Soldiers of the North Carolina 62nd Infantry Regiment wrote most of the letters
in the Edmonston and Kelly collection when they were stationed in east Tennessee.
The letters were written to family members in Haywood County, North Carolina.
The connection between the two families was the marriage of Rufus P. Kelly to
Dorothy Edmonston in 1855. In two instances, Kelly and Thomas B. Edmonston wrote
separate letters on a shared piece of stationery.
Rufus P. Kelly joined Company I, North Carolina 62nd Infantry Regiment as a
1st sergeant in July 1862 (North Carolina Troops, vol. 15, p. 121; see also
North Carolina Troops, vol. 2, p. 532). Thomas B. Edmonston, born 1842, enlisted
in July, 1862, and was assigned to Company I, North Carolina 62nd Infantry Regiment,
and afterwards to Company F (North Carolina Troops, vol. 15, p.117). The Federal
Census of 1860 for Haywood County, North Carolina, lists Benjamin F. Edmonston,
age 23, and Thomas B. Edmonston, age 18, in the household of Ninion and Mary
Ann Edmonston.
R.P. Kelly, Camp Zollicopher, Tennessee, to Dorthy Kelly, Haywood County,
North Carolina, September 1, 1862. Kelly, stationed in the Bristol and Jonesborough
area of east Tennessee as part of the North Carolina 62nd Infantry Regiment,
writes about his health; that the regiment is guarding a bridge across the
Holston River; and about the capture of a prisoner, two stills, and brandy.
The G. D. S. Allen mentioned in the text was made assistant surgeon in July,
1862 (North Carolina Troops, vol. 15, p. 36). William J. Wilson
was appointed captain in July, 1862 (North Carolina Troops, vol.
15, p. 115).
R. P. Kelly, Zollicoffer, Tennessee, to “Dear Father & Mother & Sisters,” September
16, 1862. Kelly writes of camp life and drills, that they are stationed
near a railroad, and of watching the sick and wounded from Richmond pass
by, as well as volunteers to Virginia.
Kelly’s letter was written on the same piece of stationery as T.B.
Edmonston’s letter of September 16, 1862.
T. B. Edmonston to Dear Parents, September 16,
1862
T. B. Edmonston, Camp Zollicoffer, Tennessee, to Dear Parents, September
16, 1862. Edmonston indicates he is not in good health, requests that his
father sell some of his livestock but cautions him not to sell any corn,
and tells his mother he will send a photograph of himself (“his likeness”).
Please note that Edmonston’s letter was written on the same piece of
stationery as R. P. Kelly’s letter of September 16, 1862. Edmonston
and Kelly each used half of the front and back of the page.
The Tritt mentioned in the letter is probably LaFayette Tritt, a private
in Company I, North Carolina 62nd Infantry Regiment (North Carolina Troops,
vol. 15, p. 124).
R.P. Kelly, Zollicoffer, Tennessee, to “Dear Dorthy,” September,
1862. Although he indicates he has no news, Kelly writes home because another
individual, perhaps a fellow soldier (Nimrod), is going home.
R. P. Kelly, Limestone, Tennessee, to “Dear Dorthy,” February
2, 1863. Kelly gives a description of Generals Kirby and Price, that the
company is building blockhouses to defend a bridge, and that he does not
expect to return home in the near future.
Only a portion of this letter remains and is missing a signature, but is
possibly from Ben Edmonston, Cumberland Gap (at the juncture of Tennessee,
Virginia and Kentucky), to “My Dear father & mother,” June
25, 1863. Edmonston had received a letter from his parents and writes to
express his gratitude for their efforts in raising him. He comments on his
health and that of fellow soldiers, including Thomas [Edmonston], and of
a recent Union raid into east Tennessee.
Hugh Manson Rogers, born in 1834, was made an assistant surgeon in the regiment
in July, 1862 (North Carolina Troops, vol. 15, p. 36). John Lockhart
Cooper was hospitalized on June 8, 1863, and though captured on June 21,
was paroled (North Carolina Troops, vol. 15, p. 117).
T. B. Edmonston, Cumberland Gap (at the juncture of Tennessee, Virginia
and Kentucky), to “Dear Parents and family,” July 4, 1863. Edmonston
writes of recent health problems and that he will try to obtain permission
to come home. Edmonston’s letter was written on the same piece of paper
as R.P. Kelly’s letter of July 5, 1863.
R. P. Kelly to “Dear Dorthy,” [July 5, 1863]. Kelly uses part
of the stationery from T. B. Edmonston’s letter of July 4, 1863, to
write home. He comments on his belief that T. B. Edmonston will receive a
discharge and offers his wife advice on home matters.
Maggie Edmonston to “Dear parents & family,” July 6, 1863.
Edmonston notes that she attempted to visit her parents’ home, but
was unable to secure a connecting ride. She expresses her concern that she
has not heard from family members serving in the military in east Tennessee
since reports of Union activity in their vicinity.
Fragment of a letter from Camp Woodfin, North Carolina, Asheville, to “Sister
and Mother,” [April?] 17, 1865. An accompany envelope is addressed
to Mrs. D.I. Kelly, Waynesville, Haywood Count, North Carolina, and postmarked
from Freedom, Tennessee, April 21. The letter mentions “Sister Dorothy” and
notes that the writer is near Asheville, North Carolina.
Fragment of a letter from Ben Edmonston to an unknown recipient, and not
dated. Edmonston writes about recommendations that had been made for couriers
and his displeasure about the manner in which he had not being chosen.
A Nathan Hyatt enlisted in Haywood County, North Carolina, in July, 1862,
as part of Company I, North Carolina 62nd Infantry Regiment, and was reported
present up to May, 1863 (North Carolina Troops, vol. 15, p. 120).
Likewise, a Newton F. Hyatt also was enlisted in the same company present
until April, 1863 (North Carolina Troops, vol. 15, p. 120). There
were three Inmans listed as part of Company I (North Carolina Troops,
vol. 15, p. 120).
