On Sept. 11, 1861, Emanuel Houser was a 20-year-old farmer of Lincoln County, NC, when he volunteered to serve in the Confederate army for a term of one year. He was mustered into service at Camp Fisher on Oct. 25, 1861, and served in Company E of the 34th NC Infantry.
According to the muster roll for Mar. and Apr. 1863, Houser was promoted: That document reveals that he “Sign[ed] roll as 2nd Lieut. Commanding the company.” Houser’s compiled military records show that he was promoted twice during his career—once on May 15, 1862, to Sergeant and to 2nd Lieutenant about a year later, on May 3, 1863.
Houser was wounded in the leg at Spotsylvania Court House, VA, on May 15, 1864, but one month later, he was marked as present in muster rolls. In February of 1865, Houser was “absent on leave of indulgence,” which was approved by “Gen. Lee” (“Inspection report,” Feb. 1865, Fold3).
On April 20, 1864, Houser wrote to his cousin, “JRD,” which most likely stands for Jacob R. Dellinger, who was at home on furlough at the time this letter was written. In this missive, Houser mentions several men by name, and their information is also included underneath the modern transcription.
The following is the transcription of the original letter:
Co E 34 Regt N.C. Troop
April 20th 64
JRD
Dear Cousin youres of the 13, came to hand a few moments ago which gave me grate Pleasure to heare from you those few lines will inform you that I am well and all of the company and I sincerley hope those few lines will reach you in due time and find you all well [I] have no newes of any interist to write to you at this time onley they weere [150] Deserters came over last night from grants army they report that grant is moving and they time is out in may and they Say they will not fight if Such reports Be true we can look for success and a speashaly Peace and I learn from a good many of the papers that the yankey congress are making Peace Speeches they are a good bit of talk of a speecly Peace which alwas determin a Big fight
we are in camp yet and no tal of leaving I dont think we will advance if we do at all it will [be] Some time yet until it is done we have Sent off the most of our Baggede But that ar no Sign of moving
our fare are just like it weare when you left us col gardon is with us at this time we hav got too of the new ishue Labon Reep and Bill Rab we hav not got any funds yet and no talk of getting [next line not legible] at this time
Ely Keeler will get a furlough at last he will get well now I recon
you Said you wanted to no whether we was a going to [move] I cannot say we may and then we may not I dont think we will move this month unles the yankeys compels us to move and then we will move long street is coming back to oure army he is at [Charlouts Ville] now and they are a good many troops coming from N.C. and S.C. Some from all parts of the armies they campaign is a going to Be one of Secures campaign I ever has bin in Va
I will close by wishing you all the good luck you can have and if you like that wife you would do the Best for her you can
I am as ever yours verry respectifully
Em. Houser
Transcription with modern spelling and punctuation:
Co E, 34th Regt N.C. Troop
April 20, 1864
JRD
Dear Cousin, yours of the 13th came to hand a few moments ago, which gave me great Pleasure to hear from you. [These] few lines will inform you that I am well, [as is] all of the company, and I sincerely hope [these] few lines will reach you in due time and find you all well. [I] have no news of any interest to write to you at this time—only [that] there were 150 Deserters came over last night from Grant’s army. They report that Grant is moving, and their time is out in May, and they Say they will not fight. If Such reports Be true, we can look for success and especially Peace, and I learn from a good many of the papers that the Yankey congress [is] making Peace Speeches. They are a good bit of talk of especially Peace, which always determines [the outcome of] a Big fight.
We are in camp yet, and no talk of leaving. I don’t think we will advance; if we do at all, it will [be] Some time yet until it is done. We have Sent off the most of our Baggage, But there are no Signs of moving.
Our fare is just like it was when you left us. Col. Gardon is with us at this time. We have got two of the new issues, Laban Reep and Bill Rabb. We have not got any funds yet, and [there’s] no talk of getting [next line not legible] at this time.
Eli Keeler will get a furlough at last; he will get well now, I reckon.
You Said you wanted to know whether we [were] a going to [move]. I cannot say: We may and then, we may not. I don’t think we will move this month unless the Yankees compel us to move, and then we will move. Longstreet is coming back to our army. He is at Charlottesville now, and there are a good many troops coming from N.C. and S.C. Some from all parts of the armies. The campaign is a going to Be one of [the] [Securest] campaign[s] [there] ever has been in Va.
I will close by wishing you all the good luck you can have, and if you like that wife, you would do the Best for her you can.
I am as ever yours very respectfully,
Em. Houser
Information pertaining to the recipient and other people mentioned:
“JRD” – This was most likely Jacob R. Dellinger. Dellinger served in Company E of the 34th Regiment of NC Troops, enlisting on Aug. 31, 1861, at Lincolnton, NC. According to the “Company Muster Roll” for March and April 1864, Dellinger was home on a furlough of indulgence at the time this letter was written.
“grant” – Houser is referring to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, U.S. Army.
“Ely Keeler” – Elijah Keeler joined the Confederate army on Jan 1, 1864. He served in Company D of the 5th Regiment, NC Troops until he was released from service on April 11, 1864.
“Labon Reep” – Eighteen-year-old Laban Reep enlisted in the Confederate army on April 6, 1864, at Raleigh, NC. He served under Houser’s command in Company E, 34th Infantry, NC Troops. Two months later, on June 6, 1864, Reep died of a gunshot wound.
“Bill Rab” – Born in Lincoln County, NC, William M. Rabb was a twenty-six-year-old farmer when he enlisted in the Confederate army on March 15, 1862. About a month later, on April 21st, he mustered into Company K of the 49th Infantry, NC Troops. On July 1, 1862, Rabb was wounded at Malvern Hill, Va. Four months later, on Nov. 7th, he was discharged from the army because of his injuries.
However, on April 6, 1864, Rabb re-enlisted and served Under Houser’s command in Company E of the 34th Regiment, NC Troops. A couple of months later, he was wounded at Danville, Virginia, and hospitalized there, but Rabb did return to serve in the company after being treated.
“long street” – Houser is referring to Lieutenant-General James Longstreet, Confederate States army.
