The following correspondence contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today. However, the correspondence is provided unedited for its historical content and context. (excerpts) from Camp near Chesterfield Station: “. . . My home is in a wild pine grove and sweetest melancholy, poesy’s child, keeps watch and ward over my [...]

CHATTANOOGA, Jany. 26th, 1863. “My dear Wigfall: “I have asked the government by telegraph if any additional troops, new or old, can be furnished for Bragg’s Army, but have had no reply. Will you suggest to Mr. Seddon that we are in a very critical condition in Tennessee? The enemy has fully supplied his losses, [...]

“JACKSON, Jany. 8th, 1863. “My dear Wigfall:          “Mrs. Johnston, who arrived evening before last, brought me your letter, which had come to Chattanooga before she left it. Your military criticism has been more strongly called for since the writing of that letter. And no doubt it has been made. I can’t help thinking myself that [...]

“CHATTANOOGA, Dec. 15, 1862. “My dear Wigfall:          “On my return from Murfreesboro’ a day or two ago I had the pleasure to find your letter, and the President. The latter is on a military tour, and has taken immediate command in this country. Unless he is greatly mistaken Mr. Seddon has not carried our point [...]

“December 8, 1862. “My dear Sir:          “I have just received a letter from Genl. Johnston which causes gloomy forebodings as to our future in the West. Pemberton, he says, has fallen back before a superior force and he, Johnston, is ordered to reinforce him with troops from Bragg’s command. Consider the position of their different [...]

(excerpts) “Dec. 5th, 1862.          ” . . . We are all painfully anxious about Fredericksburg. It has been raining hard all day and hailing this evening, and if there has been no advance yet I think Burnside will have little chance of doing anything this winter. . . . Genl. Johnston carried quite a numerous [...]

“CHATTANOOGA, “Dec. 4th, 1862. “My dear Wigfall:          “After a perilous journey, I arrived a little after twelve last night, having been delayed by three railroad accidents. A telegram from the Ad. Genl. urges me, in the name of the President, to reinforce Pemberton, who ‘has fallen back from his positions by advance of very superior [...]

“RICHMOND, Nov. 26th 1862.         ” . . . Genl. Johnston1 got his orders only day before yesterday. He is to have command of the three armies of Bragg, Kirby Smith and Pemberton, but not West of the Mississippi, as I understand. He expects to get off on Saturday, and his wife goes with him.” General [...]

(excerpts) “CAMP, near Fredericksburg, Nov. 23rd, 1862.          ” . . . We reached here on yesterday afternoon, having left Culpeper on Wednesday about twelve o’clock. We were on the road three days and a half, and it rained every day but the last. So you see that we have been enjoying ourselves. The Yanks were [...]

(excerpts) “DIV. HD. QRTS. “Near Culpeper, Nov. 17, ’62. “My dear Genl.: “I wish you would let me know so soon as you are informed that the new Regiments are on their way to Richmond. If they came on as independent Regiments I wish to recommend a Brig. Genl. For them. “If I can I [...]

(excerpts) “CAMP near Culpeper, “Nov. 15th, 1862. “As Capt. Bachman is going down to Richmond on business I take this opportunity of ‘tellin’ ’em huddy fur me, an’ ask ’em for sen’ me sumfin.’ As this is a strictly business letter I will proceed to enumerate the articles desired. Primo, one large black valise. Item, [...]

(excerpts) “November 14th.         “Mama sends you by Capt. Sellers the buffalo robe and blanket and also a cake of soap, which will be sufficient for present emergencies—and as soon as another occasion offers she will send some more. Mama says as soap is $1.25 a cake you must economise! Capt. Sellers will also take the [...]

November 9, 18621          “We had quite a snow-storm day before yesterday, and it is still very cold. I am afraid our poor soldiers will suffer dreadfully from the weather this winter, as I heard yesterday that we had upwards of 10,000 men without shoes!          “Genl. Johnston2 is improving, and speaks of reporting for duty in [...]

“CULPEPER C. H., Nov. 7th, 1862. “My dear General,1 “Your kind favor of 17th ulto. was duly received. I have been waiting to have your son’s decision before writing. “I heard yesterday that you and the President had had an unpleasant interview. It is no business of mine, but I would like to take the [...]

(excerpts) “I had a very pleasant visit to Rosser’s Camp where I spent the night. On my way down I met Genl. Stuart and stopped and had some conversation. He was in as high spirits as ever, and told me particularly to tell you, when I wrote, that in his recent raid into Pennsylvania he [...]

“EXECUTIVE MANSION, “RICHMOND, Va., “Oct. 11, 1862. “GENL. L. T. WIGFALL, “My dear Sir: “It has been suggested to me1 that you thought Holmes had failed in his duty at Malvern Hill, by being too slow in getting into position, and in that connection I wish to say to you that he was ordered up [...]

“HEAD QUARTERS ARMY, W. Va., “Near Martinsburg, Sept. 21st, 1862 “GEN. LOUIS T. WIGFALL, “Genl.: “I have not yet heard from you with regard to the new Texas Regiments which you promised to endeavor to raise for this Army. I need them much. I rely upon these we have in all tight places and fear [...]

Among my papers I find next a letter written by my mother after an illness, during that awful time known as “The Seven Days Battle around Richmond.” RICHMOND, June 25th, 1862.         ” . . . I am getting a great deal better, and went out this afternoon to take a drive with your father. We [...]

I give below some extracts from letters written by myself, a child of fourteen—dated: “LONGWOOD, near Boston, “April and May and June, 1861. ” . . . Isn’t the news from Sumter delightful. When I read the account in a paper, I felt like crying for joy. No one sympathizes with me here, except Grandmama, [...]

(excerpts) “June 11th and 14th.         “We are still at the Spotswood Hotel but I don’t know whether we shall continue very long. The President and his family will move next week to the place selected for them. I hear it is very handsome and the City Council has bought and put it at the disposal [...]

(excerpts) RICHMOND, May 30th. “After a terribly fatiguing journey we arrived here safely yesterday morning. We left Montgomery on Sunday night, at 8 o’clock, and travelled night and day, until yesterday morning. “The President was everywhere most rapturously received. . . . I was all packed to start for Texas, when your father found that [...]

(excerpt) “May 23rd, 1861.         ” . . . Congress has adjourned to meet in Richmond on the 20th July. The President has begged your father to act on his staff. . . . “

A Northern woman who was a native of Rhode Island, but who had lived all her married life in the South, returned after her widowhood to Providence to be among her people. The following letter was written by her to my mother: May 13th 1861.         ” . . . We are always delighted to hear [...]

(excerpts)   “29th: I have been this morning to witness the opening of Congress, and hear the President’s message. It was an admirable one, worthy of his reputation. It gives such a fair and lucid statement of matters, as they now stand, that I am sure it will do good abroad, if not at home. . [...]