Simpson A. Hagood and his brother Levi enlisted as privates in Company B (Milton Guards), 38th Georgia in Alpharetta, Georgia in Oct. 1861. He was elected 2nd Lieutenant on Dec. 4, 1862 and served until he was captured on 25 March 1965 during the attack on Fort Steadman (Hares Hill) at Petersburg, Va. He was released in mid-June 1865 from the military prison at Ft. Delaware. His war wounds (in the hip and knee) forced him to give up farming and pursue the trade of carpentry after the war. He also served as a Justice of the Peace and as Clerk of the Superior Court in Lawrenceville, Ga.
The following is a series of letters written by Hagood to his wife Adeline during the last two years of the war. The first letter (March 1864) was written in Winter Quarters during the period preceding the Battle of the Wilderness. The second letter (August 1864) was written after Gen. Early's Maryland Campaign during the relative quiet before Sheridan launched his assault down the Shenandoah Valley. The final letter (March 1865) was written just weeks before the ill-fated assault on Fort Steadman (Hares Hill) where Hagood was wounded and captured.
The letters are written in beautiful script on lined paper which confirm as does their content that Lt. Hagood was a well educated man. Unfortunately, age has rendered portions difficult to transcribe. Those sections are indicated by the following insertions (----------). The originals are preserved by Mrs. Grubbs; the following transcription was provided by John E. Davis. Both are descendants of Lt. Hagood. My special thanks to John Davis for these and other materials and to Katherine Cash Emerson for her assistance to Mr. Davis.
Camp of 38th Geo Regt Vols
(Letter No 7 1864)
Near Orange CH Va
March 20 1864
Dear Adaline,
I write you this beautiful Sunday morning that you may understand that I am alive and well yet and getting plenty to eat.
Your letter of the 11th inst was at Camp waiting for me yesterday evening when I returned from Picket where I had been for three days. The morning we went on Picket I went to the Commander of the Picket line and obtained leave to stay at Camp and not go on Picket. I had not been to my Tent more than five minutes when our Col. came down to the Tent and assigned me to the Adjutant of Co. "A" of our Regiment for the three days (------- ) Picket (--------).
All -------- Co. "A" ---------------was absent but we are ---------------------------------ever had a very fine time while our------------------- was clear and pleasant and everything---------- The people here say that this has beenthe dryest warmest winter and Spring that they have ever saw. they seem to think that this will not be a very good Crop year on account of the dry warm winter. They think we will have a great deal of hot weather in the summer and fall. Be that as it may it will have but little to do with the movement of the Army after it leaves winter quarters. The Army never stops for rain in Summer unless it wants to cross a River that is swollen so that the men cant ford it and not then if the Pontoon bridges are at hand. I still think this army will have no fighting of any consequence to do until the Northern Army has done something and if Johnston drives the Yankees back or they are driven back by Longstreet, Polk, Smith -------and Picket and Early which I believe will be and they are going to fight before we do. Then I dont think we will have much fighting to do at this point.
The Yankee Army at this place have nearly all (comparatively speaking) been sent to those other Armies.
If you have not already heard you will doubtless soon hear great windy tales by disaffected persons of the States of Louisiana and Arkansas having by the vote of a popular majority of the people gone back into the "Union". Pay no attention to those tales. Dont for a moment believe them for the people of these States are as far from retracing their steps as the people of Virginia or Georgia. They are as loyal to the South as they ever were and are as fully determined to fight the War to a successful issue as any people can.
The reason why I caution you all about these reports is this. I see through the papers abstracts from Northern papers stating that those two States had gone back and had elected Officers from Governor (------) to Magistrates of Union Men and was frameing (---------- )for giving into the (-----------) held in that portions of those (-----------------) Yankees hold and the Ballot Box (-------------) lay Yankee Soldiers and those only (-------------) who would cast their suffrage as the United States Officers were pleased to dictate. Consequently, the Citizens didn't vote in these elections. The soldiers elected those black hearted traitors. The consequence is that those good and Loyal people will have to endure anything that Yankee hatred and Yankee cupidity is pleased to heap upon them. You may all rest assured that their brave and Lion like hearts arent changed or crushed but for the time being is awed into silence by the weight and presence of Superior numbers of vandals. These elections were carried at the point of the Bayonet like they carried the elections last fall in Kentucky.
There never were better or more brave soldiers than the Louisianians and Arkansians of this Army and they say all the letters they can get through the lines about them to hold on. The hearts of the people at home are with them but they are kept from helping them because of being cut off from them by the Yankee army along the Mississippi River.
Believe not their Big tales about reunion.
