Lydia A. Chapman wrote this long letter from Swift Creek on April 15, 1866, to her friend Bettie, who had once lived in the neighborhood. She had not heard from Bettie “since sixty two” and gives her the news of the war years.
Her brother Symeon died of typhoid fever in 1861, and her oldest brother, Jesse, went into service in February 1862, fell sick in Virginia, and died at home on May 8 after his sisters brought him back from Petersburg. “Uncle Jimmie Roach” died of smallpox in 1864; Charles, Jim, and Spence came home from the war. Her brother Slade was captured at Wilmington and held at Point Lookout, and Abner Edwards died three weeks after he got home. She describes the Union troops’ destruction at Swift Creek, the shooting of Dr. Beckwith by Mr. Colbert, who mistook him for a man trying to break into his house, the death of Jane Lancaster, smallpox at Swift Creek and New Bern, and the many weddings of the past Christmas.
Lydia also writes about the first year after emancipation from the point of view of a white Swift Creek family. She describes a young boy whose mother had gone to the Union lines three years before; when the family would not give him up, his mother sent three armed men to bring him home. She also tells of an armed clash at David Jackson’s. Her own words, including her harsh words about the freed people, are kept as written below.
Letter from Lydia A. Chapman to Bettie – Swift Creek, April 15, 1866
Transcription notes: spelling, capitalization and punctuation follow the original. Words in [square brackets] are editorial notes; [?] marks an uncertain reading and [illegible] marks words that could not be read.
Swift Creek Vil [?]
April the 15 1866
Dear Bettie I once more seat myself to write you a few lines. I have writen you twice since the war commenced but by not receiving an answer fel assured you didnot get them I have not heard a word from you since sixty two I am so anxious to hear from you It would seem like Old times that glorious time before the war. I believe all the neighbors are well but some that were here when you were are gone never more to return. I am sorry to tell you I have lost two brothers since you were here my Oldest brother Jesse and next to the Youngest Symeon. he died in sixty one with typhoid fever all the family had it but Sallie and myself. Jesse went in service in sixty two february was carried to Virginia and in january sixty three he was taken sick and carried to Petersburgh. Sallie and I went after him and brought him home he died on the eight of May a Kind brother is never forgotten. I guess you have heard of uncle Jimmie Roaches death he died with the small pox in sixty four all the family had it except Jimmie. Charles Jim and Spence all got home from the war. Charles and Jim were in very bad health for along time but I believe they are about well now. Brother Henry and Slade were in service Slade was taken prisoner at Wilmington and carried to Point Lookout and kept eight months he got home last July Abner Edwards got home in very bad health he lived three weeks after he got home. If you were to come to North Carolina now you wouldnt know some of the places you usto see. The Yanks layed destruction on Swift creek burned fence tore up houses killed hogs and cattle stole horses and every thing they could lay their hands on. But I neednot tell you any more about the Yanks I guess you know enough about them. There was a very serious axident happen at Swift Cr the other night to Dr Beckwith some one has been trying to break in Mr Colberts dwelling house for the last week or two he would hail them and no one would answer. the other night Dr Beckwith and Dr Peterson were staying with Mr Colbert and some one came as before. Mr Colbert Dr Beckwith and Dr Peterson all rushed out of the house with their guns Dr Beckwith got ahead of the rest Mr Colbert saw him and thought it was who was trying to break in the house and fired on him the ball went in the back part of his head and came out at his forehead Said they didnot think he ever would have come too if it hadnot been for the screams of Mr and Mrs Colbert when they found out who it was he wasnot dead last night at dark Mrs Colbert has not been off of the bed since it happened.
Since I commenced writing news has came that Jane Lancaster is dead she died the 11th of Feb I am sorry for Aunt Sallie she is in so much trouble about her. Bettie It wouldnot doo for you to come here now if you are afraid of the small pox it is at cousin Julia Chapmans plantation but she is not there she has moved up to Kinston to live with her daughter Liz Harvey Mr Purser [?] and Mr Whitehurst is living there their familys has had it. Mrs Sallie Nelson and Emily Browns children has got it there is several cases in Swift Creek and about ten hundred in Newbern. I hope it will stop before I get it
We had a very lively Christmus the most wedding and parties I ever heard of we stormed [?] cousin Julia Chapman three times before she left You never heard of so many weddins in your life. I dont think there is many more matches to fix up I dont reckon you know any of them but Bill Butler he is married to Julia Dudley
We have a very lonsom time here we havent got a negro on the land there is not many of the neighbors that has any. We all doe our own cooking and washing cousin Louies [?] all left a few days ago Aunt Sallies has been gone a good while. We had a little boy his mother went to the Yankeys and left him three years ago Mother took him in the house and kept him his mother came after him two or three weeks ago he said he wouldnot go with her she asked mother for him she said she should not have him last sunday she sent three negro men armed after him he screamed and hollowed said he wouldnot go he caught holt of me to protect him the negroes just rushed in tore him loose and carried him off. I dont think the negroes and white people can live together in peace. Six negro men went to David Jacksons the other week he was not at home and cursed his wife made her go to the smoke house and get vituals and cook for them then they took the horse and cart to carry of his meat while they were fixing it he and another man come in and fired at them as they did the negroes all fired and ran three shot struck David in the leg he heard one of the negroes died before he got to Newbern
I hope its so every one killed is that much better for us Sister Kate and Henry and Gatlin are going to school where I was going when you were in here. Mr Fred Lancaster is their teacher. You would not know Kate she is taller than I am we are a tall set I dont know that you would know me this Old war has made me look so Old some times I would feel like I was a hundred I will have my photograph taken and send it to you if nothing prevents and let you see my ugly self I want you to send me yours maby it would make me feel like I did when I saw you Oh I forgot to tell you your sister Fannie was married to Mr Thomas Langly and I also forgot to call you daughter but you must not forget your Old mother
I want you to answer this just as soon as you get it give my love to Betty and Billie I guess Annie has forgotten all of us
I want you to write a long letter all your trials during that cruell war. I havent writen half as much as I want to but my hand is so tired and all the family are asleep save myself so I will keep some back for next time You must come over some day and see me cook dinner
Do not forget to write to your dear friend
Lydia A. Chapman
About the original
The ink blot at the top of the first page covers part of the heading.
“Neighbors” on the third page is written “neigh” with “bors” added above the line.
Source: Lydia A. Chapman to Bettie, 15 April 1866. Roach Family Papers (#346), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, Box 1, Folder a (Correspondence, 1820–1897). Collection guide. Digitized folder: ECU Digital Collections, 0346-b1-fa.
Images courtesy of East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University. View this item in ECU Digital Collections.
Part of the Roach Family Papers collection on East Carolina Roots.
