It’s been 150 years since the letter you see below was written by my great-great-grandfather John Napolean Frierson (1818 – 1887) to his wife Katherine Converse Frierson (1827 – 1899). It tells of the start of the journey he and their son James Julian Frierson, Jr. (1849 – 1891) (my great-grandfather, called “Jimmie”) are making from their Cherry Vale home in Stateburg, SC, to Baltimore, Maryland, to pick up the body of Augustus Converse Frierson (25 June 1845 – 29 July 1864) who had died as a prisoner of war in the camp at Point Lookout, Maryland.  He was called Converse and was John Napolean’s and Katherine’s oldest son. Converse was a private in the Charleston Light Dragoons (company K of the 4th Regiment of South Carolina Cavalry) and was wounded and captured on May 30, 1864, at the Battle of Matadequin Creek east of Richmond, Virginia.

The letter was written and mailed from Wilmington, NC, on November 22, 1865, and describes the first two days of their trip North.  This first leg of the trip on the Wilmington & Manchester railroad was slow as the rails were in very bad shape and it took them around 24 hours to make the roughly 175 mile trip. Their intention was to arrive in Wilmington in time to catch the Wilmington & Weldon train to Richmond, but they missed it and had to spend the night of November 21 at the City Hotel downtown on the Northwest corner of Market and 2nd Streets.  John Napolean’s handwriting is very hard to decipher and I’ll give an almost full transcription of his letter so you can see how distressing the trip was and how unimpressed they were with Wilmington!  Jimmie’s writing on the back the page is much easier to read, though it’s done in a fairly stilted, schoolboy style (he was only 16 years old at the time).  I’ll include his letter below and a complete transcription of it too.  

“Wilmington Wednesday Nov. 22, 1865.

My Dearest Katy.   After a truly “fearful” night we arrived here yesterday evening two hours too late for the Weldon cars, and no alternative was left but to stay here in the wretched place twenty-four hours and leave at 4 o’clock this afternoon for the North.  … (undecipherable)… I suffer from such acute pain in left side I could not breathe … (undecipherable)… I might be very ill;  however, I feel nothing of it now and hope it has passed off.  I will telegraph George again from here to meet us in Baltimore when I hope, God willing, it arrives by Friday night.  Travelling is the very extravagance now of all that is filthy, uncomfortable, annoying, and dangerous.  This house, called the best in the place, is a perfect abomination, and I yearn to get away. There is much smallpox reputed in the place, but I hope to escape all danger as well from contagion as otherwise, and return safely to my dear family.  I am sad and lonely at my separation and all my thoughts are at home.  Jimmie will add to this.  Remind my dear little Clara of Pah and give love to all.  God Almighty bless and keep you and us in health and safety. “

“To the dear ones at Cherry Vale.    Pa has just informed me that I could add a line or two to his letter and according to promise I must now proceed to fulfill.  Here we are at the City Hotel (Wilmington) and an awful hotel it is I assure you.  We would not have had to remain here last night had we not been delayed on the W & Manchester Road and the consequence was that the cars for Richmond had left before we arrived here.  We will be off though this evening about three o’clock I judge.  We crossed the Pedee all safely a little before daylight yesterday morning.  The cars do not run through here for the last seven miles so we came on the Steamer last evening just about sunset.    We are both well up to this time and you must not worry about us.  I fear we shall not reach Baltimore until late Friday the roads are in such bad order.    In great haste with much love to all  Ever your fond Son and Brother,  J. J. F. Jr.    Pa suffered a good deal from a pain in his side on Monday night but it has very nearly passed off now.  The cars ran off the track yesterday evening  that was the cause of our detention.  No one hurt at all they were going so slowly.   J. J. F. Jr. “

Converse Frierson’s tombstone in the Holy Cross Church cemetery in Stateburg is shown here with the inscription: “Augustus Converse Frierson of the Charleston Light Dragoons, 4th Reg., SC Cav, Captured at the Battle of Cold Harbor, Va., 30th May, Died a Prisoner of War at Point Lookout, Md., 29 July 1864, Aged 19 years.”   A recent book on the Charleston Light Dragoons (Sons of Privilege, by W. Eric Emerson), gives the roster of all the Dragoons based on information located in the National Archives.  He describes Converse as follows:   “Enlisted as a private 4/1/63 at Pocotaglio, $50 bounty money due; present until 9-10/63 when sick in camp; sick in camp until 12/63;  on sick furlough 1/1/64, certificate furnished;  captured 5/30/64 at Old Church [Matadequin Creek] and sent to Point Lookout, Md.;  died in the hands of the enemy on 7/30/64.”  

I have several additional letters written home by John Napolean from this sad trip in 1865 and I’ll be posting them soon.