Nathaniel Heyward writes from "Blue House" near one of his Combahee plantations to his grandson James B. Heyward congratulating him on his acceptance to Harvard. He provides detailed instructions on how James is to receive money for his studies and tells James he is writing to the president of Harvard but that "he shall know nothing of our money affairs." Nathaniel relates how busy he has been at his mills as he prepares "for a bountiful crop of rice." 2p.
Letter from an unknown sender in "Rose Hill" to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. The letter writer mentions several mutual friends and family and informs James of weddings and social events in Beaufort and Charleston. The writer also mentions James' grandfather's trips to attend to plantation affairs in Pon Pon, a new house being built along the Ashepoo and other trips to Hilton Head and "Hunting Islands." 4p.
Nathaniel Heyward writes to his grandson James B. Heyward with instructions about a presenting a draft for money from a Boston Merchant to pay for his schooling. He is glad to hear that James is engaged in his studies but cautions that he wants him to return to home a learned gentleman and not a "book worm." He comments on the character of James' and his brother Nat's acquaintances and that Nat is doing well at "the office" in Beaufort. 3p.
Letter from Aunt "Elzh" at "Rose Hill" to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. His aunt writes about the family, how ice has destroyed their avenue of oaks, and comments on how the legislature in Columbia is attempting to make the college there the only one in the state and turn Charleston College into a preparatory school. 4p.
Letter from friend, Anne H Darrell, to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. Ann mentions the bitterly cold winter they are having in Charleston and the destruction of St. Philips Church by fire, and informs him she has sent him some oranges from "Augustine." 3p.
Letter from Aunt "Elzh" at "Rose Hill" to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. In addition to updating James on family news, the writer comments on the historic low temperatures of the winter, the destruction of St. Philips Church in Charleston due to fire, and the presence of elephants and other "Beasts" in town, presumably overwintering circus animals. 4p.
Letter to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass., from his aunt, Mrs. Smith, in "Old Fort", Beaufort. His aunt relays a message to James to research Old Fort in the Harvard library for his uncle and writes at length of the events at "Carolina College." 4p.
Letter to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass., from his aunt, Mrs. Smith, in "Old Fort", Beaufort. His aunt refers to a campus "rebellion" that James survived and relates news from family and friends. 4p.
Letter from an unknown sender in Rose Hill to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. The writer provides rich details on the news of scores of friends and family. 4p.
Letter from an unknown sender in Charleston to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. The letter writer informs James of the news of family and friends including many well-known Charleston families. She also mentions a devastating fire that recently occurred that burned through parts of Meeting, East Bay, Market, Pinckney, Hasell and Guignard streets writing "it is really gloomy to ride in that part of the Town now for the last winter's fire meets this one just at the Market." 4p.
Nathaniel Heyward writes to his grandson James B. Heyward in Cambridge apologizing for failing to submit his quarterly remittance. He exhorts him to "keep on the fashionable side" as "the Ladies of Boston have very sweet mouths for Southerners." 3p.
Letter from Aunt (?) "Elzh" in Charleston to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. "Elzh" catches James up on all the news of friends and family in Charleston, Beaufort and elsewhere and mentions a new law passed by the Legislature "preventing coloured People from teaching." 4p.
Letter from Aunt "Elzh" in Charleston to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. She write James that the health of his grandmother has forced her to take a trip upstate to Flat Rock and that his brother Nat met her in Columbia via "the RailRoad as far as Branchville, and then took his Horse and went on." She writes of family members and friends travelling in Europe and that "Strangers fever is rather more prevalent than some years back...owing to...so many cellars being left open, and water collecting in them." 4p.
A satirical, almost poetic, letter from an unknown sender to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. The letter writer teases James about the relative charms of Boston versus Charleston. 4p.
Letter from Aunt M. Smith in Old Fort, Beaufort to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. James' aunt writes at length of the politics of "Columbia College" in South Carolina including the news that his friend has been named president. 4p.
Letter from Nathaniel Heyward from "Blue House" to his grandson James Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. Nathaniel provides additional monies for James to replace his lost wardrobe and writes how "the excitement for the West is ruining So. Ca. The negroes as well as the white population are moving off in great numbers." 4p.
Letter from Aunt M. Smith in Beaufort to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. James' aunt relates the news of the family and writes of her desire that James uses his education to teach in the "Sabbath Schools." 4p.
