Eldrige Weaver III collection of Orear papers, 1861-1868 | Louisiana Research Collection

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Box 1: Orear correspondence and other papers

Folder 1: Orear correspondence and other papers, 1861 June 11-1863 June 28

1861 June 11. Address to the Ashville Guards.

1862 August 26. Receipt of staples issued Captain T.H. Kimball by Elisha Orear.

1863 March 16. Americus Pollard, Alabama, to H. Cmikshank. Draft of letter about southern reaction to the war. (Writer seems to be Elisha Orear.)

1863 June 7. Elisha Orear, Pollard, Alabama, to Matilda Caroline Orear.

1863 June 14. Elisha Orear, Greenville, Alabama, to his wife. He is detailed as Impressing Officer to hire or impress African-Americans to work on the fortifications at Mobile.

1863 June 20. Elisha Orear, Greenville, Alabama, to Carrie Orear.

1863 June 28. Elisha Orear, Greenville, Alabama, to Carrie Orear.

Folder 2: Orear correspondence and other papers, 1863 July 5-September 29

1863 July 5. Elisha Orear, Greenville, Alabama, to wife. Lists reading instructions to his wife to aid her in reading the classics.

1863 July 26. Elisha Orear, Monroeville, Alabama, to his wife. (badly foxed and stained)

1863 August 1. Elisha Orear, Monroeville, Alabama, to his wife. (torn)

1863 August 13. Elisha Orear, Pollard, Alabama, to his wife. He sent to his wife a box containing fabric, calico dress, peach and magnolia seeds, and sugar.

1863 August 15. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife.

1863 August 17. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife.

1863 August 21. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife. He discusses the classics and requests her to buy timbered land near Blue Eye.

1863 August 29. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to wife, Carrie. He is impressing horses for Artillery Service; notices that the city is being well fortified; inquires after her teaching and suggests she be paid in kind.

1863 September 5. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to Carrie. He writes concerning bands of poor women going through the city taking what they needed from shopkeepers.

1863 September 9. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to Carrie. Orear sends grape seeds to his father.

1863 September 10. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to Carrie.

1863 September 14. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to wife. Orear is ill with intermittent fever. Sergeant Green bringing grape and magnolia seeds.

1863 September 16. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to Carrie.

1863 September 19. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to Carrie. His trunk arrives and he thanks her for gifts of food and requests a new suit to be cut and braid readied.

1863 September 26. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife.

1863 September 29. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to Carrie. He requests her to file away all his letters for future reference.

Folder 3: Orear correspondence and other papers, 1863 October 3-29

1864 October 3. Elisha Orear, Alabama, to his wife. Orear is in charge of felling timber around the city of Mobile between the two lines of breastwork.

1863 October 7. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife.

1863 October 9. Elisha Orear, Mobile to his father. (very light brown ink)

1863 October 15. Elisha Orear, Mobile, to his wife. Orear still felling trees and finds almost an impenetrable swamp. Attached: 1863, October 16. Elisha Orear to his wife.

1863 October 17. 1st Sergeant Asa O. Green, City Redoubt, Mobile, Alabama, to Lieutenant L.A. Conoley, 29th Alabama Regiment. Request for leave to aid family after death of father. Back of letter contains list of men sick and on furlough.

1863 October 21. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife. He plans to buy matches as a speculative measure.

1863 October 25. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to Carrie. He requests wool socks to sell.

1863 October 29. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife.

Folder 4: Orear correspondence and other papers, 1863 November 2-25

1863 November 2. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife. Orear sent a set of plates and wished prices from the county so he could speculate in goods (typescript attached).

1863 November 4. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife (typescription attached).

1863 November 7. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife.

1863 November 12. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife. Orear accuses a slave of stealing his watch. The man admits to stealing an axe and a bar of soap but not the watch. Because the man had been the cook in his mess, Orear changed mess for fear of eating the food of a man he had whipped. Orear encourages his wife to put her affairs in order so she may return to Mobile with him. Orear requests her to buy beeswax as tallow candles are dear.

1863 November 17. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife. Orear lent Ephraim, slave of James Embry, $15 for meals as he was underfed.

1863 November 19. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife. Orear wishes for Carrie to ask his mother how to make blacking from China-Berries for himself and the company.

1863 November 21. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife. One brigade has left and we may have a great battle in the direction of Chattanooga shortly. Orear sent four dozen pins to his wife to sell and three dozen spelling books.

1863 November 25. Elisha Orear, Mobile, to his wife. Orear says he has bought a number of books and asks her to send money as he has borrowed in order to speculate with needles, pins, and matches.

