Henry S. Figures
48th Alabama
KIA
Wilderness Battle
May 6, 1864
“I had the honor of meeting General G. T. Beauregard yesterday…” Henry Stokes Figures 9 May 1861
Montgomery Alabama—May 9, 1861—
My Dear Pa–
I received your letter and I received yours and Matties, Otey’s and Ma’s letters this morning dated the 5th–also your paper. I received my pay last Monday and would have sent it to you sooner, but was waiting for a letter. The amount was sixty-eight dollars and seventy cents ($68.70). I paid my board which was $30 and my washing which was $2.50. I now enclose to you twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and keep $11.20 for necessary expenses. I also enclose my account from Binford Slaughter & Co., which I received the other day. It is less than I expected, only $6.00. I thought it would be about $10.00. I have not made any accounts since I came her, nor do I intend to. I have been to see Mrs. Bradford several times. She speaks of leaving today at dinnertime for Pensacola. I will go to see her before she does.
David Moore and Clifton Walker were here a few days ago, just from Dalton. The former came to get an appointment in the Regular Army for his brother Samuel. The latter to see about some guns for the two companies. He was drunk all of the time he was here. I mean C. Walker. Mr. Bradford wants a Lieutenancy for Fielding, but he can’t get it, neither can David Moore. I had the honor of meeting General G. T. Beauregard yesterday. He has been here several days. I don’t know where he is going. Dr. Willis Bassett was here from Pensacola, but left yesterday. He is not a very steady young man, for I never saw anybody as drunk as he was in my life.
Dr. Vanwyke arrived last night from Hunstville, it made me feel good all over to see a familiar face from my dear home. He told me he was going to apply for a Surgeoncy in the Confederate Army. Senator Hunter of Virigina was expected lst night but did not come. Mr. Russell, the celebrated correspondent of the ‘London Times’, is here. I have made the acquaintance of several old gentlemen, Mr. David Hubbard, Frank Lyons & General Beneau of Mexico.
I have given up the hope of the Captial being removed to Huntsville. I think it will probably go to Richmond very shortly. The cannon was fired in honor of Tennessee & Arkansas day before yesterday. There is such a crowd of strangers here that the hotels (especially the Exchange) are crowded so that the reading room is filled up with cots.
Col. Davis is here yet, but says he is going home in about two weeks whether Congress adjourns or not. Somebody has come for Huntsville every night nearly for about a week. Tom Mills is here, he says he is going home (Huntsville) today. He was engaged to be married on the 23rd of last month to Miss Carrie Goodwin, but he was ordered off to Mt. Vernal Arsenal. They will marry (so he says) as soon as the war is over. I think it will be some time before he does. I received two letters from Dalton the other day, one from Willie Fariss & the other from Willie Acklen. They were all well and having a fine time.
The ‘Continentals’ an Artillery Company for Mobile arrived day before yesterday on their way to Pensacola. Five more companies came up yesterday evening going to Virginia, I think. There has been several fights in the city this week. I did not see any of them.
This is the hottest place I was ever in. Tell Ma to send my summer clothes as soon as possible and put my umbrella in the box. I am very well and contented, getting on very well in the office. Have some spare time to read some good books. I must close. Tell sister to answer my letter. Your affectionate son…Henry S. Figures…
.P.S. Tell Matilda I am very much obliged to her for making me some cakes. Give my love to all of the family.
Your son, Henry S. Figures.
Read Henry’s Letter 1: 9 May 1861 | Letter 2: Oct. 1863
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Submitter: Sherri Cawley
The 48th Alabama was a group of Confederate men who witnessed and participated in an impressive number of battles. The 48th Alabama Infantry enlisted for three years at Auburn, May 22,1862, with 1,097 men. A few weeks later, it reached Virginia, and was attached to General Taliaferro’s brigade–Jackson’s division, with the 47th Alabama, and three Virginia regiments.
The 48th was first engaged in the battle of Cedar Run, with severe loss. And, at the second Manassas it also suffered. It was in the brigade of General Law of Macon (with 4th, 15th, 44th, and 47th Alabama Regiments), Hood’s division, Longstreet’s Corps.
The regiment was under fire at Fredericksburg, and fought with light loss at Suffolk. It moved into Pennsylvania, and its colors floated highest on the rocky heights of Gettysburg, where it was dreadfully punished. Ten weeks later, as part of Longstreet’s Corps, the regiment was where the lightning of battle flashed brightest, and its thunder pealed loudest–Chickamauga. The 48th was hotly engaged at Lookout Valley, and at Knoxville.
It passed the winter in east Tennessee, rejoining the Army of Northern Virginia, the 48th fought at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, and its long list of casualties bore testimony to its conduct. Henry S. Figures was unfortunately, one of the casualties. He was Killed in Action at the Wilderness Battle. From that time to the end, at Hanover Junction, the second Cold Harbor, Bermuda Hundreds, Petersburg, Fussell’s Mill, Fort Harrison, Darbytown Road, Williamsburg Road, and Farmville, the regiment was almost constantly on active and perilous duty. Its colors were furled at Appomattox. Over 150 of its men had fallen in battle, 165 died in the service, and 125 had been discharged or transferred.
Henry S. Figures enlisted in the 48th Alabama on May 22, 1862. He was Adjutant of the 48th Alabama and was killed at the Wilderness Battle on May 6, 1864.