This Day in Georgia Civil War History
March 03, 1865
Soldier Wrote of Death of Two Fellow Soldiers
A Georgia soldier in North Carolina wrote home to his wife, glad that some communication lines had been re-opened, but with news of the deaths of two of his fellow soldiers.
“…I am rejoiced to hear there is a regular mail communication opened yesterday between this place and Georgia…The command has been in a fight lately two of my old company were killed Shaw living near Roswell was one the other Mahaffey of Gwinnett. If possible let Mrs. Shaw know. They were killed in a charge on Shermans waggons three days ago. I cant hear the particulars. You will see in the papers a correspondence between Sherman & Genl Hampton about killing Shermans foragers. None are taken prisoners but all killed. I am afraid my darling wife that I will not be able to get any furlough this spring, as long as the campaign continues active I will not apply, as I will be needed with the command. …” Source: T.H. Galloway (ed.), Dear Old Roswell: Civil War Letters of the King Family of Roswell, Georgia (Mercer University Press, Macon, Georgia, 2003), p. 116.