Confederate Letters

20th South Carolina Infantry Letters

Pair of letters written from South Carolina

4 pages, 4 x 6, in ink, written by John P. Pruitt, Co. E, 20th South Carolina Infantry, to Miss A.L. Drake.

James Island, Camp Spark, March the 30th, 1862

Dear Miss,

I take this opportunity of answering your kind letter which I received a few days ago and which I perused with pleasure. This leaves me in good health hoping it may find you enjoying the same blessing. The health of our company is only tolerable at present. J.J. Keaton has been very low but he is...  

1864 Confederate Letter, Donaldsville, South Carolina

2 pages, 8 x 8, in ink, written by M.F. Drake.

Donaldsville, S.C., July 19, 1864

Dearest Cousin,

I with a sad heart seat myself to drop you a few lines to inform you all that we are well at this time and I truly hope these lines may soon come to hand and find you all enjoying yourselves fine as far as health extends. Dear sis, I rec. your kind note on the 15th dated the 12th. I would have liked very much if I could of had the pleasure of being up at your Sabbath school celebration indeed, but as things were I could not...  

5 Letters to Lieutenant Benjamin Lewis Blackford, C.S.A.

One of the famous Blackford brothers of Fredericksburg, Va.

...."the United States troops under command of Gen. Wool entered Norfolk. You cannot imagine our feelings at the time to see Federal soldiers march where only a few days previous our own brave Confederate boys had trodden."

This is a group of 5 letters written to Lieutenant Benjamin Lewis Blackford, of the famous Blackford brothers from Fredericksburg, Virginia. There is a total of 20 plus pages in ink, written by a female friend, Lizzie.

Benjamin Lewis...  

1st Mississippi Light Artillery Letter

Written From Port Hudson, La.

3 pages, 7 3/4 x 10, in ink, written by Captain J.L. Bradford, to Colonel William T. Withers.

Camp at Port Hudson, La.
September 27th, 1862

Dear Col.,

It affords me gratification to be able to report my safe arrival at this post after so long & tedious a march. A detailed account of the march will be forwarded with the monthly report for this month. It may be interesting if not useful in the future, as part of the history of your regiment’s operations, judging from the...  

5th Louisiana Infantry Letter

He transferred to the elite Washington Artillery one month later!

3 pages, 5 x 8, in ink, written by John Forrester Griffin.

Camp at Deep Creek, Warwick Co., Va., Dec. 29, 1861

Dear Uncle,

Your interesting letter from Richmond dated 19th did not reach me until the 27th. However I could not have come down to the city as no soldier is permitted to leave Genl. Magruder having revolked his order granting furloughs. Col. [Henry] Forno returned to camp yesterday. I asked him if he had seen you in R.[ichmond]. He...  

12th Louisiana Infantry Letter

Captured at Vicksburg!

4 pages, 3 3/4 x 6, in ink, written by J.N. Thompson, Co. L, 12th Louisiana Infantry.

State of La., Claiborne Parish, May 29, 1864

Dear Father, Mother, Brothers & Sisters,

I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know that I am in the land among the living yet. Me & family are tolerably well. Loudia has 4 children, 3 sons & 1 daughter. I was taken prisoner at Vicksburg, Miss. & paroled which I came home & have been home ever since but expect to have to go into camp...