May 18, 1863
Dear Rutha,
As I have a chance to write you a few lines, I embrace the same I would like very much to sea you all this eavning but I am so situated that I cannot we have a very tite cornel hard on his men curse them in a minit if they do not right we are in a tite place now. Capt. Johnson has a pointed me orderly I have to draw rations for the company and divide it and corn and fodder and call roll three times a day and appoint men for picket duty I don’t stand myself but the cruly place is a very troublesom place but I can rest of a night I want to come home to cut wheat if I can but the chance is bad I expect we are in 7 miles of pontatock I dont know how long we will stay or where we will go we travel sometimes day and night on very little to eat if you have any chance to send me any butter send it I would like to have butter and milk rite to me how the wheat looks and how the corn looks I did not get the letter George Dilworth brought when I passed him he was on his horse and had his gun his horse was running about his best I ran with him a peace and left him; rite to me often and I will every chance I can I have to come to a close for drill take good care of your self and awr dear little childron hug them for me I remain your affecinate husband,
A. F. Burdine until death
February 2, 1864
Dear Rutha
I would like very much this morning to sea you and my Dear little childron and be eternity to stay with you but we are so situated at present that we can not the Regiment came back yesterday they went to corinth and above there and tore up the rail road twenty miles and burnt Bridges and came back with there horses road down and starved out nerly times looks very hard at present I would like to her how the old man Wadkins is if he is not likely to get well I want to get someone else tell Clabe to go ahead and do the best he can if he can get too or 3 bushels of oats he had better Saw Sam I dount know when I can come home againe do the best you can my Dear Rutha and pray for me and your self and your Dear little childron I remain your true husband
A. F. Burdine
rite to me
Dear Rutha
As I have a chance this morning to Drop you a few lines I embrase the same with pleasure I did not get with the command until yesterday I got with the wageon trane I came veary near getting with yankes I went to West Point and from there to Starksville 17 miles below West Point I saw more soldiers than I ever saw in life I saw Chalmers Division and Jacksons Division all about ten thousand men and more wageons than I ever saw and canon I herd the canon on last Sunday more I was 17 miles from them below them the feds have done a greate deal of Damage in the contry burnt a great amount of corn and taken off about too thousand negroes and horses and mules oh that I could stay with you and my Dear childron It would be almost heaving on earth I would like to sea you this morning but I cant get the chance we are in Chicksaw country near Bunia vista Tell Claborn to hery the plowing this Dry weather and get all the land broak up and do the best he can I dount know when I can come home If I cant get a furlow I will come anyhow some of these days Send me some paper by Dick when he comes back rite to me and send it by Dick I am well in body ... not .. I hope when these few lines comes to hand they will find you all well and doing well my prayre is that the lord would bless you and make you happy
A. F. Burdine
February 29, 1864 Dick started and did not get home I send this by John Hatchcock. I remain your true husband A. F. B.
June 1, 1864
Dear Rutha
as I feel lonsome this eavning I embrace the present of eternity of
riting you a few lines to let you know that I am still in the land of the living and blest with health hoping when these lines comes to hand they will find you and my deare childron enjoying the same blesing I have rote to you three times not knowing whether you received them or not I rite again we are in Materson County Miss 16 miles west of Canton and 5 miles of the beeg black we have traveled over this county a goodeal it has been a very rich county of land and very wealthy people but it looks desolate now we get but little to eat now for several days the boys went today and killed a hog we have just eate a hearty meal it was fine and fat. I dount think we can stay her long forage is too scarce her but I dount know wheare we will go from her I rote D. A. Armstrong that I could not get the cards I would like to know what becam of them raskels that stoled my mule I have not herd word since I left home I rote to Mr. Armstrong to get proof if he could and convit them I would like to come home and sea you all but the chance is bad now I wish the gold I have was at home I may lose it rite to me about the wheat whether it is good or not and whether Jesey Nash clames it or not I hardly know how to rite unles I know whether you got the letter I rote or not. Some thinks we will go to Columbus Miss I would be glad to go there we could her from home If I do not get the chance to come home soon I will need another shirt the stockins is got holes in them Dount send me any clothes until I rite to you to send them Dear Rutha do the best you can and I hope the lord will bles you and proteck you from all harm give Ant Charity my best wishes, tell her to rite to me if she has the chance. Get someone to cover over the dower and the south side of the house as soon as you can the weather is very hot her now; we are near 200 miles south of wheare we live it is very reigny her now tell Mr. Armstrong that Dick and Dock is well we have not drawn any money yet I have to borow what I use; we have to pay 50 cts a garment for washing everything is so high Rutha rite to me as soon as this comes to hand Direct your letter to Canton Miss Maderson County Company F Laurery’s Regiment Gholson Brigade I will put it down so you can understand it
