McMurtrey, James Addison ( - )
James was a private in the 9th Artillery Battalion - Co. B. In his letters, compiled my Mary Frances Honea Johnston, the issued this warning to the reader. "look over my bad spelling and riting it is the first time I ever undertook to rite a letter." (p.1) Greetings and salutations are variations of such phrases as "I take this seat (or opportunity) to inform you", "my affectionate companion"; and "I am your friend and will remain yours until death seperates us," One letter ended with this rhyme: "there is one thing more I have not told - my love is like a ring of goad - it is firm it is pure it has no end so is my love to you my friend." (p. 9) In the event he was captured, he drew a secret symbol for Lucinda that would inform her that he he was being treated well. His reprimand of his advice to his son sounded serious. "Tell Willie he must be a good boy or the bad man will come and burn him." (p. 40). The book also includes genealogy material.
REF: Civil War Eyewitnesses
McMurtrey, James Addison, Letters to Lucinda, 1862 - 1864. Compiled by Mary Frances Honea Johnston. Huntsville, Alabama: 1985. 72 pp.
The Civil War in Georgia © - 1998 Eastern Digital Resources