I have attempted to get records on Henry Travis, brother of Nicholas " Nick" Travis, Co. C 7th Regt. Miss. Inf.
I have two letters that mention him that are part of the 7th Mississippi history manuscript and I would like to confirm his identity and find out what happened to him. I am including the two letters with my index notes in hopes that someone on this board can help me determine once and for all if Henry Travis was in fact the brother of Nicholas Travis, brother or son of John Travis of Amite county MS, and is the man that served in the 11th TX Inf.
Nick Travis was wounded on more than one occasion and returned to Miss. to recuperate, but always went back to the army. John travelled from Mississippi on several occasions delivering letters, clothing, and supplies.
The letters follow so you can get as much as possible in the context of the actual letters:
GSL Letter Nov 22, 1861 Henry Travis, camp in VA. Near Potomac River to GS Lea
Henry Travis, brother of George Lea’s Messmate Nick Travis Co. C 7th Miss., wrote in reply to George’s letter in July to let him know that he planned to “Kill some Yanks” and expected to see some soon on the Potomac River. He was part of a small number of Texas volunteer infantry regiments sent to Virginia. Henry would soon get his fill of fighting Yankees. His regiment became part of Longstreet’s Division and would see action at the battle of Gettysburg and later with Longstreet and Hood at Chickamauga in September of 1863.
Letter from Virginia
“November the. 22. 18. 61
Camp on the Potomerc river in Virginia
Mr Gor S. Lea
Dear Ser
I am now in camp on the Potomerc river in Virginia.
I am well at this time I hope that my few lines may find you well Gorge I receive A letter from you A few days befor I left Texas I left Texas on the 1st of July. Gorge I came thru Osyka I wouder call on you but I did not have time I could not leave my compentry I am in the 11th Texas Volentiers my capetin name is Capetin G.F. Foster of _______.”
Gorge we are in camp one mile west of the Potomerc river and on the other side A bout one mile the ar A bout twenty thousand YanKees Nite before las I stud picet gard in A bout one mile of twenty thousand YanKees. Gorge I am very well sadfide here but I would be better sadfide if I had some of my old friends with me.”
Henry Admits a Bitter Heart Toward Yankees
"Gorge you mos know I have a biter hart els I woulden be her wher I am so fer from home I am terinen[determined] to make a man outer myself or get cill A time I am willing to meat the YanKees on the battle feel eny day or eney ower. Gorge you rote to me in your letter that I got before I left Texas that you had join the army and you had been in camps. Gorge you have join the army before I did but I did beat you to the YanKees.”
Havent Cill Nary One Yet
“I havent cill nary one yet but the ar A good prospect of getten to cill som of them. Gorge About 15 miles Above us About 50 thousand yanKees has corst the Potomerc river comen down on us let them com we have A bout 50 thousand men to meat them on half way groun thet by goin Down to the river here I can get to see the YanKees."
“but it dos me no good to see them I had drother get to cill som of them then to see them and cant get to cill non the river is to miles att cross it When you ancer my letter maby I will have more nuse to tell you on I rote this in A Quick time you mus look over it give my love to all of my ole friends so dear will write soon Your obitence cine friend until Deth rite soon to me Gorge.
Henry Travis To Mr G S Lea god bless you all” GSL HT
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Index
Potomerc river in Virginia .[Potomac]
Virginia
Gorge [George Lea Co. C 7th Miss.]
Texas
Osyka [Miss.]
11th Texas Volentiers
Capetin G.F. Foster of _____ [11th Texas Vols.]
Camp Location: [camp one mile west of the Potomerc river]
twenty thousand YanKees
above us 50 thousand yanKees has corst the Potomerc river
Henry Travis [Henry Travis, 11th Regt. TX Vols. Capt. G.F. Foster; brother of Nicholas Travis Co. C…..Need War record on Travis and the 11th TX-GSL pp. 20, 45, 59]
[Travis, Nicholas A. Pvt. Co. C, 7th Miss. Surr. in NC. d. Amite County at 96 yrs, of age[See GSLea Letters]]
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Line of Battle after Battle of Chickamauga
GSL-Letter October, 10, 1863 Camp near Chattanooga Tenn. GS Lea to HM Lea
The brigade had held a position in the Chattanooga Line of Battle since Chickamauga on the back or southeast side of Missionary Ridge near where Col. Sharp and General Tucker made their headquarters. The position would later be called Sharp’s Spur after the battle of Missionary Ridge. Now the brigade formed line of battle on the ridge as well as in the plain in front of Chattanooga along a line that stretched from the Citico Creek Railroad bridges across Orchard Knob and continuing to the south along a spur of rocks. The regiment was not alone since Hindman’s Division shared that portion of the line. George Lea writes his father after the battle and describes the situation facing the common soldiers and the army.
“Camp near Chattanooga
Oct 10th 1863
Dear Father
As we learn that the mail route has been again opened I shall attempt to write you another letter it being the second one since the late battle of Chickamaga the last I sent by mail and you may not get it.
My health is tolerably good considering every thing. We lie in line of battle all the time and have ever since the fight. But few sick considering the hardships we have undergone for the last twenty to twenty five days. We are in sight of the enemy all the time. They are in line of battle all the while as we are. We have our lines of entrenchment one line in front of the other as near their work as we can well get. More or less cannonading every day almost, but no damage yet of any consequence."
