This Week's Picture

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Union soldiers distribute captured Confederate clothing
to freed slaves at New Bern

From Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
North Carolina Collection, UNC Library at Chapel Hill

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This Week's Story

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New Bern
January 4, 1864

To Abigail Pierce, Petty Shore, Chowan River:

Dear sister Abigail:

It's all a miracle! Good Lord, the world is beautiful! You don't have to worry any more about telling me anything you hear about Isaac. I'm going to tell you! You tell mama and Job and everybody!

I found our brother yesterday and he looks really good. He seems to be a lot taller than when he left in '61, and I guess that's to be expected. He's really healthy and is grown into a right big strong-looking man. He doesn't have a CSA uniform on, either. He pledged allegiance to The Stars and Stripes at this place on Christmas Day and put on a blue coat like mine. Now we're both marching in Company C, 2nd NC Infantry US. Lord, I am so happy! It is hard to believe, but I guess the Lord really is working in wondrous ways like they say.

He is a sergeant already! He said that when they found out he could read and write and knew how to lead a squad in about-face and forward march, they handed him the stripes right off. I can read and write just about as good as he can, and as soon as I learn a little more about this soldiering job, I'm planning to put on some of those stripes myself.

I told him all about Milly and the kids, that they're in Plymouth and are probably going to meet Cit somewhere. When he found out that Cit was coming over, too, he just about cried. It is all so good. Christmas and New Year and everything else all packed into one big happy ball, and now the sun turning around and coming back this way!

We are not going to stay long around here. There are a lot of rumors that the Confederates are getting ready to make a big attack around New Bern, and this place is packed slam full of runaway slaves and the army is loaded with blue-coats like Isaac that used to wear gray. The 2nd reg't is one of those that is supposed to be kept back from harm's way because of how the seceshes have been treating the galvanizeds when they catch them. Still hanging them in bunches like that poor crowd up in Kinston, God save their souls.

I think we are going to get closer to the coast. Maybe down around Fort Macon or somewhere like that. They say Macon is a stronger fort than Sumter even, and that the Rebs don't have any chance of ever getting it back. We don't have any idea how we're going to get there, but I hear there is a railroad that runs from here to there. I wouldn't complain for the world, but I sure kind of hope we don't have to walk any more any time soon. We pulled out of Little Washington a couple days after Christmas with what we had left of the wagon train. It was another hard walk, and it took us seven days to get here. But if we do walk, at least this time I'll be walking right along with my brother. Thank the good Lord.

I think a lot now about Sgt. Brown and the lieutenant and how they helped us in the hard days. And I even worry about Adolphus and Mr. Pool. I don't doubt Cit is rambling around somewhere down here, but he is a big man and he don't need me to worry about him. As long as Job is working and kicking, I'm pretty sure you and mama will always have somebody you can lean on when you need. Write me and tell me everything that's happening around Petty Shore now. If you send it through Plymouth, I'll always be sure to get it. Just address me: Pvt. James Pierce, Co. C, 2nd NC Infty US. The USA always knows where the 2nd NC is, whether it's town or swamp. And I'm always going to be wherever the 2nd NC is.

The good Lord be praised for all the great things that are happening. He has made a new year and is now making a new world. Hug yourself and mama for me. I am so happy.

Your brother,
Pvt. James Pierce, 2nd NC USA

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The foregoing is a selection from "Petty Shore ~ Letters from James," a work based on the written records and oral history of a family living near the Chowan River during the 1800s. The "Letters from James" were written by James Pearce in January 2000, and no claim is made that they are literally factual.

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This Week's Verse

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Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps
they have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him; be jubilant, my feet;
our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
with a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;
as He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
while God is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.

~
(Julia Ward Howe, 1861)

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ALL MY NEGROS AND THEIR INCREASE

Will of Levi Eure Sr.

In the name of God Amen, I Levi Eure Sr., of the County of Gates in the State of North Carolina, being of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be God, do this 22nd day of November A.D. 1843, make and publish this My Last Will and Testament in memory and form following:

1st: I give to my daughter Lennia Pierce, one bed and furniture and one cow and calf which she has already in possession.

2nd: I give to my daughter Lucretia Pierce, one bed and furniture and one cow and calf which she has in possession.

3rd: I give to my daughter Mary Ann Eure, one bed and furniture and one cow and calf which she has in possession.

4th: I give to my daughter Nancy Eure, one bed and furniture and one cow and calf which she has in possession.

5th: I give to my daughter Emma Powell, one bed and furniture and one cow and calf which she has in possession.

6th: I give to my daughter Louisa Hoggard, one bed and furniture and one cow and calf which she has in possession.

I give to my daughter Mary Ann Eure, Twenty-Five Dollars; I give to my daughter Nancy Eure, Twenty Dollars.