Last Monday evening I received a note from a Lady living about two miles from Camp where one of our boys are doing guard duty for her. her name is Crawford she had a son 18 years old who died of Consumption on Sunday night. The note she sent me was an invitation to come and stay with them that night and sit up with the Corps. Henry Wayne (who is on guard for her) had recommended me to her. I went found them all in deep grief. I sat up with the Corps with three others until 2 O'Clock in the morning when we went to bed and slept until breakfast. I arose washed and ate then helped to place the young man in the coffin and Hearse. They started to the burying ground with him. I received a very pressing invitation from the Old Lady better to accompany them to the burial ground but my leave of absence would not let me (now buryings or funerals in this Country only this was by special invitation). I was very sorry for the family which consists of a Widow Lady and a daughter of about 18 years. she also had one son in the Army. When the Yankees were in possession of her home last Spring there was a large Camp near by and they destroyed nearly all her property. she professed to be very thankful for the visit and when I left she pressed me warmly by the hand and asked that I call and see them again. she also asked that God would bless me with life, health and prosperity through the War. Her daughter brought her Album to me and asked that I would place some Verse in it before I left. This rather stunned me for I knew I was no Poet and moreover I couldn't bear the idea of borrowing a verse from some others work. I came very near declining to but thought it would never do to back out. I began to call my little store of knowledge for something that would be appropriate. The old Lady had told me the night before of the manner in which her son died. I made his last words my theme (you will find the verses on the next page.
A Brother Dear has passed away
From time and all sublunary things
He has joined the Hosts of endless day
In Heaven he rests and sweetly sings.He can never return again
To Earth and dull mortality
Your great loss is his eternal gain
He lives in bright felicity.Remember his last parting words
Sister Dear in Heaven meet me
Always Love and serve the Lord
Christ will surely sweetly guide thee.We shall there no more be (------)
But in everlasting happiness
The sorrowing sighing broken heart
Spend Eternity in rapturous blissThen Virginia dry those briny tears
Let comfort take the place of grief
Religion will dispel all your cares
And bring instant joyous relief
The young lady declared the verses beautiful and showered a thousand thanks on me for it.
It is dinner time. I must close for the present. I will write again in a few days. Baylis Bruces Wife arrived in Camp a few days ago on a visit. It looks like all the wives of our Men are coming. Tom Newton is now gone to meet his wife at Orange CH. If we dont all get home next fall I want you to come to see me as soon as we get into winter quarters again but it is too late in the season now for you to come. when I direct a letter to you it is my desire that you break open the letter with your own fingers. my letters are generally to all but I want you to break them yourself. myself and Levi is well.
Same as ever.
SA Hagood
Camp of 38th Geo Regt
Charlestown, Va
August 23d 1864
Dear Adaline,
I once have the honor to devote a few moments time to you & you may be assured that it is with great degree of anxiety concerning you & yours that I pen these lines for I have not been able to hear a single word from you either written or verbal since the Yankees first came into that Country. I hope you have fared better than I have any reason to believe they treat people of Georgia. If I may judge from the treatment which the Citizens of Virginia received at their hands: On their last retrog- rade movement from Strasbourg to Harpers Ferry they (after destroying almost everything in the way of Furniture) even fired the Barns of Hay belonging to the Citizens, not even allowing the owners to take out their Carriages Cattle or Horses. all were consumed with the Barn houses. Such conduct should Kindle the fires of indignation and bitterness in every heart not yet moved by their vandalism. I can't imagine how any one born and raised South of the Potomac can look upon such conduct with anything but loathing and disgust. how they can say to these miserable wretches, "We are with you" is infinitely more than I ever thought a mind reared in the South could consent to. But I am mortified & grieved to say that there are those in this State (and even Georgia too) that can & do express such sentiments.
Now I am in favor of making our Country too warm a place for all such characters after this War is ended. Such people are not worthy a place among those who have fought and bled for the Freedom of their County. Let every Woman & Child keep a watchful eye on their conduct, holding them at all times in utter contempt. be prompt to report all cases and I assure you that they will fare badly at the hands of those noble spirits now around me who have honorable wounds by the score, and whose blood have watered so many fields in defense of the Sunny Lands those Traitors now infest. Lest I weary you I will say no more at present on this subject.
We have not had any regular Engagements with the Enemy since the Battle of Kernstown on the last of July although we have had several Skirmishes with them & I am very much pained to have to state that in one of these at Newtown, Va John Y. Bagwell was killed. John was a kind, generous, truthful & brave young man. In fact he was too brave to protect or take proper care of himself before the Enemy. he was a member of the Sharpshooting Battalion of our Brigade and it was his privilege as well as his duty to seise on every opportunity of sheltering himself while under fire, yet he wouldn't do so, but at all times rushed forward far in advance of the line. he only lived a few moments after the fatal Ball pierced his Breast. he only spoke one or two words but they could not be caught by his friends. we had him as nicely buried as the circumstances would permit.
Jas. R. Neal arrived safely in Camp a few days ago but was unable to tell me any thing of you. I have not received a letter since the one you sent out to Gainesville by Pensen W. Hazzard. Write as often as possible. I must Close for the Mail is now going out.
