Letter 48 Dr Hezekiah Gilbert Leigh to Martha Alice Moody Leigh

Date: 18 Apr 1863 [unknown]
Location: Camp near Hamilton's Crossings
Surnames/tags: Leigh Moody Wright

Camp near Hamiltons +ings

April 18th 1863

My Dear Wife--

I think to day is your birthday or rather the anniversary of it. May it find you well & happy & may you have many returns-- You are now twenty five years old-- Who can tell what will happen in the next 25 years.

May you improve in all the christian virtues & be a good & happy woman I know you are a good one & I believe a christian. I wish I could send you some nice token, but you will have take this letter for I have nothing but love to send.

The Yankees sent out[?] some boats to Port Royal & embarked some of their troops to reinforce Suffolk I recon[?] They left on yesterday. I very much fear that we shall fail in our attempt on that place. I have very little hope of capturing Suffolk or Washington. They are too slow. Jackson would have had both places before this We are still expecting to move every day but to day is the one fair day we have had in a week-- I wish I could see where we would move to or when-- I have hired Smith to Dr Grymes Surgeon of the 13th Va Regt. I am afraid I shall lose him for I begin to think he will go to the Yankees if he sees the chance, but I do not know what else to do with him. Simon is improving-- I wish you would ask Allen if my horse has gotten well of the scratches. If he has not, get him to cure him for me. You know I will not be able to keep him in the army unless he is well. I have not heard from Frank nor do I know when to look for him.

My own dear wife I wish you would write more frequently. I am always so anxious to hear from you & the children Have they improved much since the weather permits them to be in the open air-- You have not written me whether you take much exercise or not. Do you spend much time in the open air. You know your health is the great wish of my heart. Love to all. Your affectionate

Husband

VLR (Virginia Leigh Refo)

The worst handwriting of all, so you know it has to be from a doctor! This is a letter from Dr. Hezekiah Gilbert Leigh, Surgeon for the Confederate States, during the Civil War to his wife Martha "Alice" (Moody) Leigh on her 25th birthday. She was probably at the home of her partents John Mason Moody, Sr. and Martha William (Wright) Moody in Northampton County, NC., where I believe she spent most of the War. Dr. Leigh entered Confederate service June 1862 as Surgeon 58th Va Regt. (Early's Brigade). Not long after this letter was written he was transferred to Surgeon, Field and Staff, 5th Regt. Louisiana Infantry. After illness, he finished the war as Surgeon in Charge of Hospital # 8 in Raleigh, NC. Frank may refer to his youngest brother, Frank Melancthon Leigh, of Columbus Mississippi, who, served in a North Carolina regiment, or it may refer to one of his wife's cousins, Frank Wright, from Petersburg (see letter # 33).

Acknowledgement

• Many thanks to cousin Virginia Leigh Refo whose research and transcriptions added to this profile. The originals were donated to the Library of Virginia in 2004 by Liz Edens Vermillion with the help of Virginia Refo Moody Family Papers, 1750-1881. Accession 40535, Personal Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.