A retired Presbyterian minister, Jones wrote to his son from one of the three plantations his family owned in Liberty County, Georgia. After suffering for years from the “wasting palsy,” Jones would die peacefully at Arcadia plantation on March 16, 1863.
Arcadia, Wednesday, March 4th, 1863
My dear Son,
Your kind favor of last evening reached us this morning, and afforded us the very information which we were anxious to receive—circumstantial and reliable. No paper from Savannah came.
Surely we have reason to bless God and take courage and fight more manfully than ever. The bombardment of Genesis Point is one of the events of this most eventful war. The failure of the vaunted ironclads will have a great moral effect. The enemy will have less confidence, and we stronger assurance, of being able with properly constructed fortifications and good armament, and above all with brave men, to repulse them. I look upon it as a special providence—an answer to prayer. Eight hours’ bombardment with three ironclads and some six or seven mortar and gunboats, and only two men slightly wounded, one gun carriage injured, and the damage to the breastworks repaired in the night! We learn that the enemy has renewed the attack this morning. May it please God to help us through to the end, that they may be finally repulsed!
The effect of this affair will be most salutary upon our troops in Savannah and Charleston. Right glad am I to learn that you are still receiving reinforcements for the defense of the city, and that an excellent spirit prevails, and that our outposts are to be defended to the last extremity and the enemy fought inch by inch. That is the plan. We heard yesterday that the enemy were to be permitted to land, and the outposts were to be given up, and our forces retired within the line of the city defenses! What an idea! What would be the consequence? A regular siege approach, an accumulation of men and matériel, and the city in all probability captured! Never retire and confine ourselves within our defenses until we are forced to do it.
Am happy to know also that you are so much better, and exerting yourself with energy and judgment and with so much success in putting your batteries in the best order for service. They will no doubt play an important part if the conflict comes, and may determine the fortunes of the day—in which event I trust, my dear son, and pray that God would shield your life and your person and enable you to discharge your duty as a Christian man and as a true soldier and patriot. General Walker is a great accession. Do you observe the mercy in the Genesis affair? Not a man killed; not one dangerously wounded!
The presence of your dear brother with you at this time gives great comfort to Mother and myself, and must be so to you both. The Doctor would not delay, but went down to be with you and on hand with the staff of surgeons if there should be a necessity. I looked at all his fine cases of instruments, and told him I wished they might always be kept in the same capital order, but he never be called to use them on the field of battle. His visit has greatly refreshed us.
Your dear baby is quite well all to the eruption. She walked alone for the first time Sunday, March 1st, 1863. Mother, Daughter, Robert, and Miss Kitty Stiles all unite in love and respects to you both. The Lord bless and keep you both!
Your ever affectionate father (with a tired hand),
C. C. Jones.