Robbers and Raiders Terrorize Their North Carolina Neighbors

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014

A great war-date North Carolinian home front letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by James Harper (1799-1879), Lenoir, N. C., Feb. 20, 1865. James Harper was one of the founding members of Lenoir, North Carolina. He helped establish Davenport College and Finley High School and owned a large hardware store which became the Bernhardt-Seagle Company. His papers came be found in the special collections of UNC and the Belk Library. His letter reads, in part: "…[I] was truly sorry to hear of the great loses and afflictions you have suffered by this unnatural and cruel war. We were afraid when we were of the Yankee raid in the valley that you would be great suffers but didn't hear any of the particulars until we got your letter. I received a letter from D. B. Finley…giving an account of his great losses in property but the suffering and loss of limbs of dear children is much more distressing than the loss of property. We do sincerely sympathize with you…we haven't suffered much…yet but don't know how soon we may. They are a great many deserters and tories in the mountain above us and they have been committing a great many depredation on our citizens…mostly on those who live on the creeks running into the mountains. They have shot and killed several and wounded a good many more robbed, some of all their horses and mules and robbed the houses of everything…the nearest houses robbed are 10 or 12 miles from us…a good many of them are mounted and we do not know what night they may come upon us. They go in bands of 15 or 20. There are rumors every few days of them coming…which creates much apprehension…we have no troops near us except the home guard and they are very deficient and might…as not have none. They are now great excitement…occasioned by Sherman's advances on S. C…we have just heard that Genl. Thomas has landed a considerable force at Newbern…the Yankees will make a great effort, will do much to overrun our state…I hope they will be repulsed. Son George [George Washington F. Harper, WIA Resaca 5/15/64] is now in S. C. [as] major of the 58th N. C. [58th N. C. Partisan Rangers.] He is now commanding the Regt. as the Col. & Lt. Col. are both absent. The Regt was near Branchville when we heard from George last…was with Hood when he marched into Tennessee. [He] was not in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. His Regt was left at Columbia [as] Provo Guard and the prisoners taken at Franklin were sent there…their guard & take [them] back to Corinth. Son Finley is still clerk for Genl. A. P. Hill was home on furlough…our crops were not very good…if there are not many troops sent here this spring there will be grain enough to do us…there were a good many cavalry sent here to rest & recruit…I think it has been the coldest winter I have seen since I have lived in this country…pray that God will have mercy on us and deliver us from this cruel and calamitous war…". Light stains, else near fine.

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