Envelope from Confederate States of America, Department of State, addressed: "To His Eminence Cardinal Antonelli, President of the Council of Ministers and Secretary of State of His Holiness, etc., etc., etc., etc."
Letter from J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of State for the Confederate States of America, to Cardinal Antonelli, Cardinal Secretary of State, introducing P. N. Lynch, Bishop of Charleston.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch detailing his attempts to obtain an exemption from military service. He also writes that he fears state and Confederate taxes will be high this year but is glad "it is all pro patria." February 24, 1864. 1p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch announcing the birth of his son, James. He also mentions the movements of Confederate Generals Beauregard and Hood and the capture of Atlanta by General Sherman. In a postscript he offers the Bishop access to 100 pounds sterling while travelling in Europe. October 14, 1864. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. Madame Baptiste writes about purchasing provisions and asks the Bishop for advice on investing the "thousands of Confederate money" she expects as the pupils arrive for the new school year. July 31, 1863. 4p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning his shoe business. Francis asks the Bishop to collect payment from Colonel Hatch, Quartermaster General, and deposit it in his account in Charleston to cover another note. The Bank of South Carolina has refused Francis' offer to use Confederate bonds to cover the note. September 19, 1861. 2p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch about procuring provisions for the Ursuline Convent and Academy and about news of the war. John writes that the man hired to obtain the provisions fears impressment of the supplies and requests that the Bishop provide him an endorsed certificate that proves the goods are for the convent should any Confederate officers stop him. John also mentions the movement of troops through Columbia on their way to Tennessee where "Genl Lee and the President have planned a campaign against Rosencrantz (sic)". September 18, 1863. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about her concerns over the war. She has heard that the British Consul in Charleston intends to leave and fears it is in anticipation of a Union attack. She recounts the story of a Catholic saint who, in a time of war, was able to summon a storm of gnats to disrupt the horses of the enemy and asks the Bishop, "can you not do something like that for Charleston?" She also asks the Bishop about investments, fearing that the Confederate currency might one day be worthless. February 5, 1863. 2p.
Francis Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about his need for cotton and an agreement he has secured to receive hides from a beef cattle merchant. July 11, 1863. 1p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from Cheraw. Francis writes that he has finished constructing a house for some of the Bishop's slaves containing "two rooms, with dbl chimney in the middle" that he hopes will be sufficient. He also writes about his recent conscription, claiming the enrolling officer does not consider Francis to be a tanner which would have exempted him from service. August 24, 1863. 1p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning the Bishop's slave Daniel. The Confederate Army has been after the Bishop's overseer, Mr. Buff, to send Daniel to help on coastal defenses, but since Daniel is the "only road hand on the farm", he refuses. John asks the Bishop what course of action they should take since Daniel has been ordered to be at the depot in a few days. He also mentions the good news of the "repulse from Fort Sumter" during the late siege of the harbor commenting, "there must have been Irishmen in it." September 9, 1863. 3p.
Francis Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning his flourishing shoe business. Francis describes sending 1000 pair of shoes to the Confederate government in addition to those already provided to Col. L. M. Hatch. September 7, 1861. 3p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch regarding her attempt to send a letter to Father Hubert, a Catholic Confederate chaplain, to ask him to preside over their annual retreat. July 28, 1862. 1p.
Letter from Anna Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch asking him to inquire about a Mr. Laughlin who left Cheraw on assignment to a Confederate arsenal but has not been heard of since. February 25, 1863. 1p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch asking the Bishop to direct the bearer of his letter, Mr. Casey, to the British Consul in Charleston. Mr. Casey, an employee of Francis, seeks the protection of the Consul because, as Francis writes, he "seems to have no love for fighting, as a common labourer I have no right to apply for his exemption." December 16, 1862. 1p.
Francis Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about a "Mrs. Boucher" who requests help in obtaining a visit with her husband who is stationed in Pocotaligo and mentions the disheartening news of the "large cannon" that burst in Charleston. September 14, 1863. 1p.
Letter from W. A. Browning, private secretary of President Andrew Johnson, to Archbishop Spalding of Baltimore, informing him of the pardon of Bishop P. N. Lynch of Charleston.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch about business and the Bishop's travel plans. Francis tells the Bishop that his "debts North do not reach $800 so I will not be any great deal inconvenienced by the Sequestration Act." He also hopes the Bishop decides against travelling to Baltimore, fearing that after the publication of the Bishop's letter to the Archbishop, "no plea would serve you in the land of Lincoln." September 21, 1861. 2p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning a cotton transaction and an ongoing dispute Francis has with a cattle merchant who was supposed to supply him with hides. July 17, 1863. 2p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news from Columbia. John mentions collecting money for the "Charleston orphans", the death of a slave boy on one of the Bishop's plantations and rumors that their brother Francis may have to go into the service. August 19, 1863. 3p.
Short letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch requesting his presence in Cheraw and mentioning a recent order of shoes from "Col. Hatch." May 5, 1861. 1p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning provisions for the Bishop's plantation and an offer from two Confederate officers to lease a portion of the Bishop's property for a new powder mill. May 29, 1862. 2p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning the success of his shoe business. Francis writes that he already has orders for 2000 pairs of Brogans. June 28, 1861. 1p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. She hopes that the Bishop will invest $12,000 in the nearby Barhamville Academy to fulfill their long desire to remove the convent and school from downtown Columbia. She also mentions that she is expecting the daughters of several well known people, including that of Mayor Monroe of New Orleans and Confederate General Hindman. August 23, 1863. 8p.
