1863 Ellendale, VA - Confederate Civil War Letter - Anxious About the War Etc...

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

1863 Ellendale, VA - Confederate Civil War Letter - Anxious About the War Etc...:
$42.03

Civil War Letter

The following Civil War letter was written by/to the children of Dr. Samuel Godfrey Henkel (1807-1863) and Susan Coiner of New Market, Shenandoah County, Virginia. Dr. Samuel G. Henkel was the son ofDr. Solomon Henkel (1777-1847) and Rebecca Miller (1780-1854). His eldest son, Casper Coiner Henkel (1835-1908) carried on the family medical profession as did various other relatives, though most of them also farmed in the rich fertile lands of the Shenandoah Valley.

Dr. Samuel G. Henkel and Susan Coiner had numerous children, most of whom lived to adulthood:

Rebecca Margaret Henkel Koiner (1833-1912) [married Gideon Koiner]
Casper Coiner Henkel (1835-1908) [married Margaretta Maria Miller in January 1867]
Julia Virginia Henkel (1837-1933) [married Shultz Miller]
Mary Belsora Henkel (1838-1854)
Ellen Helea Henkel (1839-1865) [married William (“Billie”) Fulmer]
Susan Elizabeth Henkel (1842-1918) [married Moyers]
Abram Miller Henkel (1843-1904)
Celsus Aurelius Henkel (1846-1848)
Emma Minerva Henkel (1847-1883) [married Kagey]
Ida Marcella Henkel (1850-1930)
Haller Hippocrates Henkel (1852-1921)
Cora Aurelia Henkel (1855-1937) [married Heater]
Annie L. Henkel (1857-1911) [married Crickenberger]

Besides his medical practice, Dr. Samuel G. Henkelalso worked an extensive family farm. With help from family members and a couple of hired hands, the Henkel farm produced — for their own subsistence and for the market — corn, wheat, grasses, and apples, and raised hogs, sheep and cattle.

Rebecca, the oldest daughter, married Gideon (“Gid”) Koiner (1826-1897) in November 1853 and moved to Augusta County. They built a homestead which they called “Brogue Run.” Three years later, in November 1856, Julia (second daughter) marriedShultz Miller, a cousin who had studied medicine with her father.The third of Dr. Samuel G. Hinkel’s daughters, Ellen, was married in 1859. During that winter she wed a merchant named William Fulmer (1832-1893) and moved to his family’s home in Stewartsville, New Jersey. Though she became a resident of a northern state, she never lost her identity as a southerner. OnMay 9th 1861, writing to her family from New Jersey before the mail was suspended, she crowed;

“We were all delighted to hear that old Virginia was doing her part so nobly… Billie wrote you a long letter; & after he had written it; he thought there was danger in sending it. I’m real sorry, for I wasanxious for him to write, but you have no idea how careful a body has to be. Our family is looked upon suspiciously. Billie says if they get up their mob law, they will find more Sesessionists than they ever dreamed of but they have to keep quiet. But I tell you I say what I please… I pray that Billie will not have to fight against my own people. God foroffer that such should ever come to pass. What arrouses the [Northerners]… so much, was the report that the South would attack theCapital. Had it not been for that, the North would not have been so united. I would think if they intended to take Washington, it would have been done two or three weeks ago, before it was so well protected. My idea is that the South is ready & awaiting for the government to come south of the Potomic & that that is the time they will will fire upon them & I hope they will give them a good dose….”

“In 1860 the Henkels and their friends anticipated civil war, and when Lincoln was elected in November they felt it was inevitable. Even though slaves were held in Shenandoah County, the Henkels themselves chose not to own slaves. They did, however, usually make an annual contract with a local slaveowner for a woman to work as a domestic servant in their home. Upon the inheritance of a deceased relative’s slaves in 1856, Samuel declined acceptance of any, not wanting “to bring a curse” upon himself.Though they didn’t participate in slave ownership, the Henkels did not specifically condemn the practice and that was at the root of their animosity towards the north. The main issue to them was the principle of an outside body or force seeking to impose its will upon them, which was intolerable and which they would engage in open conflict to prevent. This, rather than a rationale about the propriety of slavery, justified their opposition.

“The Henkel men, their friends, and their relatives took up arms in the southern cause shortly after Virginia seceded in April 1861.” Dr. Samuel G Henkel’s nephew,Elijah “Lige” Coiner joined Captain Patrick’s Augusta company which occupied Harper’s Ferry at the end of April. Anothernephew,Polybius Henkel, joined W. H. Rice’s 8th Star Artillery, which was formed in New Market. This unit served under Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson in the Army of Northern Virginia. Polybius died of disease in February 1862.

“Dr. Samuel G. Henkel’s son, Caspar, joined the 2nd Regiment, 7th Brigade of the Virginia Militia as an assistant surgeon in July 1861. He spent the bulk of his service in the 37th Virginia Infantryin the 3rd Brigade under General Jackson, then under Joseph Johnston and Richard Ewell after Jackson’s death. His son-in-law, Shultz Miller, also served as assistant surgeon, with the 20th Virginia Infantryduring 1862 and the 25th Virginia Infantryduring 1863. Both were kept away from home for the duration of the war, which added to the hardships in New Market.

