A handwritten, three-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she implores him to supply the enslaved people on their plantation with meat, milk, tobacco, and textiles to discourage them from escaping. She also updates him on their acquisition of a farm and Greenville and the general economic state of the town.
A handwritten, eight-page letter from Susan Pringle Alston to her aunt, Rebecca Hayne, in which she describes Union troops and newly freed people raiding and robbing houses while her family was in Plantersville at the end of Civil War. She expresses concern for similar things occurring in Columbia and Darlington, South Carolina.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she writes of her efforts to find an affordable house in Greenville. She also discusses the Civil War and rumors of enslaved people escaping plantations. Attached to this letter is a note that further specifies houses available to purchase.
A handwritten, one-page letter from Robert Pringle of Great Britain to his Charleston relatives in which he explores their genealogical connection. He encloses a family tree, a list of marital dates, and a newspaper clipping to explain the family history.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she arranges the arrival of six enslaved people in Greenville. She also advises him on the management of their house in Charleston and warns him to not allow enslaved people to travel without the accompaniment of a white person so as to prevent their impressment.
A handwritten, three-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles Alston, in which she describes the Union attack on Morris Island on July 10, 1863, and details her plans to leave Charleston the next day, including arranging a delivery of osnaburg fabric. She also states that Vicksburg has fallen.
A handwritten, one-page letter from H. A. Desaussure to Charles Alston in which he finalizes the sale of 11 East Battery and encloses an abstract of the title of the lot, which lists each owner since it was first granted to Margaret Hobson in 1694 until purchased by Charles Alston in 1838.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Arthur Middleton to William Henry Drayton, signed "Andrew Marvells," a pen name he often used. Within the letter, he discusses current events involving American loyalists, such as the trial of John Dunn and Benjamin Boote and the actions of George Walker and Thomas Fletchall. He also discusses military matters, including the oath of allegiance, commissions, and the rumors of George Washington's success.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Susan Alston to her father, Charles Alston, in which she describes their work setting up the farm in Greenville and complains about the soaring cost of living in the town. She also relays the story of the Seven Days Battles in Virginia, blaming General Huger for the Union's escape.
A handwritten, three-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she discusses her situation in Greenville and her continued search for a house. She writes of her concerns about the Civil War's effect on their finances and house in Charleston; in addition, she lists the names of enslaved people that she brought with her to Greenville (Zilpah, Winnie, Brown, little Thomas, John, Venus, Johny).
A handwritten one-page letter in which William Blake informs Arthur Middleton of his upcoming journey to Cedar Grove plantation and expresses his wish to consult with him and William Rutledge about a matter of land.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Joseph Alston to his father, Charles Alston, in which he describes his efforts to manage the newly freed people at their plantations and rent out the Alstons' store following the Civil War.
A handwritten, eight-page letter from Harriott Ravenel to Susan Alston in which she discusses the difficulties of life after the Civil War. In particular, she writes about the difficulty of keeping newly freed people working for their family and the status of various relatives.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she informs him of a rumor that the Confederate authorities plan to send all enslaved people to Charleston. Emma expresses her disapproval of this and encourages Charles to only send certain people if he cannot avoid the command altogether.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she describes the issues of crowding and food scarcity in the city of Greenville. She requests that her husband send barrels of rice to them and instructs him on the management of enslaved people such as old Molly, young Molly, and Fred.
A handwritten, six-page letter from Joseph Alston to his sister, Susan Alston, in which he describes a large hurricane hitting Georgetown, South Carolina, which flooded many plantations and plantation homes.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she describes the situation at their new farm in Greenville, including the growing prices and scarcity of food. Throughout the letter, she mentions the work done by enslaved people such as Tom, Winnie, and Toby.
A handwritten, three-page letter from William Bull Pringle to his sister, Emma Alston, in which he relays his encounter with Governor Pickens regarding his son, Charles Alston Pringle, receiving a commission in the new Company of Artillery.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Mary Pringle to her brother, Charles Alston, in which she appeals to Christian values in order to assure her brother that the recent dispute surrounding John Julius Alston and Charles Alston Pringle's commissions in the new Company of Artillery has not impacted their relationship.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Charles Alston Pringle to his uncle, Charles Alston, in which he returned $40 previously gifted to him by Charles Alston prior to his trip to Europe. He mentions "persecution" from his uncle in reference to the family controversy about Charles Alston Pringle being excluded from John Julius Alston's new Company of Artillery.