Hugh Lynch writes again to Bishop Patrick Lynch about his desire to get a position on General Beauregard's staff claiming that such an assignment would not only keep him out of the field but also help him in business after the war. September 16, 1862. 1p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch describing the state of his shoe business and his attempt to talk his 16-year old son(?), Conlaw, from volunteering for the Confederacy. November 25, 1861. 1p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning a delay in weighing a load of cotton. The payment for the cotton would help Francis cover a recent draft made on the Bishop's account. January 10, 1863. 1p.
Francis Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch asking him to collect payment for him for 1000 pairs of shoes delivered to Col. Sloan in Charleston. April 17, 1862. 1p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch asking the Bishop for his influence should a newly planned state hospital in Columbia need a physician. December 25, 1861. 1p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch detailing the difficulty he is having procuring leather for his business. He laments the "speculators" who are driving up the price of leather and has disseminated a handbill outlining his proposal to furnish brogans to the Confederacy at the low price of $1.50/pair by obtaining hides directly from the government. He has sent a copy of the handbill to "that distinguished advocate of low prices, Doct. Bachman." August 21, 1862. 4p.
Note from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch written as a letter of introduction for a Capt. George. John extols the virtues of a breech loading cannon exhibited to him by Capt. George and asks the Bishop to see it as well and to "use what influence you have, in trying to have a battery of them made immediately." April 1, 1862. 1p.
Letter from Hugh Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch thanking him for using his influence to get him on the staff of General Jordan, part of General Beauregard's staff in Charleston. October 14, 1862. 2p.
Francis Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick about forming a partnership with a Mr. Murphy to expand his shoe business believing it "highly important to push the production of shoes now." May 3, 1861. 2p.
Hugh Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch while camped with the Cheraw Guards at "Camp Manigault" near Georgetown. He writes that the company is preparing for an attack but concedes "we can't give much of fight as we have very little ammunition." March 2, 1862. 2p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about plans to move the Convent and Academy out of downtown Columbia after the war and mentions the death and funeral of Confederate General Smith. She also writes of brother Hugh's new position as aid to General Beauregard in Charleston and informs the Bishop that his "boy" sent up from Charleston to work on one of the Bishop's properties may have "gone to the yankees." October 10, 1862. 8p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch discussing the seizure of the blockade runner "Minnie", the shipment of cotton bales to Nassau, and his hope that an ailing Pope Pius IX remains alive long enough to see the Bishop who is on his way to Rome. June 15, 1864. 2p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch about frustrating negotiations with "Dr. Marks" over the Barhamville property. In a postscript he asks the Bishop to "let me hear about the big gun" in Charleston. September 5, 1863. 2p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch that a load of corn and peas purchased for the one of the Bishop's plantations is at the depot awaiting a car and suggests to the Bishop that it be turned over to the local quartermaster as payment for taxes if the car should not arrive by tomorrow. He also writes of an offer for $400 to hire out one of the Bishop's slaves. January 21, 1864. 2p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bp Patrick Lynch with updates on the Bishop's plantations and news of a large contract for shoes that their brother, Francis, has been awarded by the "central association." To help fulfill the contract Francis has "purchased a negro boy (shoemaker) 16 years old for thirteen hundred dollars." November 20, 1862. 2p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the sale of slaves on the Bishop's plantation. John writes that he has yet to tell the slave Emmett that he has sold him and his family to a Mr. Mullin and hopes "him willing to go quietly, as I understand he refuses to be hired quietly." January 22, 1862. 1p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch detailing the passage of a new tax act and his subsequent appeal to the tax board over the amount he is responsible for. March 21, 1864. 2p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about paying taxes and the need for more teachers, and revisits the idea of purchasing the Barhamville school as a future site for the Convent and Academy. March 7, 1864. 4p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch responding to his inquiry of boarding room in Cheraw for those wishing to flee Charleston. He also touches on his shoe business, mentioning paying patent rights on a tanning process, the use of fennel, salt peter and salt in the tanning process and the delivery of 1000 pairs of shoes to the Confederacy. November 16, 1861. 4p.
Hugh Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch while on convalescent leave in Cheraw. As his health improves, Hugh realizes he will be conscripted back into the service and asks the Bishop to use his influence to get him a staff position with General Beauregard when he returns to take over Charleston's defense. Besides his rank as 1st Lieut., his qualifications for a coveted staff job are that he is a "good accountant and write a tolerable fair hand" and that an appointment should be made from "this section of the state" in Cheraw. September 8, 1862. 3p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bp Patrick Lynch informing him that a Mrs. Cohen would like to see him regarding an issue with her husband, a recently paroled prisoner of war. Madame Baptiste also boasts of the continued numbers of boarders being welcomed to the school but notes that one of the parents believe "our school will stand a poor chance when peace is proclaimed." January 2, 1863. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch requesting his "Lenten regulations" for the season. She also writes of putting most of her money in the stockpiling of provisions "before the new currency comes in." February 10, 1864. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch about preparations for their annual exhibition and other news at the Ursuline Convent and Academy and of news of the war. June 19, 1862. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the defense of Charleston. She fears the inevitable union assault will last longer than the recent siege at Vicksburg and finds it astonishing "how coolly" people can talk about Charleston "being taken by the enemy." July 25, 1863. 4p.
Madame Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning the effects of the escalating war. She informs the Bishop, who is visiting White Sulphur Springs in Montgomery, Virginia, that "the Yankees are trying to take James Island" to get closer to Charleston. Glad that he is away from Charleston she writes, "I am a very strong secessionist, but only generous with other people's brothers." June 4, 1862. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. Madame Baptiste writes about obtaining provisions for the winter and her continuing trouble with one of the sisters. October 5, 1863. 6p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent. Madame Baptiste mentions a letter she received from Bishop Verot of Savannah, recommending a particular sister for their order. Bishop Verot's admittance of the sister's "imagination" has given Madame Baptiste pause writing, "the scourges of communities are precisely those persons of talent and fertile imaginations." May 1, 1862. 8p.
