Our cousin Ronald Bracewell of Cochran, Georgia has sent us these letters which were written by, and about Bracewell soldiers who entered the Civil War at Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia. They were cousins to Joseph Marion Bracewell [brother to James Newton Bracewell, by great, great grandfather], who entered the war from Skipperville, Dale County, Alabama. Joseph Marion's father, William, had moved the family from Laurens County to Alabama about 1850.

Joseph Marion did not fight in the areas these boys were in. The Laurens County group were under command of Robert E. Lee and fought mostly in Pennsylvania and Virginia, whereas Joseph Marion was in many battles around Chattanooga and Atlanta under command of General Brixton Bragg and later General Joseph E. Johnston, fighting against the armies of General Sherman.

The 22nd Alabama Infantry, in retreat from Atlanta and enroute to join forces with Lee's army fought its last battle in Bentonville, NC on March 19th and 20th, 1865.

After Lee's surrender, Joseph Marion, and the other men of his unit were "paroled," at Greensboro, NC May 1, 1865.

Richmond, VA
July 25, 1863
Camp Jackson Hospital
2nd Division, Ward G

Dear Father and Mother,

I seat myself to drop you a few lines which leaves me not well. Hope this finds you all well.

Mother, I got wounded in the hand at the Gettysburg fight on the 3rd of July, but thank the Lord, I am mending. Col. Simons of my brigade helped me to do up my hand and told me I had better get out to the rear and have my hand dressed. Mother, it was the biggest battle I have ever seen. They say General Lee lost 50,000 men in 16 days. Dear Mother, you couldn't tell one cannon from another. It was a continuous roar all the time. We were lying behind a rock fence and everything was quiet. I could see the Yankees' cannon and they were walking around them and neither side was firing. In a few mintues, General Lee rode up on his old gray hourse and asked me to hold his horse for him. I did so. he took out this telescope and spied over at the Yankees and in a few miutes he left. I saw a courier coming with a paper in his and, which he gave to the Captian of the cannonade. Then we fired at the Yankees and they returned it. Every now and then a ball would strike the fence. Mother, I want you to know it frightened them. I was just as afraid of the rock in the ground. Cousin Wiley Bracewell was wounded and left on the field and the Yankees got him. We could hear him calling for his brother, but it was at night and his brother was afraid to go out to him. He was at the halfway ground and his brother never saw him anymore. Dear Mother, they think peace will be made soon. I hope so, for I am tired of this dreadful wad, and I want it to soon close, for I want to see you all the worst I ever didn in all my life. Dear Father and Motehr, I want you both to pray for me, for I feel needful of your prayers. Tell all the children I want to see them and to write to me. Will close, hoping to hear from you soon.

Your son until death,
Jesse A. Bracewell
Co. G., 48th GA Regiment

Between March 4 and May 16, 1862, William S.A. Bracewell and his four brothers, James W., Jesse A., John C., and Wiley K. enlisted in Company G, the "Laurens Volunteers," 49th Georgia Infantry. Sent to the Eastern theatre of war and assigned to Thomas' Brigade, Pender's Division, A.P. Hill's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, William S.A. Bracewell wrote to his wife Sarah Ann on September 16 from Winder Hospital in Richmond, and Wiley to his mother October 12 from a hospital in Winchester. They both spoke of their yearning for home. William S.A. Bracewell expressed his concern for the crops and for WIley's lack of "sox." With the characteristic typical of the simple faith of so many rural southern boys in the army, Wiley wrote, "I want you to pray for me and if we never meet again, I know we will meet in heaven..."

Winder Hospital, Richmond
Sept. 16th 1862

Dear Wife:

I am better of as to health now than I have been in 3 months but am not well yet. I hope this will find you and children well. I have no news to write you. I want you to take good care of your effects for I think provisions will be scarce. Write me what crops you have made and direct your letter to me, Winder Hospital, 1st Division, Ward N, Richmond, Virginia. I will stay here until I get well and if I don't get well soon I will try for a furlough but it's a bad chance to get one. My health is better than it has been in some time but I am not well yet. I would like to see you all very much but cannot now. Our army has got so far that it is a bad cahnce for me to reach them. Tell all the children howdy for me. Send W.K. some sox if you please.

So I remain your obedient servant,

W.S.A. Bracewell
to Mrs. Sarah Ann Bracewell

P.S. We will start tomorrow to our regiment and you need not write until we write again.

Winchester, October 12, 1862

My dear mother,

As I have at last found an opportunity to write to you I have concluded to write immediately. I am now in the hospital at this place though I expect to go to the regiment in a few days. I heard that Aunt Polly Weaver was dead which I was very sorry to hear. Tell the children I want to see them all very bad. Bud says he wants to see them all very bad.  He says he lives in hope of going home some time (unreadable). He wants you to pray for him. I must close now. Give my love and respects to all the family. I want you to pray for me and if we never meet on earth again I know we will meet in heaven. You must write soon to your

Affectionate son,
W.K. Bracewell