Story Submitted by Scott Loflin, Davidson County, NC

My story was told to me by my grandmother, a beautiful soul, Jennie Walker Loflin. She told me of her two great uncles that were in the CSA. She told me of the story when the two of them had finished in a battle in NC. Then they said the heck with it and walked home. She stated that they walked most of the way across North Carolina back to Davidson County. Along the way they were tired and hungry. Stopping at a farm house , the lady of the house offered to share what little food she had. She had enough flour to make a loaf of bread. Jenny said they claimed it was the best meal they had ever had. Another story told by Scott Loflin's grandfather: "My gr-gr-grandfather had a homestead near a place called Secret Springs, which is now under the Yadkin River Resevoir. When troops would come thru they helped themselves to whatever they could take at times. Well Clark Loflin had enough of it so when word would come down the valley troops were coming he'd take most of his supplies and horses down to a cave at Secret Springs and hide them there. All he'd keep at the homestead was his one-eyed mule and play the part of a stupid sharecropper. Didn't anybody want a one-eyed mule so he wouldn't lose much even if they did take the mule".

 

Letter Excerpts submitted by Wilma W. Horton, Horry County, SC. She is a native North Carolinian.  These are letters from two 7th Regiment soldiers, Private Richard Womble and Private George Williams.

Richard and Mary were two of the children of Jacob and Mary (Lawrence) Womble.  Richard's sister, Mary Womble, married George Williams.  Richard Womble wrote to his parents while in the Army and asked them to find a girl to promise to marry him when he goes home on furlough and for them to write him the name of the girl they pick. He was still "driving wagons." Nov. 15, 1861. Richard wrote parents from Carolina City in Cartaret County telling of sickness in camp. George Williams, husband of Richard's sister, was sworn in on July 28, 1861, in Wake County, NC, in 7th NC Regt. Dec. 8, 1861. George A. Williams wrote his wife, Mary, from Carolina City, NC, stating they were building houses to live in. He told of sufffering with the cold. July 4, 1862. George had been sick but was not able to help cook. Tobacco was one dollar per pound and soap two dollars. Butter one dollar and twenty-five cents. Nov. 17, 1862. George wrote his wife they had taken up winter quarters about 5 miles from Winchester and about 1/2 mile of the turnpike leading from Winchester to "Leasburg." Thinks Richard Womble is at Lynchburg. Has no money to send home. March 1, 1863. Richard Womble wrote his father he is still with the wagons. Was in the hospital about four months. Got with his company at Winchester just after the fighting ended. In 7th Reg., NC Troops. Lanes Brigade. Oct. 3, 1863. George A. Williams writes his wife that he would rather she would keep the cattle rather than sell them because he thought the Confederate money would be worthless. Oct. 23, 1863. Camp near Brandy Station, VA. George writes his wife that he is sorry about her bad health. Commenced marching on the 9th. Yankees began to fall back until they got to Bristoe Station near Manassas. Then fell back and began to tear up some 25 to 30 miles of the railroad. Camped now near Rhapohannoc River on South side some 10 or miles.  They fell back and began to tear up some 25 to 30 miles of the railroad. Camped now near Rhapohannoc River on South side some 10 or 12 miles above Culpepper Court House. Nov. 10, 1863. George writes his wife that his army fell back this side of the Rappadan and his brigade is in camp 7 miles Northwest of Gordonsville at the same camp they were in last September. Had a "rite smart" skirmish on Sunday last. No one hurt in company, though 5 or 6 in the Regiment on Sat. night last. The yankees charged_______brigade in their fortifications and captured the entire brigade except for a few men. Capt. Yorke has only 14 men in his company and 8 of them were left in the camp. They also captured some 1600 of Hayses Brigade at the same time. George asks them to send some chickens and turnips and some meat and some tobacco. Tell ______ to send me something "good to eat for we are seeing harde times heare in the eating line." Dec. 6, 1863. George writes his wife that he has not received his box yet. He needs everything in it and more besides. He hopes to hear soon that his wife is better. I "want to see you and the children though it looks like I never will get the chance to come home any more. Officers can go home any time but goes against the grane for a private to go home." Says he saw hard times in the last two weeks and lay in line of battle four days and nights in the cold. "Came very near freezing and starving to death." They had 3 days rations in 8 days. States 1/3 of the men in the brigade are barefooted and "in thear drawse and no blankets at all and there is hundreds of them that can't hide thar nakedness at all. I can't ware briches more than a day or two more. I never was as naked before in my life." April 5, 1864. Camp near Gordonsville, VA. He writes to his wife's parents and to the children. Mentions Col. Hayes and Col. Davidson and states the Great Govener Vance has been out heare making speeches and will lose many votes speaking the way he did. "He wants to fight until hell freases over and then fight on the ice, and we are not willing to fight so long as that." May 29, 1864. Camp near Richmond, VA. From Richard Womble to his parents. States sharp cavalry fight yesterday evening below Richmond. They expect a general engagement in a short time. They had a hard time since first of this month. Fighting almost every day since the campaign set in and two hard battles on 5th and 12th. Sergt. Edwards and Dick Medlin killed. George Williams and Jack Green still in the Regiment but not very well. Says to tell George's children howdy. June 17, 1864. George A. Williams writes to his children. States he is still alive but not very well and has been "poly" for some time. (this is a heartbreaker to me, and I will explain in the following paragraph.) "Give my love and best respects to your granfeather and granmother. I want you to be smarte and all ways have respect for olde people. Don't give them any provication of correcting you." End Note:  That is the end of what I know except for this. From the letter of October 23, 1863, you can see that George's wife had an illness, and we know it led to her death apparently before April 5, 1864. George's letters of Dec. 6, 1863 and June 18, 1864, contain a clear picture of his premonition of his death. He was killed in battle June 28, 1864 (three years exactly after date of enlistment), at the Battle of Gravel Hill near Petersburg, VA. His five children had it hard after that. They mostly lived in the home of their Uncle Richard Womble and the grandparents, though two boys (one was my grandfather), spent some time in Oxford Orphanage. I find much sadness in these letters.  I have been trying to find the parents of Mary Lawrence, b. 1801. I know she married Jacob "in my father's house in Wake County." George and Mary had five children, one of whom was Jacob Dawson Williams (my grandfather) who lived in Durham Co., NC. Jacob married Martha Anice Rhods. One of their children, William E. Williams, was my father.  If anyone can help, please email me at:wimmie1@aol.comThank You. (Wilma W. Horton ) (Wilma W. Horton )

 

The Pardon of W. P. Newton, Private, Company C, 7th Regiment, North Carolina Troops.  Thanks to Robert O. King of Greenville, SC for allowing this to be published.