Notes for William Hill JOHNSON

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Notes for William Hill JOHNSON

CAPTAIN WILLIAM HILL JOHNSON, CSA.

The following letters were written by Captain William Hill Johnson to his
wife while he was stationed with Confederate troops at Combahie Ferry
about three months before the close of the Civil War.

Thursday A.M.
January 19, 1865
Combahie Ferry

My Dearest Wife:

I will try to write you a few lines this morning, which I truly hope will
find you all well. My health is not very good. I have nothing of
importance to write about today. Last Monday night about midnight we got
orders to march. We got to Green Pond, from there we marched to
Bellville, and the next day we were ordered to support a battery at the
Ferry, so we had to lie in rice fields all day, but the enemy did not
come. They are on one side of the river and we are on the other -- they
are about two miles off -- just the river between us. If they come on we
will have a hot time of it "for shore".

We are not far from Hilton Head, but I do not know how far. The 15th
Regiment is close to us, but I have not seen them yet. They passed in
sight of us, but I did not know it until they had already passed by. I
had a letter from Stephen the other day and I wrote him again, but did
not know we were so closed to each other. His letter was forwarded to me
from Florence.

I would be so glad to get a letter from you. You can still direct it to
Adam's Run and it will follow the Battalion.

We have a great many sick on hand. Daniel Waller has been very bad off
with the measles, but he seems better now.

Tell Cousin Edward I have heard nothing of his papers yet and Adj. Rogers
has gone home. I think it very doubtful that he comes back.

You must take good care of my little Florence. Maybe I will be spared to
get home to see her yet. Give all my love to all and accept a double
portion for your dear self.

I would send Perryman home with my trunk if I could find anyone going
through -- I'd only keep my blankets and one suit of clothes. We can't
feed him. We get only one pint of corn meal a day (husk and all) and it
is impossible to buy anything, even if I had the money to buy with. But
the Confederacy has not paid us the first dollar yet and I don't know
when they will -- if ever. Sgt. Scurry owes me fifty dollars for my
sword, but he can't pay me until he gets his pay.

The evening is advancing and I must close.

Your husband, W.H.J.

Saturday, Jan. 21st

My Dearest Wife:

I commenced to write you day before yesterday, but did not have the
chance to finish before we were ordered back in the fortifications, and
there we have been since -- in the rain and mud and water until today, I
came out. I feel very bad. I think I might be taking the measles. I
will write you again in a day or two. You letter dated 13th of Jan.
received last night and I was so glad to get it, so I could hear from
you. You must write often, for it is the only satisfaction I have. You
must excuse me, for we have noting to write on. I still feel very bad.
The Yankees are close by. We can hear their drums and we can see the
houses burning, but I do not know whether they will cross the river or
not. I haven't seen Stephen yet. I heard they were fighting there
yesterday, but I do not know this to be true. The Yankees don't spare
anything in South Carolina.

Good bye, my darling, for this time.

My love to all, W.H.J.

Sunday, Jan. 22nd.

My Dearest Wife:

Owens came in last night. He brought the bundle and your letter which I
was so glad to receive -- especially your letter. I am too sick to enjoy
anything and I don't want you to send me anything more, for if you do I
will lose it. You and the children need the food. As for money, I have
no use for it. W.H.J.

On the back of this letter the following was written:

I have no envelopes or postage stamps.

To: Mrs. W. H. Johnson, Johnsonville P. O., Williamsburg District.

From: Capt. Wm. Hill Johnson, Co. E, 7th Battalion, S. C. Chestnut's
Brigade, Green Pond, S. C. Soldier's Letter.

The Stephen referred to in his letters was his son-in-law, Stephen
Blackwell Haselden.

Perryman was his loyal slave and personal attendant. Captain Johnson did
get a chance to send him home and when Mrs. Johnson learned of the
serious illness of her husband. She took Perryman with her as a guide
and driving two horses hitched to a sulky, she went to bring Captain
Johnson home.

During his service in the Confederate Army, Captain William Hill Johnson
was an officer in charge of the old Stockade in Florence, South Carolina
where thousands of Northern soldiers were imprisoned. Many years after
the war ended, Captain Johnson was recognized at Smith's Mill by one of
his former stockade prisoners and praised by this man for his kindness to
the starving Yankees. Captain Johnson had shared with the prisoners the
bundles of food he had received from home.

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