2021-10 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/15/2021
A great Confederate officer's letter written by Captain John Walker Bitting (1843-1910) Co. K, 48th North Carolina, 4pp. 8vo., "Camp 48th N. C. Regt., March 11, 1865," to his cousin Annie, reading, in part: "Your welcome letter of the 6th inst. came to hand-while we were on picket-I have the 'blues' very bad. I am now feeling the effects of my furlough. I want to be at home-I don't think I could have any pleasure under the present state of excitement. I am sorry for you in thinking that Sherman will advance down on our settlement, but yet can not refrain from laughing at you when you speak of burying your 'jewelry.' I expect yet you will take your refuge in Danville where you ran from once and then not be satisfied until you are safely housed up closely in the rear of Genl. Lee's lines-I expect you will fall in love with the Yankee that the 'fortune teller' was speaking to you about. will you not?-we were enjoying ourselves very well around our campfires when dark came. I went round to post my pickets and give the orders for the night and have only returned to my post a few minutes when I heard the command, halt! halt!! given. With that 4 or 5 men fired their guns. I was somewhat frightened at first but I pushed forward to the scene-to see what was up-I learned then that two of my men in company with another from camp went over to the Yankees. I then heard the Yankees hollowing and saying, 'run Johnny Reb' or the rascals would kill you.' In a few minutes they were admitted into the enemies lines. All remained quiet the balance of the night. Yesterday about two o'clock a 'flag of truce' was seen flying in our front. We hoisted one and admitted them to come nearly to the picket lines. We went forward to know their mission. The Yankee in charge said he wished to see one of Genl. H. Heath's staff, that he had a corpse for one of them that they killed on the 5th inst. in the run. Genl. Hoke's A. A. G. went over and received the corpse. After the second time coming over we could see the enemy assembled at the picket lines only about a 1/4 in our front-Cousin A. I have tendered my resignation. I am tired of commanding. I want to commanded unless the Confederate authorities are willing to give me a horse with a star to command a new Regt. I want to do anything now to whip the Blue coats. My papers went up on the 6th, but both my regiments & brigade commanders disapproved it. I want to join light artillery. If it is approved I am going to make an effort to get home for a season-Cousin John-". John Walker Kitting (1843-1910) was born in Surry Co., N. C. He enlisted in the 48th North Carolina on March 25, 1862 and served as a sharpshooter in Walker's Brigade. He served over 25 battles and skirmishes and was wounded three times during the war. First at Fredericksburg, again at the battle of Bristol Station on Oct. 16, 1863 and finally, at the battle of the Wilderness in 1864. At Bristol Station all the officers of his command were killed and he was promoted captain of his company on the spot. His resignation was accepted to take effect from late February, 1865. After the war he became a successful businessman. First as a merchant in Salisbury, North Carolina and then again as a prosperous cotton merchant in Travis County, Texas. Negligible spotting, else VG.
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