CHARLES WOMACK, JR.

Mar. 1, 1836 – Feb. 3, 1900

Buena Vista

Aug 4th 1855{could be 1853}

Dear Brother in law. I again avail myself with the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know how I am. I am enjoying my portion of that inestimable blessing, health, hoping that these few lines may find you and the family enjoying the same.

From last account from Ma she was some better or in other words improving a little that was last Tuesday when sister left there.

I am here in this place yet attending to the Post Office. but expect that Pierce will turn me out for being one of Sam's disciples or followers. I believe that he disposes of all of Sam's boys in that manner. Col. Hawkins made a very able speech here on the 27 instant which was heard with great applause

(received applause). I advocate his doctrines although mainly {or maybe} killed some of the anti Know Nothings. They said it was the poorest thing for a speech from a great man. We hoisted a flag, the American flag with its stars and stripes and we selected a motto the best that the English language

can afford which was "Americans shall rule America." Sam is in our midst not dead yet and no hopes of it.

Hawkins will get a majority of this county if things will work right. I will quit politics for I am no politician. I will say to you vote for Sam and you will vote for the right one. Pete (Gilpin you may have forgotten his name) was here this week on route to old man Mathews to build his house with two more negroes. He went off without paying his bill and it made old man Powell a little mad. He (Gilpin) said you would be here on the 10th to hear Johnson's speech. You must come and hear him ridicule the Know Nothings. I think when he makes his speech that there will be 40 to 50 join this new party, the only organized party.

Times are very dull here now but I think it will come out some after while, in the fall. We had a very pretty shower this evening. I may go home tomorrow if I go to Hopewell I shall go. I am like Barnes people unto Stephens he says "lest I should be accused of firing from a masked battery{?} or using a stiletto in the dark like an Italian assasin. I hereunto subscribe the name my father gave me."

More anon.

Chas. Womack

Write soon.  

Schley Cty., Ga.  Oct. 1st 1859 (?1857)

Brother David

In compliance with your request, I take opportunity of writing you a few lines in the form of a letter

which I am in hopes will build your approbation. Letter writting is a thing which I do not like to do as well as some other things not that I hate to write for it is no trouble for me to write but because I cannot find anything that will interest the reader.  When I got home on Thursday I found Ma quite sick worse than she was on Tuesday.  She said that she had vomited up a good deal of bile which made her feel worse.  I stopped at Swain's Mills and got the bottle filled with mineral water and then left it unstopped and it lost all of its strength. Mrs. Ingram went to Americus last week and stopped by here twice and it appeared that she commenced getting better immediately. She is considerable better now.  I do not think she has thrown up in some time.  As long as she can keep from vomiting she keeps in pretty good health and it appears that ice allays that to some degree.  I have ginned and packed five bags of cotton and it took a good deal to make them.  I have not got the screw up yet. Worsham's Shipp came out to commence work I had to haul it to old man Ingram's screw to pack which I am in hopes that I will not have to do again.

I reckon you have heard from the election___.  Three in this Democracy carried the day from 1. 9. 11.

Crawford beat Douglas one vote.  Perry beat Cottle nine votes. Crittenden beat old man Hixon eleven votes.  I do not know what makes farmers such fools to force their cotton into market and brings the price down to nothing. In Americus 9 3/4 is the top of the market it ought to be from 11 to 13 cents.

Begin (to) think that is going to be an overwhelming crop made because there is such a quantity going to market so early and on that account they put down the prices.  I say farmers are such fools when they could be independent of the world.  I would have been more punctual but I have been (so) busy that I had no time to mail a letter but I will be more punctual from this on to _____ ______.

Yours truly

Chas Womack  

The Ingrams mentioned are the household right next door to the Womacks on the 1860 census.

Charles   Womack,   Georgia, Enlisted  11 May 1861    Priv   CSA

G Co. 5th Inf Reg. GA  Claimed Residence in Schley County.

Schley Cty. Geo. Jan. 5th 1861

Brother David

I expect before you receive this letter you will have come to the same conclusion that I have concerning your writing. That is that you have forgotten me, but I can say to the contrary concerning myself that I never will as long as I am permitted to in habit this globe forget you and yours. I would be glad that it was so arranged that we could meet oftener than we have the last year and I am in hopes that we may so be situated in a few years that we shall meet oftener. From the old sign I think we will have a plenty of rain this year for it has rained near all this year but now it is very nice weather. We had very lively times during the Christmas holy days notwithstanding the times are so gloomy where there is a dark cloud hanging over the country. Maj. Black & French are elected delegates to the convention and they are

going to give parties. Black's is next week. French's soon after. Bill Threlkeld is elected, tax receiver.

