Prison Pens

Gender, Memory, and Imprisonment in the Writings of Mollie Scollay and Wash Nelson, 1863–1866

Judkin Browning, Timothy J. Williams, Evan Kutzler

• Publisher: University of Georgia Press
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9780820351940
• Topic: Historia
• Subtopic: Historia de la Guerra de Secesión

Prison Pens presents the memoir of a captured Confederate soldier in northern Virginia and the letters he exchanged with his fiancée during the Civil War. Wash Nelson and Mollie Scollay's letters, as well as Nelson's own manuscript memoir, provide rare insight into a world of intimacy, despair, loss, and reunion in the Civil War South. The tender voices in the letters combined with Nelson's account of his time as a prisoner of war provide a story that is personal and political, revealing the daily life of those living in the Confederacy and the harsh realities of being an imprisoned soldier. Ultimately, through the juxtaposition of the letters and memoir, Prison Pens provides an opportunity for students and scholars to consider the role of memory and incarceration in retelling the Confederate past and incubating Lost Cause mythology.

This book will be accompanied by a digital component: a website that allows students and scholars to interact with the volume's content and sources via an interactive map, digitized letters, and special lesson plans.

CHAPTER 1

1863

From Soldier to Prisoner

Wash Nelson had been off fighting for the Confederacy, communicating with Mollie intermittently. He had recently visited with her at her home in northern Virginia, though the circumstances of his absence from the army are unclear because the sources do not refer to an official furlough or pass. Perhaps Wash took advantage of his position on General William Nelson Pendleton’s staff and surprised Mollie with a visit without leave. Because Wash’s command moved frequently, Mollie often did not know where to direct her letters and was usually anxious about her fiancé’s whereabouts. In the following letters, Wash reassured Mollie of his safety and reported news about the war, his capture, and imprisonment. Mollie returned news of family and friends. Wash wrote to Mollie nearly immediately after his capture, and the letters that follow his capture begin the central story of this collection.

“Home”¹ July 6, 1863

My Dear Wash

Your kind and interesting letter gave me much pleasure, and although I do not know of any way to send you an answer I will write, hoping that Providence may soon favor me with an opportunity. We had not been able to hear anything definite from our army until the receipt of your letter. Of course reports of all kinds both good and bad are current, the latter of which I generally try not to believe.

Yesterday evening we heard that a severe fight had taken place near Gettysburg² in which we had been rather unsuccessful losing ten thousand men³ &c &c.

I sincerely hope this report may not be true. Though I do not doubt there has been a fight, still I hope it has pleased a kind Providence again “to bless our arms with victory.”

What would we do in this world without hope? If I had been told when our army went out last fall that we were to be under Yankee rule until June I think I could scarcely have lived through the Winter, but as it was, though often cast down by repeated disappointments, still we hoped that each day would bring us some news of the approach of our army, and in this way we managed to get through the long, long Winter and Spring. I fear it will be sometime before we can hear any reliable news from the fight.

Please write as soon as you can, and tell us all about it. O! How it would grieve me to know that any of my dear relations had to be buried upon Yankee soil. Remember Wash if you get wounded, you are to come to Smithfield.⁴

Our cousin Jefferson Page⁵ left here on Thursday, having spent the night before with us. We feel anxious to hear how he stood the trip, for we did not think him well enough to go, though he seemed so anxious to get on to his command that our persuasions did not have much effect. We all fell desperately in love with our new cousin, indeed I don’t know that I ever saw anyone with whom I was more pleased, upon such a short acquaintance. Well! How do you like Yankee land upon further acquaintance? I am afraid you will all be so much pleased with the nice eating over there, you will not be able to stand confederate living. What do you think of the young ladies in those “diggins”?⁶ I hope they are not all like those captured at Winchester. They seem to think that if the “Secesh women”⁷ would come out and fight with them the war would soon end. There was a soldier here, who helped to guard them to Staunton,⁸ and he says he never in his life heard such oaths as came from the lips of the Colonels’ and Majors’ wives.⁹

I assure you we envy those Yankee people the presence of our dear soldiers. Since you all left we have been as lonesome as “old cats.” We seem to be in constant dread lest our army should fall back and leave us again in the hands of those miserable wretches. After you left we met with a great many of our friends, some of whom we had not dreamed of seeing, heard from a good many of our school mates through their Brothers and friends, who came up and introduced themselves, made many pleasant acquaintances and enjoyed ourselves generally. I think Gen^l Lee¹⁰ is the sweetest old fellow I ever saw. I had quite a nice little chat with him that morning at Uncle Manns.¹¹ He told me that no soldier was to see his wife or sweet heart not until the war was over, so I concluded that he intended to end it before he came back from Pennsylvania. Mamma, Aunt Fannie and Harriot join me in much love to you.¹² All our street would send love if they knew of my writing. Please write soon and tell us all the news. Direct your next letter to Middleway Jefferson Co. If you direct to Smithfield it may be miscarried and you know I should not like to lose it.¹³ Good bye. May a kind Providence shield you from all harm, and restore you in safety to your friends in “Dixie” is the sincere prayer of your cousin Mollie S—