Lute A. F. Burdine
Com F Canton, Miss
Lowery Regiment
I will rite to you every chance I have you do the same tell me the nuse it is getting dark I must close I remain your true Husband until death
you nead not fear Oh that the Lord will bles you her on earth and finely save you and awr deare childron in heavn above where parting will be no mor where sickness and sorow will be felt and feard no more oh Rutha strive with all your power to meat up there pray to the lord to give you grace to bare up under your misfortunes O Rutha that he would save you in heaven
Fare Well
A. F. Burdine
June 14, 1864
Dear Rutha
I seat my self down this morning to let you know that I am still in the land of the living and blest with tolerbly health I feal a little ded this morning it has reign for 12 days and some nights and we have no tents to keep us dry my feat and leags were wet for too or 3 days at a time there is some sickness in the company now mostly bowels complaints we are this morning in 3 miles of Canton, Miss west of Canton we moved last Saturday up here 16 miles; we moved from roberts plantation Roberts had when the ware commenced 700 hands. One hundred and fifty went to the Yankes. some he sent to Georgia and some to one place and some another this vast rich contry is destroid intirely I dount know where we will go from her we will have to go somewhere there is not forage her for us our rations is short and not good we only get a third of a pound of meat a day and meat course and sower very often at that Rutha I would like to sea you all this morning very much or to her from you It appears like a long time since I left home; this makes 4 letters I have ritten to you and have not herd a word from you; Rutha if you read Hebrews, the 6 chapter and the 4 verse, that explains sining against the holy ghost I hope when these few lines come to hand they will find you all well and doing well; it has reign so much I am afeard the wheat is lost. I rote one letter to Mother and one to D. A. Armstrong but have not heard a word from anyone since comenst riting I understand we well start tomorrow but we never know where until we get there tell Gimey to learn his book and bee a smart boy and Larissa too dount let them run in the sun much, kiss Valeria and the sweat babe for me I think of them often and oh that I could stay with them. I hop there is a better day acoming put your trust in the lord and pray to him to proteck you from all harm Oh that he would bles you and save you heavn is my sincer wish I have a chance to send this I must close rite to me Direct your letter to Canton Miss Company F Lauerys Regiment Gholson Brigade Pray for me that I may be spared to return home what a blesing it would be give my Respects to friends if any I have I remain your true Husband until Death
Farewell Rutha
A. F. Burdine
July 8 1864
Dear Rutha
I seat myself down this eavning to let you know I am still in the land of the living and blest with tolerbly good health and hope when these few lines comes to hand they will find you all well and doing well Rutha I have past one of the dangerest Battels I hope I ever will have to go trough againe it commenced the 6th of this month in the eavning about too hours by sun and fought on untill dark and then stayd in battel line all night with gun in hand and at day brake the battel commenced againe the canon roard and gunes for 4 1/2 owers apun a streak the yankes gave way and started to Vicksburg road we folowed them about too miles and gave them battel and awr Regiment was orded to charge them and the canon was play on us all the time we ran up in sixty or sevnty yards of them the balls were flying on us all around me as thick as hayle I never saw death as plaine before in my life awr Capt was killed and one more man in awr company Patrick and Ben Rigans was wounded we was orded to retreat back and fired on us all the time; for a half a mile the bulletts cut all around me men and horses fell on every side I did not sea my chance to escape but the Lord did spare my life Canons balls bursted all around me I cant describe what I saw I will tell you if I eaver can come home we did not get anything to eat hardly for 6 or 7 days they traveled us five or six days before the fight came on we was tired down before the fight came we went from Robersons farme to canton and from there to goodman Station on the railroade 32 miles above Canton and right back to Jackson and commenced fighting on them