21st South Carolina Soldiers Correspondance Archive

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011

A good Confederate soldier's war-date archive consisting of five (5) letters written by 1st Sgt. Robert H. Reaves, Co. L, 21st South Carolina Vols. This two-year group begins in December 1862 and ends in December 1864 just weeks before he was killed in action at Fort Fisher, N. C. on Jan. 15, 1865 while defending the fort during the second attack upon her. Organized in November 1861, Reaves's regiment served under General Hagood in defense of Charleston. During the battle of Morris Island in July 1863 they lost over 180 men. When Grant threatened Richmond in 1864, they were sent to Virginia and lost over 260 men during the Petersburg campaign. At the end of 1864 the regiment was sent to defend Fort Fisher, N. C. and lost all men either killed, wounded or captured. Reaves' letters, read, in small part: "…[Camp Marion, Dec. 10, 1862]…the negroes of the neighborhood bring in potatoes…for sale, but they are so greedily bought up by the soldiers that our mess seldom gets an opportunity to buy any. We drill…regularly…we expect to move our camp…to Serenity a plantation on the Sampit River within a quarter mile of Georgetown formerly occupied by Harlee's Legion…we were so busy moving our camps…we are now encamped at Serenity…our encampment is situated in an old field covered over with oak bushes. Contiguous to this is another old field covered with low dead grass without any bushes which will answer…for a drill ground…[Camp Chestnut, Dec. 23, 1862]…I did not see Cousin Joe [Joseph Baker, Co. E, 1st South Carolina, POW in 1864] as he passed along while we were on dress parade. I am anxious to hear from [my brother] Charles [Co. E, 1st S. C. Vols., KIA Gettysburg, July 1, 1863] as I expect that he was engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg…the Yankees were generally defeated at Fredericksburg and Goldsboro…the chances for peace are better than they had been at any time since the war commenced…the Yankees have now all their conscripts in the field…their attack on Fredericksburg was their last desperate attempt to capture Richmond…they will either make peace on some terms or consent to an armistice…I don't see how foreign powers can keep from interfering seeing that the resources of the Yankees are almost exhausted…our regiment was reviewed…by Brigadier General [John H.] Trapier. He complimented the regiment very highly. He said…they were almost equal to regulars. Col. Cash was serenaded…by the band of Col. Witherspoons…he came out and thanked the musicians and spoke a few words about fighting the war to the bitter end…I would not be surprised if we are ordered to Charleston if it is attacked. We have about a dozen substitutes in our company four of these including myself are in their father's places. Stephen T. Collins has brought his son here as a substitute…[Camp Chestnut, Jan. 11, 1863]…all the men in this regiment over forty years of age would be sent home at the expiration of the ninety days…we are expecting a man here who has been amongst the small pox and the guards have orders to stop every man who comes up with a bundle in his hands. I do not like the news from the west much. It seems that instead of gaining a great victory at Murfreesboro as was first reported we sustained a defeat. This will give the Yankees fresh hopes and they will prosecute the war with renewed energy…[In the trenches near Richmond, Nov. 25, 1864]…those men having servants in the army are ordered to enlist them as cooks during the war. They will no longer provide rations as they have…officers are allowed to buy one ration, but the privates have no other alternative but to enlist their servants, or send them home as our rations are not sufficient to enable us to support them. Our rations have been…diminishing…they are not more than half sufficient. I have not once thought of enlisting Enos as a regular army cook…I cannot feed him here nor have I money to send him home. Money is so scarce in the army that it is impossible to borrow even from the officers. Enos will be obliged to support himself the best he can…by working until I get money to send him home…[Lines of Hagood's brigade near Richmond, Va., Dec. 20, 1864]…the regiment is under marching orders and are expected to leave tomorrow…one brigade of our division took the train to Richmond…our destination is yet unknown but it is…thought we will go to Savannah, Charleston or Wilmington [they were sent to Fort Fisher, Wilmington, N. C.]…". Two of the original transmittal covers are included, all VG.

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