Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
A good war-date Confederate officer's letter, 3pp. 4to., written by Capt. Godfrey Leaphart, Co. C, 20th South Carolina Vols., "Sullivan's Island, [S. C.], Dec. 5, 1862" to his sister, in small part: "…we are hemmed up here on this Island…we see nothing but water, piles of sand and the Blockading fleet…they keep us very close to duty…and seem to be holding us ready for an attack…our Regt is nearly all working now at breastworks besides..about four hundred negroes working on the Isld. We are mounting new guns every week. If this place is attacked I want to see it. Our Regt exchanged the guns that we had…for Enfield Rifles a very superior gun. We have a very good Regt numbering about nine hundred men. I have ninety one men in my company besides eleven that have discharged and three died. I don't think there is many better companies in service than mine. The field officers and Surgeon always speak very favorably of my company…our Chaplain left…to attend conference…he is a good preacher as I ever heard preach. He taken between ninety and a hundred members in the church since he has been with the Regt. About twenty joined the Baptist Church. He got a Baptist minister to baptize them…in the ocean. They were the first I ever seen immersed. There is only three or four men in my company that are not members of the church…it begins to be a difficult matter for us to get any thing to eat here. The commissary on the Island wont sell officers anything to eat here. The commissary on the island wont sell the officers anything any more and we have a good deal of trouble to get our provisions from the city…I wanted to have me a military overcoat made in the city and they asked me one hundred and forty five dollars…I wrote to Ma…to try to buy me some homespun to have me a dress uniform made. The most of our officers of our Regt is having their uniforms made of homespun now. I have not seen Sherod since he has been wounded. I am looking for him to come down to see me…". Near fine.
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