“Like many soldiers during the war, Caspar Henkle and and Shultz Miller were dependent upon their families to provide them with clothing, much of their basic equipment, and extra food. This burden was cheerfully accepted by the Henkel family. Susan Henkel and her daughters devoted much of their time to making pants, socks, coats, gloves, and caps for Caspar and Shultz. Postal service was very uncertain during most of the war and usually letters and supplies were sent together to soldiers in the field by way of friends or relatives or strangers who passed through New Market and were headed to the field of war.

“The Henkel farm and medical practice were stretched beyond the point of endurance by the war. Most predictably, the farm lacked sufficient labor. Practically every able-bodied man was fighting. Samuel fought the Confederate government for years to retain the assistance of his son-in-law Gideon Koiner. Both he and Rebecca spent most of the war with the Henkels in New Market. Samuel’s youngest son,Abram, who was 17 at the war’s outbreak, was the only other reliable help. Harvests were partial and crops often went unplanted.

“First-hand experience with the war was unavoidable in New Market. The entire valley was almost constantly either occupied or in the path of an advancing army. Citizens were routinely victimized by troops, both Union and Confederate, that stole fruit, vegetables, horses, and livestock and occasionally lingered to harass and loot. In mid-June 1862 the Henkels were visited by some surly German-speaking Union soldiers who were on their way north to rejoin Gen. John C. Frémont’s retreat from the battle of Cross Keys, Virginia. They broke into some homes, including Solon Henkel’s, ransacking the furnishings and stealing anything that they thought had value. Aside from property loss, though, no one was injured.

When Dr. Samuel G. Henkel died in March 1863, Ellen Fulmer was able to return to New Market under a Flag-of-truce to visit her grieving family and her husband’s relatives in Richmond, Virginia. Writing her brother Caspar from New Market in May 1863, Ellen penned:

“No, Caspar, the wicked Yankees can never change me for a moment. My feelings for the South came just as naturalas eating. And I can assure you that [mu husband] Billie is true to the South. I just wish you could see him, & know & judge for yourself. It is not just at this time, but his whole sympathy has been with the South from the beginning. John Fulmer says if they force him in the Army, he would desert the very first opportunity, & I know he would. He brags that he has never payed one cent to this wicked war they are waging upon the South. He would like very much be yet here now, but he has a wife & three little children to maintain. Therefore, [he] hates to risk his life in getting through…”

[Editor’s Note: Major portions of this Henkel Family biographical sketch are from (and credited to( the website titled:Caspar C. Henkel’s life, family and times.]

TRANSCRIPTION

Ellendale
May 24th 1863

My dear Ellen,

For a long time I have been looking for a letter from you but all in vain. Many have been the surmise as to why you have not written and my conclusion is that you have got thro, but necessity compels me to write, so you will get it on your return. And dear Ellen, it is distressingly sad to me to have to tell you of thedown fallof one we put so much confidence in and who had in keeping the affections of our dear Cecelia. Tess Charlie J. has run off and we know not whither. We sent her out home (in the country) pretending it would do her good to spend a couple of days there, and then he left, and when she returned to town and found a few lines telling her he wished her to stay in the country &c., she was so stunned that she could not speak for some time since. She tried to be cheerful but Oh! you can see she suffers. I don’t like to think ofher future. It will be dark enough. May the good God pardon me for it, but to think of her distress, I can not help calling down curses on the head of him who has caused it. May she never see him again is my most earnest wish unless he repent and become a different man, which I fear he never will, for Ellen. He has done many very bad things, all of which she has been kept in ignorance of until the last few days. She has never had the confidence of her husband. She has moved out to her father’s and Will had your trunk taken up to his boarding house — No. 12 North Utaw St. But Ellen, if possible, write to me when you will be there & if I can get the letter, I’ll come to town & meet you at the depot and we can be together once more.

Ellen, you don’t know how often I have wished I were with you. I have blessed them people from Woodstock [Shenandoah County, Va.] pretty often but all to no purpose. We are having summer once again & the country is looking beautiful. We have been very busy cleaning house, white-washing, &c. and are nearly thro of which I am not sorry.

Oh! Ellen what desperate battles we have had since you left us. How it makes my heart ache to think of the bitterness that exists between a people who were once so peaceful & happy. But now what is our prospect? Gloomy enough with this draft approaching and maybe have some of our dearest friends torn from us. But it is no use to despond. The boys all want you to come back Ellen and be assured that they are not the only ones for I do most ardently wish you would come out and see us again. I did miss you so much when I got back home and even while I was at Uncle J. J.

I must close. And dear Ellen, if you know hoe badly I want to hear from you, you would write. Will and Mahlon are both here and send their love and all the family join me in sending much love.

Your attached, — C. ____

TERMS

$2.00 postage in the United States and $3.00 elsewhere. We accept paypal. Postage combined for multiple purchases.

We\'re members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society.

We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies or reproductions). Some of our letters have been transcribed and nicely presented for futuregenealogists and history buffson the Spared & Shared blog.

We\'ve been selling on since 2001. offer WITH CONFIDENCE.