The Civil War Letters of the Boyles Brothers

There were eight Boyles brothers before the outbreak of the Civil War. All but the youngest, Wade, would eventually serve in the War. Most of the brothers died from disease in the army camps, though two died of complications from war injuries: Calvin and James Haywood.

The letters written by the five Boyles brothers—Augustin, Calvin, Irvin, James Haywood, and Riley—were written from battlegrounds and army camps. We have no letters from the eldest two Boyles brothers—John William and Alexander Martin (known as Squire Eck). In the Duke Digital Repository you can find all these archived letters, and below are a few highlights which I’ve transcribed. Many of the letters were addressed to their sister Maryann and the youngest Boyles brothers still at home at the start of the War (Irvin, Riley, and Wade). You can see the personalities of each of the brothers in his writing: Augustin is a confident flirt, Calvin a deep-feeling romantic, and Riley the optimistic care-taker.

In these letters the brothers share their impressions of the War, of being away from home and family, camp conditions, shortages of food and clothes (one letter from January 1863 mentions they had no shoes), and the execution of men who tried to desert the army. They often include lists of things they’d like their father to bring from home: whiskey was a common request, as were bed quilts, honey, apples, and sauerkraut. They often wanted to hear about how crops were growing, how the old horse was faring, and how the new irons were fitting their wagon.

from Augustin to his brother Irwin

May the 6th, 1862, Camp Mangam Wake Co Raleigh NC, NC Volunteers in care of Capt David Scott

Dear brother I take my pen in hand to write a few lins to let you know that I am well at present and whippings these few lins may find you all well and harty again i am rite where i can see the cars run every day. i received your letter yesterday and was very glad to hear from you all. I was sorrow to hear that you all had the measles. It did not surprise me to hear of you having them. I bought me some pie today for the first (time?) since I have been here. Pies sell from 10 cents to 40 cents. Pies not bigger than your hand is each common size from 30 to 40 cents. I wish you could send me some pies and cakes and a jug full of whiskey. Maybe you could send some by somebody that comes down in from about there. If you do, send me a bed quilt. If we still stay here till after harvest and Pap comes down he must bring me some Irish potatoes and such like. I wrote Mary Ann a letter the day before I received yorn. Silas Westmoreland (?) and Pepper’s company are at  Raleigh now so they say. I must close by saying I remain your brothers until death. Write soon and let me know how you are getting along. 

A H Boyles to I E Boyles

from Augustin to his brother Irwin and sister Maryann

Camp Mangam, Wake Cty, Raleigh NC 5B Rgt Company, D in care of Capt D Scott, May the 12th 1862 

Dear brother I seat myself this evening to answer your kind and affectionate letter which I received today and it give me great satisfaction to her you was all in common health. I am well as common and I hope this few lines may find you all well and hearty. They are not all well about here. John William has got the measles. He is broke out a site and is very sick. There is half of Taylor’s men sick with the measles. There is not but seven men sick in our company. Tell all the girls that I am as sassy as a house pig. Tell the girls howdy for me. Don’t you hurt yourself hugging (all?) of the girls. Tell the girls not to forget me for I hant forgot them yet nor never will forget them I loved so well. William Slate say he can’t write to you now for he hant got any paper. He say you write to him and tell his folk to write to him. I could write from now till tomorrow. This time and not write al the strange things at that. Write soon as you get this and let me know how crops is.

A H Boyles to I E Boyles

To Mary A Boyles

Dear sister Ann, I seat myself to answer your kind letter which I review today about 2 o’clock and it give me great satisfaction to think you had not forgot me yet. No chance to come home shortly. I ant going to try to get a furlough until the first of August. I want you to send me a bottle of honey, a bed quilt, and towel to wipe my face and some pieces and cakes. Tell james to bring me that whiskey. Tell the girls not grieve (?) for me for when I come home I will make up all lost time. If I can has got a present to put in this letter for you. He says you must write  him and he will apply. He is not well. I am agoing down to town tomorrow if I can get off to have my type taken and I will sent it home as soon as I can. I want you all to show it to all of my girls but don’t let them kiss it too much or it will spoil them. I must close. Write soon. These lines leave me well and hearty.

from Calvin to his brother Wade

To Wade H. Boyles

February the 8th 1863

Dear Brother, I seat myself this evening to drop you a few lines to let you know I have not forgotten you. Wade, I want to see you mighty bad. Wade, you must not let Bull Dog bite anybody. You must be a good boy. Wade, I will send you a cap by D N Dalton. Sister, you can sew the cap brim on good and make it so it will fit his head. I have toted it ever since I left Raleigh. I have got my old hat that I fetched from home. Wade, I will send you some buttons on your cap. Remember me. 

Calvin H Boyles to Wade H Boyles

from Calvin to his parents

August the 23rd 1862 A few lines to father and mother and all the rest. Here I am and here I have to stay. I ain’t right well today. I hope this will find you all well. I han’t time to write much. I have wrote 3 times; I han’t heard from you yet. I should like to hear from home. I hear the cannons this morning in a steady roar; they are fighting at this time. There is no chance to get off here. Father have my truck took care of if you can. I can’t tell whether I will ever get home or not. If God will(s) me (to) live I will come sometime if I can. If it is my lot to die in the army I don’t know it. I hope I can get home before my time comes to die I can’t tell. Father and mother keep Mary from going in the wet dew or rain for it don’t agree with her. Father and mother I tell you this; I want to come home so bad that I can’t see no satisfaction day nor night. I can’t hardly write for my heart is so full. When I left home so near breaking my heart that I can’t get over it until I get home; it was mighty near death to me to leave home. Write to me as soon as you get this. Yesterday they was 70 yankees fetch to Gordonsville. Brother Augustin at Weldon he said brother James was sick in the tent but I could not yet to see him. Augustin told me that brother John was dead; he died at Petersburg. 

Remember C H Boyles

from Riley to his sister Maryann

Camp Garysburg NC

June 26th 1864

Dear sister, I seat myself this blessed (day?) to answer your kind and ? letter having date of the 19th June on which came safe to hadn’t the 23rd. I was glad to hear that you was well and all the rest. This leave me well and I hope it may find you and the rest well. Sister, I would have written to you before now but I had to be out on picket and just came in the morning and hasten to answer your request. I have not any news of importance, none especially that would be interesting to you. A few nights ago, we heard the cannons roaring all night in direction of Petersburg. I don’t think the Yankees are in some twenty or twenty-five miles from here. Sister, I am sorrow to tell you that we don’t get enough to eat. We drawed two pints of flour yesterday and it has to last us three days. We have plenty of meat but not more than a third enough bread. I wish this miserable ware would stop for I am getting very tired of it. Yesterday, five left our company to go home on a ten-day furlough. I think I will get one before long. All of us have the promise of a furlough whether we will get it or not, I don’t know. You said you wished I was at home with you. I second your wish and hope it may be granted before long. Today is Sunday and I am sitting here by a log writing a letter. i would like to be at home to go to meeting. There was preaching here today but i just had got in from of picket and was so hungry that I stayed and got my dinner. Give my love to Mary and all inquiring friends. Nothing more at present. Your affectionate brother, 

R R Boyles to Mary A Boyles