Civil War Letters of Abram M. Glazener

Civil War Letters of Abram M. Glazener

Pvt, Co I, 18th Alabama Volunteer Infantry, Reg. CSA

Transcribed by Arward C. Williams

Introduction

CIVIL WAR LETTERS
of
Abram M. Glazener, Pvt
Co I, 18th Alabama Vol. Infty. Reg., CSA

Abram M. Glazener and Lavenia Bennett Glazener

Abram M. Glazener was 38 at the time of his death,

leaving a wife and seven children in Shelby County Alabama.

All letters transcribed by Arward C. Williams from copy of original. Spelling and punctuation as original. These pages are from a book Six Months from Shelby County to Chickamauga being authored by, Arward C. Williams, email: ArwardW@aol.com.

Tynerstation^[1] August 17th 1863

Mr. R. M. Shuford ^[2]

Kind friend I drop you a few lines to let you know that I have not forgotten you and which will inform you that I am well every hoping this will find you and family enjoying the same. I have no nuse to write you. We are hard run for something to eat here. The boys is generally well but they grumble very much because they don't get more to eat. I cannot blame them, as we don't get near enough. We have 2 that has deserted from our Co. for the first that has ever left before, it was Wyette and Comstacks. No Shelby^[3] boys has left as yet. I do hope they will all stay and not flinch in this critical time. This army is in a bad condition. The men all think we are whipt all out of heart they don't put much confidence in this general, Bragg^[4] I hope this will all become right soon if not I think we are in a fair way to be run over. I have no ide where we will go from here. I hope we may have peace and let us all go home.

I have bin trying to get into a cavalry Co., but I have not succeeded as yet. Our Capt^[5] tried to swap off to cavalry but he failed. If he had went then most of the boys would too.

I understand that you all in Ala. has made fine crops that is the best nuse I have heard for it will be needed as crops in this section is very sorry as it has bin to wet so they could not work them. But we left the best wheat in middle Tenn. I ever saw and quantities of it but the yanks is living on it now. If you see any man that belongs to cavalry that wants to swap to infantry tell him to let me know. I will exchange with him. If I could stand marching I would be very well satisfied where I am but I can not and c.

I would like to be at home now so I could have the pleasure of eating fruit. We have none here unles you bye them. Peaches and apples sells from $1 to $1.50 per dozen so I believe I have nothing more to write you so I will close give my respeck to Mrs. Shuford and the children.

Yours as ever

A. M. Glazener

write to me and give me the nuse and c.

¹ Tyner's Station TN, on R.R. 9 miles east of Chattanooga.

² Neighbor, Shelby Co. Alabama.

³ Shelby County, Alabama.

⁴ General Braxton Bragg, CSA

⁵ Capt P. F. Hunley

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Tynerstation Tenn.^[1]
August 20, 1863

Dear wife,

I with haste take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well ever hoping these lines may find you and the children well. I reckon you have got the letter I sent by Mr. Thornton. I sent my old shoes home by him if I ever was to get home they may do to work in. I have no particular nuse to write to you. We have orders to cook up 3 days rations and be ready for marching orders. Where we are going I don't know. I am fearful ther is a march on hand. I dread to start as the weather is very hot and dry. I hope if we have to go fur we will have to travel on the R.R. It grieves me to think that we have to stay here not provided for no better than we are, but I will try to put my trust in God that I may get home one time moore. If not you may know that I am ever trying to serve my Creator the best my weaknes and ability will admit. I want you to trust in God never forgetting to pray to him who answers prair. I hope this war will soon end some way or other. If we was to get to far off for you to send me cloths I will draw them. I think I had better draw my shirts and drawers as they wont cost me more than for you to make them. My knit shirts I want you to make the sleaves shorter as they are to long and when the weather gets cool I will want them sent to me. I want to go home in November if I can.

