Letter by rebel soldier   D289

I was not in favor of putting negros
in as soldiers etc. I am willing
to go right by the side of the blackest
negro in all christendom and shoot
round for round with him.

LTR Reserve Picket Feb 11, 65
Southern Soldier
re: negro Soldiers D289

that is of any account, I am sure it to her to take of course that I can
not carry that is if it would not
be too much trouble to her, but
I dont suppose I will have much
because Lt. Smith has a valise and
told me that he would have all
my clothes hauled that I did not
want to carry which I think would
be quite clever if he would only
comply with his promise

Keep a look out and if they
pop those negroes in to build
brestworks get me a position for
I like that place better than any
other that I can think of that
is if they take able bodied men
for that business.

I suppose it would be no use to
try to write home now.  When you write
give all my love  Give my kindest
regards to Mrs R, with much love
I remain very Truly
your Bro
WJ Estill

Send me a few stamps so
I can correspond w friends
this because no stamps
can't be bought here

putting the negroes in as soldiers
before I left home but
a majority of the soldiers
were then put in and I came
to the conclusion it would be 
best for us when I got a peek
at the enemys breastworks and
the thought of having to charge
thru some day soon brought the
hankering notion to have some
body in front of us  Some of
the men think that would be
putting stress on an equality with us
but as for myself if no other
terms but absolute submission 
is offered to us I am willing to 
go right by the side of the blackest
negro in all Christendom and
shoot round for round with
him until we see get better
terms to make peace than those
offered by Lincoln But don't suppose
I want to fight No Sin anything 
but fight now if I can in any way get around

Reserve Pickett
February 11th 1865

Dear Bro
     x I wrote to you last
Saturday and have sent you
two N.Y. Heralds but do not-
know that they contain any thing
very strange or news worthy of
xxxx
your notice but I thought I
would send them simply because they
were yankee papers and that
you would take some interest
in looking over them
I suppose you are now a
War man to the bone since
the peace commissioners have
failed to affect any thing if
you and I suppose you are ready
and willing to put the negro
in if so I am your man any
thing to which the fight now is my
motto. I was not in favor of
(page 2)
putting the negroes in as soldiers
Before I left home but
a majority of the soldiers
want them put in and I came
to the conclusion it would be
best for us when I got a peak
at the enemys breastworks and
the thought of having to change
them some day soon brought the
harkening motion to have some
body in front of us. Some of
the men think that would be
putting them on an equality with us
but - as for myself if no other
term but absolute submission 
is offered to us I am willing to
go right by the side of the blackest
negro in all Chrisendom and
shoot round for round with
him until we can get better
terms to make peace than those
offered by Lincoln But dont suppose
I want to fight. No sir anything
but fight now If I can in any way get around it.
Page 3)
While the railroad is cut now
just as I expected andguess it
will be a long time before I
hear from home. I have not
recd a word since I returned
to this company.
We have been fifteen days
on pickett on the outpost every
[three] third day, it is rumored now
that we will be relieved on
Monday.
W.L. Smith is gone to his home
in this State on a thirty day furlough
I suppose you saw him in Richmond.
I told him that I would
send you some money to buy
me some things about the
time he started back that is if
you are still in Richmond.
Before you leave you must write me
Mrs. Ratcliffes address so that if
I have any thing next Summer(?)
that is of any account I am send [since] it to
her to take of co___ that I can
not carry that is if it would not
be too much trouble to her, but 
I don't suppose I will have much
because L Smith has a valise and

told me that he would have all
my clothes h_____ that I did not 
want to carry which I think would 
be quite clever if he would only 
comply with his promise. 
Keep a look out and if they
 ____ those negroes in [the] to build 
breastworks get me a position for I
 like that place better than any 
other that I can think of that 
is if they take able bodies men 
for that business. 
I suppose it would be no use to 
try to write home now. When you write 
give all my love. [?] Give my kindest 
regards to Mrs. R. with much love 
I remain very truly 
your Bro W.J. Estill
Send me a few stamps 
I am carfull to ___ 
this because no stamps can be 
bought here.

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