The entire Union or Cooperation ticket is elected by a large majority in this county. Col. Brown in Marion is elected on the Union ticket and Edgar Butts on the sucession ticket. The convention meets on the 16th inst. Then our destinies will be decided for real or not. They have Corley to preach for them in Ellaville this year. He preaches there today and tomorrow. I received a letter from yesterday stating that they are well with the exception of Lucinda and who was the strongest man South. If the South had voted for Breckenridge he would not have been elected for the reason that he would not have gotten enough votes north with the votes south to have beaten Lincoln. I lay Lincoln election entirely on Breckenridge for he was just as much a sectional candidate as Lincoln was and for that reason there was a great many who voted against the south otherwise they would have voted with South if Breckenridge had not been elected. Bell or Douglas could have beaten Lincoln for there was about six hundred thousand votes more polled against Lincoln at the North than there were in South. Your _______ modern democracy has brought all this on the country for they have been in power the last 15 or 20 years with the exception of 4 years. Enough, for you know the country is in a deplorable condition.

I shall have to conclude on account of my pen being so bad. Give my love to all. All the family are well. ___ married one of Mr. Cater's negroes.

Most respecfully & c

Charles Womack

Schley Cty. Geo. Apr 12th 1861

Brother David

I believe I wrote to you last but as it takes a letter so long to go I will write without waiting for an answer. The reason why I have not written sooner was that the latter part of last week Warren Battle's mill dam broke and I was a seining. We caught more fish than I ever saw at one sight before. The first day I got a trout that weighed eight pounds and a half and so many pirch(perch) as the negroes could not eat at three meals. The second day I got a trout that weighed about eight pounds and as many pirch(perch) as the day before. I expect there was two thousand pounds (of) fish caught since the dam has broken. Warren Battle is building one of the finest mills in South Western Georgia. He will have it ready to grind by the middle of May or first of June. I have got one of the best fish ponds in Georgia. I put 400 or 500 fish in it out of Battle's pond but I think most of them are dead though i can see a few live ones. Wheat crops never looked more promising than they do now, from all parts of Georgia the same tale comes that the wheat crop is excellent.  The war excitement is still prevailing. We are listing (listening) every day to hear that the war has commenced at Pensacola. There was fifteen companies passed through Macon enroute to Pensacola. There is now 218 companies in Georgia which could whip half of the north and they are still making up more companies. If the north does not intend to fight---she is acting very strange by not withdrawing the troops from Forts Sumter and Pickens(Pensacola). I believe the withdrawing the troops from Fort Sumter is all a farce. The Federal Government has been withdrawing the troops from Fort Sumter for the last month and there is no more probability of their withdrawal than there was then. I beleive by acting so they thought they would get the South off of her watch then they would come down upon her. All that helps the North from fighting is the Southern bordering states she knows well enough that when the fight begins there those bordering states the most of them will brake lose(loose) the fetters that now bind them to the Federal Government and join with the Conferate States. Then it will be the greatest nation upon the globe and then we will dare the North to attempt to fight us. We can then stand our hand with any of them so long as we have cotton on our side. In your last letter you stated that you thought I was a stronger secessionist than you were. Well I am just this much of a secessionist--that I saw that there was no other remedy for the South but to disrupt the ties that bound her to the Union and assume her independance at all hazards. If there had been a compromise made or the constitution had been amended so as to satisfied(satisfy) the South, why the North violated the constitution once and she would do it again. There was no confidence to be placed in her under no consideration. The North was determined that if she remained in the Union she the North ahving the majority in congress would vote the South out of all her rights. Indeed there has been no Union between the North and South before the secession movement went into effect. When I get to writing about politics I do not (know) where to stop.  I have just began planting cotton. I was afraid to begin any sooner for fear of frost--due some of our corn has been bit by frost and the rest of it looks well to the age of it. I put a new enclosure around it and broke it up well. We have got a good many vegetables planted. I planted two bushels of Irish potatoes and Amanda has got the finest English peas I ever saw. A good garden will pay very well. This year Mr. Kelly is teaching school near Friendship and has a poor school. Amanda is very anxious for Billie to go to school to him but Mr. Powell and sister were down there not long ago and said that he his(has) kitchen and smoke house in the same house he lived in. You know what sort of a man he is.