Letter from Aunt M. Smith in Beaufort to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. Upon hearing of James' recent trip to Canada, his aunt relates the story of her trip there seven years earlier when "Quebec only had one good hotel and Montreal...not half enough to accomodate the numerous travelers." She writes of news of the family and of the several parties in Beaufort. 4p.
Letter from J. Harleston Read, in Charleston, to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. In his letter, Read asks James to inquire about several outstanding bills he owes in Boston. The bills were apparently to be paid by a friend who died enroute when the steam-packet "Pulaski" sank off North Carolina. Read also writes that the "City is very sickly, people dying like rotten sheep - nothing keeps me here, but a desire to be admitted to the bar." 4p.
Letter from Nathaniel Heyward at Combahee to his grandson James in Cambridge, Mass. In his letter, Nathaniel provides additional monies to pay James' debts and reprimands him for his extravagance. Nathaniel mentions that James' brother, Nathaniel, has bought a house in Beaufort and is building "a lofty one at White Hall." He tells James that when he returns from college in October "being of age (21) - I shall resign my administration, and leave you with the rice crop." He also notes that all is peaceful and well at Combahee, "notwithstanding the Growls of the Abolitionist." 3p.
Letter from Aunt M. Smith in Beaufort to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. In her letter, she informs James about the news of family and friends and mentions that she was hoping to go to Charleston to visit a dentist "to Beautify your Uncle and myself in our old days--not wishing yet to be accounted toothless." 4p.
Congratulatory letter from Nathaniel Heyward at Combahee to his grandson, James B. Heyward, upon his return to South Carolina. Nathaniel instructs James to take the stage to the "B(lue) House Post office" and "walk to Whitehall" from there. 2p.
Letter from Eliza Smith Heyward in Beaufort to her brother-in-law, James B. Heyward. In her letter, Eliza teasingly accuses James of being "anti-lady" and that she has heard "you were enjoying yourself extremely in society." 4p.
Offer from Daniel Heyward to James B. Heyward to buy Chelsea Plantation, a cotton and provision plantation, from the estate of John Heyward. He also offers "the Rice Plantation, Sandy Hill adjoining" if he "may not desire to embark in the cultivation of Cotton." 3p.
Letter from Aunt M. Smith to James B. Heyward in Charleston. James' aunt begs him to visit with his new child and offers jams and jellies as an incentive. 4p.
Letter from William Henry Heyward to James B. Heyward. William writes from Montreal about his health and the gifts and commissions he has procured or investigated for James and his wife on his trip north. He claims "Philad. is the place for domestic manufactures" and "N.Y. for imported." 4p.
William Henry Heyward writes to James B. Heyward from Boston. He tells James about visiting their old haunts during their Harvard days including Tremont Theatre, various billiard halls and a shooting gallery, and comments on the merits of rail and steamboat travel over stage coach. 4p.
William Henry Heyward writes to James B. Heyward from Columbia asking him to investigate several cases of wine and brandy that were supposed to be sent to him by rail. He writes James about the interesting discussions concerning "our Federal Relations" and mentions how the state of Massachusetts has sent a commissioner to investigate the seizure of its free black citizens. 4p.
William Henry Heyward writes to James B. Heyward from Columbia relating the work of the South Carolina General Assembly and the election of Governor Aiken, and mentions that he has heard that "our good citizens of Charleston came very near lynching" the agent from Massachusetts. 3p.
Letter from Nathaniel Heyward at Combahee to his grandson James B. Heyward. Nathaniel mentions a cargo of rice he is sending to Ladson and Co., the disappointing rice crop, and a broken water wheel shaft at Rose Hill plantation that "stops all our pounding at No. 6 & 7 for this winter." 2p.
Samuel Wragg Ferguson writes to his godmother about news from West Point. He mentions a fire on Crow's Nest mountain, the dull routine of West Point and his eagerness for his June furlough. 5p.
Letter from Samuel Wragg Ferguson from West Point to his godmother. He writes about the mild winter at West Point this season, a rash of recent cadet accidents and his longing to be "warmed by a Dockon fire." 5p.
Letter from Samuel Wragg Ferguson from West Point to his godmother. Ferguson writes about his studies in philosophy and chemistry and relates an amusing tale of a friend visiting overnight who had to hide under his bed during a surprise inspection. He mentions that he has read that Professor Miles was elected mayor of Charleston and hopes that "he will keep the streets a little cleaner" and "will have the battery repaired." 5p.