Enemy Supplies Affected by Wheeler’s Cavalry
“What will be done next I am unable to say. The enemy have such a strong position in Chattanooga it will be impossible for us to get them out without great loss on our part. I have thought it was Bragg’s intention to surround them and starve them out but now I don’t think he can well do it It has been reported by some prisioners from the enemy that they were getting scarce of Rations had only ten days on hand, that I believe for they have no way of transportation only to haul and that is quite a slow way for such a large army besides occasionally we hear Wheeler running and destroying a train of wagons. We can give but little idea of what will be done a future day will tell. The latest Northern accounts we have say that Old Rosy has been receiving heavy reinforcements from Meads Army. Such is their account it may be all false.”
Lt. Webb and Pemble Resign—No Word From Wounded Boys
Zach’s Clothes Sold to Others in Company
"Since I wrote to you Lieuts. Webb and McGhee have both returned to camp. We have but one officer with us at present McGhee. Pemble & Webb have both tendered their resignations owing to their disabilities. I guess they will both return home again. I have heard nothing definite from our wounded boys since they went to the hospital. I have heard some of them had gone home those that received the slightest wounds. I dont know where Zach has gone or not yet he was unable to travel when I heard from him last. But will be furloughed as soon as able. If he should come home I wish you to tell him his clothing sent him by Lieut McGhee has been sold out to different ones of the company as there was no way of taking care of it. Lieut McGhee has an account of everything.”
Thanks for the Money and Clothes
Need Pants–Heavier Material for Winter
“All the money you have sent me has come safe and will answer a great purpose. As we have to buy every thing we can to feed our selves. We strive in many ways to provide for ourselves. All the clothing sent me does very well. You can tell Mother the pants are too small across the hips and around the waist and a little long. Tell her if she has the opportunity she can send me another pair of pants and one shirt by Mr. Bennett when he comes that will be all I will want I would like the pants to be of heavier material for the winter.”
“I would like to be with you all a while to get something to eat I would ask you to send something but I know it out of your power to do so you would if you could without asking. I dont want you to try come up here this winter you will be needed at home all the time. You can tell John I seen Henry Travis a few days ago. He is in fine health and probably will remain with this Army and not go back to Virginia any more."
“Well I believe I am done for this time. My feelings are better felt than described towards you all. Give my love to Mother & sisters Good bye for this time Your boy George”
“Kemp is well and doing well much better than I am Read this if you can it is poorly done we have scarcely any paper to write or anything to write with.” GSL
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Index
Chattanooga Line of Battle
Chickamauga
Missionary Ridge
Col. Sharp
General Tucker
Sharp’s Spur
battle of Missionary Ridge
Citico Creek Railroad bridges
Orchard Knob
Hindman’s Division
George Lea
Camp near Chattanooga
battle of Chickamaga
Military Action: “We are in sight of the enemy all the time. They are in line of battle all the while as we are. We have our lines of entrenchment one line in front of the other as near their work as we can well get. More or less cannonading every day almost, but no damage yet of any consequence."
Supply Lines: “It has been reported by some prisioners from the enemy that they were getting scarce of Rations had only ten days on hand, that I believe for they have no way of transportation only to haul and that is quite a slow way for such a large army besides occasionally we hear Wheeler running and destroying a train of wagons.”
"following from Index pp. 81-82 GSL":
Wheeler [Joe Wheeler's Cav.]
Bragg [Gen. Braxton Bragg]
prisioners from the enemy
Old Rosy [Rosecrans] reinforced by Meads Army
Webb [Sampson, Samp] returned to camp
McGehee [Lt./Capt. John L. McGehee] returned to camp
Pemble [Lt. Robert J. Pemble] and Webb [Lt. Sampson Culpepper Webb] resigned "owing to their disability".
wounded boys [Battle of Chickamauga]
Zach [Zachariah L. Everett] [wounded or sick?]
Clothing: “If he [Zach] should come home I wish you to tell him his clothing sent him by Lieut McGhee has been sold out to different ones of the company as there was no way of taking care of it. Lieut McGhee has an account of everything.”
Lt. McGhee [Lt. John L. McGehee]
Food and Clothing: “All the money you have sent me has come safe and will answer a great purpose. As we have to buy every thing we can to feed our selves. We strive in many ways to provide for ourselves. All the clothing sent me does very well. You can tell Mother the pants are too small across the hips and around the waist and a little long. Tell her if she has the opportunity she can send me another pair of pants and one shirt by Mr. Bennett when he comes that will be all I will want I would like the pants to be of heavier material for the winter.”
Mr. Bennett .."coming to camp…"
John ___[Travis]"tell John I seen Henry Travis…"
Henry Travis [bro. of Nick Travis, Co. C 7th Miss.; relative of John Travis] "fine health..remain here not go back to Virginia…"
this Army
Virginia
Kemp[George Lea’s servant, accompanied George until Lea was killed at Franklin, TN. Kemp returned after the war with George’s father, Hampton Muse Lea, and George’s friend, Nick Travis. to recover his remains and return him to Mississippi.]
Mother & sisters
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Source: [George S. Lea Letters and Index(GSL) transcribed and edited by Ron Skellie for inclusion in the 7th Mississippi Regimental History Lest We Forget—The Immortal Seventh Miss., Manuscript 3-20-2010 version, unpublished.]; An Edited Index to the Private George Sylvester Lea, Co. C. "Amite Rifles" 7th Regiment Mississippi Infantry Collection of Civil War Letters of the Lea Family compiled by John A. (Jack) Banning and Betty Lea Banning, 1992; Edited by Ronald J. Skellie Regimental Historian of the 7th Miss. Infantry, 2004-2010.