The CSA Soldier Learns Of Deaths From Diphtheria

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A Confederate Soldier's 2pp. letter written by James H. Rutledge who enlisted on 6/22/1861 at Wythe County, VA as a Private and was mustered into "K" Co. VA 50th Infantry. He was twice promoted, Corpl 9/20/1861 and 1st Sergt 4/15/1863. James H. Rutledge was Killed on 5/3/1863 at Chancellorsville, VA. Datelined, Narrows, Giles County, VA., November 12, 1862. In large part, " have written you several letters and have not received a line from you in answer to them. I am therefore uneasy about you all, and am very anxious to hear from you. The last news I have is from a letter David Harrell 1 got from home about two weeks ago, and some two of you were then dead from dypyheria. I did not learn which two of you had died. I am expecting every day to hear that some more of you are gone. I was much mortified to hear that that awful disease had gotten into your family but I am happy that I have long since learned not to find fault of Providence. I am thankful to tell you that I feel resigned to the will of my Lord and console myself with the thought that all of you who have attained to years of accountability are prepared for the solemn event of death, and those who have not-all will be well with them if they die. ..."Five of the Rutledge siblings died of the diphtheria epidemic and lay dead in the house at the same time. Coffins could not be made quick enough for all of them, so some of the children were carefully wrapped in sheets and all were buried at Meadows of Dan Baptist Church cemetery. This horrible, deadly infection was not done with the Rutledge children. These three little boys (ages 4, 5, and 6) were buried with their siblings at the cemetery.

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