Myself & Levi are both well and doing well.
My Love to all the Family.
I want Mac to write to me. When you see him tell him to write without fail. Send this down to Father after you have read it.
Ever remember me in all your petitions.
As ever yours,
S A Hagood
Camp of Evans Brigade
Near Burgess Mills Va
March 6th 1865
Dear Adaline,
I drop you another letter though I have but little hope of your ever receiving it. It seems that we are doomed to never more hear of each other while the War lasts. I have not had a letter from you nor heard a single word concerning you since Bennet Bagwell came here some three months ago. You don't know anything about how uneasy I am about you. I am afraid you are almost if not entirely destitute of something to live upon. You know not how many sleepless hours I spend when all around is deeply wrapped in slumber on this very account. The thought of my poor little babes crying for bread and none to give them seems sometimes almost more than I can bear. There is but one thing which I can do for them and that is to commend them to an all wise and Merciful God. This I can do and I do it daily in my poor weak manner. Until I can get to come or send by some reliable person some thing for your relief, you must do the very best you can. I know you have plenty of friends there who will give you all the assistance in their power-but they have been torn up and so bled by the Yankees (and Men of our own who are meaner than Yankees) until they have nothing at all which they can spare to assist those who may be needy. They can, and will, of course give you their sympathies and advice.
I have no hope now of getting a Furlough this Spring for active operations will soon be again resumed in this Department and then there are no officers scarcely with the Regiment to which I belong. A certain number of Officers are required to be present before one can get a Furlough and there are not more than one fourth of that number now or listed to be present with this Regiment, soon though it will be impossible for me to get a furlough of (-----) this Spring If I had a furlough the Communication with Georgia is Kept Cut so that it would be almost if not entirely impossible for me to get home.
There being so few officers present it makes my duties very heavy for I have the Command of three Companies all the time in my hands and must act as Adjutant of the Regiment besides acting a great part of the time as Assistant Quarter Master of the Regiment. besides all these things nearly every private in the Regt comes to me for all the writing on business of any sort they may have to transact. Therefore my Pen is nearly dry from daylight to dark every day. I am not boasting but telling you of my regular daily duties so if my letters appear brief or hastily written you may have an idea of the manner in which I have to transact the private affairs of my own. I have to snatch a moment now and then. sometimes I can write a few lines then stop for something else and perhaps not have the chance of touching the letter again until the next day. You can not therefore expect me to write a consistent and well composed letter at all times.
The times do indeed look very gloomy at present. It appears that Sherman will be allowed to March his Army anywhere pleases. I cant understand why it is that our Authorities suffer this for I am satisfied that a force could be spared from this and other points sufficient to check him (Old Grant cant more than hold his own with Lee at this place. Now if Lee would so reinforce Johnston as to whip Sherman (even if he lost Petersburg at the time it would be infinitely better than to let Sherman go and destroy when and where he pleases. But I am confident that Lee can reinforce Johnston enough to check Sherman without the loss of Petersburg or Richmond either.
Well, I will try now to finish my letter. I have just had to stop writing and issue a lot of Socks to the Regiment and it has so frustrated me that I scarcely know how to Commence again.
I am very happy to be able to state that those four Boys of this Company who ran off a few nights ago have returned voluntarily to the company (I spoke of them having deserted in a letter a few days ago to Father) Their punishment will be a great deal lighter than if they had been brought back by force. If they had been caught and brought they would doubtless have suffered death but as it is their punishment will perhaps be nothing more than a short confinement and the forfeiture of some Pay. The disgrace attached to the Crime of desertion in their case have by this act been very greatly and very justly mitigated although it can never be entirely obliterated nor should it be. They should be made to feel keenly he disgrace of this thing. I think they are heartily sick of the situation and will not be likely to repeat it again. for fear you may not get the letter containing their names I will give them again in order that they may as far as possible be made public as a warning to others. (------------) are ( --------------). All Men who would (----) have seemed to commit dastardly Acts before the War. I am very much ashamed for them for (------------------) and Absent without leave from the Army and all those nearly who are brought back under Guard are Shot to Death while those who return voluntarily are either pardoned entirely or are punished lightly. This should induce all absentees without leave to return at once to Their proper Commands. I must hurry to a close for it is meal time for Battalions (----).
do the best you can for our dear little babes and ever remember them and me in your Prayers. Tell Pappa (your Father) that I would be very glad indeed to get a letter from him. Give him my best Love and give to Mamma and Sarah Jane my kindest regards and warmest Love also. Tell me if you know where Mac is I would love to write to him if I know how to direct a letter so that it would reach him. Give my affections to Levi and Mary Edwards and to Sally also. I remain ever yours SA H
IN THE TOP MARGIN OF PAGE 4 WRITTEN UPSIDE DOWNMyself and Levi are both in good health. When you write direct as usual (----) me a letter immediately if possible.
Last Updated: April 12, 1998