Submitted by Jean Finch Inscoe; Written and transcribed by Cheri Todd Molter
Life was difficult for women, too, during the Civil War. After able-bodied, young men went off to fight, older men, women and children were left behind to survive as best as they could during the chaotic war years. Susan Shearin was one such woman after her husband, Thomas Warren “Capt. Plunk” Shearin, left home in July of 1861 to serve in Company K of the 1st Infantry (North Carolina), C.S.A. By Feb. 17, 1863, Susan and some other Halifax County women were struggling to the point that they felt compelled to seek guidance and aid from their state’s governor. The following is a transcription of their letter to Gov. Zebulon Vance:
Littlton, NC. Feb. 17, 1863
Mr. gov. Vance, if you please to tell me what we poore soliers soldiers wifes is to do that we are hear sufering for the want of something to eat…I sent to warrenton yesterday and they said the govnerment had not put any thing there for the Soldiers wf wifes I never have suferd so much as I have for the last three or four months for I have to go some times week with nothing but bread to eat and I think that is to hard to take a poor man from his wife and children to leave hear to perish to death when we go to these rich people bout hear they wont let us have not one pound of meat for less than 50 cent per pound we have corn mily in our destrict but they will not do any thing for us my Husband has ben in the army nearly two year and they dont let him come home to see me much less provide any way for me to live if you dont provide some way for us to live we will be compell to take our little children and to our Husband or they must come home to us if you please [write] to me as soon as you get this and let me no what we are to [do]. direct your letter to littleton depot.
yours truly Mrs. L. Reid, Mrs. M. Neal, Mrs. C. Aycock, Mrs. Thomson, Mrs. Elbeth, Susan Shearin, the wife of Thomas W Shearin
(Location: Governors Papers, State Archives, Raleigh.)
Transcription with modern spelling and punctuation:
Littleton, N.C., Feb. 17, 1863
Mr. Gov. Vance,
If you please, tell me what we poor soldiers’ wives are to do. We are here suffering from the want of something to eat…I sent to Warrenton yesterday, and they said the government had not put anything there for the soldiers’ wives. I never have suffered so much as I have for the last three or four months; for I have to go sometimes a week with nothing but bread to eat, and I think that is too hard to take a poor man from his wife and children, to leave them here to perish to death. When we go to these rich people about here, they won’t let us have not one pound of meat for less than 50 cent per pound. We have a corn mill in our district, but they will not do anything for us. My Husband has been in the army nearly two years, and they don’t let him come home to see me, much less provide any way for me to live. If you don’t provide some way for us to live, we will be compelled to take our little children to our Husbands, or they must come home to us. If you please, write to me as soon as you get this and let me know what we are to do. Direct your letter to Littleton depot.
Yours truly, Mrs. L. Reid, Mrs. M. Neal, Mrs. C. Aycock, Mrs. Thomson, Mrs. Elbeth, Susan Shearin, the wife of Thomas W Shearin