Folder 5: Orear correspondence and other papers, 1863 December 1-15

1863 December 1. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife. Orear received apples from cousin Alice and will bring candy in return. Letter attached: 1863 December 2. News from Bragg's Army not so cheering. "I see no chance for anything but utter destruction unless there lie a moral reformation in our Army and among the citizens." There are parties or a party every night here, and people don't attend church.

1863 December 9. Elisha Orear, Alabama, to his wife. (First half page very light.) Orear has purchased lace for his coat, both sleeve and collar. Orear has bought some needles for Carrie to sell. Letter continued: 1863 December 10. Note that sister, Fanny Gibson, married Jackson Young.

1863 December 11. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife. Orear received money and "courting candle." He had a letter from Dr. Acker since the fight and retreat to Dalton.

1863 December 15. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife. He is still on special duty. Probably won't have leave until after Christmas; one case of smallpox in unit.

Folder 6: Orear correspondence and other papers, 1864 February 6-28

1864 February 6. Elisha Orear, Pollard, to Carrie. The regiment left Mobile in two boats (Virginia and Reindeer). The 17th Alabama and Wards Battery joined with 150 horses. It is rumored that the enemy is landing at both Milton and Pensacola. He packed up and removed his things as a new regiment is in the camps and there is much stealing.

1864 February 25. Elisha Orear, Buckatunna, Mississippi, to Carrie. Orear's 29th birthday. The 17th and 4th Company of the 29th to go back to Mobile. He sold two hats she made for $50. Expects train soon.

1864 February 27. A.O. Green, Buckatunna, Mississippi, to Carrie Orear, Lincoln, Alabama. "One of our company took up a man supposed to be a spy and the rumor is when he was examined they found about his person a complete map of our situation here and the directions of all roads, though he expressed himself a citizen of Mobile and had been about Meridian and Enterprise to buy some stock."

1864 February 28. Elisha Orear, Buckatunna, Mississippi, to Carrie. The shelling at Fort Powell continues.

Folder 7: Orear correspondence and other papers, 1864 March 2-31

1864 March 2. Elisha Orear, Shubuta, Mississippi, to Carrie. The object of the move seemed to be to apprehend a large number of deserters said to be in regular organization to Jones County. The Sharpshooters, 15th Confederate Cavalry, our artillery are at Waynesboro about ten miles below here.

1864 March 4. Elisha Orear, Mississippi, to my wife and parents. Orear refers to buying black and white thread and knitting needles to sell at home. The palmetto is very fine in the area and Orear plans to try and send some home.

1864 March 6. Elisha Orear, Shubuta, Mississippi, to his wife. Three deserters were hung. Orear has gathered palmetto and scalded it. He hopes it will make the trip in good condition.

1864 March 8. Elisha Orear, Shubuta, Mississippi, to his wife. Letter accompanied trunk of Orear and Green.

1864 March 8. Elisha Orear, Shubuta, Mississippi, to his wife. Orear tells his wife that he is sending the trunk with palmetto. Groceries have advanced fifty percent.

1864 March 12. Elisha Orear, Shubuta, Mississippi, to his wife. Orear says that Dr. Acker, in Mobile, can't find any thread on the market.

1864 March 12. Elisha Orear, Shubuta, Mississippi, to his parents. He saw a woman weeping for her husband the cavalry hung in Jones County. "Goods are increasing so use what you have as if I could not get any more."

1864 March 15. Elisha Orear, Shubuta, Mississippi, to his wife and parents.

1864 March 22. Elisha Orear, Shubuta, Mississippi, to his wife. There was a large Masonic funeral procession. "I would be glad to have some of Father's molasses. Six companies of our regiment are here yet and the other four at Pollard."

1864 March 24. Elisha Orear, Mobile, Alabama, to his wife and parents. Safe in the city on my way to Pollard by boat. Attached: 1864 March 26. Election of Sergeant A.O. Green to rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

1864 March 28. Elisha Orear, Pollard, Alabama, to wife and parents. Sent merchandise in trunk by one of the boys on furlough.

1864 March 30. Elisha Orear, Pollard, Alabama, to Carrie. Glad to hear you received palmetto and entered into business with sister Nancy. Continuation: 1864 March 31. "There is some rumor of the seventeen having orders to prepare three days cooked rations and sixty rounds - what is to be done I cannot say."

1864 March 31. Elisha Orear to Carrie.

Folder 8: Orear correspondence and other papers, 1864 April 1-29

1864 April 1 or 7. Elisha Orear, Camp Mansy, Alabama, to Carrie.

1864 April 2. Elisha Orear, Pollard, Alabama, to wife. Orear is made Captain of Company A, 29th Alabama Volunteers. Continuation: 1864 April 3. "The probabilities are that we will have an active campaign this spring." He is sending books home that are heavy to carry and may be lost.

