Copies of orginals submitted by Gilbert descendant
(name withheld by request) and are copyrighted.
 
 

Irwinton, Ga. Feb 24, 1861
Mr. S. B. Gilbert
Dear Uncle
I seat myself to write you a few lines to inform you that I am well at present hoping you are the same. Farther and Mother are all well and the rest of the family. Aunt Reavy and her family are also well. Uncle Bird is well at present. I have nothing of importance to write you. I have written to you once or twice and have never received any answer although I did not look for it much. Mr. Samuel McCarty is married. he Married Miss Hall Morgan Halls daughter. I have never seen her yet. She is at Mr. Hughes is staying there until they find the house the are building rite below old McCarty's garden. I belong to a Military company. We have about 60 sixty men. uncle Bird is going to train(?). we have Muskets they talk of us starting off soon. I wish you was here to go, We have Cursys pants and coat with a red stripe down the leg. We have the large military buttons thirtyone on each coat. This is all. Write to me if you please. Hope you are getting along.
Yours respectfully.
A. P. Gilbert
( Note: Private Albert P. Gilbert enlisted Co. F, Ga 3rd infantry April 26, 1861  and was killed at Malvern Hill, Va July 1, 1862)

Portsmouth Virginia May 17th, 1861
Dear Brother,
I will take the pleasure of writing you a few lines to inform you that I am not vary vary well at the present. I have bin sick three or four days. I am in Portsmouth Va in serves in the Third regiment we left home this day was three weeks ago we came on the Augusta and staid there three days and then left for Richmond via and then staid three two nights and a day and a half and then we left for this place. I saw Mr. Bruer yesterday and he told me all the word you sent by him to me  he sed you spoke of coming I would be vary glad to see you hear. I don't think that I  shal stay hear vary long we have not had any fight yet and I cant tell when we will if we do shall we are at the Gosport Navey yard  farding of it, Mr. Brouer and his company got hear on Wednesday 15 inst I was very proud  to hear from you. The notes that I had of yours I left them with Elbert and Mr. Sanderfird has paid it once I left I told Brother to send you the money that you sent for and to keep the yr allance until you come after it. I don't no how long we will stay there but I want you to write to me inst as soon as you get this and direct your letters to Portsmouth via in the care of Capt. W. O. Beall and I will be Serten as get thes in. They is about twenty five hundred  troupes here from Georgia at this time. They is about twelve thousand in all we are well prepared for fighting yankies and the boys is geing vary anscious for a fight. I will close as I am sick and write fineckly and lt me hear from you we will all may be at home soon for all I no.
Your affectionate Brother I Still Remane.
B. T. Gilbert
 

Roanoake Island, North Carolina Sept 29th, 1861
Dear Brother
I have the pleasure once more of writing you a few lines to inform you that I am well at presant. I recived your most kind letter a few days ago. I was very glad to here from you as I had not hird from you in some time and in fact not since last spring when Mr. Brewer came here. I sent you a letter but never received any answers from you. I though you would of wrote to me before this late date. I no I would have wrote to you. __ we are at this time on Roanoake Island in North Carolinas. we left Portsmouth Virginia the 30th day of August and we landed hear the first day of this month. we are hear throwing up battries. We have just __ 3 ass Roanoake River and one on the Island for the flying Artilery. The is from 7 to 9 guns to the battary. We are at work to keep the yankees out of this state when we left Portsmouth we thought we would fight as soon as we got to this place but we have not had any fight yet but he yankees is in site but we cant get to them for the reason they are on water and we are on land this Island is only then miles long and two miles wide the River is three miles a cross. we are 140 miles from Portsmouth after we get done. the battaries we may go back to Portsmouth and we many not if we go back we will go in the corse of a week or two but our post office is at Portsmouth. As we cant get our letters from no other place. I hope we will go back for I had ruther stay Virginia that in this state for it is much hell there than here. I heard from home the other day it saying  __ the is very sorry crops made in Wilkinson this year. I shall be at home in November if I live and can get off I would like to see you. I am very anxious to see home. Abner is getting along finley and better than I thought he would. Mr. Brewer is getting along finely, he ses give you his best respoects and to tell again that he is hear eating bull heap yam. I hope you will write to me soon . you many direct your letts to Portsmouth Virginia. I will write to you soon. Your most kind Brother until death.
B. T. Gilbert
 
 

West Point, Roanoake Island N. C. Nov 21st 1861
Dear Brother,
I hardley have time to write you this morning but I will steel a little while. I recieved your letter last night about 7 o;clock  which I was glad to see and to hear that you was well. As for myself I feel very unwell this morning but I think it cold mosley what ales me the is good deal of sickeness in our regiment at them time. I hird fom home last night and Mrs. Hicks in sending a little but she has had the bad look to loose her negro woman that cooks  Cassey.  She died on the 7 of this month. I wrote to you I would be in Wilkinson Christmas but I may be a little sooner as Mrs. Hicks have wrote for me to come as soon  (can't read) expect I shal be there the middle of December or in fact as soon as I can get there. I cant' go and come when I pleas if I could I would put it off until Christamas. You set you had not got no home for next year but Mr. Candler and Mr. Byron wanted you and spoke of wanting my dog. I don't no yet wherther I shall or not but I will let you no in March or April or perhaps sooner but if I find that I shal not want them up next year when you you many have them back wheter  (can't read) I shal not need them next year . I will let you no. Brother Elbert wrote me 2 or 3 weeks ago that the young one had  yet to bed in the yard they coud hardley...wronte him. Mrs. Hicks wrote me that she had them attended to like children and sed for me not to let no body have them for she was afraid to stay withouth them but Sam if I shud happend to get kild before I get home for good or die you may have them both..I shoud want you to take good care of them. I must close as the boat is going to start.
  Brother Elberts wife is vary sick dear brother. Write soon if you please.
B. T. Gilbert

(Note: Private Bird T. Gilbert enlisted Co. F, Ga 3rd infantry April 26, 1861 and died of disease in a hospital in Richmond, VA. Jun 29, 1862.)