The Shells of Pigeon Creek Genealogy Web Site
The ancestors, descendants, and cousins of the Shells of Pigeon Creek, Alabama.
Notes for William Derrick Shell
"These letters were found inside the Milton Fletcher / Mary Nance Shell Wright Bible at Carolyn Wright Haynes' home in Snead, Alabama. (Transcribed verbatim as best possible by Elsie L. Wright 136 years after they were written.) Some notes for your consideration: William Derrick Shell was the son of William Baugh Shell and Nancy Sims Nance Shell. By the time of the Civil War they would have been residing in Coweta County, Georgia - likely at Turin. William wrote these letters in 1861 and 1862, the last being written on June 21, 1862. He died about three months later in Lynchburg, Virginia. William Baugh Shell, the father, was a delegate to the Convention at Milledgeville, Georgia and signed the papers of secession from the Union. The oral family history states that the pen he used was still in the Shell family (reported in the 1960s).
The names referred to in his letters are: Sister - Mary Nance Shell Wright. Franklin - likely his older brother Robert Franklin Shell who died in 1864 near Petersburg, Virginia. Fletcher is Milton Fletcher Wright - Mary Nance Shell's husband and William's brother-in-law. The Fred and Russell are the same individual (Fred Russell) and is a cousin. The Hunter individual is not known, but likely a local citizen known by William. They are mentioned in a poem written by Mrs. F. P. Peek in the 1860s about Turin, Georgia soldiers (copy follows). The identity of W. Sexton and John Whatley is not known either. I hypothesize the R. Shell in the June 21 letter is Robert Franklin Shell, but William referred to him as Franklin in the earlier letter, so perhaps this is also Robert Franklin. The other men William mentioned in the election results are not known to be family members either. Rebecca, Frances and Almeda (Amelia) were William's sisters. The J. H. or J. M. could have been John Mercer Gay, who married Frances Catherine Shell, William's sister."
(Elsie Wright. Elsie Wright File. Jacksonville, AL. ELW.rtf Received 6/1999.)
Camp near the Potomac
December 7th 1861 Dear sister
I received a letter from you some time ago and I thought I would answer it imediately but we have been moving about so much that I have not had the chance of doing anything. I am not very well to day nor have not been this week but I am so I can be about. it is mostly bad cold. We are now twenty miles from the Insurection. we moved eight miles last Sunday. we are about five miles from the Potomac. We can see the river very plain. We can see the emenys vessels sailing up and down the river.
Franklin got here last Wednesday and Fred is at the (Junction?) guarding our baggage. He has not got well yet but he is a great deal better. all of the boys that are here are tolable well. there are ten or twelve Richmond and some at Culpepper. I do not know how they are getting along.
Col Boyd got his arm broke last Thursday. He fell down on the frozen ground. He has gone to Culpepper. I reckon he will go home. I don't think we will stay here long if we do not have a fight soon. We looking for a fight every day but I do think we are going to fight. I have nothing more that would interest you. We are here where we cannot hear anything. Give respects to Fletcher and your children and reserve a portion to yourself. Nothing at present
from you Brother
W. D. Shell
I will Frank this letter as I have no Postage Stamps nor silver money.
W. D. Shell
Camp Barton Va March 20th 1862
Dear Sisters
I have concluded to write you A few lines to inform you how we are getting along. I cannot say that I am well nor sick but I am not on the sick list. There is twenty of our company on the sick list but none dangerous. We sent one to the Hospital the other day. We have very tight rules since we moved here. It is like getting a furlough to go home to get A pass to get out of the guard lines. Well it is very bad day to day it rained all night last night and is still raining to day and some of the boys has no tents but our mess has A very good tent so we can keep dry. All three of the Hunters is on the sick lists. Fred Russell is going on this morning. The march that we had made A good many of the boys sick and I am afraid will make A great many more of us sick before we are through with it. We are under marching orders now to be ready to march at A moments warning but I dont know when we will move. It may be A month and it may be an hour from now no telling and we have not got any mail since we have been here.
Fred sends his respects to you and family and tell Fletcher to write him.
W. D. Shell
Richmond Va June 20th 1862
Dear Sister
As it has been some time since I have wrote to you I will endeavor to write you a few lines this evening although I do not feel much writing this evening. I was right sick a few days last week but I am some better this evening. I sent from the Regt last Monday here at the sick camp with several more of the boys; there are about fifteen our company here the Dr sent W. Sexton and John Whatley to the Hospital today I am afraid a great many men will have to go because we have been exhaused so much that we will all be sick if we do not get to rest more.
