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AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND CIVIL WAR LETTERS OF
JOEL MURPHREE OF TROY, ALABAMA
1864-1865
Introduction “by
H. E. STERKX
(Dr. Sterkx was a member of the history faculty, Troy State Teachers College)
Part VII
JOEL DYER MURPHREE TO WIFE, Lagrange, Ga., Oct. 3, 1864
Ursuala
I have been delayed on the route a day or more, for the purpose of learning the whereabouts of my Command, but all is covered in mystery. No one knows or will acknowledge they know any thing of Hoods Army. Reports say they are at Marietta, Powder Springs, Rome and other places, nothing definite can be learned. I have been advised to go to Blue Mountain Ala. and Palmetto Ga. nearly opposite directions. I acted upon my own judgement after getting all the information I could and made my way for this place from here I shall go to Franklin which is in the direction of Marietta or Asworth on the Railroad from Dalton to Atlanta. From Franklin I may change my course to some other point. I of course will be governed by the information I can gather as to the locality of the army and my Command in particular. I think there is but little doubt that our forces are in possession of Franklin and of the road north of there. I am well, will write to you again the first opportunity. Give yourself no uneasiness however if you should not hear from me as soon as you expect for I expect there will be no mail facilities from the rear of the enemy.
Joel
JOEL DYER MURPHREE TO WIFE, Camp Near Cedar Town Ga.,
October 9, 1864
Ursula
I wrote to you from Columbus and Lagrange according to promise and I now write that you may know I have arrived at my Command in good health and all right. I had a good deal of trouble to learn the whereabouts of the Division etc. in fact never did ascertain the exact locality until I got to New Hope Church where the battle of the 26th May was fought. I arrived at this place at 10 oclock Thursday the 6th inst. at which time our Divisions were passing in the direction of Rome. Our Brigade being in the rear I had to wait about two hours for them to come up. I was very fortunate in taking the right direction at the right time for if I had been a few hours later I would have missed my command and would perhaps have went on to Asworth on the Railroad and in that event I would have been captured. The people on the route I traveled are very ignorant of the movement of our army. If Sherman is as ignorant he must be considerably puzzled. I did not live so well or so cheap on my return as I did going home. Expenses going home six dollars returning to command thirty five, Brother James has not go back yet. I expect he has visited home ere this. He had a fine opportunity of doing so and I presume he availed himself of it. We are now under orders to start to Rome, distant 18 miles northeast of this. It is supposed we will have a fight at that place. We will have warm times I think for the next two weeks. It is currently reported here that the enemy have evacuated Atlanta and Col Cunningham thinks the news reliable but I do not. I think it highly probably Sherman has sent the majority of his troops up the Railroad to protect it and prevent his supplies being cut off but he will in my opinion leave one corps at Atlanta which will be sufficient to hold it against the Militia. Our troops succeeded in capturing the garrison at Big Shanty and Asworth consisting of about 7000 men. The boys got a good deal of clothing hats etc. and tore up and destroyed about ten miles of railroad. One division was sent to take Altoona which they failed to do. The enemys loss at that point was heavy. Our boys got an infiltration fire on them in their ditches which they supposed to be 1500 ours 500. All for now.
