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FORSYTH COUNTY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Forsyth County, NC
Forsyth County, NC
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| Clayton Letters |
This is a letter from from Private Matthew Columbus Clayton, age
33, to Sallie (nee Sarah) Mc Kinney, age 24, from Mt Airy (Arrat),
informing her of the death of Matthew’s younger brother Lt. Gabriel T.
Clayton, Sallie’s sweetheart
21st Regt NC Troops
Near Richmond Va
June 2nd /64
I take this occasion to try to write you a few lines to inform you that My
Brother Gabriel T. Clayton was killed on the 16th may in battle below
Richmond some 10 miles on or not far from James Rive & about two
miles from Drewrys Bluff on the south side of the River. It is with grief
& anguish that I attempt to write you this sad & unwelcome news yet I
have thought it prudent under the circumstances to inform you that he
fell at his post at least in our front about 12 oclock on 16th may. The
ball struck him above the right eye & passed through his head coming
out about the middle of the lower part of his head leaving death on its
immediate cause plainly to be seen as the wound was fatal & he died
even without a struggle so I was told by those who were near &
witnessed the sad & heartrending scene. I hope he has gone to rest.
Capt. S. C. James was near by & attempted to go to his assistance
but unfortunately had only gone a few steps when he was wounded in
the breast & only lived about an hour afterwards I was not far off &
saw the ambulance corps take up Capt James & bear him off the field
but I did not know that brother Gabriel had fallen until some half hour
afterwards. but as soon as I could I went with help & carried his
remains to Drewrys Bluff & on 17th may Leieut Whitlock our acting
Quartermaster at the time & others saw his remains buried in a good
coffin & good grave, I was present also, in an enclosed graveyard.
Near fort Drewry which is on James River about nine miles below
Richmond. It is my intention to remove his remains or have it done as
soon as it can conveiniently be done. I have written home to my
Sisters concerning the removal yet I suppose it will be very uncertain
when it can be done as the railroads are so crowded almost
constantly so I understand that a citizen can scarcely ever get
passage & the enemy are constantly tearing up the different railroads
to Richmond. As I am situated in line of battle & a private & all of us of
late been moving a great deal & had to be on picket & other dutys
looseing a good deal of sleep I hope you will excuse me for not
answering or not writing sooner as yours came to hand several days
ago. but I only opened it just before I commenced writing & only read
enough to see for certain that it was from you. & after being fully
convinced I sealed it again & now I am going to send it to you again by
the first mail. We have not been in any regular battle since brother
Gabriel was killed & he fell in the last part of the battle. Some two or
three others were killed in this Regt besides brother Gabriel & Capt
James at the late battle our Brigade took part in on the south side of
James River. We are on the north side of that River at present &
under the shells of the enemy constantly. We are in good breastworks
& although we are so near the enemys heavy guns & they throw their
shells some two miles or more in our rear at times they have not killed
but one man in the Regt yet but I suppose several very slightly
wounded. There is skirmishing going on constantly almost in front of
our breastworks. Our Troops are in good spirits and hope to whip our
enemys in this gigantic struggle of theirs to capture our Capital of the
Confederate States & the Capital of Va also. There has been some
severe fighting already here & so far as I have learnt our troops have
been blest with victory. Excuse bad writing & a very badly connected
letter.
Matthew C. Clayton to Sally M kiney
Ps Should I have left out any thing you wish to know just write to me &
I will take a pleasure in giving you any information I can concerning
brother on any of his transactions. We have a sister living at our
home who will if you make yourself known to her take pleasure in
giving you any information & be glad to see you at any time. Our
home can be found very easy by any person as it is just 32 miles from
Mt Airy on the main road leading from Mt Airy to Greensborro. We
have another Sister living about a mile from our home & about 2 miles
from Hausertown who would be delighted to see you at any time. I
would like to hear from you soon as it would be some satisfaction for
me to know that you received this imperfect letter written in haste M.C.
Clayton
33, to Sallie (nee Sarah) Mc Kinney, age 24, from Mt Airy (Arrat),
informing her of the death of Matthew’s younger brother Lt. Gabriel T.
