Confederate Letters of James Parrish (1816 – 1864)
June 5, 1864 letter from James Parrish to his wife. Full image available at http://www.berriencountyga.com
Provided below is the transcription of a Civil War letter written June 5, 1864 by James Parrish. The letter is one of a collection of five Civil War letters written by James Parrish during the summer of 1864, while he was serving with the Confederate Army near Atlanta. These letters have been published along with other Civil War letters at the Berrien County Historical Society website courtesy of John C. Futch. James Parrish addressed the letters to his wife and mentioned or referred to Captain Godfrey, Thomas Ray, Eli Futch, Ansel Parrish, Absalom Parrish, Thomas DeVane, P. W. Sineath, Thomas Futch, and others.
James Parrish, son of Henry Parrish, Berrien County, GA
James Parrish’s letters home show he was with his unit at Camp Georgia near Atlanta in May, 1864.
The following letter was written June 5, 1864:
Camp Georgia Neare Atlanta Ga.
June the 5, 1864
Deare wife I once more imbrace the opportunity of dashing you a few lines which will informe you that I am in tolerable health. I truley hope this will come to hand in due time and find you all enjoying the best of health and as well satisfyde as the case will admit. I will now say to you that I have but little newes that is reliable to write you more than what you see in the papers. we have a grate variety of newes here but we do not confidence were all of them. we are still at the same place. we have all organised I think in companyes and Regments. Godfry is co. Captain, Thomas Ray, first Liutinant. we have a grate many woonded soldiers coming in here but there has not come any of the Berrien boys yet as I have herd of yet. Some of our men go to the hospital all most every day. There was a good rain here yesterday and after the rain slacked there was hevey fireing of the -nnon in the direction of our armey. we here the morning that Shurmans armey have fell back 10 miles. whether this is so or not I cannot tell. I will now say to you that I have made all the enquery I can about Eli. I have herd he had give out and was gone to the hospittle but wher I can not tell. It is thought by some that we will not stay here many days. Gov. Brown have bin to see cos. twice. He says he will not keep us here eny longer than he can help. our county men I believe is all tolerable well. Let Mother and Ansel read this letter. I will close. You must write me all the newes. direct your letters to Camp Georgia near Atlanta, Ga fifth ? Ga Militia care Cap Godfrey
Your loving husban
James Parrish
On July 2, 1864 the company was at a “camp in the woods” about ten miles west of Atlanta on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. On July 26, 1864 James W. Parrish wrote that was detailed as a company cook.
By the time of the 1864 Census for Reorganizing the Georgia Militia, James Parrish had returned to Berrien County where he was enumerated as a 46-year-old farmer.
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