Letter from Samuel Wragg Ferguson from West Point to his godmother. Ferguson writes from a summer encampment that the furlough of the chaplain has delighted the cadets and given him time to write. He mentions the departure of the ill-liked commandant of cadets, Bob Garnett, writing "come who may he cannot be worse." 5p.
Letter from Samuel Wragg Ferguson from West Point to his godmother writing about a recent visit of relatives. He also mentions that he is looking forward to summer encampment and "no more study for two months." 3p.
Letter from Samuel Wragg Ferguson from West Point to his godmother. Ferguson writes about being "drilled half to death to show off before General Scott" and comments on some of his fellow cadets. 4p.
Letter from Samuel Wragg Ferguson from West Point to his godmother. Ferguson writes about a fight he has gotten into with another cadet and is "sorry to say that I am in arrest again." 2p.
Letter from Samuel Wragg Ferguson from West Point to his godmother. Ferguson requests a long list of articles to be sent to him and writes that he is in debt to the school and unable to get anything from the commissary. 6p.
Letter from Samuel Wragg Ferguson from West Point to his godmother. Ferguson writes about being transferred to Company A and "is now in the clutches of Lt. Nelson commonly known as fossil remains." He relates about failing his first inspection with the new commander "as an introduction to the Co." 4p.
Letter from Samuel Wragg Ferguson from West Point to his godmother. Ferguson writes about finally settling in after his furlough and the pleasant time he had flirting with the girls before his drills and studies began, claiming "had I been in the neighborhood of Charleston people would have had me married a dozen times." 3p.
Letter from Samuel Wragg Ferguson from West Point to his godmother. Ferguson inquires about friends and family and relates his daily struggles with his "poor old overcoat." 3p.
Samuel Wragg Ferguson, fresh out of West Point, writes his sister from a camp on Henry's Fork in the Utah territory. Ferguson, participating in the Utah Expedition, writes about the boredom of the winter intermission in the conflict with Mormon settlers. He complains about the food and tells his sister he "is going out directly to try and kill a rabbit with my pistol." He writes fondly of spending a week at the regiment's other camp as he has "found it very dull here when there are but three officers besides myself," but notes that "when spring comes we will be kept busy all the time as the Mormons will no doubt try to steal our animals." 4p.
Letter from Samuel Wragg Ferguson at Fort Walla Walla in the Washington Territory to his godmother. Ferguson comments on his daily routine and writes about his beloved horse, his dogs and his whiskey-drinking friend Major Green. 4p.
Samuel Wragg Ferguson, aide-de-camp to General P.G.T. Beauregard, writes to his godmother from Manassas Junction, on July 10th, 1861, just days before the First Battle of Bull Run. He mentions preparations being made to set up hospitals for the sick and wounded, the capture of the privateer Savannah and Jefferson Davis' warning to Lincoln not to deal harshly with the crew. He writes that Union prisoners in Richmond, who were allowed to roam freely, were "arrested and confined in consequence of the accounts received of the trial of the crew of the Savannah." 4p.
Samuel Wragg Ferguson, aide-de-camp to General P.G.T. Beauregard, writes to his godmother from Fairfax Court House, Virginia, September 13th, 1861. Ferguson details a recent skirmish in Lewinsville pitting Union troops against Confederate Col. J.E.B. Stuart's men in which "we got seven killed, wounded and prisoners and know that they carried off many of their dead...fact is they wont stay to be killed." He writes of the secret construction of a battery along the Potomac that "will entirely stop the navigation of the river" and warns his godmother not to let "any communicative person hear any thing of this." On the envelope is written "there is a secret in this." 5p.
Samuel Wragg Ferguson, aide-de-camp to General P.G.T. Beauregard, writes to his godmother from Centreville, Virginia, January 29th, 1862. Ferguson writes that General Beauregard has received orders to proceed to Columbus, Ky., a "new scene of action and I hope of victory and glory." He yearns for news of Union commander Ambrose Burnside's naval expedition which recently sailed and has "occupied so much attention both North and South." 3p.
Samuel Wragg Ferguson, aide-de-camp to General P.G.T. Beauregard, writes to his godmother from Jackson, Tennessee on March 3rd, 1862. Ferguson writes about an offer for promotion to Lt. Colonel, the illness of Gen. Beauregard, and the successful evacuation of Columbus, Kentucky, "an imperative but most difficult problem, accomplished with wonderful luck." He questions the Union's decision not to attack during the evacuation as this would have caused "the abandonment of many heavy guns and large supplies of ammunition, now happily in position at other and better points." 4p.
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