I have no news to write at this time I do not know when another fight will come off here but I think it will be pretty soon. They have been cannonading all day I but I have not heard any Musketry yet. I have noticed in the papers that France is about to recognize our independonce. some seams to that she has already done it. but I think it is doubtful but I wish she would and put an end to this war for I am getting as tired of this war as any body can be. We got our clothes the other day that K Haines brought. We also got the honey that Fletcher sent us which was very thankfully received but he said something about sending a bottle of honey before that but we did not get it.
June 21, 1862
Nothing has transpired since yesterday worth relating. We are all getting along tolably well. R. Shell came from the Regt yesterday. He looks twice as large as usual he is swelled up. The Dr says he has got the dropsy. there was three of our company came here sick yesterday. W Cates came in yesterday from Lynchburg he went to the Regt this morning. He looks very well. We had an election in our company last week. W. T. Stallings 2nd Lieut. L Waldrop Orderly J Coggins 5th Sergeant and J. D. Johns 2nd Corporal Capt Hunter is in Lynchburg sick I think he is going home next Monday if he does not get better and Ab is going with him. I will send this letter him. I have just received a letter Frances she said John spoke of coming here tell him if he comes to bring my broad rim black hat if he does not come tell mother to send it by the first one that comes. Tell Rebecca and Frances and Almeda (Amelia?) and every body else do for my sake do not write anything more to me about the ?? ?? ?? for I am sick and tired of hearing everything about them.
Tell J H. am about to run out of soap. give my respects to Fletcher and the children especially Zollicoffer. no more write soon to your brother,
W. D. Shell
This poem contains references to many Confederate soldiers from the areas of Sharpsburg, Turin, and Senoia, Georgia, including William Shell.
THE FALLEN SOLDIERS OF PRESTON
by Mrs. F.P. Peek
I sing a dirge for Preston,
For the brave who passed away,
And those who fell in battle,
Before the first of May.
And foremost in the fated band,
The glory of his age,
We see a youthful hero stand,
The gallent F.F. Page.
Death loves a shining mark, 'tis said,
And loves to dim the eye,
Where manly courage beams, but Fred
Was not afraid to die.
Away in gloomy Lynchburg,
With no kind friends to tell
His thoughts to, or his parting words,
Died poor young William Shell.
And where our men for freedom cause,
With invading vandals met,
Lieutenant Walker left his life,
On the plains of Summerrest.
On the good field of Mannassas,
Marcus North in victory fell,
And George and James Carmical,
For their country lighting well.
And gallant Preston Russell,
On the twenty-first of July,
Showed how a Southern Soldier,
For home and friends could die.
At home among his kindred,
In the Summer's bright array,
William Cole and Henry Bailey,
Were permitted to return,
And die among their loved ones
Who for them long will mourn.
Bob Carmical, Reuben Williams,
Robert North and Newton Cole,
And Tom Hunter and Jim Morgan
Will never answer to the roll.
For they died in far Virginia,
But their memories will remain,
When the liberty has come to us,
So many died to gain.
And William Peck and Edward,
And Freddie Russell, too,
And Billie Suggs are gone for . . .
No more to meet our view.
William Carmical nobly,
On the field of death did fall,
And Jessie Summers answered,
And obeyed his country's call.
And Dr. Brooks at Knoxville,
And in the self same fight,
Lieutenant Newman gallantly
Died battling for the right.
'Tis sad to think that one like him,
So manly, strong and brave,
Lies far away from home and love,
In a lonely Soldier's grave.
And on the second of July,
Eighteen and sixty-three,
Henry Summers died a soldier's death,
While struggling to be free.
In that hard fought fight at Gettysburg,
Marching to the advance,
Even at the cannon's mouth he fell,
Lieutenant Colonel Hance.
His name has left us, and its light
Should shine on history's page,
For a brave or a better man, Never lived in any age.
My dirge is sung,
My rhymes are wrought,
But everyone can tell,
The ground is holy where they fought,
And Holy where they fell."
x. NANCY ALMEDA PENNINGTON SHELL, b. August 18, 1845; d. August 05, 1908, Turin, Coweta County, Georgia.
viii. THOMAS EDWARD SHELL, b. October 10, 1847, Georgia.
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