LETTERS OF NANCY HUNT
1862-1865
Tyree's company was down to Tompkin's place and fired on the pickets twice. The last time they went up by Gills, stole his horse, then up to Tyrees. Just beyond Tyrees the two who took Gill's horse encountered Riley Ramsey and company. They would not surrender but ran and they were both shot dead. One of them was Andy Cavendish, son of Wm Cavendish. Last summer he was running over to Fayetteville carrying produce and whiskey to the Yankees, making all he could out of them. This summer he took up arms against them and was himself very busy searching his neighbors houses, stealing horses etc but his swift race was soon run.
A day or two after this happened a company of soldiers from the Bridge went up to Nichols mill and were fired on by bushwhacker killing one and taking one prisoner who managed to escape. He went past here with nothing on but his shirt and drawers. He said they stripped him and left one man to guard him. He knew his gun was not loaded so be broke and run. Since then the Yankees have been up and burned Nichols and Haynes mills with a good deal of wood and grain in them. We had $5 worth of wood and 2 bushels of wheat in the mill. The captain told them if these Rebels did not quit their depredations in here he would fire every house between Camp Lookout and Sewell Mountain. Some of the secesh citizens have been in to Greenbrier to see the general about these things. Unless it is stopped I awfully fear another Lawrence Massacre. I have not written of all the havoc that has been made here. It is awful to live the way we do. I sometimes feel encouraged to think the war will soon be over and we can feel safe and secure again. When I cannot hear from down the river or from the south or from the north I feel gloomy again and sad. May God speed the right
I understand that about 18 deserters from Jenkins Army, who were under Gen. Lee came into camp at Fayetteville a short time ago. One of them was Henson who is second husband of Hannah Remley. He said the soldiers were kept in the dark (about defeat at Vicksburg)...
I will write one more letter before I see you. Yours of Aug 3 received today. Election for township officers came off Sept 10, The polls for this precinct opened at Terrys. I think the Rebs intended to break it up if they dared. John Halstead was there with pistols and grey uniform and tried to vote but was not allowed to do so. Nary a Reb could vote. Westlake was there bold as sin. He wanted badly to be magistrate, but he could not take the oath. The secesh looked badly because they could not vote. Halstead, and Henry had a quarrel there about a mule Halstead took from us last summer. It is not settled yet. Jake Blume was elected magistrate, Bill Fox constable, Johnson Wood Clerk and George Hunt treasurer. Morgan Blume is county clerk. And Mr Cassady Sheriff with Sam Koontz deputy sheriff.