Civil War Misc.

Civil War Letter:

From Joseph Breece to his wife. Joseph Breece died September 1864 at the battle of Petersburg and is buried in Virginia.

Contributed by Jo Grasso kodiwolf@earthlink.net - his great, great, great granddaughter!

(Note: I've added capitalized surnames as an aid to searching. ljs)

Petersburg, Aug 7 or 11, 1864

Dear Wife and Children:

I seat my self to write you a fiew lines to let you no that I am well and hearty and hope these few lines reach and find you well. Their is no news we are in the trenches and the weather is verry warm and dry. Thought it was going to rain last night but it did not. I have not heard anything from James Jim TAYLOR got a letter from Capt. SLOON (SLOAN) and he gave the names of forty two of the men that belong to Co "I" 51st.H In fact that is all that was ?mipsing

(?mipsing probably infers the name of James was missing on a list of survivors in the Sloan letter.)

I got Taylor (James D TAYLOR, an officer) to inquire if he had seen him but the fact is I'm afraid we'll never hear anything from him

Their is any quantity of yankeys about around Petersburg They are about 1 1/2 miles from the city and rifle pitsand the yankeys is about 75 yds as of one another we have to be on duty every night. One night work half the night the next night stay in rifle pits and keep awake all the night and the next night keep awake on the battery one third of the night . . . . . Luther has just received a letter from John DEAL stating that theyr was 13 of them amongst the names was Jameses. I was verry glad to hear he was living and well. Our rations is small but we can make out I will rite once a week if no accident and I want you to rite as I feel anxious to hear from you all and to no how the corn looks and if the pigs is aliving and if they have sowed the turnipseed

They say that the Yankies is tunneling to blow some portions of our lines

(turn letter over)

I did not finish my letter in time to get it off this morning so I will finish this evening. Give Johnie Eliza Rebecca and mother John and all inquiring friends I hope that you may get along well and get your wagon fixed Tell Fred to be smart I have no chance to send you any tobacco but I will send you some money as soon as I get some. I think we will get some in the course of three weeks. Our company went out to wash on Friday I then looked good for my knapsack but they had been torn opened and robed of every thing that is worth having but if I had any thing I have no place to keep any thing in the trenches in the first place to keep any thing if it rains everything will get wet and in the rifle pits it is as muddy as a hog hole when it rains some day before long I think we will have bad time but I hope the Lord will be merciful to us and spare me if it is his will I want you to try and subdue your temper and give your heart to God and pray to him to forgive you of your sins somehow I feel satisfied that it will be the will of God let things go as they will we must trust in him may God have mercy on you and protect you and save you in his Kingdom farewell I have Just finished the things I Brought in my Box I will now have to Busy Write soon, Joe BREECE

OATH of ALLEGIANCE:

Many Confederate POW's were forced to sign before their release from prison. This is an example of one signed by James Breece. He was a Prisoner of War Point Lookout, Maryland and was transfered to a POW Camp in Elmira, New York.

United States of America

I, James Breece, of the County of Cumberland, State of North Carolina, do solemnly swear that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States against all enemies, whether domestic foreign; that I will bear true faith, allegiance and loyalty to the same, any ordinance, resolution, or laws of any State, Convention, or Legislature, to the contrary notwithstanding; and further, that I will faithfully perform all the duties which may be required of me by the laws of the United States; and I take this oath freely and voluntarily without any mental reservations or evasion whatsoever.

James Breece

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 12th day of June A.D. 1864.

The above named has fair complexion, black hair, and hazel eyes; and is 5 feet 11 inches high.

Submitted by Jo Grasso kodiwolf@earthlink.net