Letter from R.B. Rhett to James B. Heyward offering his condolences upon hearing of the death of James' son, Nathaniel, in Virginia (Manassas). R.B. Rhett expresses his sorrow at not being able to thank Nathaniel for the kindness he showed his son, Robert, at the battle of Gaines' Mill. 2p. October 1, 1862.
Letter from Francis Lynch in Cheraw to Bishop Patrick Lynch mentioning the suspension of the shelling in Charleston and the news that he has had an offer on the house of their deceased brother, James. September 10, 1863. 2p.
Copy of letter sent from Bishop Patrick Lynch to Francis Lynch. Bishop Lynch writes to Francis concerning a number of Charleston residents who are inquiring about leaving the lowcountry for Cheraw over uncertainty with the war. He also tells Francis to allay their father's fears over a Union invasion of Charleston, likening the panic in the city after the recent fall of Port Royal with that "at Washington, after the battle of Manassas." November 13, 1861. 4p.
Letter from Anna Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch offering condolences over the loss of the cathedral in the Charleston fire of December, 1861. December 14, 1861. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch written after hearing of the devastating Charleston fire of December 11, 1861, reminding the Bishop "fiat voluntas dei." December 14, 1861. 2p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch written after hearing of the devastating Charleston fire of December 11, 1861. December 14, 1861. 1p.
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.
Letter from fellow Charlestonian Aimee B. Stevens in Pendleton, SC, to Maria Heyward in Columbia. Aimee offers her condolences on the destruction of the Heyward's house in Charleston and inquires if she saved "all her silver." She writes about living with other families who had fled Charleston and the warm "welcome given by the hospitable inhabitants" of Pendleton. 4p. June 17, 1862.
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.
This letter from Colonel Edward Manigault (1817-1874) to South Carolina Governor Francis Wilkinson Pickens (1805-1869) was written in Charleston, South Carolina, on October 5, 1861. Col. Edward Manigault was the Chief of Ordnance for South Carolina in 1861. The letter is in reference to the transferring of funds to cover the cost of the "establishment of a Coast Police for the State of South Carolina." Page 3 is a handwritten enclosed form dated October 7, 1861, for the Gov. to sign and send with a draft to Gen. DeSaussure.
William Finley Barnwell, recently stationed at Fort Johnson, SC, writes to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, asking for clothing and other supplies. According to Barnwell, his pay as lieutenant is "over a thousand dollars including servant & food" though few supplies have been sent to the fort. January 28, 1861.
William Finley Barnwell writes to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, from his station on Sullivan's Island. Barnwell writes about the need of supplies, cloth, needles, etc., his plans for using his pay and the daily anticipation of a fight with the federal troops. April 4, 1861.
Edward Barnwell writes to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, believing the assault on Fort Sumter is imminent. Barnwell thinks his brother, William, will see little action from his post on Fort Johnson. 1861.
Letter from Edward Barnwell to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, discussing the nomination of his brother, William Finley Barnwell, as 3rd Lieutenant in the "1st Company of Infantry" and detailing the politics surrounding his appointment. William, Barnwell writes, has been ordered to Fort Johnson to take charge of new recruits. January 25, 1861.
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 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.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. She muses on the anniversary of her vows and begs the Bishop to tell her all about President Davis' visit to Charleston. She writes about obtaining a new cow for the convent "having disposed of one that was no account." November 8, 1863. 4p.
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.