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.
Letter from James B. Heyward to an unknown recipient carried by one of his overseers, C. R. Hains, who is reporting for duty. In his letter, James protests the conscription of plantation overseers into the Confederate army claiming they "have large numbers of negroes under their charge" and that "in his absence the timid become panic struck and the bold mischievous." He also argues that the overseers "by means of espionage know every thing that is going on" and that well run plantations can better provide supplies to the war cause. 4p. November 12, 1861.
Letter of thanks from R.W. Barnwell in Charlottesville to unknown recipient. The thank you stems from an unspecified "contribution" to the Confederate cause, possibly a donation of money to the hospital in Charlottesville. 1p. September 14, 1861.
Letter from Susan S. Keith to her daughter giving her a first hand account of the great fire that devastated Charleston in December, 1861. "The City is nearly destroyed," she writes, "such a scene of desolation and destruction I never beheld." 4p. December 14, 1861.
Caption: 'Bombardment of Fort Sumter, as sketched from Morris Island, Charleston Harbor, S.C.' Identified in image: Mortar Battery, Fort Johnson; James Island; City; Castle Pinckney; Fort Sumter; Mount Pleasant; Floating Battery; Mortar Battery; Fort Moultrie; Enfilading Battery; Iron Battery; Sand-bag cover for reserve; Traverse behind Trapier Battery and Magazine covered with sand bags.
Caption: 'Battle of Bull Run, July 21st, 1861--Grand "Skedaddle" of the Federal troops under General McDowell, and of the citizens of Washington who came down to witness the battle.'
Caption (in German): 'Das Innere des Hospitals der schwimmenden Batterie im hafen von Charleston.' {Interior of the hospital of the Floating Battery in Charleston Harbor}
Caption: 'The Richland Rifles enjoying the "after-dinner hour," at their quarters on Sullivan's Island, Charleston Harbor, S.C. From a sketch taken on the spot by our Special Artist now in Charleston.' [full date March 2, 1861.]
Caption: 'Scene on the Floating Battery in Charleston Harbor, S.C., during the bombardment of Fort Sumpter (sic).--from a sketch by an Officer.--see page 355.' [full date April 27, 1861.]
Caption (in German): 'Die im Ban [Bau] begriffene schwimmende Batterie in Charleston, S.C.' [The nascent Floating Battery in Charleston, S.C.] [full date February 16, 1861.]
Caption: 'Scene on the arrival of Lieutenant Hall, U.S.A., with despatches (sic) from Major Anderson for Governor Pickens, at the Executive Mansion, Charleston, S.C., immediately after the firing on the Star of the West.--from a sketch by our Special Artist.--see page 151.' [full date January 26, 1861.]
Caption: 'General McGowan addressing the Abbeville Volunteers in front of the Charleston Hotel--from a sketch by our Special Artist now in Charleston.' [full date February 23, 1861.]
Caption: 'The night guard of boats on Charleston Bar during the first of the bombardment of Fort Sumpter (sic), to prevent reinforcements being sent to Major Anderson, April 12th, 1861.--from a sketch by our artist on Morris Island.'
Caption: 'The Southern steamship Columbia. Captain Berry, on shore in Maffit's Bay, in the harbor of Charleston, S.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 23.--from a sketch by our Special Artist in Charleston.--see page 194.' [full date February 16, 1861.]
Caption: 'The Floating Battery, now erecting in the harbor of Charleston by the authorities of South Carolina. Designed to capture Fort Sumter.--from a sketch by our Special Artist now in Charleston. See page 194.' [full date February 16, 1861.]
Caption: 'Moonlight scene on Sullivan's Island, Charleston Harbor--the sentry challenging Frank Leslie's Special Artist and Correspondent, who were guests of the Richland Rifles.--from a sketch by our Special Artist now in Charleston.' [full date March 2, 1861.]
Caption in German: 'Szene auf der schwimmenden Batterie im hafen von Charleston, wahrend des Bombardments des Forts Sumter.' [Scene from the Floating Battery in Charleston Harbor, during the bombardment of Fort Sumter.]
Caption: 'The new batteries erected on Morris Island for the defence of Charleston Harbor and the reduction of Fort Sumpter (sic).--from a sketch by our Special Artist in Charleston, S.C.--see page 295.' Identified with additional captions are: 1.The Iron-clad Steven's Battery on Cumming's Point. 2. Encampment on Morris Island. 3.Star of the West Battery. 4.Columbia Battery. [full date March 30, 1861.]
Caption (in German): 'Grosse Bersammlung von Seceders vor dem Stadthause in Charleston, S.C.' {Large crowd of Secessionists in front of City Hall, Charleston, S.C.}
Caption: 'The Floating Battery at Charleston, S.C., intended to assist in the capture of Fort Sumpter (sic), with Dr. De Vega's hospital attached.--from a sketch by our Special Artist in Charleston.--see page 289.' [full date March 30, 1861.]
Caption: 'Colonel William Wilson and his staff (Wilson's Fighting Brigade)--[see page 311].' Identified in image: Quartermaster Bradley, Lieutenant Colonel Creighton, Adjutant James J. Hearey, Paymaster Peter Duffy, Col. William Wilson, Surgeon D.C. Pease and Major William Newby. [full date May 18, 1861.]
Caption: 'Reinforcement of Fort Pickens by Company A, First Artillery, on Saturday morning, April 13--Sketched by an Engineer Officer of the "Brooklyn."--[See Next Page].' [full date May 18,1861.]
Caption: 'The Battery or Park Promenade at Charleston, South Carolina, during the bombardment of Fort Sumter--Sketched by our Special Artist--[see next page].' [full date May 18, 1861.]
Caption: 'Caption: 'The rifled cannon which did so much execution on Fort Sumter, Charleston, South Carolina'--[From a Sketch by our Special Artist.]' [full date May 18,1861.]
Caption: 'Morris Island, as seen from Fort Sumter.--[drawn by an Officer of Major Anderson's Command.]' Also identified with captions: 'Battery from which the "Star of the West" was fired upon. Cumming's Point. Sand Battery, connected by covered gallery with...iron-clad battery.' [full date March 2, 1861.]
Caption: 'The Battery or Park Promenade at Charleston, South Carolina, during the bombardment of Fort Sumter--Sketched by our Special Artist--[see next page].' [full date May 18, 1861.]
Caption: 'The city of Charleston, South Carolina.--[see page 62.]' Also identified in image: Broad Street, "Mercury" office, Custom-house, Castle Pinckney, Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumter and Morris Island. [full date January 26, 1861.]
Caption: 'Major Anderson's Command at Fort Sumter.--from a photograph taken in the fort.--[see page 190.] Identified in image: Capt. T. Seymour, 1st Lieut. G.W. Snyder, 1st Lt. J.C. Davis, 2d Lt. R.K. Meade, 1st Lt. T. Talbot, Capt. A. Doubleday, Maj. R. Anderson, Asst. Surg. S.W. Crawford and Capt. J.G. Foster. [full date March 23, 1861.]
Caption: 'The city of Charleston, South Carolina, looking seaward, and showing the burned district.--[see next page.]' Identified in image are: Broad Street, "Mercury" office, Custom-house, Castle Pinckney, Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumter and Morris Island. [full date December 28, 1861.]
Caption: 'Firing on the "Star of the West" from the South Carolina battery on Morris Island, January 10, 1861.--[see page 54.]' [full date January 26, 1861]
