William Paschal and his step-brother/cousin L. P. Steed enlisted with the 12th Georgia Battalion of Heavy Artillery on May 7, 1862. They served in South Carolina until the battalion was sent north to join Evans' Brigade following the Battle of Spotsylvania. William Paschal survived the war, surrendering as 1st Sergeant of Company F at Appomattox Court House. L. P. Steed was not so lucky. Wounded in the right arm (apparently at Hares Hill/Fort Steadman), L. P. was admitted to Jackson Hospital in Richmond on March 28, 1865 His condition took a turn for the worse and he was transferred to the C.S.A. General hospital on April 8th and died two days later.
My thanks to Jerry James for sharing these family treasures, five letters from William and L.P. to their family back home written during the period 1862 through 1865..
July 13th 1862
Rev.L.G.Steed
Dear Uncle,
I will try and write you a few lines this evening informing you that Benj.
has returned to camp again, he landed last Friday, I also rec. the package you
sent me and opening of it I only found my coat, the shirts nor gloves nither was
not in the bundle, they may have been over looked in packing of them up or they
were taken out before I rec. the bundle. I wish you to find out whither they were put
up or not and let me know and if they were not you need not send them as they
may get lost if not already, this ----
I have no news of importance to write you, we get plenty of rations to make out on, and thats about all we can do, we draw pork at this time and we only get 1/2 of a pound per day and I can set down and eat it at one meal. We are using ourselfs to eating only two a day breakfast and dinner, supper we leave off which I reckon will be good fo our health and especially when we have nothing for supper. I will come to a close.M.O
Yours Truly,
Wm Paschal
P.S. Direct to Pocolaligo on the Charleston and Savannah R.R.
Co.F 12th Batt.Ga.Vol.
Charleston,S.C.
Oct.2nd, 1863
Dear Father,
I will again write you a few lines this morning to let you know that I am well Cols is also well I received your letter yesterday. I was glad to hear from home, you wrote to me about Donnys being wounded I was sorry to hear that he was wounded and that also to hear that Lon was hurt. I hope that they are not hurt very bad. I have not much news to write you this time,our men are busy working on the batteries and the bombproofs. These Yanks throws a shell or two over every once and a while but they do not do any damage, only to kill a man or to break some of their links. They throwed a shell yesterday and wounded two men. One Negro and a white man, I have not heard much news from Tenn. in some time. I hope Gen. Bragg will give them what they wants. The Yanks do not know what they are thinking about if they come into Georgia. The Georgia boys will fight till the last before they let them run through their state. I would like to be there with Bragg not only I but the whole Battalion. Fight the Yanks till the last before we will let themover run the state. I have not much to write at this time Pa, if you have not sent that syrup send a box of potatoes with it, but if you have started the syrup you need not send the box. We have had some rain for the last day or two. It is still cloudy. I think we will have more rain in a day or two. It is pretty hard on us when it rains. Pa, tell Tillie and Mary I will write to them in a few days. I would like to get home to see Lon but there is no chance to get off from here now. I have been trying to make a swap but Capt. Talifern is not here to sign the papers, so I can't get off until he comes. I have nothing more to write so I will close my letter. Give my love to all the family and as much for yourself.
Your affectionate Son,
L.P. Steed
(Note: "Donny" was Adoniram J. Steed, Pvt. Company G, 15th Ga.Vol.Inf.)
Pocotulico S.C.
Feb.16th 1864
Dear Father,
I will write you a few lines this morning to let you know that I am well. Gill was up here this morning, he is well. I did not go down to Company F as I wrote to you in my other letter. We have got a very pretty camp here now, we are camp where the 32nd Georgia once camp, we have got splendid houses to stay in at this place. It is a mile and a half from the depot.
Father one thing I will write to you for. That is some money, I am about out of money and I did not draw any money the other pay day so send me about fifteen or twenty dollars, if you please. I wrote to you the other day but did not mention anything about it. I have nothing new to write you. I have nothing more to write, write soon. Give my love to all the family and as much for youself. I remain.
Your Affectionate Son,
L.P. Steed
Evans Brigade
Jan. 15th 1865
Dear Uncle,
It is with pleasure that I will attempt to drop you a few lines informing you that I am still in good health. Bubber is a little on the grunt but not so bad off but what he can eat all his rations as they are so very short. I have no news of importance to write you everything seems to be still around Richmond and Petersburg. I under-stand that Sherman is marching on to Charleston, I also heard that our Division is under marching orders and if we do move I think it will be to go to Wilmington or to Charleston and I hope to the latter for I am very anxious to leave Virginia for it strikes me very strong at imes that if the government don't issue better rations to leave any how. My love to all yours truly,
Wm Paschal
("Bubber" is a reference to L. P. Steed)
Evans Brigade
Jan.15th 1865
Dear Father,
I will write you a few lines to let you hear from me. I am not very well at this time, I have been sick for two or three days. I have nothing new to write as William has written to you. I wrote to you the other day not to send that box but you can send it if you see proper. I wrote to you not to send it I thought then we would leave here but I don't see any prospects for it. I have nothing more to write give my love to all the family and as much for yourself.
Your Affectionate Son,
L.P. Steed
Last Updated: Jan. 17, 1998