Submitted by Reggie Barton; Transcribed & edited by Cheri Todd Molter
William Haywood Graham (1841-1926) enlisted in the Confederate army and served in Company B of the 36th Infantry, North Carolina Troops. He survived the war, returned home, and in 1877, married Mary “Mollie” Lloyd Townsend. They lived in Rowland, North Carolina. He was a charter member of Rowland Methodist Episcopal Church and chair of the building committee for said church. He was very involved in Democratic political activities, serving as a justice of the peace and a member of Robeson County’s pension board. Graham was also very active in Confederate Veterans’ organizations.
The following is a letter that William wrote to his cousin, Catherine (Cate) Graham of Cumberland County, while he was at Fort Caswell in 1862. He calls her “Kate.”
Original Transcription:
Fort Caswell N Carolinia [sic] June 8th 1/62
Dear Cousin I seat myself this after noon to write you a few lines for the first time since I came to War though I have been writing to cousin John and he told me he was going to leave in a few days and there fore I will keep up my corrospondence [sic] with you. Those few lines leaves me well and enjoying myself finely and hope they may find you enjoying the same blessing. Cousin Kate I have no news to write you only War and rhumors [sic] of War. There are 8 Blockaders of this Bar today there are more or less every day but they never make no movements towards fighting cousin Kate it will take an overwhelming force to take this place we are well prepared for a fight all the men are well Drilled and all Fighting stock so I think we will give them a hard reception we have a strict Master here more so than I have ever been under or ever want to be again. we have one man here that [sic] has a Ball and chain round his leg the Ball weighing 64 pounds he has to carry it 6 months and then get 39 lashes it is all for desertion they tie them up by the thumbs with twine strings as high as they can reach and leave them for an hour thats [sic] the way the Poor Soldiers fare. Oh how I long for the war to end if it will ever end. We have to get along on half Rations here we get along pretty well considering we have to work every other day and Drill too. Cousin I want to see you all very much but God knows when I shall see you if ever no person can get a furlough on no condition but I am in hopes Furloughs will be granted before long. cousin Kate as I will have to go on Dress Parade I must close my letter you must excuse this badly written and composed letter for I have no good paper and not much of any sort give my Respects to all the family and excep [sic] a due portion for yourself and also to all the Neighbors write soon and tell me all the news from the old Neighborhood and tell me where cousin John is and how he is getting along write soon From your ever Dear Cousin
Willie H. Graham
P.S. give my Respects to uncle Lingo tell him I weigh 15 Pound more than I ever did that that [sic] brings me up to 135 Pounds
Modern Transcription:
Fort Caswell N Carolina June 8th1862
Dear Cousin,
I seat myself this afternoon to write you a few lines for the first time since I came to War, though I have been writing to cousin John, and he told me he was going to leave in a few days, and therefore I will keep up my correspondence with you. Those few lines leave me well and enjoying myself finely, and [I] hope they may find you enjoying the same blessing. Cousin Kate, I have no news to write you, only War and rumors of War. There are 8 Blockaders on this Bar today. [They] are [there] more or less every day, but they never make no movements towards fighting. Cousin Kate, it will take an overwhelming force to take this place. We are well prepared for a fight. All the men are well Drilled and all Fighting stock, so I think we will give them a hard reception. We have a strict Master here, more so than I have ever been under or ever want to be again. We have one man here [who] has a Ball and chain round his leg – the Ball weighing 64 pounds. He has to carry it 6 months and then get 39 lashes. It is all for desertion. They tie them up by the thumbs with twine strings as high as they can reach and leave them for an hour. That’s the way the Poor Soldiers fare. Oh, how I long for the war to end –if it will ever end. We have to get along on half Rations here. We get along pretty well considering we have to work every other day and Drill too. Cousin, I want to see you all very much, but God knows when I shall see you if ever. No person can get a furlough on no condition, but I am in hopes Furloughs will be granted before long. Cousin Kate, as I will have to go on Dress Parade, I must close my letter. You must excuse this badly written and composed letter for I have no good paper and not much of any sort. Give my Respects to all the family and accept a due portion for yourself and also to all the Neighbors. Write soon and tell me all the news from the old Neighborhood and tell me where Cousin John is and how he is getting along. Write soon.
From your ever Dear Cousin,
Willie H. Graham
P.S. Give my Respects to Uncle Lingo. Tell him I weigh 15 Pound more than I ever did [and] that that brings me up to 135 Pounds.
