45th Georgia Infantry Regiment

Descendants Association

(At Petersburg - BG Edward L. Thomas' Brigade, Heth's Division, A.P. Hill's Third Army Corps)

 

Soldier's Letters

 

Matthew Everert Morton letter published here with the permission of Jim Morton, family member

 

3 Miles North Richmond Va   

Saturday May 31^st 1862 

Dear Father and Mother

I take the earliest opportunity to write you a few lines that you may know that I have arrived here safely and feeling as well as when I left home.  I reached Richmond yesterday evening and after several inquiries found the Regiment was not far distant in this direction. I also met with two or three of the Company who were unable to do duty and were sent to Richmond. I find the Regiment in pretty bad condition having lost and destroyed together all their tents Baggage &e in a retreat they had to make last Tuesday also nearly all their cooking utensils. There is hardly a man in our company who has a change of clothes left, and many of them are sick and have been sent to Richmond including William and James Bryant. I did not see them so could not say exactly how they are. Theodore tells me that James has Pneumonia. William is improving But I should first tell you of Brother Melvin. I stoped (sic.) with him one day and night and am happy to be able to tell you that he is improving though not yet able to leave for the camps. He is still at Mrs. Churchhills where he says he has been kindly attended to all the time he has been there. He will not be able to leave, at least for several days. I think he had better remain until he gets entirely well – otherwise he could not stand for a week the hardships the Company is now experiencing  I should write him tomorrow. He wishes you all to write often and continue to (?) to Goldsboro. I have permission from the Colonel to go to Richmond tomorrow - for the purpose of getting my clothing  I was not able to get anything brought with me today  It is not unlikely the Regiment will be in a Battle tomorrow - as heavy and rapid canonading (sic.) is now going on a short distance from us.

The Regiment is now is now under marching orders with their rashions (sic.) already cooked

I saw many interesting things along on my trip about which I hope to be able to write you more fully at some future time  I have to procure the services of a friend to write this as my right hands pains me of Rheumatism – I would state that from what little I saw of (?) South the Carolinas it ^is last place in the world – and Virginia little if any better from the way things sell – look at it – 80 ^c for Eggs per dozen – 1 ⁰⁰  for Butter  Some of the Boys say they have paid as high as 1 ²⁵ for chicken and $11 ⁰⁰ for a mutton even where there are plenty of them. There was a crowd of soldiers traveling along with me who made it a business to ridicule & abuse those who they took to be conscrips   I will have to come to a close for the present   write soon and direct your letter to Richmond as below

I remain                                                                       

Yours Affectionately

Everett

M E Morton

Co F – 45 Reg Ga Vol

  Richmond  Va

 

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