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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Willis - 12th Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers - writes from near Richmond on charging with the 1st Regiment, under orders of General Gregg. He reports great loss of life including two "Rhetts" and Shubrick Hayne. Willis notes he is next to head off Union General McClellan.
[Typescript] Willis - 12th Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers - writes from near Richmond on charging with the 1st Regiment, under orders of General Gregg. He reports great loss of life including two "Rhetts" and Shubrick Hayne. Willis notes he is next to head off Union General McClellan.
Willis writes from the Confederate Army of the Potomac, two miles from the Chickahominy River, on the privations of camp [though he is accompanied by a slave, Paris], and the expectation of a large scale engagement. He is spiritied by news of Stonewall Jackson's successes.
Willis writes from near Ripadan, Virginia, where Generals Lee and Johnston are in command. He speculates on a potential attack by the Confederates, though Union General Pope has pulled his men back.
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.
Letter from H.C. Palmer to (probably) James B. Heyward. Heyward had questioned the veracity of a letter that claimed his son's remains were disinterred from the battlefield at Manassas. This letter from Palmer apparently informs Heyward how he came in possession of the note concerning the claim and apologizes if the information was inaccurate. 1p. November 10, 1862.
Letter from James B. Heyward to Rev. O.L. Bartier requesting a favor concerning the remains of his son, Nathaniel, who was killed in Manassas. James had traveled to Warrenton, Virginia, a few weeks after the battle and spoke to a wounded soldier who had helped bury Nathaniel but "the reported presence of the enemy" derailed James plans to accompany him to Manassas to disinter his son. James commissioned the soldier and two others to exhume the remains when safe and "place them in the grave yard of the Episcopal Church at Hay Market." A note was later received that the job had been done as requested but Heyward questions the veracity of the note and requests Rev. Bartier to look into the matter. 3p. November 6, 1862.
Letter from M. Munro to Maria Heyward concerning the deaths of their sons at the Second Battle of Bull Run who were killed by the same shell, August 29, 1862. Mrs. Munro writes that she is planning on retrieving the hastily buried body of her son and since Maria's son, Nathaniel, is in the same grave she inquires whether or not Maria would like to coordinate a plan to disinter her son as well. She notes that according to her information neither body "can be disinterred alone, without some violence or exposures, offered to the precious remains,..., if either of us, undertake this work alone." 4p. September 24, 1862.
Letter from Daniel Heyward Hamilton to James B. Heyward about the loss of James' son, Nathaniel, and the plans to return Nathaniel's body servant to James. Daniel writes that his own son was wounded by his side in a previous engagement. 3p. October 25, 1862.
Letter from John W. Chambers to James B. Heyward concerning his slave, John, the body servant of James' deceased son Nathaniel. Captain Chambers writes that sending James' servant to Richmond is problematic because of the heavy travel on the rail route and that "it is with difficulty a white person can engage a passage and any servant would be compelled to walk." 1p. November 1, 1862.
Letter from John W. Chambers to James B. Heyward concerning the particulars of the death of Heyward's son Nathaniel at the Second Battle of Bull Run. According to Lt. Chambers the "musketing in our part of the field had ceased [and] the men were sitting down talking and resting" when a "shell exploded fifteen feet from them." He writes about having to bury Nathaniel and a Lt. Munro in the same grave, which he marked by carving "NH - 1st SCV" on a piece of board. He also asks James about hiring Nathaniel's body servant, John. 3p. September 6, 1862.
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 J. Keith Heyward to his uncle James B. Heyward. Enclosed in the letter from J. Keith Heyward is a note signed by several individuals claiming that they found and reburied the body of James' son, Nathaniel, per James' instructions. 4p. November 4, 1862.
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.
Letter from James B. Heyward at Hamburgh Plantation to his wife Maria Heyward. James writes Maria about a battle at Port Royal Ferry "full of danger to our property" and his anxiety over the dangers of the war. 4p. January 3, 1862.
Willis writes from near Frederick City, MD, on the Second Battle of Bull Run or Manassas. His account (which places him at Manassas Junction), describes the battle-scenes and skirmishes, and his belief the "Yankees" had suffered more casualties. He also notes his inability to get some goods at Frederick City on account of the store owners being "Unionists"; his discovery that his hired "boy" was a runaway slave, (he has also fled from Keith); the misery of camp and his idea of resigning and returning to South Carolina to join Marion's Artillery who "will never be sent out of state".
Willis writes from Charlestown, Va, on having taken 1,300 prisoners at Harpers Ferry (many Vermonters); on the Second Battle of Bull Run or Manassas; his continued interest in resigning and joining Marion Artillery in South Carolina; the deaths of Nathaniel Heyward and Lt. Munroe of Charleston and his frustration at not being able to secure a slave to tend to him. He notes that he is writing on "captured paper" and the pro-Union sentiment on the envelope ("The Union and the Constitution must and shall be preserved") is crossed out.
Willis writes from camp that they are rumoured to be sent to Stonewall Jackson in "the Valley" and that Paris has found better clothing in the knapsacks of dead Union soldiers.
Letter from Mary Heyward to her cousin Frank Heyward about the death of his brother Nathaniel at Manassas. She writes that his father, James, is traveling to Gordonsville, Virginia, and possibly on "to the battlefield" and laments "the war has really come home to us." 4p. September 11, 1862.
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.
[Incomplete letter] Willis writes detailing life at camp, a fateful charge [also described in previous correspondence] and its death tolls, and also the experiences of his camp slaves, Paris and Fred, who apparently declined an opportunity to desert.
Willis writes from the centre of the Army of Richmond of the loses of the 5th and 6th South Carolina Regiments, skirmishes around camp and his concern for James Island, his family and the location of their slaves
Letter from E.C. DuBose, writing for Captain Chambers, to James B. Heyward concerning Nathaniel Heyward's body servant. Lt. DuBose writes to James that "your Boy John is with us" but that it wouldn't be safe to send him on "without some white person as the whole country is over run by straglers (sic) and he may be taken up." 1p. October 7, 1862.
Willis writes from Winchester, Va., on Paris having "disappeared" and being left with no-one "to do a hands turn for me"; his reflection: "Our reverse in Pennsylvania, and then the far greater blow, the loss of Vicksburg, and Port Hudson, look gloomy for the Confederacy"; his taking pants from a corpse? on the battlefield.
Willis writes from Chambersberg, Pa., at the end of a march from Fredericksburg, Va., on passing through "Yankee" territory, with General Jenkins at the head
Willis writes from breastworks near Fredericksburg, Va. on skirmishes and picketing; a Union request for the picketing to end and its refusual; Willis's suggestion his father come to see the battlefield; the decomposing bodies of "Yankees" from the battle of Fredericksburg [De1862]; desire to acquire a younger slave
John writes that Union forces are putting torpedoes in the Stono river to blow up Confederate boats, but that all attempts, thus far, have been unsuccessful.
Willis writes from Williamsport, MD., on a disappointing battle [Gettysburg], where "very many valuable men" were lost; that General Lee is not to cross the Potomac for a "few days".
Willis writes from near Camp Gregg on the "terrible blow" of Stonewall Jackson's death, which Keith believes the Union Army will view as better than a battlefield victory; his uncertainty in matters of faith
Willis writes from breastworks near Fredericksburg, Va. that the "enemy" have moved to the opposite side of the river; Willis wonders where General Hooker will make his new base; inability to get Paris a horse, except for $400
![053. Willis Keith to Anna Bella Keith -- [Sept?] 22, 1862.](https://rspace.library.cofc.edu/iiif/image/24936/full/200,/0/default.jpg)
