Submitted by Reggie Barton; Transcribed, researched, & edited by Cheri Todd Molter
CATE GRAHAM LETTER PT 1 and CATE GRAHAM LETTER PT 2
This letter was written by Catherine (Cate) Graham, daughter of Alexander and Anna McFarland Graham, in 1865. During the war years, she lived with her parents and siblings in the family home near Mountain Creek in what was western Cumberland County (present-day Hoke County). Based on old deeds and other records, the home was on property located between Mountain Creek and Pendergrass Road (near Five Points – 2 to 3 miles southwest of Montrose, NC). At one time, there was a village called Pike at this place that even had its own designated post office. Cate’s older brothers, John and Daniel Graham, joined the Confederate army in 1861. Both served in Company K of the 38th Infantry, NC Troops. Daniel died of disease in 1862, and John was a sergeant who was transferred into the Veteran Reserve Corp in 1864.
From the date written in the corner and knowing the place where she lived, it can be surmised that Cate wrote it after Sherman’s army passed through the area on the way to Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Original Transcription:
March 24 [1865]
Dear cousin,
I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines to let you know we are still in the land of the living, thinking this to be a half chance and fearing I would never have any better as I never would have the pleasure of comunicating [sic] a word to you again their [sic] was two poor prisoners came hear [sic] last night, Bob Love and a Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams said he lived within five miles of you and I concluded to send this with him whether it ever reach [sic] you or not, I cant say; well, cousin I will try to give you a sketch of the times up hear [sic] no doubt you have heard of the distress of our country the yankeys [sic] came hear [sic] on 8th of this month and was here from 150 to 200 of a night and passing by the thousands all day and they robed [sic] us of every thing that was of any value they just made clean sweep through the country they took our horses and cows and killed all of our fowls took all of corn and fodder and all the provision that they could find we saved a little by hiding it out but it was providence saved it for us there is a great many that have not the second cake of bread they strped [sic] Malcom Loves Bethuns [sic] and uncle Rory of every thing they had found all they hid and I cant see how they are to live there was a great many negros [sic] went with them, 5 of Malcom Blues 5 of floras, 3 of Bethuns [sic] Tom Willis and Dan all of uncle Rory’s, one of Neill Sinclairs 3 of Leslies, all of John Loves Alex Grahams col McEacherns and Arch Purcls [sic] tell Uncle Bob his wife and family are all gone and a great many others; there is a great many passing the plank rode [sic] going back hom [sic] I hope they will all get cur[e]d of the yankey fever they had a skirmish at John Cur[r]ie’s & killed one yank then they burnt Curries house and barn John Blue left home and they burnt his premises Alex Graham of Robison [sic] moved up to John Curries moved all of his provision and came up himself and hid side of the creek and their [sic] was a negra betra[y]ed him and they came up and killed him.
they serched [sic] so close it was almost impossible to hide any thing you have no idea nor I cant discribe [sic] what they could do they would come in to the house serch [sic] every crack and corner they took all of the men clothing they could find and nearly all the bed clothing & took our glovs [sic] and stockings they took Por [sic] Johns and Lingos hats and shos [sic] off their feet; It was on Wednisday [sic] evening they came first they met John going to post ofice [sic] and turnd [sic] him back we did not know they were coming untill [sic] we saw them you dont [sic] know what trouble we were in thinking they were going to take him; but they never troubeld [sic] him at all we did not eat any thing from Wednesday nine till Friday night; oh I can never tell you what they took or what don[e] but they are a grand croud [sic] of Scamps (or dogs) we heard that the deserters paid you a visit but never heard the particklars [sic] they might be bad enough but I dont [sic] think you know any thing if you have not seen the yanks I thot [sic] I would have to give up and die but I am here yet I pray I may never see such another time perhaps we have not seen the worst yet; but I trust that providence may smile on us yet and we may prosper; we have two old horses that we picked up on the road they took both of our bugges [sic] they distroid [sic] all the cotton gins blacksmith shops and all the fine carageses [sic] and bugges [sic] I just thot [sic] at last that I did not care if they would leave us alive they burnt our kithen [sic] and tore down our dining room and that was a time for we thought every thing would be burnt; Bob Love says someone told him that cousin Tommy was in Raleigh but he did not see him his brother Tom died in Raleigh on his way home poor fellows they see hard times Bob has been very sick tell aunt Maria I had just finished my glovs [sic] and the yanks got them; I must close I could tell you as much more if I had time did uncle Johnson save my shose [sic] pleas [sic] write as soon as you can and tell me all the news give my love to all and retain a portion for yourself do come up to see us I dont [sic] expect to ever go down any more I wrote a letter to aunt Maria some time ago did she get it Mr. Williams is starting so hope you will write soon to your cousin Cate.