Clayton, Sallie’s sweetheart
21st Regt NC Troops
Near Richmond Va
June 2nd /64
I take this occasion to try to write you a few lines to inform you that My
Brother Gabriel T. Clayton was killed on the 16th may in battle below
Richmond some 10 miles on or not far from James Rive & about two
miles from Drewrys Bluff on the south side of the River. It is with grief
& anguish that I attempt to write you this sad & unwelcome news yet I
have thought it prudent under the circumstances to inform you that he
fell at his post at least in our front about 12 oclock on 16th may. The
ball struck him above the right eye & passed through his head coming
out about the middle of the lower part of his head leaving death on its
immediate cause plainly to be seen as the wound was fatal & he died
even without a struggle so I was told by those who were near &
witnessed the sad & heartrending scene. I hope he has gone to rest.
Capt. S. C. James was near by & attempted to go to his assistance
but unfortunately had only gone a few steps when he was wounded in
the breast & only lived about an hour afterwards I was not far off &
saw the ambulance corps take up Capt James & bear him off the field
but I did not know that brother Gabriel had fallen until some half hour
afterwards. but as soon as I could I went with help & carried his
remains to Drewrys Bluff & on 17th may Leieut Whitlock our acting
Quartermaster at the time & others saw his remains buried in a good
coffin & good grave, I was present also, in an enclosed graveyard.
Near fort Drewry which is on James River about nine miles below
Richmond. It is my intention to remove his remains or have it done as
soon as it can conveiniently be done. I have written home to my
Sisters concerning the removal yet I suppose it will be very uncertain
when it can be done as the railroads are so crowded almost
constantly so I understand that a citizen can scarcely ever get
passage & the enemy are constantly tearing up the different railroads
to Richmond. As I am situated in line of battle & a private & all of us of
late been moving a great deal & had to be on picket & other dutys
looseing a good deal of sleep I hope you will excuse me for not
answering or not writing sooner as yours came to hand several days
ago. but I only opened it just before I commenced writing & only read
enough to see for certain that it was from you. & after being fully
convinced I sealed it again & now I am going to send it to you again by
the first mail. We have not been in any regular battle since brother
Gabriel was killed & he fell in the last part of the battle. Some two or
three others were killed in this Regt besides brother Gabriel & Capt
James at the late battle our Brigade took part in on the south side of
James River. We are on the north side of that River at present &
under the shells of the enemy constantly. We are in good breastworks
& although we are so near the enemys heavy guns & they throw their
shells some two miles or more in our rear at times they have not killed
but one man in the Regt yet but I suppose several very slightly
wounded. There is skirmishing going on constantly almost in front of
our breastworks. Our Troops are in good spirits and hope to whip our
enemys in this gigantic struggle of theirs to capture our Capital of the
Confederate States & the Capital of Va also. There has been some
severe fighting already here & so far as I have learnt our troops have
been blest with victory. Excuse bad writing & a very badly connected
letter.
Matthew C. Clayton to Sally M kiney
Ps Should I have left out any thing you wish to know just write to me &
I will take a pleasure in giving you any information I can concerning
brother on any of his transactions. We have a sister living at our
home who will if you make yourself known to her take pleasure in
giving you any information & be glad to see you at any time. Our
home can be found very easy by any person as it is just 32 miles from
Mt Airy on the main road leading from Mt Airy to Greensborro. We
have another Sister living about a mile from our home & about 2 miles
from Hausertown who would be delighted to see you at any time. I
would like to hear from you soon as it would be some satisfaction for
me to know that you received this imperfect letter written in haste M.C.
Clayton
This letter was mailed to Lt. Gabriel T. Clayton from Sallie (nee Sarah)
Mc Kinney, living in Mt. Airy (Arrat). It was received after the death of
Gabriel on May 16, 1864. His older brother, Matthew Columbus Clayton,
who also served in Company D of the 21st N.C. Troops received and
returned this letter to Sallie with the letter that he wrote on June 2, 1864
informing her of Gabriel’s death.