Joel
JOEL DYER MURPHREE TO WIFE, On the Road, Oct. 22, 1864
Ursula
I only have time to write a few lines. I wrote to Mr. Jones day before yesterday, and received a letter from him and two from you. I was glad to hear you were improving. I hope you may recover entirely before long, and that Mother may be on foot again before a great while. You say nothing about having received any letters from me. I am in good health. James and Col Cunningham also and Mr. Bessinger. I saw Tom and Demps about a week since. They were both well and in fine spirits. I also saw Cousin Maj Burford and two of the Corley boys. They were delighted at the idea of going to Troy. They have not heard any thing directly from home in two years. I hope they may be allowed to visit their old home soon. Ursula we are today assending the Alleghany Mountains in St. Clair County Ala on our way to Guntersville on the Tennessee River. Our army went another road. I guess we will meet at the river. Ursula you must try and be more cheerful, dont give way to despondency, it does no good. I would made an effort to return home for your sake if I had any assurance of being allowed to remain in peace, but as matters are not I would be better satisfied in the army if you could only be content without me. I am very sure I will be retained as Q.M. Sgt. as arrangements are now on foot to make Jim Property Quarter master for the Brigade. I hope Mr. Jones will get our corn in and provide salt etc. for us before he has to return to his command. I must close as there is a gentleman waiting to carry this to the Post Office. I may not have an opportunity of writing to you again for some time, but you must write any how may be your letters may reach me. My respects to friends and love to relatives. Ursula I have an abiding faith that I will survive this cruel war and return to my affectionate wife and lovely little children, to remain with them hereafter in peace. Kiss Josephine, Eugene and Almira for me, and tell them to be good children until I return home
Good bye my dear Ursula
Joel D. Murphree
JOEL D. MURPHREE TO WIFE, Tuscumbia, Ala. Nov. 1, 1864
Dear Ursula
I wrote to you several days since at Gadsden, and then again while ascending the Alleghany Mountains and I also wrote to you yesterday. Mail facilities are very irregular in this section of the country, hence you may not have received either one of my letters. In my last I complained a good deal of Bro. James, probably said more than I ought to. Yet in the main all I said is true, though I am sorry I said so much. I neglected to mention that I had the privilege of riding in the wagon, but our travel has been nearly all the way over Mountains and rocks. So it was more pleasure to walk, except when I was very tired. We have traveled more than the width of Ala and I suppose I have walked three fourths of the distance. Jim says I have fattened on it, hence ought not to complain. My boots are considerably worn. Tell your Pa 1 will have to call on his kindness soon for another pair. I know he never wearies in well doing. Ursula by references to the map you can see the route we have traveled with the waggon trains. From near Fayetteville, Ga to Palmetto (which is between Atlanta and Newnan) thence to Lost Mountain (near Marietta on the Chattenooga and Atlanta Railroad) thence to New Hope church (13 miles from Marietta) thence to Cave Spring (16 miles west of Rome), thence to Centre county site of Cherokee County Ala. There to Jacksonville in Calhoun County thence through St. Clair Blont, Morgan, Lawrence and Franklin counties. The troops traveled nearly parallel with us. After they left Gadsden keeping between us and the Tennessee River. We had a little brush with the enemy at Decatur when we lost about 75 men killed and wounded. The most of the wounded left in the hands of the enemy for want of transportation among them Joseph E. Mills who was shot through the thigh, flesh wound not dangerous. Let his Father know of it as soon as you can. I cannot tell you what move we will make from here, but it is supposed the troops and the supply train of wagons will cross the River near here and to into Tenn. and the balance of the wagons and Mules will be sent to Mississippi, in that event I may be sent with them and not go to Tenn. This however is all conjecture, we never know when we are going until we get there, If you do not hear from me regularly you may know I am when I cannot get letters to your I wish to correct a statement I made in one of my letters, (viz.) that Genl Featherston was killed at Resacca. Such was not the case, though we did leave a few men there among them a Col. of some Ala Regt. Send word to Mrs. Kizer that I have had no opportunity of getting her husbands cloths to him he having been transfered to the 46th Ala. Regt. during my absence at home. My love to Mother and the balance of the family. Tell Dr. Fannin I would like to hear from him occasionally. Kiss the children for me.
Yours devotedly
Joel D. Murphree
JOEL DYER MURPHREE TO WIFE, Tuscumbia, Ala. Nov. 8, 1864
Dear Ursula
I again avail myself of the opportunity of droping you a few lines. This is the third time I have written to you since I have been here. This leaves me well, Bros James and Thomas also. Tom has been staying with us a week. He regrets very much having applied and secured his position in the 57th Regt. He has now made application to be allowed to remain in the Cavalry Service, has also tendered his resignation. We expected to have been in Tennessee before now, have remained here I suppose for the purpose of clothing the soldiers before our departure. The weather is very bad indeed and I would not be surprised if the trip is totally abandoned and that we go into winter quarters near here soon. If we do go to Tenn. James will go to Abberdeen Miss with the bagage wagon and I will have to go with the Troops. I am hapy to inform you that I have secured the use of a horse in the event we go into Tenn. Ursula I have been very