This letter was written by Charles R. Thomasson (carried as Thomasson on roster but signed Thomaston) of Co. E, 46th North Carolina Infantry. Charles was an 18 year-old farmer from Granville county, North Carolina, when he enlisted in April 1862. He became sick and left the service in the summer of 1862 but returned in November 1862. He was severely wounded in the right leg by a shell at Bristoe Station in October 1863 which eventually led to his discharge.
The letter was addressed to Kysar J. Stark of Granville county, North Carolina, whose son James (“Jimmie”) Turner Stark served in Co. E, 46th North Carolina Infantry, and was wounded on 5 May 1864 in the Battle of the Wilderness. It appears he was struck by a shell or a minié ball that shattered the bone near the elbow of one of his arms and it was later amputated. Jimmie was discharged from the service for disability in December 1864.
TRANSCRIPTION
Lynchburg, Va.
May 28th 1864
Mr. K. J. Stark
Dear Sir,
I avail myself of the opportunity of writing you a few lines to inform you that Father arrived here this morning and has inquired and searched all over the place for your son James but cannot find him, But Robert [H.] Oakley says his arm is taken off at Gordonsville. It is reported here that Gordonsville is taken by the enemy. Whether it is true or not, I cannot say, Everything has been taken from that place—that is, all the government stores and the sick and wounded soldiers. Therefore I cannot tell where he is. I would like very much to hear from him.
Yours truly, — C[harles] R. Thomasson [Thomaston]
Dear Brother James,
I am mending slowly. I am so that I can walk about. I would be glad to come home if I could for I am very weak. It will be 2 or 3 months [till I am] able for duty. Monroe [Faribault] is well and B[enjamin] Ellington is mending. N[elson] Dickson [Dixon] is well.
Yours truly, C. R. Thomaston
Spared & Shared 18 