Modern Transcription (with correct spelling & punctuation):
March 24 [1865]
Dear cousin,
I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines to let you know we are still in the land of the living, thinking this to be a half chance and fearing I would never have any better as I never would have the pleasure of communicating a word to you again. There [were] two poor prisoners [who] came here last night, Bob Love and a Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams said he lived within five miles of you, and I concluded to send this with him. Whether it ever reaches you or not, I can’t say. Well, cousin, I will try to give you a sketch of the times up here. No doubt you have heard of the distress of our country. The Yankees came here on 8th of this month and [were] here, from 150 to 200 of a night, and passed by the thousands all day, and they robbed us of everything that was of any value. They just made [a] clean sweep through the country. They took our horses and cows and killed all of our fowls. [They] took all of [the] corn and fodder and all the provisions that they could find. We saved a little by hiding it out, but it was providence [that] saved it for us. There is a great many that have not the second cake of bread. They stripped Malcom Blue, [the] Loves, [the] Bethunes, and Uncle Rory of everything. They had found all they hid, and I can’t see how they are to live. There [were] a great many negroes [who] went with them: 5 of Malcom Blues; 5 of Floras; 3 of Bethunes—Tom, Willis, and Dan—all of Uncle Rory’s; one of Neil Sinclair’s; 3 of Leslie’s; all of John Love’s, Alex Graham’s, Col. McEachern’s and Arch Purcell’s. Tell Uncle Bob his wife and family are all gone and a great many others; there [are] a great many passing [on] the plank road going back home. I hope they will all get cured of the Yankey fever. They had a skirmish at John Currie’s & killed one Yank; then they burnt Currie’s house and barn. John Blue left home, and they burnt his premises. Alex Graham of Robeson moved up to John Currie’s. [He] moved all of his provisions and came up himself and hid [beside] the creek, and there was a negra betrayed him, and they came up and killed him.
They searched so close it was almost impossible to hide anything. You have no idea [and] I can’t describe what they could do. They would come into the house [and] search every crack and corner. They took all of the men’s clothing they could find and nearly all the bed clothing & took our gloves and stockings. They took poor John’s and Lingo’s hats and [the] shoes off their feet. It was on Wednesday evening [that] they came first. They met John going to [the] post office and turned him back. We did not know they were coming until we saw them. You don’t know what trouble we were in thinking they were going to take him; but they never troubled him at all. We did not eat anything from Wednesday at nine till Friday night; oh, I can never tell you what they took or what [all they did], but they are a grand crowd of Scamps (or dogs). We heard that the deserters paid you a visit but never heard the particulars. They might be bad enough, but I don’t think you know anything if you have not seen the Yanks. I thought I would have to give up and die, but I am here yet. I pray I may never see such another time. Perhaps we have not seen the worst yet; but I trust that providence may smile on us yet, and we may prosper. We have two old horses that we picked up on the road they took both of our buggies. They destroyed all the cotton gins, blacksmith shops, and all the fine carriages and buggies. I just thought at last that I did not care if they would leave us alive. They burnt our kitchen and tore down our dining room, and that was a time. For we thought everything would be burnt. Bob Love says someone told him that Cousin Tommy was in Raleigh, but he did not see him. His brother, Tom, died in Raleigh on his way home. Poor fellows, they see hard times. Bob has been very sick. Tell Aunt Maria I had just finished my gloves [when] the Yanks got them. I must close. I could tell you as much more if I had time. Did Uncle Johnson save my shoes? Please write as soon as you can and tell me all the news. Give my love to all and retain a portion for yourself. Do come up to see us. I don’t expect to ever go down anymore. I wrote a letter to Aunt Maria some time ago. Did she get it? Mr. Williams is starting, so hope you will write soon to your cousin Cate.
Notes regarding some of the people mentioned in the letter:
“Uncle Bob” was Robert Graham, the brother of Cate’s father, Alexander.
“Aunt Maria” was Robert Graham’s (Uncle Bob’s) wife. This letter was written to one of the daughters of Bob and Maria—either Sallie or Maggie—who were Cate’s first cousins.
“John” was Cate’s brother, John Graham.
“Lingo” was enslaved by Cate’s family.
“Neill Sinclair,” and the “Loves”, the “Leslies,” the “Blues,” and the “Bethunes” all lived in the same general area as Cate and her family. The head of the Bethune household mentioned was Lauchlin Bethune. He was a state legislator and represented the Cumberland County area in Congress for one term. He owned thousands of acres of property in the area.
“John Currie” and his family were relatives and close neighbors of Cate Graham’s family.
“Alexander Graham” of Robeson County was a relative of Cate and her family who lived near Wagram, North Carolina. His house still exists. It was moved and has been totally renovated.
“Col. [Arch] McEachern” and “Arch [Purcell]” also lived in Robeson County and owned extensive acreage next to the property owned by Alexander Graham.