the balance and we draw the best of beef and some bacon and some pickle poark and we can buy sweete potatoes at one dollar per bushel produce of every kind is cheaper hear than it is at wilmington I muste tell you that the yanks is somewhat troublesome hear we have had long Roal four times since we have bin hear and we drove them back every time they tride it laste friday morning aboute four a clock in the morning they Commenced burn ning this plaic and they fired two hundred and fifty Roundes and they hurt noboddy but one horse alittle our artillery give them aboute ten or fifiteen Roundes and they scadadle and wente back to Suffolk and it is said that we kiled seve and two or three horses and our pickets fired on there caveldry and they said that they hollowed like Rath they say that they new that they wounded some of them for they was in sixty or seventy yarde from them and the hoal company was in abunch and they fired in the lump som more of that I must say to you that I have Roate about all that would intrust you at this time and for that Reason I muste cloase by say-ing that I Re main your affection-ate son till death may god bless and save us all in his Kingdom amen J C
F. W. Dellinger to his
farther and family F. L. Dellinger
P.S. Dear sister I seate my self to drop you afew lines to let younow that I am well at Riting and hoape you are the same I muste say to you that I heante forgotteen you yet an I hoape that you heante forgotten me. I hoape that we will all meate together once moar in this life and if we doante I hoape that we may meate in heaven that is all
F. W. Dellinger
to B. C. Dellinger P.S. give my love and Friend ship to fanny glass good by to you all
F.W. Dellinger
to F. gllass amen
Transcription with modern spelling and punctuation:
November 5, 1862
Southampton County
Franklin Depot, VA
My Dear Highly Esteemed Father and Mother, brother, and sister,
It is with great pleasure that I seat myself to let you know that I am well at this time and do hope these few lines may meet with short conveyance and find you all enjoying the same good blessing of good health. I can inform you that we have tolerable hard times here now. We have so much guard duty: We are on guard about every third day, and every nine days our company has to go on picket. I must tell you that we live tolerable well here. We draw flour for once a day and meal the balance, and we draw the best of beef and some bacon and some pickle pork, and we can buy sweet potatoes at one dollar per bushel. Produce of every kind is cheaper here than it is at Wilmington. I must tell you that the yanks are somewhat troublesome here. We have had long Roll [?] four times since we have been here, and we drove them back every time they tried it. Last Friday morning, about four o’clock in the morning, they commenced burning this place, and they fired two hundred and fifty rounds, and they hurt nobody but one horse a little. Our artillery gave them about ten or fifteen rounds, and they skedaddled and went back to Suffolk, and it is said that we killed seventy-two or three horses, and our pickets fired on their cavalry, and they said that they hollered like wrath. They say that they knew that they wounded some of them, for they were sixty or seventy yards from them, and the whole company was in a bunch, and they fired in the lump some more of that. I must say to you that I have written about all that would interest you at this time, and for that reason, I must close by saying that I remain your affectionate son ‘til death. May God bless and save us all in his Kingdom, amen J C +
F. W. Dellinger to his
father and family F. L. Dellinger
P.S. Dear sister, I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at writing and hope you are the same. I must say to you that I haven’t forgotten you yet, and I hope that you haven’t forgotten me. I hope that we will all meet together once more in this life, and if we don’t, I hope that we may meet in heaven.
That is all,
F. W. Dellinger
to B. C. Dellinger P.S. give my love and friendship to Fanny Glass. Goodbye to you all,
F.W. Dellinger
to F. Glass, amen
