These are letters that my family have had for some time. I transcribed them the best that I could. Anything enclosed in [ ] is my addition. The notes are from me.
John W. Moore (possible middle name Warren)
born abt 1827 and died between 1870-1880
Mahala Ann Roberts
born abt 1828 and died November 17, 1886
The married 23 Oct 1847 in Mobile Alabama.
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Civil War Letters of John W Moore to Mahala Ann Roberts
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Outside of the letter reads:
To
Mrs Mahala Moore
Mobile, Ala
from JWMoore
July 13th 1864
_____________Battlefield near atlanta
Georgia
Near atlanta Georgia
July 10th 1864
My dear wife I am well and in fact I am in the best of health. Orson[,] Lewis[,] Irvin[,] and Alfred Roberts are all well[.] John Graham[,] Geo. Tootle[,] and Dan Holden are all well, we are encamped near the chattahoochee river guarding a ferry and for the last three day we have had little or no to do[.] the Yankees have crossed the River 20 miles above here and wi[ll] soon take atlanta[.] that is in a fe[w] days say 10 or 20 days[.] they have abou[t] 150 thousand and we have about 60 thous[and] fighting men[.] they wont[sic] fight us[,] but surround us[.] that causes us to fall back to keep between them and the Rail Road[.] give my respec[t] and love to John Martin & Tommy Rober[ts.] tell Martin I saw ben Hamilton & frank but did not have an opportunity to talk to them[.] I saw Dick Hamilton they are all we[ll.]
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**Note: -Lewis Roberts is Mahala’s nephew died November 1864 in battle, -Irvin Roberts is Mahala’s nephew, -Alfred Roberts is Mahala’s nephew,- John Graham, George Tootle and Dan Holden were from Ocean Springs, Ms. all were about 19 years old and lived next to several of Mahala’s first cousins, -Tommy Roberts is Mahala’s nephew,- Ben Hamilton’s wife is Mahala’s niece, -Frank Hamilton’s wife is Mahala’s niece. I do not know who Dick Hamilton, John Martin or Orson Roberts refers to however, there are many Hamilton’s married into the Roberts family.**
July 11th 1864
Tell all the children to write to me and to write often and let me know how you are all getting along and what things are and what things are selling at[.] give my love to father and mother[.] tell them I am well[.] let me know how Harriet and her children are getting along,
Kiss all the children for me[.] tell Jo and Levy to kiss you for me[.] tell Jo he is my boy and they must all let him alone[.] tell Levy to save a pig for me[.] tell dolly to save me a pair of chickens when I come home[.] I have been 2 days writing this letter and must close my dear beloved mehala I send you many kisses and all of my love JWMoore
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**Note: Jo reference above is most likely Joseph Moore who would be about 1 year old. Joseph more had a physical and possibly mental disability.**
Battlefield near atlanta Geo [date unreadable, possibly July 12th 1864]
My dear Mehala
I am Tolerable well[.] we are about two miles from the front[.] to day we left the line of Battle[.] day before yesterday evening late on our falling back I saw Frank Hamilton and Ben Hamilton going in to the front both well[.] we have had two days rest which is the most we have had for 45 days[.] the boys are all well except Wm Deakle[.] I cant[sic] hear anything from him since he went to the hospital. The bays have all been under fire and have done well[.] Orson has been back to the wagon train[.] his horse was sick[.] he has not been in any fight[,] nor I don’t intend for him to be if I can help it[.] I always make him hold the horses and let the others do the fighting[.] Dave Young is well[;] tell his wife[.] So is Wm Young & George Young. The fighting to day is not much[.] day before yesterday the fighting was heavy[.] we were under fire of twelve cannon[sic] for 3 hours[.] we were in 400 yards of them[.] there were 3 men wounded slightly none of our company hurt[.] the shell burst all around us and over us cutting down trees[.] there were hundreds of cannon balls & shells that did not miss our company ten feet[,] some not 5 feet[.] we lay flat on the ground and they just passed over us[.] we were holding a point for our infantry to come up and we were ordered to hold it at all Hazards and I really thought we would all be killed or captured for the yankees were 20 to one of us but reinforcements came cam to us in time and drove the yankees Back in 30 minutes but we lost many a man[.] hundreds were wounded and [unreadable two words]…the yankees[.] a great many Rebels. we are doing very well we get sugar[,] coffee[,] whiskey…[unreadable three words]…our horse do not get more than one hay…[unreadable three words]…but we get plenty of …[unreadable word]… & wheat…[unreadable four words]…and help…[unreadable word]…
-continues on the back of the page-
give my respects to all who inquire after me[.] tell them I am well[.]I have just drank a good cup of coffee[,] but it would be a great deal better if I could have had clarisa[sic] to make it and you to have put in the cream and sugar and have little Jo to sit in my lap and drink with me and levy & dolly by my side to talk to me [.] tell Eugene[,] Percy & Martha to write to me and let one hear all about how you are getting along[.] when you write Direct you letters to (Lieut J W Moore company A Millers Regt Fergusons Brigade Jacksons division cavalry Atlanta Georgia)[sic] Kiss all of the children for me and tell them all to kiss you for me (tell Betty howdy and tell her to let me know how long before she can give me a ripe water melon and some gumbo) tell Bethiar that frank and Ben Hamilton was well day before yesterday[.]
