The Civil War - The Fighting Boys - Company "K" of the 52nd NC

ALS 1/7/1864 Lieutenant Romulus Leedy Cox (1834-1924), Company K, 52nd NC Regiment Infantry, Camp near Orange County, CH to brother John Henderson Cox (1831-1909), Forsyth County, NC. Letter consists mostly of family news. No battle action to report – only picket duty. Cox expresses concern for the family back home, since food is very scarce and he is worried about theft from the NC locals.

Letter is written on low quality Southern paper. Literacy is quite limited. Letter is transcribed as written, except some punctuation and capitalization added for clarity

Company "K" of the 52nd NC had the nickname "Fighting Boys". Most of them came from Forsyth County, NC.

Camp of the 52nd N.C. I. near Orange C.H.

January the 7th 1864

Dear Brother

I received yours of the 25th Dec. by L. Fulp; was glad to hear from you all once more; it had been so long since I heared from any of you. I am in usual health. Trust that this may find all of you the same.

I have but little news to write you: mearly write to let you know how I am getting on. I was glad to hear that the hog made such nice pork; and turned out so well. I would like to try to be there to help you eat crackling bread and sausage these cold mornings. Keep a close lookout for rogues; watch the crib and smoke house closely. Will be any amount of stealing done this winter as provisions are so scarce in that country. More than half of the people will not have enough to do them and will steal before they will suffer. If I was in your place I would fix a good warm place for Sharp (family dog) to lay somewhere about the smoke house or corn crib and he would let you know if any think pestered by barking. Think of that now, you may save your meat and corn by taking my advice about it. Tell Sarah (sister Sarah Good Cox b 1840) to watch her smoke house also. We sure are having plenty of Snow her now, and snowed here all day, cold enough to frieze dead and by here now. I stick close to my cabin these days; we don't do no duty now but picket duty. Have good deal of that to do. Have to go 9 miles on picket now since we moved, stay five days at a store where we go. Will go today or tomorrow, whole regiment goes at once. Had a letter from William (brother William H.H. Cox, b 1839) four days ago, was still at Wilson (NC) acting along tolerably well; was assisting Peyton (cousin Peyton Alexander Cox (1821-1895) all he could.

I sent Captain Blackburn's (Aurelius C. Blackburn (1839-1863) KIA Battle of Gettysburg) overcoat to you by Sergeant Tuttle four days ago. Let me know if you get it. I will have no other opportunity. Was Peter Tuttle's son I sent it by. I wrote Louisa (sister Louisa b 1823) last week. Captain Goslend has gone home on furlough. L. Walker will go as soon as he comes back, and then I shall try for one myself. Take good care of my Brandy and Jim. Kiss Luizza for me but don't wipe your mouth afterwards. Write soon. Write all the news when you write. My love to all.

Your Brother

R. L. Cox

Did you get all the sheep up this year? Take good care of them. Has Poindexter's Isaac draught come yet to pay for that coat? Recollect that he was to pay 4.60 of corn and the price of a half bs. in money for the coat? Where did you put the oats that came from Barrows? Have you had Shorter spayed yet? Notice them closely, somebody could snatch some of them very handly and not know anything til anything that concerns home surfaces and I will be glad to heare of it. I have no war news to write you. Congress seems to be remodeling everything; perhaps will get things right after a while. I think the rich and the poor, the high and the low will all have to have their (illegible) now. Is this war if I can see strate and it should have been so long time ago winning notto from the start. Write often.

Your R. L. C.

Direct your letter to the Army of Northern Va. That is my Post Office name, the Reg't & brigade.

Some toning, 2 pages with second page being crosshatched, very readable and overall in vg cond.