Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
A good war-date Southern aristocrat letter, 2pp. legal folio, written by a certain Emmie, Camden, [S. C.], Sept. 6, 1862 to her friend "Del" a Confederate officer, in small part: "…I received your letter a short time since dear Del and write only with the hope that you will get this somewhere in your march after the Yankees. The news from Virginia is most cheering-again have the now [?] Plains of Manassas been the scene of the humiliation and defeat of our insolent foe. On the 28th & 29th Jackson & Longstreet…repulsed their attacks and on the 30th the engagement became general…the only particulars known being the deaths of Col. John Means, the Ex-Governor & Col. Gadley & Foster Marshall. Gen. Jenkins by [?] is dead…Gen. Ewell had to have his right leg amputated on the field, Col. Benlow mortally wounded. McLaw's division to which Kershaw's brigade belongs was not near the fight. It was covering the Rapid Run…we heard from Uncle La the night before. He left Chattanooga with Bragg says Ed Gibb…Brother H. [?] from Kentucky having just crossed the Cumberland mountains & we suppose gone on under Gen. Kirby Smith-Kentucky & Tennessee will soon be free & I trust Maryland also…now that Beauregard is to take command at Charleston I feel perfectly secure…we have long wished for his presence there…his very name gives confidence…Mr. White was up there recently [and] says our harbor defense are a complete success. A [Yankee] vessel was towed by three steamers against the obstructions and was neither able to break nor cross them. Our second gunboat is launched and…the Palmetto state and Chicora will make their names celebrated…two others are to be built immediately. Pemberton went to Richmond and got "as many guns as he wanted," from the spoils of Chickahominy including 3, 15 inch & 11 inch guns for Fort Sumter…the heavy batteries placed…on Plum Island…& James Is is considered impregnable…Willie Heyword…who was taken prisoner at…James Is. died lately at Fort Pulaski just when his friends were expecting his exchange…Oh so many…have died or been killed in battle who I last met during the spring were buoyant with health & gay spirits. We are electing a speedy attack on Charleston from…information received by our government… and a large number of troops are being concentrated there. Their reverses in Virginia may change the enemy's plan but they will find us ready for them when they come. Have you seen Gen. Albert Pike's most intensely [?] rebuke…to the "home returning Texan volunteers." It is the most withering rebuke I've ever read…I do not think you can deny him the merit of a brave & Gallant, as well as daring soldier, though he may be ignorant of the "art of war" in which you have been trained…how do you admire John H. Morgan, if I was a man I should like to be with him…he has been well called our second Marion. A cavalry corps commanded by Dr. Edward baker…consisting of all the Camden boys of sixteen and seventeen & many only fourteen & fifteen leave here today for coast duty near Georgetown to guard saltworks. All the children have their heads turned & Alester would go too if he could. The arsenal cadets have been very rebellious, many being expelled & others joined the Cadet Rangers…Beauregard's nephew Proctor has left & when B. heard of it…he wrote to Major Thomas to tell him to put Proctor in irons & send him home to Fort Sumter and if he resisted to shoot humbug he would have to shoot a number of other as aspiring youths. The servant is waiting to take this to the office so I must close…Emmie…". Near fine
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