1864 April 8. Elisha Orear, Camp Mansy, Alabama, to his wife (typescript attached).

1864 April 11. Elisha Orear, Pollard, Alabama, to Father. Many rumors about moving.

1864 April 14. Elisha Orear, Pollard, Alabama, to his wife. "...as five dollar bills are so fact depreciating, you had better not sell for them, but not offer your merchandise until you can get the new currency and then hold on to all the 'new issue' you can get."

1864 April 20. Elisha Orear, Pollard, Alabama, to his wife. John B. Williams leaves here today for Blue Eyes. Orders are to secure off all heavy baggage. "Don't know where we will go but think from the order of four days cooked rations that we may go to Virginia...The order is to move at once, must hurry."

1864 April 22. Elisha Orear, Montgomery, to Carrie. "Will go to Atlanta tonight and from there to Dalton or Richmond."

1864 April 24. Elisha Orear, Rome, Georgia, to his wife. "It is said the 'Yanks' are flanking Johnston's army at Dalton - which hurried us here rapidly to meet their 'right' wing...There is evidently a heavy battle pending here and we must be in it."

1864 April 25. Elisha Orear, Rome, Georgia, to his wife.

1864 April 26. Elisha Orear, Rome, Georgia, to his wife.

1864 April 29. Elisha Orear, Rome, Georgia, to his wife. "At twelve last night we formed on the colors and marched off to the battlefield but had to return without a fight. We form the left wing of General Johnston's army and will probably remain here some time, unless the Yanks remove us by force."

Folder 9: Orear correspondence and other papers, 1864 May 1-12

1864 May 1. Elisha Orear, Rome, Georgia, to his wife. "I think the great battle will come off here about 10th inst., but what the result will be cannot tell...I would like to see the hats you made." Teach if you like but since you are tired of teaching, I do not care whether you teach or not. "Martin's Cavalry will all be here in a few days. Should we be attacked here we need cavalry more than anything else."

1864 May 3. Elisha Orear, Rome, Georgia, to his wife. Please send "Union Question Book" for our Sabbath School.

1864 May 4. Elisha Orear, Rome, Georgia, to his wife. If you care to come I'll be glad to see you.

1864 May 5, 8 a.m. Elisha Orear, Rome, Georgia, to his wife. "We have been up cooking since twelve o'clock last night. Ordered to be ready to move at a moment's warning and hence I do not know which line may be my last." Excellent ink she sent, make a large bottle full.

1864 May 5, 3 p.m. Elisha Orear, Rome, Georgia, to his wife. "We are awaiting the train at this place and will leave about five or six for...about fifteen miles this side of Dalton.

1864 May 6. Elisha Orear, Resaca, Georgia, to his wife. "...the skirmishing is very heavy along the lines in front of Dalton. We have struck camp about half mile from the depot and the inference is that we will move to the front as soon as our baggage train arrives."

1864 May 7. Elisha Orear, Resaca, Georgia, to his wife. "I hear the cannon in the direction of Dalton firing very heavy indeed."

1864 May 9, 6 p.m. Elisha Orear, Resaca, Georgia, to his wife. (pencil) "the skirmishing began about twelve today and has continued at intervals ever since." Orear describes troop location and the action of the battle.

1864 May 10. Elisha Orear, Resaca, Georgia, to his parents. "The Yanks retired fro the field yesterday evening after about twenty-five casualties in our brigade."

1864 May 12. Elisha Orear, Resaca, Georgia, to his wife. Stay in Kingston until it is safe to come.

Folder 10: Orear correspondence and other papers, 1864 September 5-November 19

Due to a gap in correspondence, Orear was possibly wounded and home until September.

1864 September 5. Elisha Orear, Montgomery, to his parents and wife. "Slept in depot (Talladega) Friday and came on to Selma Saturday but did not get a boat until late." Orear describes transportation back to his command at Lovejoy's Station.

1864 September 8. Elisha Orear, Lovejoy's Station, Georgia, to his parents and wife. Orear continues his journey from Montgomery to Lovejoy via Columbus and Macon. He travels with Solomon. Baker's Brigade has gone to Mobile. "I know Sherman will not remain idle long. He will certainly either do that or make his way to Richmond and assist Grant to storm the place...I am in fine spirits notwithstanding all seems dark."

1864 September 13. Elisha Orear, new Lovejoy's Station, to my parents and wife. "I feel no soreness from my wound." He reports receiving citizens from Atlanta into line; Sherman's movements unknown. "The soldiers are yet dissatisfied about Johnson's removal." Orear is with Contey's Brigade, Walthall's Division.

1864 September 17. Elisha Orear, Lovejoy's Station in the field, to his parents and wife. "No news from the enemy...It is thought that Sherman has gone to Virginia and that we will go soon...Hardee's and Lee's Corps are above here towards Jonesboro."

