A Condemned Soldier's Letter to His Family.
The following letter, which explains itself is published by request:
My Dear Wife:
I have to state to you the sad news that tomorrow at 12 o'clock that I have to die. I have to be shot to death for starting home to see my wife and dear children and was arrested and brought back and court-martialed and am to be shot at 12 o'clock. Me and D. M. Furr have to die but thanks be to God I am not afraid to die. I think when I leave this world I shall be where Mary and Martha are. Dear wife, don't grieve for me. Try and not. I drempt last night of seeing you but I shall never. You shall see your husband no more. 1 want you to raise my children in the way that they should go. My dear son Julius, this is my last order to you. I want you to be a good boy and try to serve God and be a good man. Farewell, Julius I must leave this world. And my son Ephriam try and be a good man and serve God. My dear daughter Rebecca Heseltine, I bid farewell to you. Be a good girl and go to preaching. Farewell my dear son Joel. You have no daddy now. Be a smart boy and mind your mother. My dear wife Nancy, I have to bid farewell to you. I, want you to Keep what things you have and pay my debts. And I want Julius and Ephraim to have my shop-tools and want them to take good care of them and remember me. I have a little looking-glass that I want to send Rebecca. I want her to remember me. I have a blanket I will get and send home. Will send many things with -----Lefler and try and get him to send them home if he will, and I have 25 or 30 dollars and will spend $5 of that in the morning before I suffer. Dear wife, that is four months service. I can't write like if I was not in trouble. I don't mind death like I do to leave my family for I suffer so much here that I don't fear. I don't want you to grieve for me for I feel like I am going home to die no more. I hope I shall be with shining angels and be out of trouble. I have a little book I want Joel to have and remember me. It has some pretty lines. I want you to send the children to school and son Julius, 1 can't hear from you any more. I sent a letter, but got no answer. I pity poor Julius for he has had no chance. I have got no chance to write for I must close my letter.
March the 4th, 1865.
A few lines to Daniel Lefler and Jane Lefler. I bid farewell to you and my dear mother: I bid farewell to you and father and brothers and sisters. I must leave this world. Farewell Julius, my dear son; farewell Joel, my dear son. I want you all to meet me in heaven.
Joseph Huneycutt.
To Nancy Huneycutt, farewell, farewell. P. S. I want you to have my funeral preached at Pleasant Grove" I want Columbus Foreman to preach it and to sing "I am Goingg Home to Die No More." This is the 4th of March at 9 o'clock. I must soon be in eternity. I don't desire this but I am not afraid to die. I want you to get all the children's funerals preached that are dead. Nancy, I want to see you one more time if I could but we can't meet any more. I want you and all the children to meet me in heaven. Joseph Huneycutt.
Joseph Huneycutt is a 1st Cousin 4X Removed.
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[1] "Condemned Soldier's Letter to His Family", The Messenger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, 8 April 1915, Page 7, Column 4. Hampton B. Allen Library
[2] The Stanly News and Press, July 7, 1961.
[3] The Monroe Enquirer; Monroe, North Carolina, 24 Dec 1942, Thu., Page 1, Column 2.
That is an amazing letter. Sounds like this Civil War soldier was caught heading home without permission. His words are surprisingly calm. This letter is a remarkable discovery.
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