All the family are well. I will have to close as I have no further time to write.

Yours ______

Charles Womack

Schley Cty. Geo. Apr 19th 1861

Brother David

In attempting to write to you tonight I am at a loss to know what to write about unless it is concerning the war and the condition of our country.  Everything has a warlike appearance. The excitement of war is prevailing all over the country like a contagious epidemic with the old as well as the young. The old men say if we fail that they are willing and ready to take our place. We all (southern men) have a common interest at stake and  we will strike for our rights which we have not had for a good many years and we are fighting in the defensive. They may call us rebels as the British did in the revolutionary war or by any name they may choose so we come out conquerers in the end. A Southern man understand how to enjoy freedom while the Northern men that is a great many of them are oppressed and in bondage and they will not fight with the same resolution as a Southern man. from that reason I believe we can whip the yankees. All we like is a navy. We have got the material and there is no doubt but they will be used advantageously. If they show a disposition every where in the seceded states to meet Lincoln and his forces as they do here we can thrash Lincoln and  all the aid he can get from the north since Virginia has seceded and she  will bring more of them out. When I heard of Virginia's seceding today I could scarcely keep from whooping. It done me so much good. It is reported that Lincoln has ordered two hundred and fifty thousand then South and it becomes us as Southerners to meet him with a similar force to repel his attack.  The company from Buena Vista is ordered out and will start tomorrow for Savannah passing through Ellaville where we will give them a cordial reception. Our company is looking for orders tomorrow to be stationed at some point. Their destination not being known and if we are this will be the last letter you  will receive from (me) at home. Probably we will not meet again this side of the grave if not I am in hopes we will on the other side in glory.  It will be a trying time to Pa, Amanda and Bess but I know it is my duty to serve my country. Why should I refuse. I have no time to write more about the war. All the family are well except some complaint among the negroes as usual but nothing serious. A piece of bone came out of Billie's leg tonight. I wanted to write to you how I am getting along farming but I have no time now. I hate to leave home for I have got everything in excellent fit. I bid you all farewell but I am in hopes not a final one. Give my love to all.

Yours _____

Charles Womack

Camp Stephens June 2nd 1861

Dear Father,

This makes the fourth letter that I have written to you since I left home and have not received but one from you if you knew how glad I am to receive a letter from home you would write oftener. I look for a letter from home every day but alas all in vain I know it is a task for you to write, but a few lines from home would be gratifying to me. I would be glad to receive a letter from home every day. I did not know that home was such a dear place before I have been off from home longer at a time before but have never wanted to see home worse in my life before. I have almost forgotten how every thing looks at home. We are confined down here in a sand bed where we cannot see anything of importance. The greatest show to me now would be a nice plantation of corn and cotton if it was not for a few stalks of corn in gardens I would entirely forget how it does look. If it does not rain any oftener at home Than it does here every thing is parched up. The next day after we arrived here we had a fine rain and have not had one since. We have to detail forty men one company every day for the purpose to guard Pensacola and out company was detailed yesterday and I was one of the number. I was stationed at a lumber yard where I was treated with the greatest kindness. Some of the ladies sent us ice water and coffee in the morning with cream. I  (End of page 1, begin page 2) could not refuse. One of the "Clinch Rifles" was projecting with a ground rattle snake and he bit him two or three times on the hand in the morning on Friday last at 7 o'clock and he died about 2 o'clock in the evening He was our chief musician. On yesterday in Pensacola one of the new carrier boys went into the camps of a company and one of the men took a musket and told him to mark time the gun was loaded and it went off and hit the boy in the forehead shooting off half his head. He had in a ball and three buck shot. There is a few days dying in the Southern army. We hear that there is a good many dying at Ft. Pickens and on the ships. It is reported that seven hundred Federal troops landed at Ft. Pickens last week. One thing I expect you do not know that is that there is a number of tents on Santa Rosa island. That Island is in possession of Lincoln. When we arrived here there was six or seven vessels and now there is only two or three to be seen. They say that they have dismounted all the guns but one off the top of fort and put them on a sand battery by the side of the wall. The south is doing her part towards the preparation of war. There is scarcely a train come here but what brings a cannon and bomb? shells. Our regiment is building two small batteries on the beach, while we were digging a trench to day we dug out a number of grape shot and come across an old fort about one foot under ground. By this time you know that there was three or four regiments ordered from here to Virginia consisting of first Georgia regiment fifth (End of page 2, begin page 3) Alabama regiment and the New Orleans. And it is reported that we will leave soon for Virginia but it has been reported so often that we were going until I do not know (crossed out) put any confidence in at all, but for fear that we may leave you need not send any clothes yet. James Snipes, Berry Good son and John Little requested me to write to you to inform their parents not to send them any clothes, you will attend to it immediately as they do not wish them sent as we cannot carry any clothes but what the law allow us, but if we remain here all the? we will want some more clothes. There is a company of "Texas Rangers" in Pensacola with a woman in uniform from Texas she is quite a show to the boys. I would write more but have no further time you must write soon. Terry Carter is in good health. There is a little sickness in camp. I will have to close

