(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 [...]

(excerpt)         29th. “I send you the ‘Examiner’ of to-day, which has full extracts from the Northern papers—about the battle. Some of the handcuffs were shown at the Hotel, yesterday, but I did not happen to see them. ‘Tis however a fact—how many exactly I don’t know—but there are certainly a great many taken.”

Finally the arrangements being all made we started off on our adventures—being placed by my Uncle in charge of a responsible gentleman, who was to take us to Baltimore, and deliver us into the care of Mr. Walters. We were cautioned to be very quiet, to express nothing at what we heard or saw, and [...]

(excerpts) 23rd. “We have been in the greatest  I am curious to know what the effect will be at the North—whether they will be panic stricken or exasperated to frenzy at such a defeat. Poor old Scott! If he had only died after the Mexican War, how much better it would have been for his [...]

(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; [...]

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. . [...]

(excerpts) “MONTGOMERY, April 26.         “The people here are all in fine spirits, and the streets are so lively and every one looks so happy, that you can scarcely realize the cause of the excitement. No one doubts our success. . . . I suppose the chief fighting will be in Maryland and Virginia. . . [...]

The following letter, written from Charleston to the New York Times, gives a very fair account of the surrender of Fort Sumter and my father’s connection with the affair. A Southern newspaper says: HON. LOUIS T. WIGFALL. “The gallantry, chivalry, and heroism of this distinguished son of the South is even applauded by those from [...]