My Dearest Friend: The Civil War Correspondence of Cornelia McGimsey and Lewis WarlickThis fascinating book tells the story of the Civil War as seen through the eyes of a couple from Burke County, North Carolina. It is a collection of the letters exchanged by Cornelia McGimsey and her beau, Lewis Warlick. Lewis enlisted for a six-month tour of duty in Company G, 1st Regiment, N.C. Volunteers in 1861. When the company was mustered out at the end of six months, after a brief visit home he reenlisted at Wilmington, North Carolina and spent the remainder of the war in uniform. He saw action from Bethel Church, Virginia to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and finally surrendered at Farmville, Virginia in April of 1865.Almost a century and a half later, the people who emerge from the past are quite accessible. They are literate, humorous, courageous, loving, patient and principled. The letters contain surprisingly little by way of complaint. Living in some of the most terrible times in America's history, Lewis, Cornelia, and their comrades and families steadfastly endured extreme hardship, woeful loss, and personal danger. The letters paint a compelling portrait of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events.The Lawings have annotated the text of the letters, explaining personal relationships and the historical significance of many of the people and events mentioned in the correspondence. Several letters from other sources have also been included in order to further enhance the story of Cornelia and Lewis. |
Common terms and phrases
11th Regiment Armfield army attack battle boys brigade brother Burke County Camp Davis Canoe Hill cant Capt captured cavalry Colonel command Confederate Conley D. H. Hill dear Dearest Cornelia dearest Corrie Dearest Friend death died enemy fear fever fight flag Fort Fisher furlough George Phifer Erwin Gettysburg glad Goldsboro heard hope hospital Irish creek Johnston Pettigrew July Kerley killed kindest regards Laura letter Leventhorpe Lewis Margin Note Lewis Warlick Lincoln County Linville River looking Lover Lewis married McGimsey McGimsey Papers miles Morganton morning never night North Carolina ordered Parks Penland Petersburg Pleasant Hill Point Lookout Port prisoners Puss Raleigh received Regiment N.C. Troops returned Richmond sent sick sister soldiers Suddreth suppose tell thing told Tom Parks Uncle John Vance Virginia Volunteers Wakefield Washington William Woods Holden Wilmington wish wounded write soon written wrote Yankees yesterday Yorktown