Yours & C

Charles Womack

Pensacola Florida

July 11th 1861

Dear Sister

Your letter of the 5th just was receive today and its contents were carefully read which gave me much pleasure fore there is nothing that gives me more pleasure than to receive a letter from any of my friends more especially when they can give me anything concerning home. You wrote in your letter that you were of the impression that we had been fighting I am sorry to inform you that it is not true for if we have to fight we do not care how soon it does come off. We do not wish to stay here all the year and then have to fight often all when we shall not be any better prepared at the end of the year than we are now. The longer we give them the better prepared they will be for fighting. About the time you thought we were fighting it was the general impression here that the fight would begin at most any hour. Now everything is as quit as it every has been since we have been here, awaiting I suppose to see what course the Federal Congress will pursue whether they will determine upon war or peace. I am hopes that they will take the latter course. If they do continue the war we hall have many a good man kill because our army is made up the majority of the best men we have, while theirs {Federal army} is made up of cut throats and such men as they are glad to get out of the way. When we have one man killed he is worth half a dozen of theirs. I have no idea that peace will be made permanently until it is sealed with blood, even peace was made now it would be some time before we would be discharge for the South is not going to put up with any kind of a concern for they are determined to have fixed to suit themselves and I do not think the North will give the South all she asks for. I think that every thing has gone too far for either party to retaliate now and I know that the South never will back an inch from what she has already said When the fight does begin here it will not be any childs play there will be a great deal of blood spilld and a good many lives lost. I cannot give any more concerning the war. We are not allowed to go to the Navy Yard and we cannot hear anything of any interest. The health of the regiment is very good to be so far South and Florida is considered a very sickly State. Our situation is at a high elevated place where we get the breezes continually This bay is one of the prettiest body of water I expect anywhere. I have no doubt when peace is made but what this will be a place of considerable note. There is already some very nice buildings here.

You wrote that you would be glad if I would get some shells and send them by someone that was passing from Schley to this point I will do so by the first opportunity. Putnam Stevens is here now and if I can get them ready by the time he leaves I send them by him.

We have been mustered into service two months today and have not received any money yet but expecting to get some every day. We shall receive twenty one dollars for clothing which is half of our clothing money. I thought I would close my letter last night but I have jogged my memory and found that I have not wrote all. I have been standing guard in town and am in the custom house and the boys keep so much noise that it is impossible to write anything where they are. You have no idea how lively the boys are. After changing this (scratched out) a life of pleasure for one of hardships. If we only had the right kind of commissioned officers we all would be very well pleased, but I am sorry to say that we have the poorest officers in the regiment. We the majority of us became dissatisfied with Burton (fn) as our captain and we had politely requested him to resign by a petition with our names signed to it and he politely refused. He never another office in Schley for he is entirely dead in the estimation of most of the company. Charles Hudson (fn) is our second lieutenant and he is the most unpopular I ever saw. The boys say that he is holding the last office he will every hold. I ought not to write about our officers but then I want you to know how they stand.  You know the men and that is enough

I got a nice box provisions from home which was the most welcome guest that has arrived since I have been here. I am sorry that so many eggs spoilt, it will not do to send them in the summer the climate is so hot that they will keep no time, all we need is butter and hams I am very sorry that they have not had enough at home while we have enough here on this poor land to make two or three crops.