busy ince the Troops have been stationed here, issuing clothing & and making out Jims quarterly returns for the 3r qr. I have just finished today. I am truly glad to learn you have heard from Sam. Though you never stated where he wrote from. I presume he has not been sent north. I hope he may get home soon, and that he may have his fill of Yankeedom, I think your cane has turned out remarkably well, done so well that I think it advisable to plant more of it next year. I know it gives you a great deal of trouble, yet it is the only way to get it, buying provisions with money has about played out, and tho the probability is that your meat rations will be short next year and the syrup will help a great deal in that particular. I would advise you to dish it out to the negroes yourself, and not let them drink it, as you know old Ned use to do, and would do now if he had the opportunity, for he has no thought of economy. Take good care of the old blue sow and pigs have the Mrs. Williams sow fattened for pork if she is not with pig. Have Ned to build a shelter for our Cows, have it weather-boarded on the north side. The Culver place is tolerably well sold if the money is properly applied. I presume Mr. Jones will settle a part of our New York indebtedness, that is all right yet there is a chance to have to pay a second time. If we do not succeed in gaining our independence of course the government cannot secure us against loss. You dated your last letter August instead of Oct. You are improving, having commited but one error in spelling the word Christmas you spelt thus, Christmast. Yours
Joel D. Murphree
JOEL DYER MURPHREE TO WIFE, Tuscumbia, Alabama, Nov. 18, 1864
My dear Ursula
Tomorrow Col Cunningham informs me we take up the line of march for Tennessee the Kentucky troops take the lead and are today crossing the Tenn. River, that being the case this may be my last letter to you for some time but rest assured I will avail myself of every opportunity of letting you hear from me and I do not know that I will get this letter started as it is sixteen miles to the Post Office of the Army of Tenn. and I know of no person that is going there today, nevertheless I will write and take the chance of getting it off. I wrote to your Pa a few days since and have written to you every week. I have nothing new or interesting to communicate more than I am in the best of health. I weigh 142 lbs with coat off. I think I will reach my long desired weigh in three months it 1 can keep well. I cut my left thumb very badly about a week since and to my surprise has entirely healed up without giving me any pains at all which is evidence of the healthy condition of my system. Brother James has gone to Abberdeen Miss got off on Physicians Certificate of disability lucky dog will be very apt to take winter quarters at home. I will endeaver to transact his business properly until his return. I requested him to return as early as he could after we get in Winter quarters so that I may have an opportunity of going home about Christmas but I have very little hope of him complying with my wishes as he studies no persons interest but his own. Tom is staying with me and I suppose will until he hears from his resignation his health good also. Ursula I have received the services of a horse during our trip into Tennessee. James carried both of his horses with him to Abberdeen one of them was very lame or rather bad off. I am very thankful that I have a horse for it would be a laborious and disagreeable trip to have to foot it through mud perhaps for two hundred miles this season of the year. I am staying with Col Danl H. Horn our Commissary. He has the use of a tent which is a great protection to use in bad weather and besides I find him a very agreeable companion is a man of fine memory hence has a store of anecdotes and other interesting stories to engage my mind and attention during our idle moments. The only objection to staying with him is having to associate with his details of cooks who are invariably infested with the most hateful of all minds. I have changed clothes every three days since I have been at Tuscumbia yet I am troubled with lice more or less every day. Ursula you must not send me anything until you know I am so situated that I will be sure to get them. I have found the lost glove so I am well clad in that particular. I would like to have my coat but do not risk it now. If James comes home you can send them by him when he returns. Ursula take good care of my fruit trees cattle and hogs and if everything else is neglected take care care of yourself and children. We have heard from the election at the north only from the City of New York which it is stated has gone for McClellan by 40000 majority. I believe it is universally desired in the army that he may be electeed yet I never have believed he would be and I do not know that his election will benefit us any and may be worse for us nevertheless I would prefer a change. I do not think we can be worsted much and may be brightened a good deal. When you write next let me know what you think.
Your husband
J. D. Murphree
SOURCE
The Alabama Historical Quarterly, Vol. 19, No. 01, Spring Issue 1957.
ALABAMA FOOTPRINTS Exploration: A Collection of Lost & Forgotten Stories
From the time of the discovery of America through the time of De Soto’s daring expedition, restless, resolute, and adventurous men crossed oceans in pursuit of their destiny.
Alabama Footprints – Exploration is a collection of lost and forgotten stories about the people who discovered and initially settled in Alabama. Available in Paperback or Kindle
Some stories include:
- The true story of the first Mardi Gras in America and where it took place
- The Mississippi Bubble Burst – how it affected the settlers
- Did you know that many people devoted to the Crown settled in Alabama –
- Sophia McGillivray- what she did when she was nine months pregnant
- Alabama had its first Interstate in the early days of settlement
