(excerpts) From Richmond, July 21st my mother writes: “No news except that Gen. Johnston has joined Beauregard with a large force. A part of his troops are left still at Winchester, but the greater part are with him. The President went down to-day, but I don’t know exactly in what capacity, whether he will command [...]
(excerpts) “July 15th, Longwood, near Boston. “. . . I received your last letter several days ago, and I had a letter from Mama about the same time, telling Grandmama to send us on by the first good opportunity, but the way Mr. Walters said was the only way we could go would not have [...]
Balto., 9th July, 1861. Mrs. Frances M. Cross.1 “Dear Madam: “I have this moment received your letter dated yesterday and have just telegraphed Mr. Bucklin. Since I had the pleasure of writing you last it has become vastly more difficult to get to Virginia, and this very day the Federal Government has taken possession of [...]
MANASSAS JUNCTION, Va., July 8th, 1861. “My dear Col., “I believe we are about to be attacked by the enemy, who has been increasing his forces rapidly in the last few days. He no doubt has at present on this side of the Potomac at least 30,000 men—and probably as many in or about Washington; [...]
Louise Wigfall, from the book: “After General Johnston’s surrender, which followed on April 26th—and the capture of the President—it became necessary in order to escape arrest, that my father should make all possible effort to conceal his identity, and endeavor to make his way across the Mississippi river as speedily as might be, where Kirby [...]
“RALEIGH, March 14th, 1865. “My dear Wigfall: “I have just received yours of February 27th. I have been for two weeks looking for an opportunity other than by mail, to send you a letter. But all are reported to me too late. “What you write me of Lee gratifies me beyond measure. In youth and [...]
(excerpts) “CHARLOTTE, N. C., “Feb. 19th, 1865. ” . . . I take advantage of this sweet, quiet Sunday afternoon for a little chat with you. It is so quiet in my little nook and the bright sunshine outside looks so cheerful and calm that ’tis hard to realize the terrible storm of war that [...]
“HD. QRS. Armies C. States, “13 Feb., 1865. “Gentlemen: “I had yesterday the honor to receive your letter of the 4th inst., recommending the assignment of Genl. Jos. E. Johnston to the command of the Army of Tennessee. The three corps of that Army have been ordered to So. Ca., and are now under the [...]
“13 Feb., 1865. “HON. LOUIS T. WIGFALL, “Richmond, Va.” “Dear Sir: “I am here sick—laid up on the way—was taken quite unwell night before last, but am better now and hope to be able to go on tomorrow. I am about thirteen miles from Charlotte on the road to Columbia. I drop you a line [...]
“SENATE CHAMBER, “10th February, 1865. “My dear Sir: “A letter has been addressed to you, urging the assignment of Genl. Joseph E. Johnston to the command of the Army in front of Sherman. This letter has been numerously signed by Senators, of whom I was not one. I did not sign because I did not [...]
“HEAD QUARTERS, “Army N. Va., “8th February, 1865. “HON. LOUIS T. WIGFALL, “Richmond. “Dear Sir: “I have received your letter of the 3rd inst. with reference to permitting the Texas Brigade to return home to recruit. “No troops in the Army have earned a better title to indulgence than the brave Texas Brigade, and to [...]
“C. S. SENATE CHAMBER, “4th February, 1865. “GENL. R. E. LEE. “Sir: The undersigned beg leave earnestly but respectfully to recommend the assignment of Genl. Joseph E. Johnston to the command of the troops lately composing the Army of Tennessee. We are induced to make this suggestion by information derived from such sources as to [...]
(excerpts) “HD. QRTS., Jan. 20th, 1865. “My dear Wigfall: “Your message to me by Mr. Davis reached me a day or two ago. As I am about to start to S. C., I anticipate your letter by writing at once to you. It gave me great pleasure to see your return mentioned. ” . . [...]
“AT MRS. OVERTON’S, “Six Miles from Nashville, “On Columbia Turnpike, “Dec. 5th, 1864. “I wrote you a short note from the other side of Franklin the morning after the battle. I have not written oftener because I have been unwilling to trust letters to the mail, as I suppose communication has been interrupted between Macon [...]
“CAMP near LOVEJOY’S STATION, “Sept. 14, 1864. “When my last was written Sherman had not developed his intentions, and we were all in the dark as to what he would do next. After drawing back his line from our right and centre, he pushed these troops round in rear of his original right and crossing [...]
(excerpts) MACON, Sept. 4th, 1864. ” . . . I have no news to give you and must confess that things just at present look rather blue. The intelligence that comes from the front is all confused. We know that Hardee attacked the enemy and with his one corps held his position till night, when [...]
(excerpts) “ATLANTA, July 31st, 1864. ” . . . You doubtless have heard before this reaches you of the removal of General Johnston, and the placing of Gen. Hood in command of the Army. The dispatch was received the night of the seventeenth, and Genl. Johnston’s farewell address bore that date. The three corps commanders [...]
(excerpts) “MACON, July 11th, 1864. “. . . You see by the heading of my letter that already we have been forced to leave Atlanta—not that it has fallen, but Mrs. Johnston received a letter from the General in which he advised her to send us off at once—to remain until the fate of the [...]
(excerpts) Charlottesville, May 9th, 1864 “. . . Charlottesville is in a whirl of excitement and the ladies go in crowds to the dépôt to assist the wounded, who come in train after train. We are all going this afternoon laden with ice-water, buttermilk, etc., to see what we can do. Dr. C. is going [...]
(excerpt) May 3rd, 1864: “It is very uncomfortable at Mrs. – as they allowance each person to butter, etc. Things are in a dreadful state. Have you tried to get your shoes mended? I am completely unshod, as my boot gave way entirely yesterday in my walk with F.” (Note: picture is of an unidentified [...]
(excerpts) “April 29. . . . There was a review to-day of all the infantry and artillery of the army. The reviewing officer was Gen. Johnston, who rode down the line, halting opposite each brigade to receive its salute. He then took his position and the troops marched in review past him. Mrs. Johnston was [...]
(excerpt) April 9. . . . The sham battle of General Hardee’s Corps took place on Thursday, and was witnessed by a large number of ladies from all parts of the State. There was a party of them at Gen. Hood’s for several days and the evening after the battle we had a dance at [...]
(excerpts) March 21, 1864 “. . . I have just returned from a ride with some of ‘the staff’ looking at the country. I think Gen. Hood is quite anxious for a fight and I have no doubt will distinguish himself whenever it does come. He brought a carriage up from Atlanta when he came, [...]
“DALTON, Jan. 4th, 1864. “My dear Wigfall: “It is necessary to recruit this army promptly to enable it to hold its ground against Grant’s forces. Remember that it was unable to move forward even before it had been weakened by the defeat of Missionary Ridge, and Longstreet’s march into East Tennessee, and the enemy strengthened [...]
(excerpts) “Dec. 15th, 1863. “I have passed many anxious months lately, in this siege of Charleston. My only child and son was at Fort Sumter, a First Lieutenant in the 1st Regular Artillery Regiment. He passed through the first attack in April safely—though occupying a post of danger, but, on the 17th of August, in [...]