Battle Family Papers

Bank of Cape Fear, Wilmington, N. C., Novr. 16, 1861.

Honl Wm H Battle

My Dear Sir

Your letter of the 13th was not recd until this morning— Without the least inconvenience and with much pleasure I have attended to your request, and enclose check on Branch at Raleigh for #344 the aggregate of the three dividends encd as per statement below— I thank you sincerely for your kind congratulations on my appointment of President of the Bank of Cape Fear, yet I am more gratified and my thanks are more especially due for your affectionate reference to my truly lamented brother.

He was indeed as you say of him "a pure kind hearted christian gentleman", and the numerous expressions of condolence and sympathy which have been tendered to me, have been truly gratifying—

His sufferings for one or two months prior to his death were agonising, and when he ceased to breathe I was forced to exclaim— he is at rest with him to die is gain— I would do and suffer much if I could be assured I should have a name as spotless as his.

With great regard & esteem

Very Truly & Sincerely [illegible signature]

Mr H B - 28 cham - 8 pr ct $224 M. P. B. 5 " " " 40 J. N. L. 10 " " " 80 Amt of Acct - $344

Columbia Oct. 24th 1861

My Dear Wife/

Tuesday evening was a fortunate time for me as it brought me letters both from yourself and Kemp— The letter of the latter gave me a later account than yours of his wife and Sue and represented their condition as to health somewhat more favorable— And so we have another grandchild, a little Lucy Plummer— I am loving her already for the associations which the name brings to remembrance— Kemp seems to regret that Richard has won the prize, but says that he still stands a chance for a Lucy Martin—

I am glad to hear that you were going to Raleigh and thence to Warrenton, but I am selfish enoguh to wish that you will return home at as early a day as you can I expect, from what I hear from Mr. Richard Smith that you will find your brothers better that you have been led to expect suppose.

If nothing occurs to prevent, I shall take the case for Pendleton tomorrow morning, and if so I shall be with Mary to-morrow evening— I wrote her day before yesterday that I would go up, unless I should feel too unwell to do so. I was taken with a palpitation of the heart on Monday, which prevented me from sleeping in the night of that day, and it had not gone off when I wrote

Raleigh, Sept 2 / 63

Dear Sir,

Col. Hick, whom I met yesterday will cheerfully re-enter into Contract with S & Co, for the finishing of the Musketoons as stipulated in the Articles destroyed, and only await your election to the City to prepare the papers. When the papers are signed, I will again call on [illegible] for settlement of our account.

Yours, W. W. Vass

K. O Battle, Esq.

Fort Fisher Octo 30th '63.

Kemp P. Battle Raleigh JN.C.

Dear Sir.

Let me know by telegraph to Fort Fisher, what you hold your [N & W R.R.} stock at, & whether it will carry with it the dividend just declared payable 18th of next month.

Yours Respy Wm Lamb Col. Com [?]

Dick's lot

WILMINGTON AND WELDON RAIL ROAD CO. Office Chief Engineer and Superintendent, Wilmington, N.C., Feby 15th, 1864.

Hon W H Battle Chapel Hill,

My dear Sir: I regret to be obliged to inform you of the death of your servant "Billy", who died with SmallPox about two weeks ago, in our City Hospital.

He was taken sick on the 18th of January and died the last of the month, the particulars of his case I have not learned it is so dificult to get any information from the "pest house" He was well cared for, but his case was a severe one.

Billy was received here early in July 1863 & after about one month service as depot hand was placed on a train, where he served faithfully to the middle of Jany. I have paid for him 7 months @ $30, $210 to DER &B&Co. Billy was a good hand, & we all regret hi death very much. I am truly Yours S.L. Tremont Chf Eng & Supt

Chapel Hill Feby 18th 1864

My Dear Kemp, The day is so cold that I shall not expect your mother as she wrote that she should not come unless this were a pleasant day. I very much fear, however, that we are going to have a spell of cold bad weather, is that the case not return for several days. We are all very anxious to see her, and hope she will come as soon as she can.

Gus VanWyck will start for Lincolnston to day for the purpose of bringing his sister down. I must confess that I am very sorry that she is coming so soon. I know you will all regret the the news contained in Col. [Ferainents?] letter. I am sorry that Billy should have died at all, and much more so that he should have been carried off by so loathsome a disease. Having been at [R?mount] when the small pox was there many years ago, I held no suspicion that he had not been properly vaccinated. I have not heard of any other case of small pox in our village except that of the wife of the man, Gothis, who died with it. It is possible that her sickness is caused more by the effects of vaccination than small pox. She was some better when I heard last from her a day or two ago.

I spent the greater part of yesterday with Major General Wilcox, who is now with Gov. Swain & family to whom he is related. I found him a very pleasant, intelligent and instructive companion. He is a native, I believe, of Lanoir county in this State, though carried off to Tennessee when he was a child.

We are all about as well as usual. Much love to your mother & to Patty and the children. Affectionately yours Will: H. Battle

I have recd the [?usy] spoken of by Col [Flressocsect?], and will send your $200 of it by [Jim?] when he carries of

I said that we were all as well as usual, but that is not quite correct. [Jim?] is feeling the effects of this weather, & is suffering sever pain, but he is up.

Tarbobo, N.C. Feb 29th /64

Dear Cousin Kemp:

Yrs of 27th recd. I have no money to invest. If I can get on with my Taxes I shall think myself fortunate.

I have been waiting for your manager Allen some time to come down to see about the casts. He told me that such as we used on the plantations would not answer. I replied that I would adapt any alteration he might suggest, that would not increase the cost of making them. If he wants too much, I shall have to charge higher. I put them too low any way. but did so, because I had a good many pcs. of wheels made, & thought you would have the iron all ready in a very short time & that I should be through with the job by 1st Apl. at latest If I cannot get the iron so as to through with it at once, I may be very inconvenient to me & result in loss. Send Allen down immediately that the matter may be settled, & say to him that I wish to see him when he comes. 30 bars of iron have been recd. - all [tier?] iron no other kind & the lumber for

At home March 3rd 1864

Cousin Kemp, This will be handed you by our neighbor Mr Thos B Watson. Mr Watson has just been enrolled as a conscript and not allowed the privilege of the recent exemption act. although he has about 40 slaves and can give the bond required by the act in regard to the Pork & Bub &c Mr Watson also has a substitute in the Confederate Army about fifty years old Why he was not allowed to avail himself of the exemption act I cannot say. Please take him to Col Mallettys office and explain his case or, whatever you may think proper to do for him will be gratefully received by Mr Watson and duly appreciated by me. I wrote to you to day by mail Very truly yrs S. E Westray

{W R Cox Rich /64}

I was disappointed in that of Justice Pearson so far as research & ability is concerned. Is the political condition about R as hot as usual? I see that Hol have attempted to throw McRae on the defensive, what think you of the Confederate?

The soldiers are in good health & fine spirits & about ready for another Penn campaign. Yankees as quiet as pussy in a corner. What say you now to French recognition Your old gray hobby horse? Think that our prospects are decidedly brightening. The Yanks seem to be in a quandrary, would like to hear the music of a few balls to keep up a circulation. Write at your earliest convenience & give me the general news.

With my love to your family I am Very truly yours Wm R Cox

(In haste.)