Rutha this is the third time I have commenced to rite to you and have to start yesterday we came to Jackson and was dismounted and put on the trane for Tupelow eavery forth man was to stay and tend to the horses; I went on the trane but Col. Johnson detaled me to stay and take care of his horse he could not get him on the cars we walk all night acrossing the pirl River right east of Jackson; we are this eavning 9 miles east of Jackson we have not had anything to eat for too days but some sower crackers I have feal off a good deal since I saw you Awr Brigade went to Tupelow with a strong forse Forest has ordered a greate many troops up there I would have been up there Rutha I have rote 8 or 9 letters and I have not got but one letter that was the 16 of June I do not know what is the reason you dount rite to me when I am so anxious to her from you sometimes I think they are taking out of the office the other men have got 10 or 12 letters, some of them July 10, ‘64 I am still well Rutha our wounded men are in Jackson in the Statehouse the ladyes taking provisions to them eavery day and awaiting on them little nicknacks that is good to eat they are agiting the best of attention paid to them I have not herd a word from you since the letter of 16 of June do rite to me Rutha and tell me how the crop is and how much wheat you maid and all about it you had better direct your letter to Jackson Miss we are near there I would like to leave this contry it is too hot her and water too bad Rutha pray to the Lord to bles you and awr deare childron and to spare my life to return to you againe What a heavn on earth it would be if we had nothing but awr clothes on awr backs I have not had the chance to rite to you for some time I will rite every chance I get; tell Ant Charity to rite to me I am out of money I dount know when we will draw; tell D Armstrong the Boys are well Dick was in the fight with Steaven Dilworth nary one got hert I must close put your trust in the Lord Rutha I will come home as soon as I can I answered your letter of 16 June so no more at present but remain your true husband
A. F. Burdine
Dear Rutha
I seat my self down this morning to drop you a line to let you know where I am and how I am. we are in Metin County, Miss in 3 miles of Chunchey Staytion it is said we are agoing to Lauderdal Springs we have been atravling 9 days from Jackson her we have from three or foure Horses to lead it is a heap of trobel Rutha I am well this morning and do hope when this few lines comes to hand they will find you all well and doing well I would like to sea you this morning it seams like a half year since I saw you I have not got but one letter from you since I left some of the men have got 8 or 12 letters I cannot account for it when I am so anxious to her from you I rote you a letter on the 10 of this month and one to D. A. Armstrong rite to me and direct your letter to Chunchey Staytion Miss. Lawery Reg Com F Gholson Brigade and the letter will come to me we are east of Jackson about 90 miles I neaver want to sea that contry againe we sufered for water and somthing to eate it is a very poore contry from her to Jackson and piney I told you some of the Battel in the last I rote to you I am glad I did not have to go to Tupelow afoot they have got hot times there if the reports be true as soon as I can I will try to come home I nead some clothes and socks and I have nary dime with me to pay for washing or anything to eate I have feal off a goodeal since I left I have had the bowel complaint a heap the water is so bad I feel better this morning then I have for several days I dount think I would way more than 140 lbs now, I want somthing good to eate worse than I ever did my stomack is wore out on fat meat and corse corn bread and sower at that offing it is hard times I know I have not sleap under a roof since I left home not eate good meal of vituals; the wheat, have it sowed good and put away I got a 1.15 dollars Mr. Hudson and he owed me 25 dollars Mr. Armstrong sayd he would pay the balance to Hudson I thought we would have drawed money before now but I dount know when we will draw now Rutha pray to the Lord to bles you and awr Deare little childron oh that he would preserve you safe from all harme I feal that he did proteck me in the Battel or I might have been sleeping with the pale that are under the ground the missels of Death were thick around me tell Ant Charity to rite to me give her my best wishes I must close Rutha read your Bible every day and put your trust in the Lord I drempt about you last night and woke up to sea you Farewell Rutha I must close I remain your true Husband
A. F. Burdine
July 23, 1864
Dear Rutha
