Confederate Civil War Letter - 33rd North Carolina Infantry, Scared He Will Die

Description

CIVIL WAR LETTER
Co. G, 33rd North Carolina Infantry
This Confederate Civil War soldier letter was written by 33 year-old Private George Hiram Beckel (1829-1862) of Forsyth County, North Carolina, who was conscripted into
Co. G, 33rd North Carolina Infantry
, on 15 July 1862 and served with the regiment five months before his death from pneumonia in Richmond, Virginia, on Christmas Eve.
George was the son of John Boeckel and Sarah Weaver who raised two sons and six daughters. Conscripted with George at the same time and also assigned to Co. G, 33rd North Carolina was his younger brother—John W. Beckel (1838-1863). Unbelievably, John also died of disease—his death recorded on 1 January 1863, only a week later than his brother.
George wrote all of the letters to his wife, Antonette Sophia (Miller) Beckek (1828-1891) and their 8 year-old daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Beckel (1854-1932). There are frequent references to various member of the Miller family in the service with him; these were relatives of his wife Sophia.
TRANSCRIPTION
Raleigh [North Carolina]
July 31st 1862
Dear Family,
I now take the present opportunity to let you know that we are at Raleigh in camp and it is raining. We got here last night and I don’t know how long we will stay here. We know nothing. There is all sorts of talk here. They say they are taking them to Richmond first. I don’t know how long we will stay here. Some say we will [stay] a few weeks. I should be glad to hear from you but I don’t know how to tell you where to write. We have just got here and we know nothing yet and I don’t know when we will. As soon as I find out how you must back letters, I will write again.
I have been as well as could be expected. I am yet in trouble some though I have determined put my trust in [God] and I hope you will pray to God that we may meet again. I have nothing to write—only we are here and don’t know what will become of us. Serve God and pray that we may meet again and I will do the same and no doubt God will hear us and answer our prayer. I am here and that is all I know. We hear everything and know nothing. Let us pray to God for deliverance and from those troubles. If we never meet on earth, I hope we will meet as a family at the right hand of God. Nothing more at present. Only serve your God.
Yours until death, — G. W. Beckel
to Sophia Beckel
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