I understand that W. H. Glazener^[2] is very low. I have wrote to Sion^[3] but I don't hear from him. It may be that we may go to Ala. I will write to you as soon as we stop. We may stay here several days yet we may start in the morning. The wagons is coming in so it is likely we may start tomorrow so I will close as I have nothing to write to interest you. I have most of the provesions you sent me yet I will carry them with me as we will have to march on cornbread and beef. Give my love to all inquiring friends. Give my love to all the children tell them to be good children and remember ther Pa.

So I will close your husband as ever

A. M. Glazener.

¹ Tyner's Station TN, on R.R. 9 miles east of Chattanooga.

² Willian H. Glazener (son of Sion), Co. A, Hardie's AL Cavalry Reserve Batt, CSA.

³ Sion Glazener (brother of Abram), Co. A, Hardie's AL Cavalry Reserve Batt, CSA.

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Camp^[1] 18th Ala Rgmt, Tennesie
August 26th 1863

Dear wife, it is with pleasure I take my pen to inform you that I am well every hoping that I may find you and the children enjoying the same. We are 25 or 30 miles above Chattanooge. We left Tynerstation^[2] 21st at midnight. We marched all that night and the next day until sun down when we slept near this place. It was a very hard march as the weather was very warm. Ther was a grate many gave out, but I kept in my place but it was very hard. I felt like I could not go any further. We are in a short distance from the River. We are in hearing distance of the Yankies. They are on the other side of the river we can hear thir drums. The people here is very much divided. A greate many has run off from here since we came here and went to the enemy. We are campt on a plantation whare there is no man persons on the place only the lady and children. They says she has 2 sons in the Yankey army. We are fortifying here thinking they will try to make a crossing here but it is doubtful. Mr. Blackston got there last evening. He brought my butter safe it liked to have spoild as the weather was so hot but it was very good. We get plenty to eat here we get fruit and everything of the vegetable kind. I hope we will still get plenty. The boys make some fine peach pies, apple pies & c^[3] I was sorry to hear that corn will be so high in that country. Blackston thinks it will be worth $5 per bushel. I want you to engageie your corn as soon as you can. What you think will do you as it may be so that corn cannot be had. I was glad to hear that you had sold one of your cows. I would sell what I could spair if I could get a big price for them. I was in hopes you would make a most corn enough to do you but it cannot be aforded now. I have never heard whether Mr. Shuford kept the old mare or not. Her and the ginnie you ought to sell if you have them yet and if there is any chance.

I will try to go home this fall sometime. I want to see home one time moore. I hope I will be blest with that privalige. I hope peace will soon be made.

You seem to think that I never will get back home any moore. Always hope for the best whether I get home or not. My ernest prairs is that I may live to see all one time moore. It seems that the people is very much in the oppinion that we are whipt. I hope not if some are a people and it seems that if we fight on we are ruined so I cannot tell what will be done. I want you to take pains with the little children. If there is any school send them as I want them to have an education if possible. I think I had better draw my clothing from the government especially my shirts and drawers as it will cost you aheap to buye thread. If make them let me know what you think, I had better do. My pants is getting to the patch still they will do me until November. The shirts and drawers they are very good so is the jacketts. Write to me all the particular nuse. How much corn you think you will make whether you ever got that cotton put up or not and all the nuse.

Well my dear I have nothing moore that I can think of that would interest you. Me and Blackston is sitting with our backs against a large tree both writing. Some of the boys is sleeping some cooking some playing in fact you can look over the camp and see almost anything going on that you could imagine. Playe of different kind now then you can see a fist fight some singing and c. So I will close by saying write to me direct as before we have no mail as yet since we have been here. I don't think you get near all my letters or your would hear from me moore than you say that you do. Give my love to all the children and little B in a^.[4]

So I will close your husband as ever

A. M. Glazener

¹ Camp was at Birchwood TN.

² Tyner's Station TN, on R.R. 9 miles east of Chattanooga.