I seat my self down this morning to drop you a few lines to let you know where I am, since I last rote to you we came to Meridian and from there to Lauderdel Springs and from there to Livingston Alabama, Sumter County Since we came into this State we have meat with fine people; as we come along her the citizens gave us watermelons to eat and brought out the provisions for us to eat and her in Livingston they gave us Diner to eat yesterday Her is the finest people I have met with since I have been out it was the first good meal I have since I left home I eate hearty Livingston is a beautiful little village we are agoing to start in the morning to Selma Ala about 80 miles from her awr men have not come back yet we cant here from them they are Atlanter I recon and afighting I would like this morning to bee at home I would stay as long as I could there is a good many aruning away from the army at this time it is a bad chance for me to leave for I have charge of 3 horses I rote to you the other day and to D. A. Armstrong I have not received but one letter from you since I left home we have been atravling for the last 20 days it is tiersome work I asssure you and hot weather and dusty awr clothes are a site very often and no sope to wash with nor no money to pay for it Rutha I want you to send some well to Losry and have me a hat made this is a sory hat and keep it till I get a chance to come home I dount know when that will be but as soon as I can I will come if I thought I could stay at home next year by keeping the negroes it would be the best not to hire them our, only this fall and winter tell Mr. Armstrong to find out if he can about it I cant here anything her that you want to here I have not herd a word from you since I got your letter I am very anxious to here from you this morning we have traveled from one place to another so much I recon is the reason I have not got any more letters from you; I have rote you so many letters and have not got any from you except one I hardly know how to rite you if we could be stationed any where I could get letters Rutha put your trust in God and pray to him to proteck you and awr Deare childron from all harm and read your Bible for in it are precious promices, to the firmly faithful Oh Rutha if we could live together as haved lived what a heavn it would be her on earth no kind friend anear me to put my trust in instead of lying in a good bed with a companion I lay on the ground, the heavns for a covring and the moon and the starts for a light at night I lay and think of you amany a night when all in slumber around me it is a place of gloomy aperance I assure you I think the State of Miss will go up the soldiers are aleaving the state it is thought the yankes will come down the Mobile railroads and out from Vicksburg to Meridian and forme a junction but I cant tell what is to become of us Do the best you can dount fret yourself at anything for it dount do any good I am well this morning and do hope when these lines comes to hand they will find you all enjoying the same blesing rite to me and direct your letter to Selma Alabama
Co F Lawerys Reg
Gholson Brigade
the letters follows the other men they get letters steady Rutha I hope of a better day when we can stay under the same roof and enjoy the blesing of God together Oh what a hapy time it would bee pray for it Rutha I must close I remain your true husdand until Death R H Burdine
A. F. Burdine
Aug 9, 1864
Dear Rutha
I seat myself down this morning to let you know that I am still in the land of the living but not very well my bowels are in a bad fix, though I am about I got a letter last night from you rote 20 June and finished 2 of same and I received one jest now July 28 I have got 5 letters from you, on the 16 June I recon I have got all you have rote to me Rutha I am at Atlanter Georgia, in the ditches and a very disagreeably place I assure you the canon and guns have been agoing eavry since I came her day and night we have a very long army her I cant tell how many I saw James Burdine yesterday he is well and John Armstrong Gen Armstrong was wounded in the thigh and yankeys got him Dick Armstrong is her with me Doc is in Montgomery hospital with the measles but doing well at a good place Dear Rutha I was sory the negroes have done as they have tell Mr. Armstrong to do the best with them he can think it would be the best to hire them out keep John and one of the women as soon as a crop can bee saved best let them go if he cant get anything but there clothes and tax paid I dount know what to say for the best I would give eavrything we have if I could come home and stay at home with you Dear Rutha, my prarer is for you every day that you may be protecked and blest with everything to make you hapy oh that the lord would bles you and awr deare childron and spare my life to come home to you againe Awr horses are at Montgomery Alabama 86 miles from her I tride to stay with them but had to come on we may be sent back before long to awr horses I dount know this is all the paper I have rite to you I am in hopes when this comes to hand it will find you well and doing well I will rite againe as soon as I can Rutha dount fret yourself at anything; put your trust in the Lord and pray to him for protecktion
Farewell
A F Burdine
one letter the 3 of July I got
(written on a Freight List Invoice Paper -- Freight List from Lemuel Hill to Ringgold for Suptd’s Office) August 8, 1858 W & A Car No. Open No. 30 Consignor J. W. Shropshire Consignee M. W. Shropshire IMkd
EMTY
Atlanter August 23, 1864
Most Dear Rutha