Westwood,¹⁴ October 25th 1863

My own precious love

I got here safely this morning without an adventure of any kind; I did not meet a living soul the whole way though I kept the main road all the way. I have had about two hours sleep and feel quite fresh now. I made a good walk of it last night, getting here at five minutes past 3 oclock. The walk would have been a lovely one if I had not been so occupied with thoughts of the dear one I had just left behind me, and anxious as I was to get to my journeys end, I could not help wishing to linger near you. I can’t begin to describe to you, Mollie, what a gap your absence leaves; I love you, to compare it with what you feel this morning for I know, beloved one, that you do indeed love me, even as I love you, and thus you have by reference to your own heart, always at hand a far truer measure of my emotions than you could get from any description I might give you. But, my darling, it is a mighty great sorrow that I feel; the week I have just passed with you, is so filled with tender memories, so full of love & hope, that the present can but catch a tinge from it. And that picture I have, how I did bless Aunt Fannie, this morning for letting me have it! The sad look it has increases its value in my eyes, for a sad one was the last expression I saw in your face. When I passed under your window last night I was afraid to stop by but I might attract some ones attention to you & I merely kissed my hand in passing. Did you see the act? I have been uneasy ever since thinking you might not have noticed this slight acknowledgement of your presence. I half expected you at that window, darling, and I wanted so badly to stop & say one more good bye but, I was afraid.

The Yankees have been here looking for horses—they rode through the field my mare was in and within fifty yards of her, but by some means or other did not see her. Am I not fortunate? Or rather I should say, is not providence kind? Cousin Hugh¹⁵ has gone to Berryville to church¹⁶ I shall not go until he returns, and I can learn from you whether there are any Yankees about. Fifteen Yankee deserters from Meade’s army¹⁷ passed here yesterday making for the Potomac. They report that Meade attacked Lee Saturday weak & was badly whipped.¹⁸ Deserters can’t be relied on, so I don’t know whether to believe it or not. I can’t undertake to write a regular letter now, with the means before me. When I tell you that in addition to what you see of the ink & paper, I am writing with a Turkey quill pen, you may know how I am laboring. As soon as I get to camp I will write you a good long letter. I am almost ashamed to send you this, but I would be glad to get a letter from you if it was nothing but piece of clothing paper with your name signed to it & telling me you were well and you see I judge you by myself. Love to our Mother & to all our Aunts and Cousins, and for yourself call on my heart for love at pleasure it is all your own. Good bye my precious darling. May God keep you and bless you, and restore us to each other soon.

As ever your truly devoted

Wash

Winchester Oct. 28th 1863

I am caught at last, my darling Mollie, and that too when I thought I was all safe & sound. Tom Randolph¹⁹ & I were caught Monday while eating our dinner, and not dreaming that there was a Yankee in twenty miles of us. We are very fortunate however. Have been treated as well as we could have been. We stayed at night with the officer of the Regiment & if it were not for this fact of guards being all around us you would not know we were prisoners. It is through the kindness of the commanding officer, Col Boyden²⁰ that I am now writing. Whither we will go from here I have no idea, nor in fact do I much care, if I am carried away from Dixie & from you, my own love, one place is as good as another. Probably I will pass thro’ Smithfield to morrow. If so I will leave this for you—even if I should be allowed I think it better not to try to see you it would be an excuse for the soldiers to poke about the house, which would be anything but agreeable to you all. As soon as I was captured I was asked for letters or papers but fortunately had neither. And now, my precious one, don’t grieve for me, I am as well off as a prisoner can be. Look forward to the time when we will meet again. I shall comfort myself with the idea that you are thus looking forward & not mourning my fate unnecessary. You may imagine what a comfort the time I spent with you will be to me. I have with me all your keepsakes. I have not time to write more. Love to all. If you have a chance, write to me & let me know what has become of you, will you dearest? And now, my beloved, good bye. We may not hear from each other for a long time but the fire of our love needs no more fuel. Our faith & trust cannot fail. God almighty bless and keep you & restore us to each other soon. Earnestly prays, your ever devoted

Wash

Middleway Dec 20th 1863

I found your letter here my dearest Wash on my return from Long Branch,²¹ where Aunt F. and myself went to see little Hugh,²² who had gotten his leg crushed in a wheat machine.²³ The limb was amputated below the knee. He stands the pain wonderfully, and bears his loss with Christian resignation. While in Clarke I saw a good deal of cousin Bettie Randolph.²⁴ She gave me all the details of your capture in which as you may imagine I was intensely interested. She read me a letter from her prisoner Brother, which was the first I had heard of you since your capture although I had made every possible effort to find out your whereabouts. The letter written from Camp Chase was never received. H. got a letter from your Ma in which she sent me word that she was gratified and thankful we had fancied each other. There was also a letter of sympathy from cousin Wm. P. He says Lieut. R.²⁵ and yourself are so well known for your good soldiery qualities that this little mishap will not injure your standing, and “sooner or later they will return to gladden the hearts of their friends, do good service to their country, and claim from their sweet hearts the reward of so much injury incurred in their behalf.” How I would love to write more but I suppose my letters too are limited. Direct to care of L. P. W. Balch. Shepherdstown Va. All send love. Write again soon your loving and faithful friend M. N. S.

My kind regards and sympathy to Lieut Randolph. You must both keep cheerful hearts.

Middleway December 30th 1863

My dearest Wash

I have risen early this morning, so that I may not miss an opportunity of sending you another assurance of my love. Two whole months have passed since your capture, and only one single letter have I gotten in all that time. Do write as often as you can for I shall feel so anxious abou...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Editorial Method
• Chapter 1. 1863: From Soldier to Prisoner
• Chapter 2. Winter and Spring 1864: From One Prison to Another
• Chapter 3. May–December 1864: “There Is Always Some Jonah”
• Chapter 4. Early Spring 1865: Silence and Anxiety
• Chapter 5. Spring to Autumn 1865: Surrender and Allegiance
• Chapter 6. “A Dark Record of Suffering and Oppression”: Wash Nelson’s Memoir
• Acknowledgments
• Select Bibliography
• Index