1864 September 20. Elisha Orear, in the field near the Chattahoochee River, Campbell County, Georgia, to his parents and wife. Please address me: Captain Orear, Army of Tennessee. He thinks they are marching north to attack Sherman's northern flank.

1864 September 27. Elisha Orear, near Palmetto Station, Georgia, to his parents and wife. "President Davis reviewed the army yesterday and invites the officers to call on him at Army Head Quarters today." Orear relates an attack by Lieutenant Colonel Morris on Colonel Conoley. he asks his wife to send him as many cloth hats and socks as possible as he has a ready market for them. "It is rumored Beauregard will certainly take charge of this Army."

1864 September 28. Elisha Orear, near Palmetto Station, Georgia, to his parents and wife. All is well. The rumors of Beauregard persist. The men would be better satisfied as they can't believe in Hood.

1864 October 6. Elisha Orear, in the field near Allatoona, Georgia, to his parents and wife. "We are to strike a blow at Sherman's rear. Reynold's Brigade took a little place just above Big Shanty and also at Acworth captured quite a number of prisoners at each place and tore up track, too. In all we destroyed about eleven miles completely and the Yanks had not a train for fifteen days at Atlanta. French's division attacked Allatoona but did not accomplish much and lost a great many men."

1864 October 9. Elisha Orear, Cedartown, Georgia, to his parents and wife. We are going to be fighting in a few days then probably fall back to Blue Mountain.

1864 October 18. Elisha Orear, Gaylesville, Alabama, to his wife.

1864 October 21. Elisha Orear, four miles below Gadsden, to his dear parents and loving wife. Orear gives a history of the march from Cedartown, Georgia to Gadsden via Cave Springs, Resaca, Dalton, and Gaylesville. He sends a message of Beauregard's amnesty to a deserter. (Typescript attached; original is extremely faded.)

1864 October 30. Elisha Orear, camp on railroad five miles below Jonesboro, to his wife. "The Negroes charged a battery of Lorings Divison and took three pieces, but brigade retook them again."

1864 November 4. Elisha Orear, Tuscumbia, Alabama, to his parents and wife. Orear remarks favorably on the countryside and the old city of Tuscumbia.

1864 November 5. Elisha Orear, Tuscumbia, Alabama, to his parents and wife. "Lee's Corps said to be fortifying at Florence and Cheatham's near this place...No one knows what Beauregard and Hood may do."

1864 November 8. Elisha Orear, Tuscumbia, Alabama, to his wife. "We have some good news here. 'Tis said that Forest has captured two gun boats and three or four transports with 120 tons stores at the river tomorrow." He requests some stout shoes. (Letter unsigned.)

1864 November 9. Elisha Orear to his wife. It is said that the whole Union Army is holding Atlanta. We cross the river tomorrow.

1864 November 10. Elisha Orear to his wife. Still in Tuscumbia. (On same sheet as November 9 letter.)

1864 November 12. Elisha Orear, Tuscumbia, to his parents and wife. General Beauregard reviewed Stewart's Corps. He tells of accidental death of the Chief of the 17th Alabama Bank, Professor Ross. "The weather is growing so cold I would not care if Beauregard would abandon the idea of a raid into Tennessee and go into winter quarters at once."

1864 November 18. Accounts of debts and debtors. Listing of three large bills, date of issue and number. (Extremely faded.)

1864 November 19. Note attached to above letter.

Folder 11: Orear correspondence and other papers, 1868 January 19-21

1868 January 19. Malinda Caroline Orear, Lincoln, Talladega County, Alabama to Pace and Nancy. Malinda relates all the friends who have married since Pace and Nancy left. She describes her weaving of several counterpanes and quantity of spun wool on hand. She will teach school at Pea Ridge in February for three months and again in July. The animals, all listed, are well and producing. Ben Orear's Honduras Fever has cooled off and he is going to try the swamp again. Attached note; William Orear to friends. He notes that there is excitement over the constitution framed by the Radical Convention. "We are fearful we will not be able to defeat it." Effort to keep African-Americans from voting.

Note on back: 1868 January 21. Malinda Caroline Orear. She discusses the gossip as to whether Forney stole his wife.

Folder 12: Orear correspondence and other papers, undated

undated. Due Captain Orear for tobacco at Rome. Two columns of names with amounts.

undated. List of books purchased of A.C. Titcomb, Mobile, Alabama, by Elisha Orear which were sent home by A.W. Mayfield.

undated. Note requesting wife to keep the paper until after the war.

undated. List of seven wonders of the world with notations as to source.

undated. Four pages xeroxed from the Weaver Family Bible showing dates.

undated. Letter, Elisha Orear to his wife. Extremely fragile condition.