I give all my Negros and their increase to be divided equally among five of my daughters, Lennia Pierce, Mary Ann Eure, Nancy Eure, Emma Powell, Louisa Hoggard, to them and their heirs forever. But it is my desire if in case Louisa Hoggard would die leaving no child living, that her part of the Negros go back to my other daughters. I give to Lucretia Pierce One Hundred and Fifty Dollars to her and her heirs forever. I give the balance of my estate if any to be equally divided between five of my daughters, Lennia Pierce, Mary Ann Eure, Nancy Eure, Emma Powell and Louisa Hoggard, to them and their heirs forever.

I hereby nominate and appoint my two daughters, Mary Ann Eure and Nancy Eure, Executrix to this My Last Will and Testament.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I the said Levi Eure Sr., the Testator, have to this My Last Will and Testament set my hand and seal this day and date first above written.

SIGNED, SEALED, PUBLISHED AND DECLARED by Levi Eure Sr., the Testator as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who were present at the time of signing and sealing thereof.

Levi Eure Sr. (seal)

Witnesses:
Wm. N. Booth
P. Handle

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MILES, YOUNG GEORGE AND BETTY

Will of Elias Brett, dated Jan. 12, 1850

In the name of God, Amen, I, Elias Brett of the County of Hertford and the State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory, and considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence, do make and declare this is my Last Will and Testament, in manner and form following, to-wit:

Item 1 ~ I lend to my beloved wife, Permelia Brett, two negro men, one by the name of Miles and young George, one negro woman named Betty, one bay mare, two cows, one work ox, all of my household and kitchen furniture, one cart and wheels, one dagger plow, two flank plows, one set of plow gear, two sows and pigs, forty barrels corn, four stacks fodder, fifteen hundred pounds pork, one stand of lard, all of my land which I now own except the piece known as the Elez Lewis piece which I leave to be sold at my death, the money arising from the sale of said piece of land I wish to be applied to the payment of my just debts.

The above-named property which I lent to my wife Permelia Brett, I wish her to keep during her widowhood or until my son James Edward Brett becomes twenty-one years of age. If my wife Permelia Brett should marry, I wish all of the above lent property to be sold except the land, and the money arising from sale of said property to be equally divided between my wife Permelia Brett and my five children, James Edward Brett, Henrietta Brett, Mary Elizabeth Brett, Virginia Roxanne Brett, William Elias Brett.

If my wife Permelia Brett does not marry, when my son James Edward Brett arrives at the age of twenty-one, my wish is that the said property be sold and the money divided between my wife Permelia Brett and my five children, James Edward Brett, Henrietta Brett, Mary Elizabeth Brett, Virginia Roxanne Brett and William Elias Brett, and the above lent land to be equally divided amongst my five above-named children.

Item 2 ~ All of my property which is not given away or lent, I wish to be sold and the money arising from sale of said property to be applied to the payment of my just debts, and if after paying all my just debts and expenses there should be any left, I wish it to be equally divided between my wife Permelia Brett and my five children, James Edward Brett, Henrietta Brett, Mary Elizabeth Brett, Virginia Roxanne Brett, and William Elias Brett.

AND, I do hereby constitute and appoint my brother Joseph Brett my lawful executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my Last Will and Testament according to the true intent and meaning of the same, and every part and every clause thereof, hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I the said Elias Brett do hereunto set my hand and seal, this the 12th day of January, 1850.

Elias Brett (seal)

SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED
IN THE PRESENCE OF:
Pipkin Vaughan
Abner Langston

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This Week's Mailbox

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...... Do you realize what you are onto with these rationing books? (Poor Town News No. 49) ...... Reinstated in today's society, a fail-proof diet plan that could make you rich! ~ Ron Lupton, Colorado (who desperately needs to start one of those ration-book diets!)

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...... Please add me to your mailing list. I am originally from Lewiston and my husband is from Ahoskie. During our younger days we had friends who lived in Poor Town and quite often as teenagers attended the drive-in and visited the home of J. C. Minton, who for many years was a policeman for the Ahoskie Police Dept. I have family and friends still in the Ahoskie and St. Johns area of Hertford County. Several of my ancestors are buried in the Britton family cemetery in St. Johns. ~ Sally Britton Mitchell and Harvey (Buddy) Mitchell, Wendell, N.C.

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...... I would like to receive The Poor Town News. ~ Joyce Britt Dunning, Fort Worth, Texas.

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...... Thoroughly enjoyed the POW stories ~ especially the Italians going to the festivities (Poor Town News No. 49). What a delightful people they are, and even then could make any party come to life. The "finiculi, finicula" song brought back so many memories. We had to attend Music Appreciation at our grade school (in Brooklyn NY in the 1930s) and the assembly usually closed with us all gustily singing that song. Thanks for what you are doing so well by sharing this with us all. ~ Aggie Green, Traverse City, Michigan.

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...... Please add me to The Poor Town News mailing list. I was born on a farm between the Hertford County and Northampton County lines. I grew up in Murfreesboro and most of my relatives lived in and around Murfreesboro and Conway. I used to go to the drive-in in Ahoskie back in my courting days. I appreciate the work you're doing, and thanks for letting me share your stories and reminiscences. I now live in Virginia, where I taught school for 35 years. ~ Gerald L. Byrd, Bassett, Virginia

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