Letter from Joseph Walker Barnwell, Gottingen, Germany, to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell. Barnwell writes of attending a performance of a men and boy's choir visiting from Hanover, comments on his inexperience with cold winters and describes a large, traveling market of peddlers which descends on the city four times a year. November 1, 1869.
Letter from Joseph Walker Barnwell, Gottingen, Germany, to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell. Barnwell writes of trying to speak only German, a task made harder by an increase in other Americans arriving in Gottingen, and discusses the current state of Prussian political and military affairs. October 1, 1869.
Letter from Joseph Walker Barnwell, Gottingen, Germany, to sister, Mary Elliott Barnwell, with details of his instruction in German, a description of local ice skaters and an amusing comparison between the Beaufort newspaper and the London Times.
Letter from Stephen Elliott Barnwell, Valdosta, GA, to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, detailing his escape from the Union troops who captured Jefferson Davis, in whose entourage he was traveling. Barnwell describes pretending to take a bucket to fetch water for his horse before fleeing into a swamp and leaving his horse and possessions behind. Before fleeing, Barnwell "took the liberty of bidding the Pres goodbye -- and expressing as briefly as I could my admiration for the firmness and pertinacity with which he stuck to the good cause -- with which he seemed well pleased." June 11, 1865.
Joseph Walker Barnwell writes to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, about his lack of religious conviction and a mix up with a package that led to the spoilage of its contents. June 14, 1869.