The Civil War brought many changes to the lives and the lifestyle of the Andy & Lou Morris family. Andy Morris enlisted in the C.S.A., and was mustered into service 14 May 1862, as Captain of Company "B', 65th Regiment, Georgia Volunteers.

Lou with the two little girls, was left to run the farm with only the help of young Alfred Duncan, apprenticed to them from Big Ivy, and a few young slaves.

Dear Husband -
I again seat myself to let you know that we are as well as usual hopeing these lines may find you well and doing well. I received your letter in due time stating that you was well. I was glad to hear it for I was getting worry about you and will be from this on untill I hear from you again. I don't only want to hear but want to see you and if you don't come home by the first of Sept. I shall take the hipow. You must come. We are done our corn at last without having a days work done for us. You want to know how it looks - come home and see. You wanted to hear from Virginia. I recon that Sparks told you the news only the death of Jerry Mashburn which you will be sorrow to hear. He has been dead about ten days. we can't hear from Arch there. His son come home from Tom's company under the conscript law. Joseph Hicks is come (illegible) Addington. They say they never have heard from Arch. I haven't heard from Buncombe since you left. Absalom and his wife is going to start there next week. Dove and sister says tell you that they will be smart if you will bring them some ear bobs. If you get any get the smallest you can for them. They say they want you to hurry and kill all Yankees and come home. Dove is the smartest girl you ever saw. Sister is sorta lazy but don't tell it on her. I made them go to hunt the calf one evening and sister said she never seen little girls have to hunt a calf before and went off mad.

Oh, I must tell you that I have got my loom at last and what do you recon he charged for it - only ten dollars. I thought you got your coat cloth and thread after so long a time. When you come home you must bring some paper with you for this is the last I have and I can't write any more until you come. You must write often and let me know how you are and where you are. Tell John Davenport Mat and children is well and doing well and I expect when he sees her she will be as fat as I am now. it wont do for you to let your sick men home on furlows for by the time they are well their wives are sick and I think there is a great many of them has no business of coming home unless they was sick. I think the Doctors will get rich prolonging furlows for I think they are well paid by some.

You wanted the news. I haven't any at this time worth writing. We are looking for the threshers next week to thresh our grain and I think I will have cake for you when you get home. You must get off a month if you can. Write soon without delay. So goodby for awhile. Excuse me for I can't think of a thing only come home yours truly -
L. A. Morris

This letter, and those that follow, written by Andy Morris during 1863, reveal the concern for family, friends, and neighbors, whether on the battlefield, or at home, the matter of fact acceptance of difficult conditions and how these admirable people coped from day to day.

Mrs. L. A. Morris,

Dear Wife,
I drop you a few lines this morning by the hand of John G. Garrett & R. H. Abercrombie . Informing you that I am well & doing as well as could be expected. I hope this letter will find you and children well. I have nothing new to write you at present. We have to drill (illegible) every day. Our boys are getting so they drill very well. I don't know whether we will get to stay here long or not. The papers say they have been fighting at Charleston two or three days. They are expecting a fight at Tullahoma every day. I expect we will be sent there if the fight comes off. I got a letter from Thos. R. Trammel day before yesterday - he said the boys were all well. I sent you a hundred dollars by James H. Davis last week. - this is the fourth letter I have written you since I left home. I have not received any from you. Write me all the news. I did not thank Mr. Davenport for killing Dock and Spring. A. A. Dillingham is well. I put him on detail to keep him off of guard. He has been after me about letting Alfred Duncan take his place, but I told him that he knows that Alfred is all your chance to do anything towards making bread. He wants Pap to let Sam or Alf stay with you. Sarah wrote him that she was going to get pap to try and get you to let Alf. take his place. Now Lou, I will say this to you - if pap will give me a good bill of sale for one of the boys at a fair price and Dillingham will pay Duncan what I was to give him and give him the schooling, then I would be willing for him to go. I am not willing any other way. I want to buy that Cole land if father will help me pay for it and will wait with me till I can pay him back. I want him to bid it off for me. I must close. Write me soon. Accept my love to you all.

P.S. I send you some calico to make you and children some bonnets and also some papers. A.H.M.

Mrs. L. A. Morris,

Dear Wife,
I seat myself to answer yours of the first this inst. which came to hand yesterday. I was very proud (or pleased) to hear from home and hear that the children had got better. You must take good care of yourself or you will get past going. I wrote you four or five days ago, and informed you that I was not very well. So I am not yet, but, am able to go about. I have a very bad cough like I had at home. I think it is cold settled in my lungs. I am fearful it will turn to Phthisic, (i.e., pulmonary tuberculosis). The command left here yesterday morning. I was unable to go with them but will go to them as soon as I can. There are several of the boys complaining, none dangerous, but John G. Garrett he was taken Thursday with a very high fever and headache. He is very bad yet. He is in the hospital at this place. The doctor says he has typhoid fever. Tell Mr. Garrett I would love for him to come to see John if he can.

