 CIVIL WAR LETTER
Dottie Avery, a new found cousin and friend, has been very helpful to me in my HAM Family search. She has put more than 25 years into Genealogy and is a member of The Daughters Of The American Revolution. She has sent me much information and is helping me in my quest to join the DAR. Among the items she sent were some family letters. I thought they were wonderful and wanted to include them here for all to see. The first is a letter written by, Dottie's ancestor, George Shepherd HAM, son of Zachariah HAM Jr.
It can be found in the Archives in Montgomery, Alabama
George Shepherd HAM was born; 17 May 1838 in Harris County Georgia; died, 20 March 1913.
He was from the marriage of Zachariah and his first wife Nancy BEASLEY. My ancestry comes from Zachariah's second wife, Pharabe HUBBARD.
This has been copied here exactly as it was written. Spelling, punctuation and grammar have not been altered. I hope you are touched and enjoy it as much as I.
"A LETTER HOME"
by G. S. HAM
Camp near Hamilton Crossing, Va.
April the 10th, 1863
Dear Father and mother sisters and brothers,
It is with pleasure that I write you a few lines to let you no how I am getting along. This leaves me in tolerable good health and I hope it will find you all enjoying the same blessings. I rec'd a letter from you all the other day which afforded me much pleasure. I was glad to hear from you all that you were well and getting along through life smooth. I have no special news to write with regard to the war! Everything is quiet for the present, but I think from the prospect of the weather that quietude will soon be disturbed by the booming of canaon. The roads are getting in good traveling condition if the weather continues good I think our armies will not remain idle much longer. This is the first day that we have this season that reminds me of spring. The sun is shining brightly and warm to day it would be novel to you to see the soldiers all out of their huts lying in the warm sunshine. Last Sunday we had snow twelve inches deep but the ground not being frozen as usual it soon melted off. The little insects are crawling and flying about here to day like they used to in old Georgia which is evidence of approaching spring.
We are camped about four miles from Fredricksburg and about one mile from the famous battle ground of the 13th of December. I frequently walk over the old battle ground and look at the timbers all skatered and torn to pieces by the iron misels of the yankees canon but it always puts a melancolly feeling on me to look at the little mounds of earth that is thrown up about the field that tells me that some of my comrads have fallen. returns to the evening fire in viewing the position that the enemy held we find a great many yankees that was not buried. But this is their fault. They partially covered them up with dirt. The first rain that came it washed the most of it off now their hands and feet and a great many of their bodies can be seen. Our picket post is on the river. We frequently hold sociable conversations with them. They seem to be quite clever set fellows and generally express themselves as being tired of the war. I want them all to get tired of it and go home. I hav not had a furlough in twelve months but I hear from home occasionally. I want you all to write to me often. You don't know how much pleasure it is to a soldier way here in Virginia to get a letter from his old home. If you did I know you would write me one every week . I have nothing else of importance to write to you. I will close. Please write soon and it shall be answered by your affectionate brother.
G.S. Ham
P S Louisa, you must take care of yourself be a good just and dutiful girl be ever respectiful and obedient to our parents. Remember tis your solemon duty your charactor as well as duty to them should impel you to do it. These duties should be pleasures.
give my love to all the family and take a portion for yourself
GSH
The following letter was in the possession of Thomas F. Ham of Pavo, Georgia
Thomas was the son of Zachariah HAM Jr. and his 2nd wife, Pharabe HUBBARD HAM
It was addressed to, Mr. Zachariah Ham, Mulberry Grove, Georgia; Harris County and was postmarked, 15 July , Fayetteville, NC
Written by a niece of Zachariah. As with all of the letters you will find here, they are copied as written. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation have not been changed.
Cumberland
County N C Sep the 27th 1863
Dear Uncle,
As I learned by a letter from some of the Watsons awhile back that you were still in the land of the living I thought I would write you a few lines to inform you that we or part of us is still living and still in the old north state We have not heard from you since about two years since you were here although we have written repeatedly we could get no answer we finally came to the conclusion that you must be dead but we thought it strange that none of your family would write if you were dead this will inform you that we are all well as common except papa he is poorly with pains now although he has been in better health for the last six or eight months than he has been for years my two oldest brothers Giles and William is in the service(I have more on these two below) William is at Charleston S C and Giles is in Wilmington N C in the hospital they both are in every bad health my youngest Brother Polk is dead he died the ninth of last July was a year ago I must inform you that your brother-in law J M Beasley has got to be a preacher he preaches at the Baptist church at the old Patin place I heard him preach to day he told me when I wrote to you to give you his love and respect and ask you to write to him I want you to write as soon as you get this and let us know how you are all geting on Give my love to Aunt and all my cousins and except the same for your self
nothing more this time from your loving and affectionate neice
Mary C Ham
papa said tell you that uncle Billys estate was not settled yet that there was some law suits undesided and the estate could not be settled until they were desided
This is the information on the brothers, Giles and William, mentioned in the above letter.
From the Book - NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS - (1861-1865) A Roster
Complied by Weymouth T. Jordan, Jr.
Unit History by Louis H. Manarin
WILLIAM B. HAM
VOL. IV - INFANTRY
Office of Archives and History - 1973
p. 567
Co. E. 8th Regiment NC State Troops
WILLIAM B. HAM, Sergeant
Born in Cumberland County where he resides as a farmer prior to enlisting in Cumberland County at age 23, 24 Aug 1961 for the war. Mustered in as a Corporal Captured at Roanoke Island on , 8 Feb 1862, and paroled at Elizabeth City on 21 Feb 1862. Exchanged in August 1862. Promoted to Sergeant on 1 Oct 1862. Present or accounted for until captured at Cold Harbor, Virginia, 1 June 1864. Confined at Point Lookout, Maryland until transferred to Elmira, New York 12 July 1864. Killed in a railroad accident near Shohola, Pennsylvania, 15 July 1864, while en route to Elmira.
A letter form VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, Woodlawn-Bath National Cemetery Complex, of Elmira, NY, confirms this information and the fact that it is our William B. HAM, nephew of Zachariah HAM Jr.
The letter further states that he was interred in a common grave under the Shohola Monument along with 48 other Confederate prisoners of war and 17 Union Guards, all of them killed in the train accident at Shohola, PA, on 15 July 1864.
William's name and military data are inscribed on the monument.
GILES HAM
p. 567 Giles Ham, Co. E, 8th Regiment NC State Troops
Previously served in Company I, 51st Regiment N.C. Troops. Transfered to this Company (Co. E, 8th Regiment) on or about 7 Jan 1863, and present or accounted for through April 1864. Company muster rolls indicate he deserted at Fayetteville on 4th May 1864; however, he was admitted to hospital at Williamsburg, Virginia 19 May 1864, with a gunshot wound. Transfered to Raleigh on 5 June 1864.
Reported in hospital at Raleigh and at Fayetteville until 12 Feb 1865, when he was returned to duty.
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