³ "and c" or "& c" = et cetera

⁴ Illegible - believe "Babe in arms", referring to youngest child, Alabama, age 18 months.

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Charleston Tennesie Sept. 3, 1863

Dear wife

I one time more have the opportunity of writing to you which will in form you that I am in common health. I have bin on the sick list for a few days but I am better this morning. We are expecting a fight here or some whar. Clost bye the enemy has taken Loudon,^[1] they are near enough to hear the cannon, east Tennesie is gone up. All our forces is from this place down to Bridgeport^,[2] a distance of sixty miles. I think our men will give them fight this time and if we are whipt here we are lost as they will over run Ga. and Ala. It is reported they are two hundred thousand strong. Our forces here I don't know the number but this is a very large army. I hope that if we do fight that we will whip them. I have seen everything that belongs to the army and experienced some except.^[3] fighting that I have no desire to see as it is a unpleasant thing. While this war lasts we may expect to see hard times.

I have just received a letter from your sister Wools. They was all well. I wrote to you last week. I don't know whether you got it or not. Blackston came in after we left Tyner^.[4] He came to us at Birchwood.^[5] I enjoyed my butter very much all though I had to sell some of it as I could not carry it but here we get plenty to eat now. We are doing very well as far as rations is conserned. We have had some cool weather here we could not keep under blanket comfortable. I hope to hear from you. I wrote to you to ingage your corn as soon as possible. I have not drawn any money yet we expect to in a few days. Make all the preparations you can to have some thing to live on. I wrote to Henry^[6] I would like to know whether he go it or not. If I should live until winter I will try to get a furlough to go home. Write to me direct to Charleston Tennesie. So I will close give my love to all the children and a grate portion for your self your husband.

A. M. Glazener

¹ Loudon, Tennessee.

² Bridgeport, Alabama.

³ except. = exceptional.

⁴ Tyner's Station TN, on R.R. 9 miles east of Chattanooga.

⁵ Birchwood, Tennessee.

⁶ Abram's son, Henry Clay Glazener.

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LaFayette Walker Co. Ga.^[1] Sept. 17th 1863

Dear wife

I one time more have the opportunity of writing you a few lines to inform you that I am well ever hoping these lines will find you and all the children well. I wrote to you when I was at Graysville. We have been marching for the last 10 days. I feel very much jaded but I have stood it very well. I have enjoyed fine health. We have had some little fighting. We lost some men our Regt., had one man wounded. We have a large army here I don't know how soon we will have to fight. I think we will whip them when we fight. My dear I don't know when I will have the chance to go home if my life is spared through this struggle. I am going to try to get home on a furlough. I feel very uneasy about you and the children I fear that you are sick. I often think of you in your sickness and wish to be with you but that privalidge I can not enjoy. It has just bin from home six months it seems like it has been longer.

My dear I don't have but a few minutes to write if I had the time I would like to write you a long letter but this will let you know that I am still well. You will have to manage the best you can until I get home. I want to make some arrangements about sowing wheat. When you write to me write all the nuse I have not heard from you since I left Charleston. We will leave here soon this evening. I cannot tell where we will go to. I do wish I was at home if I was I would stay a while. I want you to ever remember to put your trust in God and the children. Tell them for me to remember that their Pa will pray for them and their well fare while he is away from them. So I will have to go.

Give my love to all and receive a grate portion for your self.

I will close ever remembering you and the children.

Your husband as ever

A. M. Glazener

¹ Starting point the night of 17 September 1863, for 18th Alabama Infantry Regiment, part of Clayton's Brigade, Stewarts Division CSA, camped near Rock Springs. On 18th crossed the Chickamauga near Thedford's ford and on the 19th engaged the Union forces. Of a total of 527 officers and men of the 18th Ala. engaged on the 19th, 221 were killed, wounded or missing, leaving 306 to continue the Battle of Chickamagua on the 20th. (O.R. I, vol 30, part II, pp 400-406) Abram M. Glazener was killed on the 19th September 1863.