At Home Arrat May the 1st/64
My Dear Mr Clayton
Once more though the kindness of a gracious providence I am permited
to communicate to you I received your kind an welcome visitor with much
gratitude & how thankful I was not to see your name a mong the killed
and mortaly wondede providence was with you an may your conducte
ever be sutch as it will be his good plesure to help god protect you
though all dangers I was happy to learn that you ware crowned with
victory huraugh for the old 21 and for the N.C. boys I do thinke that the
old 21 have discharge thaire deauty or a portion of you any way when
thare are so many at home who have never bin in fight or even nown
camp life Some predicted peace to be made soon & I do hope peace will
be soon before we girls loose our sweeteheartes I havent any news of
much interrest to Trasmit & Mr Clayton I thout that you was a long time a
answering my note when I was so ancious to here from you I received
your Type the other day I was happy to receive it I thinks it a rite good
Type but I had much rather that it houd have bin the orignal & Mr Clayton
it makes me feel so sad to here of you being in an engagement an being
in suspence so long before I can learn you fate I hope that you will not be
in any more engagement untill peace is made it is predicted that thare
will be a good eal of fighting Mr Clayton you must take care of your helth
I hope that will not be in any more fighting & spring has appeared in all its
lovliness and the ware not at an end yet if my loved one was at home I
thinke that I would injoy spring & Mr Clayton I would so happy to see you I
thinke that you all ware all assated and protected by the hand of
omnipitence thouh all dangers how Thankeful we all should be that we
have such a gracious protector who carse so much for us if we obey him
the family are all well at present I hope that your helth is good I hope to
see you soon I leave you in the hand of him who rules all thing well
nothing more at presant I remain as ever yours truly
Sallie McKinney
Ps I hope that you are faring sumptly if not you must inform us an we an
we will devide with you we have some meat and bread yet write soon
yours truly Sallie
Mrs Briggs has bin sending very perticular word for me to call on her that
she had some particular business with me I do not thinke that I will call
soon Mr. Clayton I would be pleased to hear you perform on your Guittar
you must play the Southern girl for me and some sprrituals tuens and
sang theme
Mc Kinney, living in Mt. Airy (Arrat). It was received after the death of
Gabriel on May 16, 1864. His older brother, Matthew Columbus Clayton,
who also served in Company D of the 21st N.C. Troops received and
returned this letter to Sallie with the letter that he wrote on June 2, 1864
informing her of Gabriel’s death.
At Home Arrat May the 1st/64
My Dear Mr Clayton
Once more though the kindness of a gracious providence I am permited
to communicate to you I received your kind an welcome visitor with much
gratitude & how thankful I was not to see your name a mong the killed
and mortaly wondede providence was with you an may your conducte
ever be sutch as it will be his good plesure to help god protect you
though all dangers I was happy to learn that you ware crowned with
victory huraugh for the old 21 and for the N.C. boys I do thinke that the
old 21 have discharge thaire deauty or a portion of you any way when
thare are so many at home who have never bin in fight or even nown
camp life Some predicted peace to be made soon & I do hope peace will
be soon before we girls loose our sweeteheartes I havent any news of
much interrest to Trasmit & Mr Clayton I thout that you was a long time a
answering my note when I was so ancious to here from you I received
your Type the other day I was happy to receive it I thinks it a rite good
Type but I had much rather that it houd have bin the orignal & Mr Clayton
it makes me feel so sad to here of you being in an engagement an being
in suspence so long before I can learn you fate I hope that you will not be
in any more engagement untill peace is made it is predicted that thare
will be a good eal of fighting Mr Clayton you must take care of your helth
I hope that will not be in any more fighting & spring has appeared in all its
lovliness and the ware not at an end yet if my loved one was at home I
thinke that I would injoy spring & Mr Clayton I would so happy to see you I
thinke that you all ware all assated and protected by the hand of
omnipitence thouh all dangers how Thankeful we all should be that we
have such a gracious protector who carse so much for us if we obey him
the family are all well at present I hope that your helth is good I hope to
see you soon I leave you in the hand of him who rules all thing well
nothing more at presant I remain as ever yours truly
Sallie McKinney
Ps I hope that you are faring sumptly if not you must inform us an we an
we will devide with you we have some meat and bread yet write soon
yours truly Sallie
Mrs Briggs has bin sending very perticular word for me to call on her that
she had some particular business with me I do not thinke that I will call
soon Mr. Clayton I would be pleased to hear you perform on your Guittar
you must play the Southern girl for me and some sprrituals tuens and
sang theme