A handwritten, eight-page letter from Sallie Lowndes to Susan Alston in which she laments the financial status of their families following the Civil War and worries for their futures.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she describes life at their new farm in Greenville. She recounts the food and supplies that they have bought and requests that Charles brings various objects from their plantations.
A handwritten, one-page letter from Francis Marion to William Alston in which he orders him to take command of new companies to serve in Georgetown, South Carolina, and watch for incoming vessels.
A typed copy of a 1782 letter from Francis Marion to William Alston in which he orders him to take command of new companies to serve in Georgetown, South Carolina, and watch for incoming vessels.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Arthur Middleton to Mr. Kenney, in which he expresses his disappointment in Kenney's conduct when he was employed by Middleton's acquaintance.
The conveyance of a lot on Old Church Street on White Point sold from John Blake to John Nevison. In addition, this document includes Margaret Blake's renunciation of dower.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she describes the functioning of their new farm in Greenville, requests items from their plantations, and advises him on the management of enslaved people. She also mentions the possibility of hiring out Jack, an enslaved blacksmith.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she advises him on the sale and purchase of mules and enslaved people from Beneventum plantation. She also fears that Charleston will soon fall and describes the scarcity and rising cost of food and other necessities in Greenville amid the Civil War. In addition, she mentions the work done by two enslaved women, Zilpah and Venus, at their farm in Greenville.
A handwritten, one-page letter from H. A. Desaussure to Charles Alston in which he encloses a sketch of the lot of 11 East Battery and an agreement with the neighboring family which clarifies the border of their lots.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she laments her experience house-hunting in Greenville, South Carolina, amid wartime inflation. She also worries for the situation of Charleston following a battle on James Island and advises on the management of enslaved people such as Tom Gibbs.
The conveyance of a lot on the west side of East Bay Street in Charleston, South Carolina, sold from George Macaulay and Charles Watts, executors of John Nevison, to William Holmes.
A handwritten letter in which Henry Middleton requests an introduction for his son, Harry Middleton, with the Committee of Citizens. He also briefly mentions the sale of his land.
An unexecuted deed between William Holmes and James Gregorie for a lot on the west side of East Bay Street. This document also includes Ann Gregorie's renunciation of dower.
A brief biography describing John Julius Alston's upbringing, education, time in the Confederate military, and ultimate death. This section is part of a larger report on graduates of Harvard College from the class of 1857.
A handwritten, one-page letter from James Simons to John Julius Alston in which he requests to see him to discuss an upcoming offer from the Washington Light Infantry.
A certificate appointing John Julius Alston to the post of Aide-de-Camp to the Brigadier General of the fourth Brigade Infantry with the rank of Captain on January 30, 1860. This was signed by William Henry Gist, William R. Huntt, William Alston Pringle, and James Simons.
A handwritten, one-page letter from James Simons to John Julius Alston in which he requests that John Julius find out which "members of the staff" will travel to Black Oak, a church in Berkeley County, South Carolina, and what arrangements need to be made for the journey.
A certificate naming John Julius Alston an attorney in the state of South Carolina on April 4, 1860, signed by John Belton O'Neall, Job Johnston, Francis H. Wardlaw, and Thomas J. Gantt.
A handwritten, one-page letter from James Simons to John Julius Alston in which Simons appoints him as his Aide-de-Camp, ranking Alston as Captain of the fourth Brigade Infantry.
A certificate naming John Julius Alston a solicitor in South Carolina on January 16, 1861, signed by John Belton O'Neall, Job Johnston, and Thomas J. Gantt. Chancellor Wardlaw was noted as absent. At the bottom, "United States of America" is crossed out and replaced by "Commonwealth of South Carolina."
A handwritten, four-page letter from William Alston Hayne to his uncle, Charles Alston, in which he requests Peruvian Guano or Rhodes Supplemental Phosphate of Lime to use as fertilizer. He also mentions the possibility of the Civil War dragging on for years and suggests that the Alston family build a cottage near his home in case of a sea invasion.
A handwritten, three-page letter from Charles Alston to his sister, Mary Pringle, in which he explains John Julius Alston's journey to Richmond to see Governor Pickens and the Secretary of War about starting a new Company of Artillery. He presents this story to disprove claims made by William Bull Pringle.
