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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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 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 Emma Alston to her sister, Elizabeth Smith, in which she describes the situation at the Alstons' new farm in Greenville.