I avail myself of the present opertunity of riting you a few lines to let you know that I am still alive my health is some better then it was when I last rote, though my bowles is not right yet I have stayed at the convalesent tent 9 days I came her yesterday in the Ditches and a very disagreeably place it is I assure you I have been her 17 days and no prospect of geting away from her the commander of the brigade has tride to get off and to awer horses I would like to go to them againe I recon we will have to stay her until this fight is over and I dount know when that will bee if I was at home I know I would stay a while I think some thinks we will get off before long I cant tell I rote 2 letters since I came her Johnson brought me a letter you rote on the 28 July I rote to you the next day I want to come very bad but no chance to get off now I was out of money a long time I sold a five dollar gold peace for 75 dollars in the new isssue of Confederate money I hated to do it but I had no money to buy anything with everything is very high aples per Doz 3.00 dollars Ginger cake one dollar watermelon 6 dollars peas one dollar a quart biscuits four dollars per doz. I want Mr. Armstrong to do with the negroes as he thinks best I think they better be hired out and dount say anything to them about it I want somebody to get them that will be tite on them Rutha if you had drather live at the old place perhaps it would be best to rent the place where you live and hire the negros on the same place for part of the crop and keep them that will mind you rite to me what you think about it as soon as you get this Direct your letter to Atlanter, Georgia tell Armstrong that Dick is well and has quit playing cards and he says no bad words Dock is in Montgomery Alabama I have not herd of him in sometime Steaven Dilworth is well Barman Terel of Quincy son mortaly wounded they are afighting every day and night with canon and guns I have got very tired of the fus cant sleep much of anight for the fus there is more or les killed every day and night I have sead amany aded man her and many with his leag off or arm I have no paper but a scrap to rite on maybe you can read it tell Mr. Armstrong I rote him last weak and will right againe in a few days Dick herd his father was maried to a woman in Itawamba Co. Murphey brought the nuse in yesterday from Mary Parchman’s Rutha put your trust in the Lord for he is awr only hope pray to him every day and believe with all your heart I have promest the Lord if he would spare my life to get home in peace that I would take up family prare and serve him the balance of my days the best I knew how I promest that in the line of battel and I feal determed to do it if my life is spared tell Gimey I want to see him mity bad I could tell him a heap learn your book Gimey and bee a smart boy tell Larisa to bee a good girl learn her book papa wants to sea all you mity bad tell Valeria to bee a good little girl and Valeria to kiss the little Babe for me and Mother too Rutha I have nothing to rite that is interesting to you, only about the ware and that dount interest me I dount neaver want to here tell of ware any more tell Mr. Armstrong I have money and if the Boys wants any I will let them have it Oh Rutha Live faithful and if we meat no more on earth oh may we meat in heaving where parting will be no more
Farewell
A F Burdine
Written on freight List, W & A Railroad from Johnson to Athens, Tenn. for superintendent’s Office, Aug. 12, 1858 Car No. 57 W & A R R 1 doz pine Bkts Iron Bound 1 doz cedar Bkts Iron Bound 2 brass bound cedar Bkts)
August 28, 1864
Most Dear Rutha
I seat myself down this eavning to let you know I am well and Harty and I do hope when these few lines comes to hand they will find you all well and doing well the yanks have left Atlanter and are agoing back we came out of the Ditches yesterday we are in Atlanter on a high hill, pretty place and pleasant to what the Ditches were eavery thing seams still and quiet to what it has been for 28 days the roar of the canon and guns all the time day and night after they left and we came out her it seams almost like heaving of Repose it reminded me of the God world when the story of life and tornadoes are over and we get to that bleast heaving where peace and harmony is for eaver What a blesed place it will be when the storm and turmoils are all over and we get safe there Rutha strive for it with all your mite oh that it may be awr hapy lot to get there with awr little family Rutha dount know wheare we will go from here or when we will leave it is said awr horses are ordered here they are about one hundred and 75 miles from her it will take 12 or 15 days for them to her I went over the Yanks works and look at them they were very strong they had about 120,000 men, 400 peaces of canon we had about 113,000 I neaver saw such a site before I would be glad neaver to be with such a army againe you cant buy any thing you want to eat or anything else Dick Armstrong is well and he sends word to his pap that he had drawed clothes as much as he needs now he wants his father to rite to him he has neaver got any letter from home he thinks hard of it Dick’s uncle Tom Murphey was killed the other day on picket his face was shot off by a canon ball James