A tattered letter yellow with age but still readable owned by Mr. A. O. Stanford of Griffin gives a glimpse at the War Between the States through the eyes of a Confederate soldier.
From War Between States
Wounded Rebel Told Of War In Letter
The letter was written by the late W. C. Hearn who was a soldier in the Confederate Army. It was written to Mr. Stanford's mother, Harriet C. Heam.
The Confederate soldier had been wounded in the leg at Murphysboro, Tenn., before the letter was written.
Mr. Stanford has kept the historical document for many years. It was written in good penmanship and is well preserved, despite its age.
The letter read:
"May 28, 1863
"Camp near Fredericksburg Virginia
"Dear Sister, I take the opportunity after a long time to answer your letter. You must excuse me for not answering it sooner. I am well except my leg is not quite well yet but it is a great deal better and 1 hope these few lines may reach you and fmd you and all the family enjoying the best of health.
We are camping two and a half miles of Fredericksburg, Va., at the present time but I don't know how long we will stop here. I have nothing new to write at the present time except there are plenty more Yankees over the river and I will be glad if they will stay over there and never come on this side anymore, and I would not get mad if peace was made myself, but I don't see any chance for peace to be made soon.
"I received a piece of poetry in your letter which suits me at the present time. I would be glad if I did not look so much like a bachelor as I do but I hope it won't be so much longer. I would be glad if it was so I could come to see you all but I am under a strain now for I don't have a chance but I hope I will live to see the time when I won't be so tight bound as I am at the present.
Give my love to all the family and my best respects to all the neighbors and friends and also I will send you a song ballad in return to your piece of poetry and kiss George and little Willey for me and tell them I want to see them very bad. So you must excuse me for this time so I will come to a close by saying, I remain your brother until death.
W. C. Hearn To H. C. Hearn Written by Z. D.
The following is the piece of poetry, which he wrote and dedicated to his sister ...