-same page-
My dear Mehala I long to see the end of this war that I may come home and spend the ballance[sic] of my days in peace with you and my dear little children[.] tell them that if they know how much I suffered and went through with in body and mind they would certainly be good and kind to their mother; I have been now 45 days that I have not had a change of clothes and have not pulled off my boots more than 6 nights; some time I have been on my horse for 3 days & nights and for 3 days & nights have I done without one mouthful to eat or one particle of sleep(.) my saddle has been on my horse for ten days at a time[.] it has rained here for 15 days every day and every night[.] I can tell you a great deal more when I see you, remember me my dear Mehala I would give you all the world to be with you now[.]
Your loving Husband JW Moore
Battlefield near Atlanta Geo, July 13th 1864
My dear Mehala
I received a letter from father and enclosed you will fined one to him please to send it to him[.] I could not right to him or any one without writing to you also[.] I am well the weather is warm and showery[.] I am anxious to hear from you all[.] we are camped about five miles from Atlanta on the Bank of the Chatahoochee[sic] River[.] the yankees are on the other bank[.] we are firing across the river night and day[.] while I am writing there has been one of our captains belonging to another regiment shot through the head[.] they are carrying the poor fellow back to the rear. The river is about 100 to150 yards wide[.] the boys are all well[.] Dick Hamilton was shot through the arm, a day or to ago[.] write to me if Wm Deakle has got home and how he is as I heard he had gone home, Give my love to Bethiar and family to Jeff’s wife and to Clarisa[sic] and John Martin & Patsy Martin and to Tommy & his family and give my respects to all inquire for me. Kiss all the children tell Betty howdy for me. Tell Clarisy to take good care of my by Jo. Tell Levy[,] dolly and Jo to kiss you for me[.] tell Jo he is my boy and they must let him alone[.] tell Percy, Martha and Eugene to learn as fast as they can and to write to me and let me see how fast they can learn.
I remain as ever dear Mehala
Your loving
Husband JWMoore
Direct your letters to
Lieut J W Moore Co A Millers Regt
Fergusons Brigade Calvary Atlanta
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**Note:-Frank Hamilton’s wife is Mahala’s niece, ,- Ben Hamilton’s wife is Mahala’s niece, -William Deakle is Mahala’s nephew and William Deakle’s wife Susan Roberts is Mahala’s niece, -Clarissa Deakle is William Deakle’s mother and Mahala’s sister., -Bethiar is Mahala’s Sister and Ben Hamilton’s mother-in-law,- Betty is Betty Shem which is John and Mahala’s neighbor. -John and Patsy Martin, Patsy is Mahala’s niece, I do not know the relationship of “Harriet,”Dave Young, William Young, George Young to John W or Mahala Moore.**
**Note on John and Mahala’s children. I have the following children listed for John and Mahala: John Percy Moore b.1850, Eugene Moore b.1852, Martha Moore b.1852/53, Mahala Elizabeth Moore b.1855, Jane and Mascalia? Moore b1858(twins), and Joseph Moore b.1863. In the letters John makes reference to Jo-Joseph, Percy-John Percy, Eugene, Martha, Dolly-Mahala Elizabeth. I do not have a record of a child named Levy, but it is evident from the letters that John and Mahala have a son, Levy.**