We have been in the rain nearly all the time for the last month. The boys that are able are marching through the mud and rain today. They are going nine miles to the left of Knoxville, about 35 from here. Dillingham and Sparks are gone to the command. They went with the baggage on the Cars. Lou I hope this letter will find you and children all well. Tell the children that father thinks about them every day and asks the Almighty to take care of you & them.

In answer to your inquiry, I answer, I am ready - I live near the feet of my Savior & hope I shall continue so to live while to live upon the earth. I could write you much but I forbare - live right - discharge your duty - Walk in the footsteps of Jesus - raise your the nurture & admonition of the Lord. Tell them if I ever see them again that their Father desired them to live him in heaven.---

I am staying Mr. Johnson . He is a Presbyterian Preacher. If I don't get better in a few I shall try to get a furlough. Tell Nannie I got her letter the same time I did yours, but have not answered it yet. Let her read this and that will do. I have never got any letters from Tom & Will yet. I am very uneasy about them now. They are in Pennsylvania. Absalom got a letter from Uncle Tomie. He said John F. was at home on Furlough. Tell Alf. he must not go to the war unless he is obliged to. He never saw the Elephant until he gets out such time as this with (illegible) any shelter.

Give my love to all, accept a full share yourself. Embrace little Tom, sister & Dove for me. Write soon.

Your Husband
A. H. Morris

Mrs. Lou A. Morris,

Dear Wife
I drop you a few lines by the hand of Sergt. German informing you that my health has greatly improved for the last few days.

I am now able for duty, and getting along finely, and I hope these lines will find you and family all well and doing well.

The boys are generally well. I have nothing of interest to write you at this time. I got a letter from Wesley Garrett day before yesterday. Noah Marland, James Reynolds and Elbert Brown were killed. (Note- 11th Reg.)

John Greenwood, Pat Casida, James Mashburn and Elisha Garrett and several others were badly wounded. He said nothing about Tom's Company, at all. Write me and let me know whether you have heard anything from them or not.

I would love to be at home a few days but there is no chance at present, but I will come the first chance. I will send my trunk home, by German, with my things that I can't carry.

I have a powder-horn full of powder and some lead in it take care of it til I come home and I'll kill some squirrels with it. I send some little fish-hooks, give sister one of them.

I send part a ring. Write soon. Direct to Knoxville, Tenn. 65th Regt. Ga. Vols.

Your Husband
A. H. Morris.

Mr. James H. Morris,

Dear Father
It is through the kind protection of an all wise Providence that I am again permitted to write you a few lines, informing you that I am in tolerably good health at this time, and hope this letter will find you and family all well. I have just returned from Atlanta, Ga. Our Regt. guarded two thousand prisoners to that place. We got back to Dalton night before last, and yesterday morning Bro. Tom came (tear in paper) and I brought him out (tear in paper) uncle (tear in paper) Morris's yesterday evening. He is shot through the leg just below the knee joint. He has suffered a great deal with it since it was done but he rested very well last night. I was very Proud to find him. Tom wants you to come after him immediately. He says for you to bring a buggy or some kind of carriage on springs. He can't ride in a wagon - it jolts too hard.

The wound is in his left leg. The bone is not broken but the Doctor says it is fractured. Tom is very proud that it wasn't his lame knee. He was in the fight both days but was not hurt on Saturday, except a grape shot tore off his coat-tail - Our Regt. that is 65th Ga. has gone back to the front. They left Da1ton yesterday at 11 o'clock. I shall start to them tomorrow, if nothing happens though I am very tired & nearly worn out having marched nearly every day since the lst of August. Feet very sore & I am pestered (illegible) in my hips. I would rest (illegible) but I had rather be with my boys. Dillingham is sent to the hospital. Jasper Crowder & Jim are both with the company now. uncle's family are all well. Uncle is still talking about selling out & moving to Florida. I told him to stay here. I hear that Will is at home. Tell him to write me at Dalton. Come after Tom as soon as you can, as he will think the time long any way.

Father you must go up & see Lou as soon as you get this letter & let her know that I am safe so far. & advise her how to manage her things at home. You must all write me for I haven't had a letter from any of you since the first of August. I shall try to get a furlough, as soon as this flurry is over. I want to see Lou & the children powerful bad. We hear so much bad news from home about the Tories that it keeps us uneasy all the time. I would love to buy a Negro boy, or piece of land with my money if I could. I you have any trade on hand & need it just use it as your own. (tear in paper) Write soon. Don't neglect coming for Tom. Bring him a shirt & pair of Drawers & pair of pants for he has nothing only what he has on. Give my respects to all inquiring friends. Receive a full share to yourself and family.

Your Son
Andrew H. Morris

Due to physical disability, Andrew Morris resigned from his command, 4 January 1864, and returned home to Fannin County. After the war, although the Morris family still had their large farms, they no longer had the slave labor for the work, and through the hard times of the Reconstruction Era they, like their Dillingham relatives in North Carolina were "land poor."