Civil War Letters
These are letters that Kenner B. Pipes wrote to his mother, Ann Brown (Boreman) Pipes, and sister Eleanor Pipes while he was in the civil war. I received these letters when I wrote for his civil war records. The letters all mention money that he had sent home to help take care of his mother. She had applied for a pension when Kenner was killed, and I assume that she had presented the letters as proof of his sending money home to her.
I could not make out some of the words, so they were left blank.
Kenner Pipes was the great-uncle of my grandmother, Blanche Neese nee Pipes.
April 22, 1862
My Dear Sister
it is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present. Hopefully these few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing.
I drew my money and I will send forty dollars home with Nathan ______ and I want you to pay that note at _________ and give John Pipes five dollars and keep the rest of the money yourself.
I paid that note that I owed the Captain and got his receipt. I received fifty-nine dollars and I want you to write to me as soon as you get the money. So nothing more at the present but still remaining your affectionate brother.
Kenner B. Pipes
Miss Eleanor Pipes
November 18, 1863
Dear
Sister with greatest of pleasure I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at the present. Hoping these few lines may find you all well. We got our pay yesterday and I thought I would send you some money. I will send you a check calling for fifty dollars on Wheeling Bank and you can get this check cashed at some of the stores at Sistersville or Middlebourne.
For it is not very safe to send money in a letter now. If they won't cash the check you can send it to Wheeling by someone and they can get it for you.
Well as I wrote to you a few days ago I have no news to tell you this time, only I want you to write to me as soon as you get this so nothing more but I as ever remain your son and brother.
Kenner B. Pipes
In the trenches near Petersburg, Va
Sept the 25th 1864
Dear mother and
Sister I again seat my self for the purpose of writing you a few lines in reply to your kind letter that is at hand at present. It finds me well and I hope that these few lines may find you enjoying the same great blessing.
I have no news of importance to write. We are a lying in the trenches in front of Petersburg, there is short skirmishing in front of our lines. There is no one hurt in our regt. The news from the Shenanadoah valley is of a ____
and infact our armies seems to be sucessful at this point. The rebs begin to see that their cause is hopeless.
I think a few more skirmishes of our armies will disharten the rebs so that they will return to their alegience to the general goverment.
The goverment which they are a tryng to destroy but they can't defete for it is backed by patriots. A great many lives has been sacrificed for our good goverment.
A goverment that our fore fathers fought and bled and died to establish for our benefit, and now we as the ______ of our fore fathers nourished with patritism will not let Southern traitors destroy our fathers goverment.
I got a letter from Sarah Jane the twenty fourth of this month and they was well. I wrote a letter to her. You said you had written four letters to me. I have received three of them. I have written seven to you and mother since I left home.
So as I have no more news that would interest you. Now mother if you want any money before I get my pay you will have to go to William Boreman. I will fetch _____ letter.
To a close I ever remain your affectionate brother and son until then.
Kenner B. Pipes
To Eleanor Pipes and Anna Pipes
Write soon
Kenner was killed in action on October 27, 1864 near Petersburg.
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