A handwritten, six-page letter from William Alston Pringle to his uncle, Charles Alston, in which he defends his brother, Charles Alston Pringle, and his father, William Bull Pringle, amid the family controversy about Charles Alston Pringle's exclusion from the new Company of Artillery.
A certificate appointing John Julius Alston to the post of Senior First Lieutenant in the Battalion of Artillery in the Regular Enlisted Force of South Carolina on August 13, 1861. This was signed by Francis Wilkinson Pickens, James A. Duffus, and William H. Peronneau.
A handwritten, one-page letter from L. P. Walker to General Anderson in which he approves the raising of John Julius Alston and William Peronneau's Company of Artillery.
A handwritten, one-page letter from Charles Alston to his sister, Mary Pringle, in which he defends his son, John Julius Alston, against insults from his brother-in-law, William Bull Pringle.
A handwritten, three-page letter from Charles Alston to his nephew, Charles Alston Pringle, in which he clarifies John Julius Alston's meeting with Governor Pickens and the Secretary of War, explaining why Charles Alston Pringle did not receive a commission in their new Company of Artillery.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Charles Alston to his sister, Mary Pringle, in which he clarifies the misunderstanding surrounding John Julius Alston applying to Governor Pickens for his and Charles Alston Pringle's commissions in the new Company of Artillery.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Charles Alston to his sister, Mary Pringle, in which he defends his son, John Julius Alston, against claims made by his brother-in-law, William Bull Pringle, regarding John Julius excluding Charles Alston Pringle from a new Company of Artillery.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Mary Pringle to her brother, Charles Alston, in which she expresses her wish to move on from the family dispute surrounding John Julius Alston and Charles Alston Pringle's commissions in the new Company of Artillery.
A handwritten, two-page letter from William Peronneau to R. W. Barnwell in which he requests his aid in getting commissions from the Confederate government to establish a Company of Artillery. He presents this as a joint effort among himself, John Julius Alston, and E. P. Ravenel.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she advises him on the management of enslaved people (Alfred, Forester, Philemon, Mitchell, and Andrew) in the face of them possibly escaping to the Union. She also reports on the family's situation and health at the new farm in Greenville.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she shares her fear for the future of South Carolina, specifically Charleston and Georgetown, amid the Civil War. She also mentions the impact of the war on enslaved people and the Middleton family.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she reports on life at the new farm in Greenville, shares her concern for the Union troops' advancement in Georgetown, and advises him on the management of enslaved people.
A handwritten, three-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she discusses the high prices for food and supplies in Greenville and briefly worries about the outlook of the Civil War.
A handwritten, three-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she requests a list of food and supplies to be brought from their plantation in Georgetown to the new farm in Greenville.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles Alston, in which she discusses her fear of the Union's destruction of Georgetown, South Carolina. She also mentions the dissatisfaction of the enslaved people from one of their plantations and encourages him to visit them in order to dissuade them from escaping.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles Alston, in which she laments the ongoing Civil War and specifically worries about their ability to maintain their enslaved workers. She advises him on which enslaved people to bring to Georgetown and the possibility of hiring out Jack, a blacksmith.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Joseph Alston to his father, Charles Alston, in which he tells him of his experience in a skirmish with a Union gunboat and updates him on the movement of other Confederate troops. He also discusses the spread of edema among enslaved people and them escaping to Union soldiers. In addition, he mentions the conditions at his residence and the spread of fever there.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Joseph Alston to his father, Charles Alston, in which he updates him on his status as a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. He informs his father of the Confederate troops moving north to Virginia and discusses topics such as Benjamin Huger's actions and the lack of intervention from England or France in the war.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she encourages him to provide the enslaved people with milk, meat, tobacco, molasses, and sugar to dissuade them from escaping. She also discusses the general state of their newly acquired farm in Greenville and requests him to send enslaved people to fix it up. On the back of the envelope, a list of names and "by Hands by Charleston South Carolina" is written.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she relays rumors of enslaved people being impressed into service in Charleston. She advises him on the management of enslaved people such as Andrew, Johny, little Alec, and Brown's wife, and she informs him of the health of relatives in the Confederate military. She also reveals that she has been attempting to hire out an enslaved man, Jack, to various people in Greenville, South Carolina.
A handwritten, two-page letter from James A. Pringle to Charles Alston, forwarded to him by his wife, Emma Alston, in which Pringle updates Charles Alston on his finances, including his payment of the Confederate War tax and holding of Confederate bonds. Emma Alston adds to the letter to inform Charles of the arrival of an enslaved person, Tom Gibbs, to their Greenville farm and express her concerns for the future of Charleston and South Carolina amid the Civil War.
