The Black Thorns

Dear Family, I don't know when I will be home. Quite frankly I don't care about slavery, all that matters to me making a living with you all with me. I've been given the rank of Corporal (haven't the faintest clue why, but at least I'm not a Private, right?), and assigned the the Black Thorn regiment. Everyone seems to think I'm shady (I know their right, but still), and I really don't care, not who they are, not what their religion is (our commanding officer won't shut up about that bible of his), and not what family they have. The only people that matter to me are my father, my wife, and that beautiful child on it's way. And the only thing about them that I care about is how deep their pockets are.

Dear Family, June 29, 1863 I don't know how long it's been since this war started. Just one day after another of dying comrades, we've all given up on getting to know each other because we know we'll probably be dead by the end of the week. July (I think) These past few days have been one horror after another, God I've lost track of time. We've been fighting in and around Gettysburg for I think three days . It all started when we were getting shoes in Gettysburg, we thought we were the only ones, but we were so, so very wrong, just when we got there we saw them, the rebs . From there it all went to hell. Just on the way back my feet slipped on heads, and sank into corpses there were 23,000 casualties for the Union reported so far and most don't have names attached to the list.

Deer Father and Kathryn, July 4, 1863 I’m all right, safe and bearly healthy but I am lucky. Lucky too be alive, unlike many. Yesterday was when da battle of Gettysburg . Dear lord, it was terrifyin. I was not fightin on de battlemfeild, But I did help wit supplies and the medics. It was indead disterbin to watch and sea the bloody, dieing men. I wish I could save dem all but I couldn’t. I heard the battle started with a clash over shooes. Maney said it be foolish to fight over shoes. But what they don’t no is dat I need shoes. We all need dem shoes . But we will all be alright, I’m safe but always hungry. Well, I must go. I’ll be practicin on English for you two. Sinceerly, (Private) Wilson

July 14, 1863                                      New York Times                                 Brutal Rampage Against the Draft Rips Apart Manhattan Breaking news: All throughout yesterday, violent riots in protest of the 1st Draft Law, pasted earlier this year in March, erupted in New York, N.Y., leading many to draw the conclusion that Northern opposition to the Civil War has intensified. Expected to continue in Lower Manhattan both today and tomorrow, this event has been the largest racially charged uproar and mutiny in U.S. history. Many white men, including Irish immigrants, were seen throughout New York killing any and every Negro they could. Senior news correspondent and analyst James Janeway says we can "expect the eventual death toll to be either 119 or 120 people." Janeway also predicts a "major drop" in the population of Negros in New York. Sources have informed the New York Times that Major General, John E. Wool, believes that "Martial law  

The war, as far as I know, is not faring too well. Repeatedly, we have lost again and again to those damned Rebels. We have lost again and again. Lexington, Wilson Creek, Bull Run, how many more? The fervor is dying, can we keep on going. My brothers seem more distant than ever. To reach them, to win a battle seems all the more daunting. I need more chances to fight. No need to romanticize my duty, even in war, we negroes are being discriminated against in every way! How is it, when we are fighting in the midst of this war, should we not be deemed as expendable after all? Give me a chance to fight! To be candid, I have seen little action. With my regiment being treated as reserves, we feel disconnected.

My dear family, Right now we are in bad condition we lost The Battle of Bull Run   they say we lost itt because they was a Confederate spy helping them. People described the battle as if it was coming out from those photos people take, I sure hope you don't get to see all the awful ones. They sure do say alo t.  Stone wall Jackson was amazing, stannding their putting his foot down to does Confederates  . We did lose like I said, we had 2,896 casualties compare with the South we had more. That's all the little details I can write right now, i hope that made my dear family informed on what actually happened , I do want to tell y'all that right now November 5, 1862 McClallen was removed from command .                                                          To my dear family                                          From Melvin Thomas

Sergeant Cobb's blog is linked right here where you will find a Quizlet of vocabulary words 37-47 to help study for the Vocabulary Test on May 1, 2019.

 Deer Kathryn, It haas ben a vary long day, but i still right for you and papa. How are you? I am doing fine, doing better on my english. as the other soldiers say, practice makes perfect. Dis day specticuler made our troops wonder and worry: are things gonna bee ok? Wee all are lost in thouhght becuse General McClellan just got fired and got his place as commander taken away by our president. I meen, he was a good leader, but i suppose he took his inseecrerities too far, hes what other men would call a "coward" when he got fired. For he deed not send backup and more soldiers during da battle of da Antietam when we were in neede of more backup . he did not wanna "risk" but this is a war for sake.  At de end, we claimed victory. But this is not the end  hope yoy arre doin well and happy Ill come home soon Sinceerly, (Private) Ellis Wilson

The blog post for Edward Dunn is on the link below. By clicking on this link, you will be redirected to a Quizlet that you may use to help study for your quiz. Link https://quizlet.com/393378472/civil-war-vocab-unit-words-37-47-class-of-2019-flash-cards/?new

Deer Papa ive missed your jokes, papa, i’ve missed talkin too you and I know things for you haff always been rouff. Your stil a slave , and I hate that. You deserve to be freed and to enjoy your life, but once we win the civil war ...you will bee free and live happily with me and Kathryn.  .Things over hear were getttting nice and smoth, until last weak. Last week, General Lee wented Moore soldiers and trooops that might attakk and tak over are capitell, which meant I hat too guard the Washintoon eveen mooree with other shoulders like me.  Its gettin hard, and scary out hear, I wish to see you soon...but I must fight this war to free you and two free all of my brothers. Your beelovid son, (Private) Ellis Wilson

