SUBMITTED BY: Sandra White Hinton (transcribed by Cheri Todd Molter and Caitlin Crenshaw)
August_20_1863 Lal and James White and August_20_1863_backside (click on links at left to view PDFs of letter)
(Note from Sandra White: “Here are Lal’s letters. Please do upload them. His handwriting is so neat! All the Whites were educated, and they were all Masons, as well.”)
Lallister M. White, or “Lal”, was born in Sampson County, North Carolina. He was a farmer before the Civil War started. On April 20, 1861, when Lal was twenty-eight years old, he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served in Company A of the 30th Infantry (North Carolina). On Sept. 3, 1863, he was promoted to First Lieutenant. On May 12, 1864, Lt. Lal White was killed at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia.
Transcription from the original:
Camp near Orange Court House Va.
August 20th 1863
James White Jr:
Dear Brother:
On yesterday evening I received by Mr. R. D. Butler a letter and a shirt. In reply I am happy to say that the shirt suits me very well. I suppose that I shall not have any use for another one this season. Capt. J. C. Holmes likes the shirt so well that he wants you to get him cloth enough to make him a shirt of the same cloth, and send it to his wife so she can make him a shirt, so if you can conveniently get the cloth you can carry it to Clinton & T. H. Holmes or Charles Johnson can send it down to the Captain’s wife. So she can make the old fellow a shirt. I wrote you in Oliver’s letter to send me two shirts and some woollen [sic] socks, but you need not send me any more shirts for some time, but the socks I shall need them shortly. I am getting along tolerable well since I have been in camp as we have no hard marching to do. If this letter reaches you before Oliver leaves home, give him my best respects and tell him I do hope that his health has by this time gratly improved. Tell John B. Owen to get married as soon as he can get a good chance of the right kind. It will be the best thing John can do, and James, I would advise you to act accordingly. That is unless you have to enter service. I will venture to say that it will be best for you any way, no matter what comes. So Jas. [James] delay no longer. James you must be well aware that I would advise you in any wise other than for your good. You can inquire of Wm C Butler he is my man of confidence. William has had much experience, and would be sure to give you good advice, James. I am speaking from the purest of motives for your entire benefit. I fear you are hard to suit in a wife, but dear sir choose you a good and intelligent Lady and you need not fear the consequences that will follow. My word for it, that you will meet with success with such a Lady as I mentioned above. Remember me to father, tell him I am coming on in usual good health and hope that his trials are few and his days pleasant, tell our dear old Mother that my prayers are for her to be happy in life, and when time shall take her away, that she may rest in Heaven among angels above, where no sorrow & pain are never known and trouble never comes. James there is a happy and safe deliverance for man, and O, that it may be our lot to walk the golden streets together. We have travelled a part of this life together and dear Brother be faithful and we may yet have an inheritance together in the eternal world. We have wars and hard times in this life but if we be faithful we may reach a home where wars and trouble are not known. Remember me to Murdock [White], tell him that in life he will meet with many troubles and probably [reverses] but tell him to be faithful and keep in good spirits and have hope and trust in God. Success he may meet with by perseverance. Remember me to Ann [Ann Eliza Brown White, Murdock’s wife] and the little children. I do hope you all will spend this life happy and return home to our Heavenly Father to enjoy the blessings promised in his holy word to those that are faithful. James you must be sure to write me whether or not Murdock & yourself have to go into the Confederate service. I should like very much to know. Remember me to W. C. Butler tell him to be happy and spend life in enjoyment and always be cheerful. In closing I will say to you all be faithful and dilligent [sic],
very respectfully
Your Brother
L.M. White
On the back of letter: Tell Lofton [Halls/Hulls] wife that Lofton is well and looking finely
Transcription with modern spelling and punctuation:
Camp near Orange Court House, VA.
August 20th 1863
James White Jr.:
Dear Brother:
On yesterday evening, I received by Mr. R. D. Butler a letter and a shirt. In reply, I am happy to say that the shirt suits me very well. I suppose that I shall not have any use for another one this season. Capt. J. C. Holmes likes the shirt so well that he wants you to get him cloth enough to make him a shirt of the same cloth, and send it to his wife, so she can make him a shirt, so if you can conveniently get the cloth, you can carry it to Clinton & T. H. Holmes or Charles Johnson can send it down to the Captain’s wife. So she can make the old fellow a shirt. I wrote you in Oliver’s letter to send me two shirts and some woolen socks, but you need not send me any more shirts for some time, but the socks I shall need them shortly. I am getting along tolerable well since I have been in camp as we have no hard marching to do. If this letter reaches you before Oliver leaves home, give him my best respects, and tell him I do hope that his health has by this time greatly improved. Tell John B. Owen to get married as soon as he can get a good chance of the right kind. It will be the best thing John can do, and James, I would advise you to act accordingly. That is unless you have to enter service. I will venture to say that it will be best for you any way, no matter what comes. So, James, delay no longer. James, you must be well aware that I would advise you in any wise other than for your good. You can inquire of William C. Butler: He is my man of confidence. William has had much experience, and would be sure to give you good advice, James. I am speaking from the purest of motives for your entire benefit. I fear you are hard to suit in a wife, but, dear sir, choose you a good and intelligent Lady, and you need not fear the consequences that will follow. My word for it, that you will meet with success with such a Lady as I mentioned above. Remember me to father. Tell him I am coming on in usual good health and hope that his trials are few and his days pleasant. Tell our dear old Mother that my prayers are for her to be happy in life, and when time shall take her away, that she may rest in Heaven among angels above, where no sorrow & pain are never known and trouble never comes. James there is a happy and safe deliverance for man, and O, that it may be our lot to walk the golden streets together. We have traveled a part of this life together, and dear Brother, be faithful, and we may yet have an inheritance together in the eternal world. We have wars and hard times in this life, but if we be faithful, we may reach a home where wars and trouble are not known. Remember me to Murdock [White], tell him that in life he will meet with many troubles and probably [reverses], but tell him to be faithful, and keep in good spirits, and have hope and trust in God. Success he may meet with by perseverance. Remember me to Ann [Ann Eliza Brown White, Murdock’s wife] and the little children. I do hope you all will spend this life happy and return home to our Heavenly Father to enjoy the blessings promised in his holy word to those who are faithful. James, you must be sure to write me whether or not Murdock & yourself have to go into the Confederate service. I should like very much to know. Remember me to W. C. Butler; tell him to be happy and spend life in enjoyment and always be cheerful. In closing I will say to you all be faithful and diligent,
very respectfully
Your Brother
L.M. White
On the back of letter: Tell Lofton [Halls/Hulls] wife that Lofton is well and looking finely.