A handwritten, three-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she encourages him to provide additional provisions, including meat and tobacco, for the enslaved people to prevent them from running away to the Union Army. She also discusses the necessities for the repair of their farm, requesting that he arrange for enslaved labor and materials to be sent.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Emma Alston to her sister, Elizabeth Smith, in which she describes the situation at the Alstons' new farm in Greenville.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she informs him of her success in purchasing a mule and peas for their farm in Greenville. She also laments the prospected future of South Carolina during the Civil War.
A handwritten, three-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she discusses their upcoming move to Greenville or Pendleton, South Carolina, and expresses her concerns about the effects of the Civil War. She also focuses on the management of enslaved people such as Fred, Fred's wife, Ransom, and old Ben at the Alstons' plantations.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she discusses her troubles finding affordable lodgings and food in Greenville, South Carolina. She also offers recommendations on the management of enslaved people such as Prince, Morris, Fred, old Molly, young Molly, Tenah, Jim, and Tony Ward.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she discusses the order to send enslaved people to Charleston, urging Charles not to send any as they will escape to the Union Army.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she discusses her search for a new house in Columbia, Greenville, and Pendleton, South Carolina.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she discusses the possibility for illness, specifically typhus fever, spreading in crowded South Carolina cities. In addition, she expresses her wartime fears and advises him on the management of enslaved people. Attached to this letter is a note requesting that he bring books on farming to Greenville. On the front of the envelope, a list of items is written; on the back, a list of names of enslaved people is written.
A handwritten, three-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she confirms her purchase of a farm in Greenville and lists the names of enslaved people she wants Charles to bring to work on the property (Tom Gibbs, Mitchell, Peter McCants, Alfred, Abraham, Charles, little Alec, Guy, Philander, Tyra's Tom, Philemon, Damon, Warley, Porter, Prince, little Morris, Prince's wife, Brown's wife, and Peter Brown). On the front of the envelope, names with checkmarks beside them are listed; on the back, a list of items and groceries is written.
A handwritten, five-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she expresses her fear that enslaved people will escape immediately if Charles leaves their plantation. She also remarks on the gender imbalance present in Greenville during the war years.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she notifies him of her purchase of a farm in Greenville and lists the names of the enslaved people she plans to have work on the property. She also encourages him to purchase a new plantation on the interior of South Carolina to avoid the dangers posed by the Union Army, including the prospect of enslaved people escaping.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Susan Alston to her father, Charles Alston, in which she describes life in Greenville during the Civil War and expresses her concerns regarding the Union Army's actions in South Carolina and Mississippi.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Susan Alston to her father, Charles Alston, in which she informs him of his ability to send enslaved people inland on the railroad for half-price, mentioning a specific person (Sancho) who she wants Charles to send to her. She also mentions a recent Civil War skirmish in South Carolina.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she relays her knowledge of the Confederate war efforts. In addition, she considers what should be done for the enslaved people left at the Alstons' Charleston home and at their plantation in Pee Dee.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles Alston, in which she worries about the state of Charleston and her family members amid the Civil War.
A handwritten, three-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she discusses the management of enslaved people at Beneventum plantation. She also briefly mentions reports of the military efforts of their sons, John Julius and Joseph, in the Civil War.
An estate inventory of Robert Pringle's plantations from October 19th, 1863, listing 128 names of enslaved people worth a total of $155,850. These names were divided into lots which were drawn by Charles Alston, William Bull Pringle, John Julius Pringle, and Elizabeth Pringle Smith.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Joseph Alston to his mother, Emma Alston, in which he recounts his battle experience in detail, describing the use of cannons and his encounters with Black Union soldiers. During the letter, he switches from ink to pencil.
A handwritten, three-page letter from Rosa M. Pringle to Susan Alston in which she updates her on the travel of her family and other acquaintances to and from South Carolina.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Margaretta Hayne to Susan Alston in which she discusses her family's situation following the Civil War, including the effects of Union forces plundering their house, the misfortune of having their money tied up in Confederate bonds, and their perspective on emancipation.
A handwritten, four-page letter from Catherine Ravenel to Susan Alston in which she discusses life in Columbia, South Carolina, after the Civil War and shares various pieces of news from families such as the Middletons, Winthrops, Lowndes, and Rutledges.