We had a rain that covered the rail road track over and the train came along that night and was thrown the track with no accidents. I must close as my time is about out look over all mistakes for I wrote in a hurry. Be sure and write soon. Give my respects to all my friends. I am enjoying excellent health.

Your affectionate brother,

Charles Womack

P.S. Tell Mrs. McDuffie that James Sealy is in good health.

MUSTER ROLL OF COMPANY G, 5th REGIMENT GEORGIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY ARMY OF TENNESSEE

C. S. A.  Schley County

OFFICERS:

Burton, Robert - Captain; Green, John J. - 1st Lieut.; Hudson, Charles B. - 2d Lieut.; Wyche, Robert Henry - Jr. 2d Lieut.; Stevens, Jasper H. - 1st Sgt.; Sellers, David W. - 2d Sgt.; Drew, Shadrack W. - 3d Sgt.

Bivins, Robert T. - 4th Sgt.; Guice, Albertus T. - 1st Cpl.; Carter, Joseph A. - 2d Cpl.; Snipes, James J. - 2d Cpl.; Barnes, Thomas P. - 4th Cpl.; Burton, Homer W. - Musician; Beall, Benjamin G. - Musician.

PRIVATES:

Allen, Augustus E.; Allen, Aurelius; Allen, Henry H.; Allen, Thomas J.; Allen, William; Battle, John C.; Beamon, Robert G. W.; Brannam, W. J.; Browning, Harrison C.; Bryan, William H. Bryant, James J.; Burrus, J. H.; Cantrell, R. N.; Carr, Henry A.; Carter, J. C.; Cleveland, Augustus C.; Cleveland, William A. D.; Cockrell, Harrison W.; Collins, Jesse W.; Colts, R.; Cook, Walter B.; Cook, W. T.; Coursey, John E.; Coursey, Robert L.; Coursey, Wiliam A.; Crittendon, E. C.; Cruse, Warren M.; Culver, W. J.; Devane, Taylor H.; Dinkins, Henry J.; Drummond, J. B.; Dumas, Covington; Duncan, H.; Dupree, Herod G.; Eason, John W.; Eiland, John S.; Ellis P.; Fox, J. M.; Glover, John L.; Goodson, Alexander Asbury; Gramling, William Simpson; Gravitt, John B.; Green, Charles H.; Green, Robert H.; Greene, S. Milton; Grubbs, Robert H.; Guttenberger, C.; Hanley, William R.; Hanson, Georga A.; Hatcher, James M.; Hickey, Benjamin G.; Hixson, Augustus G.; Hixson, Seaborn J.; Hixson, Thomas J.; Hixson, William; Holloway, W. M.; Holston, Jasper; Hurt, John T.; Jordan, H. T.; Jordan, W.; Kilcrease, Benjamin F.; Killebrew, Richard W.; Laing, Jefferson D.; Larkins, George W.; Lashley, James; Leonard J. S.; Little, John M.; Lockhard, Zachariah S.; Lumpkin, Thomas B.; Lunceford, Charles R.; Maner, W. E.; Mann. J. T. L.; Massey, Wesley N.; Meador, R. C.; Merritt, John W.; Meyers, T. J.; Mitchell, J. L.; Mooney, Eli; Mooney, J. H.; Myers, Thomas B.; Naylor, R.; Parker, Alexander; Parker, James W.; Parrish, James; Peacock, Caleb LaFayette; Peacock, Seth Andrews; Peacock, Simon M.; Pilcher, Louis P.; Pilkerton, J. P.; Pruill, D. M.; Rentz, Calvin; Roberts, A. J.; Roberts, James B.; Roper, H. H.; Rouse, William N.; Sears, William J.; Shute, G.; Stevens, Monroe S.; Taylor, John T.; Thompson, James D.; Tuggle, J. B.; Vaughn, Benjamin F.; Walker, William D.; Wall, George W.; Warren, Eli; Warren, Francis; Whitcombe, David C. N.; Whitsett, Joseph G.; Williams, A. J.; Williams, John M.; Wilson, George R.; Wimbish, George Crawford; Wimbish, Miles W.; Womack, Charles; Woods, James F. ; Woods, W. A.; Wyatt, Benjamin J.

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