Burdine and John Armstrong is well Rutha I recon I can draw clothes after a while you nead not make me any yet I nead some socks very bad we cant draw them I am in hopes we will go back to Miss before long I rote to you last week I dount know whether you get it or not I will rite often as I get the chance the last letter I got from you was August 5 I know though I would be glad this eavning to here from you I rote a letter to Mr. Armstrong last week rite to me whether you got your salt or not after I left you will have to be very saving of meat I cant buy any keep some for yourself and childron if you can I want the negroes hired out the hogs ought to be fead good with the squirle bitten corn get them agroing so they will make meat I am afrade Mr. Armstrong neads the money I borrowed of him I will get it as soon as I can Dear Rutha I must close right to me Direct your letter to Atlanter Georgia Put your trust in God
Farewell Rutha
A. F. Burdine
September 18, 1864
Most Dear Rutha
As I feal lonsome and sad this eavning I will send a portion of it in riting to you to let you know where I am I have rote so often and herd from you so seldom that I have become hartles almost we are in Alabama near Aplachey in 25 miles of Georgia line we got our horses at last the men say they dount intend to be dismounted againe we have been amoving so much is the reason we dount get letters oftener I recon the last one I rote to you told you to direct to Meridian I thought then we would go back to Miss but we turned back rong way for us, I was so much in hopes we would go back to Miss I have not been stout since July I neaver had such a time with my bowels they have weakened me down for too days I have been better at times I have a keen appetite like I did after I had the feaver the letter I rote the other day I rote to Armstrong and I forgot and directed it to you it was a mistake I would like very much to sea my deare childron I have mist all the fruit this year tell Armstrong to get it for you and get him to have your shoes mayd for the winter and the childrons I stayed a month in Atlanter I saw ded men and wounded until I did not mind it there was no more attention paid to a ded man than a hog, not as much as a fat hog as I came from Atlanter I saw where too cars ran together and killed 28 men and wounded 10 more mortally, some with there leags cut off and some head off, some with there bowels toure out it was a awful sight I do not know when I will get the chance to come home there is no furlowing unless it is a wounded man or very sick Dick Armstrong has a veary bad cold but is about Steaven is not well, he has the bowel complaint I do hope when these lines comes to hand they will find you all well and doing well I nead some socks veary bad I lost one pare but they were wore out I could in Montgomery bought cards for 2.50 the other day in gold but I had no chance to send them to you direct your letters now to Alabama, Apalachey I send too anyhow the glue on peach tree is good to seale a letter with Desolve it in water I have no ink or pen to rite with Rutha my prare is that the lord would spare youre life and bles you with his love and proteck you from all harm I have read my Bible a goodeal since I saw you live faithful Rutha a few more fleating days and our time will be over and oh if we miss heaving what a awful thing that would bee I hope we will meat againe and tell awr sad experience over day after tomorrow will be foure months since I saw you at the gate the 19 of May it seams like a long time to me I must close trust in God Rutha
A. F. Burdine
September 28, 1864
Georgia Camel County
Most Dear Rutha
I seat myself down this eavning to drop you a line to let you know that I am still alive but not to say very well my bowels are in abad fix it looks like I cant get them well what I eat sowers on my stomack and runs off I am in hopes when these few lines comes to hand they will find you all well I would like to here from you this eavning I have not herd a word since the 5 of August, nerly too months I have ritting several letters to you sence that time Lt. Roy is agoing to start tomorrow back to that contry I will send this by him he has a leafe of 25 days you can rite back by him as soon as he comes back I want to get off I will be left in command of the Company until he gets back Dear Rutha I want to sea you and My deare childron wors than I eaver did in life I have went through many clost places since I saw you I drempt the other night that I was at home I was so delighted with the pleasure that it waked me up I did not finish my Dreams I saw Jo Carter today they are camped in 5 miles of us we will not stay her corn is scearce her, worth 10 dollars a bushel try to take care of awr corn I would like to be there and get your winter shoes and sea to the gathering the crop and sowing wheat but I cannot get off now if the soldiers comes about there and take youre stuff get Mr. Hudson or Mr. Armstrong to tend to them they are agiting very bad they kill stock and scrach potatoes and kill stock every where they go I am in hopes they will not go about you to disterb you; I have rote several times about hiring of the negroes but I have not herd a word from you I think they better be hired out, all of them, except too of them, one woman and John, Lou and her 4 youngest if somebody will take them for their clothes and vitals and pay there tax and shoe them that would do for them Aron Pearce likely would take Louisa, the others I do not know who would hire the others, do the best you can with them I expect you will have to sell some of them to pay there tax Emey or Listor or Esex would by Emey I recon