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November 22, 1863 Tallaseehatchie Baptist Church, Talladega County, Alabama

In the battle of Chickamauga Sept. 19th 1863 our Brethren Abram M. Glazener, Wm. A. McLeanty, and Richard W. Griffith fell martyrs to the cause of Southern Independence, by the hands of our implacable foes.

No higher Eulogy need be pronounced on these Noble, Gallant, Christian Patriots, than to say they enlisted under the Banner of their native South and fell in defence of Religions and Political Liberty and all the rights and priviledges which Patriotic Freemen hold sacred.

Therefore Resolved:

1st - That in the death of these bretheren our church has lost three faithful, worthy members, our country a trio of good citizens and brave soldiers, the families of Brethern Glazener and McLeanty, kind devoted husbands and fathers and the parents and family of Bro. Griffin, a dutiful son and affectionate Brother.

2nd - That our sincere condolence is hereby tendered to the families and relatives of the deceased.

3rd - That a blank page in our church book draped in black lines on the margin be dedicated to the memory of these Brethern on which shall be inscribed the following:

In memory of our Brethern

Abram M. Glazener

Wm. A. McLeanly and

Richard W. Grilfin;

who fell in the battle of Chickamauga Sept. 19, 1863.

4th - That a copy of this Preamble and Resolutions be furnished the families of each of the deceased. Tallaseehatchee Baptist Church, [Childersburg, Alabama]
November 22, 1863 Abner Williams
Thos. L. Pope
Wiley B. Boaz Committee

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[50 years later] 1913

W. P. Glazener^,[1] October 9, 1913, Childersburg Ala, 9/10/1913

Dear Sister Elvry Warren^[2]

I received your card a few days ago & should have written sooner I was glad to hear from you I did not know what had become of you Lee^[3] spent the night with me last fall he did not know whear you was I think he is a but the virginne mins (about the Viginia mines) tho I do not know Bamma is at Panama^[4] Okla Talitha is I think at Ida^[5] Okla Henry is at black springs^[6] Ark

We are all well at present I am farming this year I have a fine corn crop I think I will make a thousand bushels & lots of hay Nelly^[7] will teach school this winter they both graduated in the publick school this spring Florence^[8] is taking another course I want to send them too the Judson(sp) Collage next year if possable Well how does Fayet-^[9] look I would love to see them all again Well I can't realise that we are as old as we are

Time is passing fast- Just to think it has ben 50 years last September the 19 that father^[10] was kild Well we will all soon pass away & be forgoten

I have no news of interest to write & will close with love & kindest reagards to you & all

Your Brother

A. P. Glazener

¹ Abrams youngest son, William P. Glazener, became builder Childersburg AL, died 1949.

² Abram's oldest child, daughter Synthia Elvira Warren

³ Jackson Lee Warren, Elvira's son.

⁴ Abram's youngest child, Alabama Johnston, Panama is in Le Flore Co. OK.

⁵ Abram's daughter, Talitha A. McDonald, Ida became Battiest in McCurtain Co. OK.

⁶ Abram's oldest son, Henry Clay Glazener, Black Springs is in Montgomery Co. AR.

⁷ W P's daughter, Nellie Lee Glazener, long time teacher Childersburg AL, died 1979.

⁸ W P's daughter, Florence Glazener, married and moved to California.

⁹ Fayet- is Lafayette, however Joseph Lafayett Warren, Elvira's husband died in 1897.

Elvira's son J. Lafayette Warren was reported to have gone to Indian Territory, which

became state of Oklahoma in 1907. Elvira's son J. Lafayett may have visited home and

Lee told William P. Glazener during his over night stay at W.P.'s.

¹⁰ Abram M. Glazener, Co I, 18th Ala Inf Rgmt, CSA, Killed Battle of Chickamauga .

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Civil War Letters of Abram M. Glazener

Introduction

Background

Letters