William Graham
“I would have been gone in the Army long before this had it not been for the Small Pox which we have had ever since we came here…” William Graham, North Carolina 1863
Egypt Hospital – North Carolina
April 13th 1863
My Dearest Winnie,
I believe the mails are being resumed again in every direction from Fayetteville So I will write you a letter once more for I know you are more then anxious to hear from me as I am from you. . . . I have more to tell you then I can begin to write so I will not write it for the letter may fall into the hands of the enemy. I saw Capt Godwin here day before yesterday. I asked him when he would return and he said in a day or two so I would have a good long letter written to send by him to you and also to Maggie. But he done his business in a short time before I could write a note. I left Fayetteville the night before the Yankees came in there and came to this place where I have been ever since.
I have been trying ever since the Yankees past to get to see you but it is impossible to get off from here even to Fayetteville so I have to remain here to grin and endure it the best I can.. I would have been gone in the Army long before this had it not been for the “Small Pox” which we have had ever since we came here. It was brought here to Fayetteville by some of our men from Florence, SC contracted from the Yankee prisoners confined there. Three men have died from it but I think it has gone up the Spout? – or I hope at least for I have been scared out of a years growth by it. But I don’t fear it now as I have escaped it – so far.
I am in great trouble about one of my friends who was killed in Bentonsville last week , Mr McNeill. I know you have heard me speak of him frequently. He was one of the best young men I ever met with . . . . Poor fellow the last time I saw him was below Wilmington. When I got hurt, he took all my things and brought me almost to Wilmington or till he got a wagon to take me. Oh it makes tears come to my eyes to think of it. He was such a noble young man. He has done more for me than any man in my Co. He fell just at the moment the Yankee beast , they had taken one and he was in advance of the of the rest of the regiment some 20 or 30 yards and just before he fell he looked back and said Come on Boys we will soon make them skeedaddle, just then the fatal Ball struck him down falling on his face and never moving. Poor fellow I hope he is at rest and out of this world of war and bloodshed.
Mr Jas McPhaul of our Co was also killed shot through the head, mortally wounded and died very soon. I understand many of the boys have died since they were carried North. I am almost scared to hear from them and from you since I left Fayetteville. I wrote to you last I think about the first of March ……. While I was in bed (after being wounded and recuperating) . . . . I shall never forget the Fayetteville girls for there kindness . Sisters could not have treated me better. I learned that the Yankees did not get out as far as our homes. I hope this may be true for they have laid waste all the Country which they passed over . . .
Will rest for a while –
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Submitter Sherri Cawley
The letter was written to a Miss Winnie Blount from a William Graham of Fayetteville North Carolina. William later married Winnie and after her death married again.