SUBMITTED BY: Eddie Hinson
WRITTEN AND TRANSCRIBED BY: Cheri Molter
A note from Eddie Hinson: Philip S. Baity was my 2nd Great-grandfather. So far, this letter is the only physical evidence of him. I know he could read and write and seemed to be a religious person.
(Please see attached photos of Philip’s letter at this link: 1570208912-Philip-Baity-Letter)
Philip S. Baity lived in Cleveland County, NC at time of his enlistment in the Confederate Army. He was married to Mary Jane Baity and the couple had a family before the war started. He enlisted on Aug. 16, 1862 as Private, serving in Company I of the 48th Infantry (North Carolina). Philip was killed on Dec. 13, 1862 at Fredericksburg, VA.
The friend he mentioned a couple of times in his letter, Newton Sellers, was also a resident of Cleveland County and enlisted on the same day as Philip. Newton’s military records state that he went absent without leave from Company I of the 48th Infantry (North Carolina) on Sept. 30, 1864.
Transcription of the letter written by Philip S. Baity:
1862
the 15
State of Va November
dear wife I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time and I hope when these few lines comes to hand the will find you all well we have bin moving for the last weak we have bin coming tord RichMond and I hope we will git their again we ar at madison Court house at this time we had a snow the the (sic) 6 of this month but it did not quit[e] civer [cover] the ground I recd [received] letter about a week a goe and I received one from Abraham Veaver about 2 weaks back the way at Petersburg when he rote Newton Cellars [Sellers] Went to the hospitle yesterday morning But I donte know where he went to he took the dropsy and was swelled all over his legs and [next page] and (sic) head and Face and Neck and arms and hands and feete But he still kept up and About But Complained A heap at Nite our fare is Bad here we have Not had a tent yet and when Nite comes we have the ground For the Bed and the Big Blanket For the Cover and When we Eat we have Raw Bull and Raw Bread and Sometimes Some pickled Pork and that is all we get unless we by it corn is 20.$ per barrel and Weat is 4 dollars per bushel and flower is 16 cents per pound you stated in your letter that you had Made 18 gallons of Molasses I have understood in your letter that there was one of my Highest Neighbors had put up A cane Mill and wanted half For grinding on bit and you can tell him that I will plant A patch give him all that he could Make out hit patch cane and all to save them [next page] on last Night I recd [received] two letter for my self and three for Newton Sellars which gave me greate Satisfaction to hear from home and to hear that you was all well and Adoing well I was glad to hear that you was done gethering corn and had it husked and crib[b]ed you may be sure that I would have Liked to A Been there at the husking I could Eat some dumplings with pleasure you [ ] Any thing else you had for you May Be Sure that we donte get husking Suppers here it is Bull and hard Bread one time and hard Bread and Bull next time I donte want you to sell none of your Molasses Now Nothing Else For Molasses is 1 dollar A pinte tell Mondah to pick up all the walnuts and Bring them out here She can get twenty five cents a dozen for them our Box of Clothes come to us at Culpeper just as I left it at RichMond and my Bottle of honey was stole Just [next page] Like you a saw it I have Emptied now though Now we had several good Drinks of Coffee and got Rite Smart Coffee yet so I must c[l]ose by asking you to rite to me this from P.S. Baity To Mary Jane Baity
Bottom Left:
Dear Mother and Sister it is through the kind Mercies of god that I am enabled with pleasure to drop you A few lines to let you know that I am in reasonable he[a]lth hoping that thes few lines May find you all and in good he[a]lth thanks Be to god For his mercies toword us I cant rite much Mother only send you my love and best respects and wish to be remembered by you both until we meet again this from P.S. Baity to Mother and Sister Both of you rite
Transcription with modern spelling and punctuation:
1862
the 15
State of Va November
Dear wife, I set myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time, and I hope when these few lines comes to hand they will find you all well. We have been moving for the last week. We have been coming toward Richmond, and I hope we will get there again. We are at Madison Court house at this time. We had a snow the the (sic) 6 of this month, but it did not quite cover the ground I received [a] letter about a week ago, and I received one from Abraham Veaver about 2 weeks back the way at Petersburg when he wrote Newton Sellers went to the hospital yesterday morning, but I don’t know where he went to. He took the dropsy and was swelled all over his legs and [next page] and (sic) head and Face and Neck and arms and hands and feet. But he still kept up and about but complained a heap at night. Our fare is bad here. We have not had a tent yet, and when night comes, we have the ground for the bed and the big blanket for the cover, and when we eat we have raw bull and raw bread and sometimes some pickled pork, and that is all we get unless we buy it. Corn is $20 per barrel, and Wheat is 4 dollars per bushel, and flour is 16 cents per pound. You stated in your letter that you had made 18 gallons of Molasses. I have understood in your letter that there was one of my Highest Neighbors had put up a cane mill and wanted half for grinding on bit, and you can tell him that I will plant a patch, give him all that he could make out that patch cane and all to save them [next page]. On last night I received two letters for myself and three for Newton Sellars, which gave me great satisfaction to hear from home and to hear that you was all well and adoing well. I was glad to hear that you was done gathering corn and had it husked and cribbed. You may be sure that I would have liked to a been there at the husking. I could eat some dumplings with pleasure. You [ ] anything else you had. For you may be sure that we don’t get husking Suppers here. It is bull and hard bread one time and hard bread and bull next time. I don’t want you to sell none of your Molasses now. Nothing else for Molasses is 1 dollar a pint. Tell Mondah to pick up all the walnuts and bring them out here. She can get twenty-five cents a dozen for them. Our Box of Clothes come to us at Culpeper just as I left it at Richmond, and my Bottle of honey was stolen, just [next page] like you a saw it. I have emptied [one] now though. Now we had several good drinks of coffee and got right smart coffee yet, so I must close by asking you to write to me this from P.S. Baity To Mary Jane Baity
Bottom Left:
Dear Mother and Sister, it is through the kind mercies of god that I am enabled with pleasure to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am in reasonable health, hoping that these few lines may find you all and in good health, thanks be to god for his mercies toward us. I can’t write much Mother—only send you my love and best respects and wish to be remembered by you both until we meet again. This from P.S. Baity to Mother and Sister. Both of you write.