Dear Mildred,                                                                                                          1862 What a year it has been. We have begun our descent into the Mississippi , a lane for the Union to split the Confederacy. Surely, this must be the end of the War. Fort Henry and Donelson are already in Union Hands. New Orleans has been taken. All that is left is Vicksburg. But there is something about this year that is terrible. I would have liked to see another soldier with the slightest possible chance of becoming more homesick than me. I miss our home. I miss our children. I miss your food. Particularly your food. Not that I would have preferred those conditions, but my slave rations were better than our hardtack rations. Exactly as they sound. They are an edible rock. I wonder how my teeth have not fallen out already. I use them for plates sometimes or skipping stones. So stale is it, my saliva evaporates. My body fluids are gone and I am left with a dr

Dear father (Samuel)      1861 has passed fast as a blink of an eaye I'm glad that I'm not a casualty  like many of my feloow soldier. We now have taxes because of the war hope you dont have a hard time keeping up with them it would make me feel bad since I am part of it to, but I do want you to feel proud and glad that your son is alive. Although we are not religious I still pray to God to give me all the time on land, and I also hope you are paying for me and our relatives. Thus letter will have to come to an end, I hope that we win thus war because right now (1861) we went doing so good , but untill now we all have hope, I'm sorry I couldn't write more, but I have to put statements out to the world.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Your dear son  

Dear Diary, I have been shoved down to my limit, and I fear that I will crumble from the heaviness that follows from the war. The sting of defeat weighs both me and my regiment down. How am I to lift their spirits, when mine still lingers down? Though many months have passed since Bull Run, the war has not turned out a favor for us. I long for Amy and Father Alfred , yet I find that I miss most incredible apple cinnamon bread . It shocks me that God has chosen this for me. I find myself to be curious as I find little understanding of why my soul is so indefinitely pulled toward this festive treat. Could be because of the hardtack that I force to drag down my throat each night? The hard and clammy result of the combination of flour and water heated together only show our feeling of despair. Just thinking about my apple bread, makes me long for the sweet, tart taste in my mouth. I grow lonely thinking of how I used to go with Amy to pic k apples . Beautiful red apples. I used to. I u

My dear Johnson, Stay at home I'd not want you to get cought in thus horrible war, although we may be young I still beleve that I will help my family that are in the hands of the devil himself, that are cought being. My wonderful parents we are not the only   abolitionist  that are trying to free theyr relatives. I honestly think that the whites are fitting this was to free the slaves , I hope this is real becaus so don't like how things are going right now,in April 19 1861 the Confederates just won the first major major pitch , this just proves that it's going to take time and it's going to be a difficult war . My dear family I want all of y'all to live like you normally do a normal hair-dresser and barber living their best life's, but being proud that one of their own is fighting for their future rthat dosent have a well education like others, but knows well whats right and wrong in this world.                                                   To my

 Deer, Kathryn  For i'm longin for your beuteful voice and kisses, i mus keep goin and keep fightin for are home and for are freedom and for are brothers. how are you, is everithin ok back home? im fine, my flower. however, i will admit that im worried for what will happen to us after we break slavery. am i doing the write thing? im sure i am, but why is the south angry at us? nevermind about mie thoughts, i wan to explin what has happened so far in this messy war.    Sep. 17, 1862 their was an attack bye the confederitte in Merrylendd . they take over the state for not joynin them, at lest is what i undeerstend. Many died, bout 12,400 of us were wounded, killed or injered  (union)  and it was terribel as it sounds, but 1 thing i have noticed was that there were men holding these odd devices ive only seen twice before in battles. These men were in a way distracktin me from the batttle with their larg , loud and bright flashes of lights. I believe they are called  "cam

1861, July. Heat and the Sun beat down upon our troops and it was sweltering, but nevertheless, I had been promoted to Sergeant , oh how proud I was! For a negro to be promoted to a sergeant , a negro! I took the  second lead position for our company, centered near the middle of our offensive. Beads of sweat stung my eyes. In Manassas now, we had launched multiple assaults on the rebels and drove them back from our pontoons. Richmond  lay not too far ahead, and our army of 35,000 would put an end this war soon. But I was not done. The whites around me were always, " For the Union! Preserve the Union !" But not me. I felt National pride, yes a little. But I had enlisted for my brothers down in S.C, fighting to stay alive . I would join them in that fight. The Union platoon to me, was a force, a force to free slaves, my emancipation army. I was so glad to be making a change for my people. Now, the ceased fighting picked up. We had been awaiting orders from General McDowell

Dear Father Alfred ,  Difficult times lay ahead of me. Though I miss Philidelphia , I remain a follower of the mission confided to me by God to the lead the fight to free our brothers from captivity. I know that God chose me as the First sergeant for a reason. These times I stick close to the holy one and I shan't stray from the path my God has given me. God is my shepherd. In times of pain, I shall bow down to Jesus. But Father Alfred, even I find struggle and pain in this important service. Mother and father's departure to the heavens has brought about the loneliness that is hurting me and Amy. Oh, my dear sister, Amy . For I fear she has been struck by the devil. Her heart is closed off to me. I grow more concerned each day about her inability to reckon with the lord. She says she doesn't know how slaves can be working any harder than she does at the clothing factory and dares to speak about how I should abandon my quest to free our brothers from bondage. She begs th