Papers (1864-1866) of soldier from Beaufort County who was killed in action near Petersburg, Va., during the Civil War while serving in the 33 Regiment of N.C. Troops, including correspondence, especially one notifying his mother of his death.
Nathaniel Oliver Van Nortwick served in Company B, 33rd N.C. Infantry Regiment (North Carolina Troops). He was of Beaufort County, North Carolina, and enlisted in Wake County on September 27, 1864, at age 20. He was wounded in action near Petersburg, Virginia, on April 2, 1865, and died the following day in the Richmond, Virginia, area.
Source: N.C. Troops, 1861-1865: A Roster. Manarin, Louis H. and Jordan, Weymouth T., Jr. Vol. IX, pp. 145-146. Raleigh, N.C. : State Dept. of Archives and History. 2013
One letter (April 10, 1866) informs Van Nortwick's mother of his death. Although this collection has not well withstood the ravages of time, there are still portions of items that can be deciphered and give insight into the Spartan lifestyle endured by the soldiers during the Civil War. Two letters request a box; one more specifically requests something to eat, a pair of boots, two pairs of socks, and a pair of gloves; and the other requests money to have clothes washed.
Gift of Mr. Layton Getsinger
Processed by C. Crews, April 1991
Encoded by Apex Data Services
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