September 29, 1864
Dear Rutha
I received too letters jest now from you I was glad to here from you I commenced riting to you last eavning this morning we are sadling to start I dont know where; Johnson’s negro is agoing to start in a few minits I want him to take these lines to you. I feal very well this morning I have a good apetite all the time but my bowels are not right I must close I will rite againe in a few days trust in God and pray to him for protecktion Oh that I could sea you and my Deare childron what would I give I must close I remaine your true Husband
A. F. Burdine
October 18, 1864
Dear Rutha
I embrace the present opportunity of riting you a line to let you know that I am still alive and have tolerbly health and hoping when these few lines reaches you they will find you all well and doing well we are in Alabama we crost the Chateyhoochy River today it is avery larg river we were acrossing all day and till midnight we had to cook our rations in the night very late it is now just before day John Fears is agoing to start by sunup I want to send it by him we are making our way north west up into Tennessee I dount know where we will go I nead some clothes very bad I have the camp mange on account of having to ware durty clothes it is very anoying to me I want to come home as soon as Roy gets back dount send me any clothes unless a pare of socks and gloves we have had severl scrumages with the feds but I came out safe I have not rume to tell you all the particklers of my ups and downs. I wish I could sea you and my Deare childron it would be heaving on earth to stay with you we are in Sant Clere County you can look on the map and tell where I am, I herd that Judith Fears was about to die I here that Jery was shot and killed; I have no chance to send a letter only by hand now I cant tell you where to Direct your letters to Montralar Ala Dock Armstrong will come before long I recon and send me some tobacco by him we cant get it her if Mr. Armstrong will sell some of his home maid that will do and if you cant get that send some of mine it is wheat sowing time now I would like to be ahome very much tell me how much corn and how the hogs are adoing and what you have done about moving to the old place tell D. Armstrong Dick is well but nearly necked for clothes his horse is sent off to recruit and Dock is captured our horses have a hard time of it I keep the sadel on day and night for several days at a time I will rite as soon as I get a chance againe Rutha put your trust in God and let not this our friendship chill I must close I remain your true Husband
A. F. Burdine
October 23, 1864
Most Deare Rutha
I have just read your letter of the 7 of October and was truly glad to her that you and all was well and that the crop was as good as it is I am in Alabama neare the Georgia line on the East side of the Coosy River in 18 miles of Jacksonvill we have been stoped for too days, the longest rest we have had in a long time we are a good deal tired and wanting clothes and shoes; a great many of the soldiers are bare footed and have been so for a long time and nearly necked for clothes and no money to by anything with it looks like hard times her the army is taking all the stock and corn in the contry as they go I dount sea how people will live in this contry I dount want the army to pass through awr contry I would have rote oftner but we have been amoving about so much I have not had the chance to rite I do not like to rite I want to sea you and tell you all about it I have dreamp aheap about you her lately and I wake up I am so pleased in my sleep but o how disappointed I am when I wake I would like this Sabath to be at home I would give anything I could give I could tell you a great many ups and downs I have had since I saw you at the gate where I left you I know how I felt my hart was full, but I still hope to meat againe where we can tell our misfortunes over againe, where I have nothing new or interesting to rite you for there is nothing that intrest me her I assure you I want to come home as soon as Roy gets back I went to Johnson the other day and tride to get off he sayd there was no chance for me to get off until Roy gets back dont send any clothes to me I want to come home after them I have only 8 dollars in money with me now if I could meat with James Burdine I could get some money from him I am afrade
you nead money at home and cant get it I want Mr. Armstrong paid the
money I borowed to get the salt with and Ed Pearce I dont know how to
pay it unles you can sell Lit Essx Rutha live for heaving there is nothing lasting her trobels and trials on every hand put your trust in
the Lord and pray to him every day; I went down on the side of the
