Upcountry South Carolina Goes to War: Letters of the Anderson, Brockman, and Moore Families, 1853-1865

Letters, 1862

Letters, 1862 w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w Andrew Evins, son of Col. S. N. Evins and stepson of Nancy Moore Evins, made it home from the war in Virginia with pneumonia, but despite the efforts of his older brother, Dr. Tom Evins, he died at Fredonia in early March. Nancy herself died soon after, making Ann, Andrew, and Tom orphans. There was a modicum of normality as Hettie and Ella requested various items such as sheet music and certain threads from John in Charleston. The girls participated in tableaux that served as fund raisers and solicited funds door-to-door for a gunboat. By late spring there were shortages of salt, rice, and sugar. Refugees from Charleston were flooding the upstate; slaves whose masters were off at war wandered around Spartanburg looking for food. The defeats in the Peninsula campaign saw many wounded soldiers make their way back home with gory tales. The early excitement and victories gave way to a determined reality tinged with doubt about the future. Andrew was killed at the Second Battle at Manassas in September; his brother Tom was nearby. Their sister, Ann Means, came to Virginia looking for them and for her husband, Sam. Later that fall Tom wrote home for boots and clothes, saying he was without provisions and “almost naked.” [49] Hettie Brockman to John Crawford Anderson Addressed: Cadt. John C. Anderson, Citadel Academy, Charleston Poolsville, SC Jan. 9th, 1862 Dear Johnnie, I am so grateful to you for those letters received during my illness. You can well imagine, if you have never experienced the pleasure of reading a letter from one we love whilst confined to a sick room. Letters, 1862 63 I will not go into particulars concerning the four weeks of helplessness I was called to undergo. If you could only see me now I think you would come to the conclusion that [typhoid] Fever was not a very agreeable companion. As soon as I was able to travel, I went up to Sister Alethia’s to spend a few days.EllaandIwerehonoredwithcallsfromseveralniceyounggents.Altogether we had a pleasant, though not a very merry time for a thought of our dear Soldiers would bring to mind the suffering they were enduring and who could think of the old fashioned heart mirth without a sigh and bringing a feeling of sadness in our own soul. But Johnnie I am again at dear Poolsville [Pleasant Falls] after an absence of two long months. I wish you were here for it would add so much to our “home contentment” to have you with us. I think so often of the charming times of the past Summers and wish that pleasures were not so fleeting, as they are bright. And I am going back again to live at the Old Homestead. My home at Poolsville will not be deserted by this removal,it will ever remain dear to memory:for it was a resting place for the homeless Orphans who sought shelter beneath its roof, and sympathy in the hearts of its loved inmates. I am now assisting Ella in her preparations for Limestone—will return to Pliny next week.Do write to me often Johnnie let me know that you have not forgotten me Direct your letters to Pliny—so I can hear from you on my arrival.Lissie,Nettie , and Ella unite with me in sending a quantity of Love to you. Yours in bonds of affection, Hettie P.S. Miscellaneous Grandfather Anderson is much better and we hope will soon recover. We have heard from your Uncle Jim since his arrival in Virginia. He enjoys fine health and good spirits.I received a letter from Jesse on Friday,Ben and he are both quite well. Jesse is very anxious to see his “Boy.”1 Poor Lizzie Austin (Tom’s wife) is no more. She died on the 5th. I will close as Ella wishes to write you a note. Affectionately, Hettie 1. Jesse Brockman married Kittie Bryson in 1861; their son Thomas P. Brockman is the “Boy.” 64 Upcountry South Carolina Goes to War [50] Ella Brockman to John Crawford Anderson [Enclosed in tiny blue envelope and sent with previous letter...