Civil War Letter — 4th North Carolina — Battle of Williamsburg — KIA Seven Pines

Description

Private Mack W. Hooper of the 4th North Carolina wrote this letter to Jane, a girlfriend at home in Iredell County, on May 26, 1862, just five days before he was killed at the Battle of Seven Pines. In the letter Hooper discusses his regiment’s minor role at the Battle of Williamsburg and rumors about other battles in Virginia. He writes:
…none of us boys has been in a battle yet. We were marched on the battlefield at Williamsburg, but did not fight any. There was some guns fired at us, but hit only one man in our Regiment. He was not dangerously wounded. We had a fine time marching through the mud. As we were going to the battlefield the mud was so deep that we could hardly get along. Some of the boys lost their shoes. We come very near running to do without eating when we was on the march from Yorktown, but we have got to camp again 2 miles from Richmond and they feed us well again.
He then writes about being served a dinner, after which he concludes, “There is some very pretty girls and also very clever ones in Virginny, but I would much rather see the girls at Iredell.”
Later in the letter Hooper writes about rumors of other battles:
There was a big fight yesterday 29 miles from here. I have not heard the true report yet. It is supposed that our loss was 15 hundred killed and taken prisoners. We were expecting a fight today, but don’t think they have commenced yet. I expect some of the third creek boys was in the fight that was fought the other day not far from Gordonsville.
It’s unclear to which battles or skirmishes he refers to here. The “big fight” he states took place on May 25. Could he mean First Winchester? While it matches the date, Winchester was a much greater distance and didn’t involve the number of Confederate casualties Hooper mentioned. Perhaps he didn’t have the correct details, it being only the next day. The Gordonsville fight he mentions is similarly puzzling, but he again may be referring to one of the Valley Campaign battles, perhaps McDowell (May 8), or more likely Front Royal (May 23), both of which were a considerable distance from Gordonsville.
Hooper reports an interesting observation: “The most [of] the Iredell boys are in Richmond now. Some of them said they did not want to come to our Regiment because it was in Virginia.”
At the conclusion of the letter he promises, “Jane, I am a going to make you a ring and send it to you the first chance I have.”
“We were expecting a fight today,” he had written, “but don’t think they have commenced yet.” Indeed the expected battle would come five days later. On May 31 at Seven Pines the 4th Carolina assaulted the earthworks and redoubt occupied by General Silas Casey’s federal division, carrying the works, but at enormous cost. Of the 545 officers and men the regiment took into he fight, only about 60 survived unhurt. Mack Hooper was among the killed.
The letter was written on four pages of a bifolium letter sheet cut down to about 7 1/2” x 6 1/2”. It is in very good condition with light foxing and toning. Creased at the original mailing folds. The full transcript can be found below:
May the 26 1862, Camp near Richmond
Dear Miss, I seat myself again to answer your letter which came to hand yesterday. I was glad to hear from you again. I am sorry to hear that you have been crippled with a bealed jaw. I can inform you that I am in very good health at present and I am in hopes [if] these lines come to hand they [will] find you in good health and enjoying yourself as well as could be expected with the present circumstances. Jane, I haven’t much of importance to write at present, though I can tell you that none of us boys has been in a battle yet. We were marched on the battlefield at Williamsburg, but did not fight any. There was some guns fired at us, but hit only one man in our Regiment. He was not dangerously wounded. We had a fine time marching through the mud. As we were going to the battlefield the mud was so deep that we could hardly get along. Some of the boys lost their shoes. We come very near running to do without eating when we was on the march from Yorktown, but we have got to camp again 2 miles from Richmond and they feed us well again. Jane, I was out on picket duty the other day and I went to [a] house to get dinner. When I got there I walked in the house, took a seat on a chair. You know that we have no chairs in the army and I ain’t used to sitting on chairs now. I could make out to sit on the chair by sitting very still. I would try to sit up big, for there was one of the prettiest little girls there. Out of Gail she brought me in remembrance of all you pretty girls in old Iredell. She better know she pitched around and got me a fine dinner and I had the pleasure of sitting at a table and eating one time more. There is some very pretty girls and also very clever ones in Virginny, but I would much rather see the girls at Iredell. Jane, I would like to be up there, if peace was made, to go to some of the [candings?] with you. I could have more pleasure again [going] to candings than going to drill. We feel very lazy about drill these warm days. […] there was some frost here this morning. There was a big fight yesterday 29 miles from here. I have not heard the true report yet. It is supposed that our loss was 15 hundred killed and taken prisoners. We were expecting a fight today, but don’t think they have commenced yet. I expect some of the third creek boys was in the fight that was fought the other day not far from Gordonsville. The most [of] the Iredell boys are in Richmond now. Some of them said they did not want to come to our Regiment because it was in Virginia. Jane, I think I am about out of anything to write at this time, for I have a most quit writing to any person. I can tell you that the boys are all well that you are acquainted with. Please tell Sally McKay that I would like to hear from her and would like to see her very well. I want you to write again and write long letters, for I like to hear from the girls of Iredell. Your letter was 25 days on the road. When you write direct your letter to Richmond. Jane, I am a going to make you a ring and send it to you the first chance I have. I must bring my lines to close. Yours with respect. M.W. Hooper
Jane E. White
[…] this you see remember me
Though many miles apart we are
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