rockey hill last night and prayd to the Lord to bles you and my deare childron we are camped on a high hill, very rockey and today I have been areading my Bible what are all our trobels if we can only gain heaving Strive with all your power if we miss heaving we miss awr all I want to get there to meat awr Deare childron a few more fleating and chily winds and the storm will be over if it was not for you and the childron I had rather be ded then to live this way but o what a blesed hope of meating againe Tell Mr. Armstrong Dick is well but nearly necked for clothes we are out of tobacco and cant get it there are so many soldiers in this contry I dount know where we wii go from her Direct your letter to Montrvalor Alabama Co. F Laury’s Regiment Gholson Brigade to the Army of Tennessee and the letter will follow me up it is geting late I must close kiss the little babe for me and the other childron howdy for me tell them pa wants to sea them mity bad give my respects to Ant Charity and Mr. Armstrong rite to me as often as you can it is a great pleasure to here from you; no more at present but remain youre true
Husband R. h. Burdine
A. F. Burdine
February 12, 1865
Dear Rutha
I seat myself down this mornign to let you know where I am and how I am
I am in foure miles of Starkesville and 12 miles of West point I left Johnson last Sunday morning we had a cold wet time of it we got to camp
a Tuesday night we swam too creaks and got wet it was cold swimming I got 300 dollars in Aberdeen as I cam through I am well except a bile on my sitter and is very sore, it has a reisely core in it like some I did have at home Dear Rutha I would like to bee at home this morning I think I would stay there the officers have to go before a bord and be examined part or them went yesterday I dould not ride they went to West Point I will have to go in a few days and I am agoing to plead incomtient and try to get out of it if I can they are catching up men and puting them in the infranty and keeping there horses the orders are very tite for running away I want to get out of office as soon as I can the most of the men say they wont stay longer then spring; then they are agoing home James Burdine is with me My self and James and Dick and Dock and Steaven and Lum Pearce and Whitecer are in a mess I want to mess at home I bought you a box of caps I will send them home as soon as I can I herd canons last night I am in hopes it was for good nuse but have not herd yet what it was for tell John to push ahead with there work it will soon be planting time now I want the patch that Joe had in corn and a part of the patch next to it broake up for potatoes Dear Rutha do the best you can I will come home as soon as I can I want to get off one as fare turnrs as I can tell Gimey and Larisea to learn there books and be good childron I want to sea them really very bad I trust when these few lines comes to hand they will find you all well I fergot my Bible Rutha read your Bible and put your trust in the Lord I feal like we ought to pray more while I was at home I want us to live faithful and get to that blest land right direct your letter to West Point Miss I will rite againe in a few days no more at present but remain youre affectionate Husband
A. F. Burdine
February 17, 1865
Lawns County, Miss
Dear Rutha
I seat myself down this morning to drop you a line to let you know where I am according to promise we are in five miles of Columbus on the west side of the river below I have had a bad bile since I left you but now is well; dount know where we will go from her they say the Brigade has to reorganize and consolidate, put too or three together That will through the officers out of office and give them 30 days furlow and then they can join any command they chose I want it to come very bad I want to get ahome one more time I promest to let Roy have a few bushels of corn if his wife sends after it let her have it, 15 or 20 bushels he wants to come home and stay I think we well get away somehow tell D. Armstrong Dick and Dock is harty if you can get 2 or 3 pare of cards with meat or flower I would get them I would bed out 8 or 10 bushels of potatoes as soon as it is time try and make a heap of them tell John to get up soon and push with the work the legislature meats in Columbus next Monday some says we are brought her to garde the place while it is in session there is a good many soldiers about her James Burdine is afrade the infranty will catch him he wants to get back home very bad if we can get back together I think we can stay he hates it we left home if I can get out of ofice onerbly I shal be glad that I came it was 2 weeks yesterday since I left home it appears like a month to me I want to sea you and my childron Deare to me tell D. Armstrong that nun owes me for 4 hides put in tan yeare before last I dount want the money for them I want the leather it may be he has found them by now tell him to find out rite to me and direct youre letter to Columbus Miss I rote to you last weak I have no nuse worth telling you rite to me Rutha and pray to the Lord fore grace to bare up I remaine youre true Husband
A. F. Burdine