Considered the most famous regiment in the Confederate Army, the 26th North Carolina had the highest percentage of killed and wounded of any regiment North or South. A book has been written about the exploits about the 26th at the battle of Gettysburg and its title, Covered with Glory, is an appropriate designation for the Holloway family. The Holloways resided in Caldwell County, North Carolina and they had four boys who served in Co. F of the 26th. OUR LETTER IS WRITTEN BY THE YOUNGEST OF THE 4 BROTHERS… 3 DID NOT COME HOME AND THE YOUNGEST, JAMES, OUR LETTER WRITER, WAS THE FIRST TO DIE. The letter is 4 pages, written in ink on typical brown Confederate paper. James is an uneducated farm boy and his grammar and phonetic spelling shows it. One amazing thing is that poor James, while in his letter says, “He is well and hearty,” he died of disease 3 months later! The letter is first addresses to his Mother (1 page), his sister (1 page), and finally all his family (2 pages). He signs it fully, “James P. Holloway.” The letter comes with an envelope addressed to his father with a Richmond postmark of June 29, 1862. The letter with its dark ink is perfect for display to tell the sad story of four brothers going off to war and only one returning.
#CG19- Price $995
TRANSCRIPTION:
April 23rd 1862
Dear Mother,I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines to let you know that J, John,
and Wash is well and hearty (James is referring “J” to his brother J. M. Holloway, who
was wounded at Gettysburg and died as a P.O.W., “John” to his brother John Burton
Holloway, who was killed on the first day at Gettysburg, and “Wash” to George
Washington Holloway, who was wounded and captured at Gettysburg and the only
brother to survive the war). I do hope those few lines will find you all enjoying the same
blessings. Mother, I am doing very well. I get along very well. I am on guard now.
I stood last night. I went on at 7 o’clock and I won’t get off till five this evening. I had
a pretty night to stand, we haven’t had but 2 showers of rain since I come down here.
We have had a pretty time so far. Mother, I would have liked to see you certain. I want
to hear you laugh one time more. I hope I will get to come home before long. I want to
come if I live in July to see you all and look around. Mother, I miss the safe and close
certain. We have meat and bread a plenty. I can live on it if I escape my health. I hope
I will.
Dear Sister, C. L.,
I take my pen in hand at this time to answer your kind letter that I received the other
day. I was glad to hear from you all and to hear that you was all well. I am well and
hearty. I was glad to hear from my spot. I want you to take good care of all my ponies.
If you please I would be glad to see them. C. L., I tried to get my type (tintype) taken,
but I can’t get the cash to go to Goldsboro. The niggers think they are down. They
don’t know nothing… John eats with the Captain. Don’t forget your brother JJ. We
have prayer meeting every night – James P. is one that goes up. I don’t know whether
we will have a fight here or not. We may and we may not. I cannot tell. We hear one
tale today and tomorrow is something else.
Dear Father and Mother and Sisters,
Father, I would like to see you down here certain if you can come. Do so and visit if
can come do so and your one pleasure. It is a right smart site to see. We have had a
pretty time so far. The boys are well except bad colds. I have never heard as much
coughing in my life. Father you said something about that oil cloth. I was to hold on
until winter. I recon I can make out now. Maybe I will get to come home and then I
will bring it back with me. I want to come home between this and fall. Father do the
best you can. I hope I will get to come home before long. Father and Mother and
Sisters remember me in your prayers. Pray for me that I can return home safe and
sound. I will do the best I can for myself.Howdy Matt, howdy Caroline, and the little babies, Iby and John, and howdy to the
rest. I would all send you something if I could get anything. I can’t get my things
here certain. Tell Uncle Ned howdy. Tell him Will and John is well and hearty.
Give my respect to all of the friends.Write soon as they come to hand and give me all of the news so I will stop for this
time so I remain your true son,James P. Holloway.
To: R. Holloway and Catherine Holloway
