Monthly Archives: February 2013

28 February 1863: “Every person concerned in holding such elections in any State or camp, shall take an oath to support the constitution of Confederate States…”

Item description: “A bill to be entitled An act to provide certain regulations for holding elections for representatives in the Congress of the Confederate States,” dated 28 February 1863. [Scans courtesy of Internet Archive. The original item can also be found in … Continue reading

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27 February 1863: “Dear Master and Mistress, I will send you a few lines to inform you I am not well but I still get along building stockades.”

Item description: Letter dated 27 February 1863 from a slave, Thomas, in Mount Shell, Tenn., to his master, J. M. Oaty, asking him to get a substitute for him in the building of a stockade. Item citation: From folder 17 … Continue reading

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26 February 1863: “Many a time have I, when I would awake in a puddle of water, console myself with the reflection that some one else was in a worse fix than myself, and with a shout and a laugh we would make merry over the misfortunes of each other.”

Item description: Letter, 26 February 1863, from Ruffin Thomson, 18th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, to his “Pa” (William H. Thomson). More about Ruffin Thomson: Ruffin Thomson was the oldest child and only son of William H. Thomson and Hannah Lavinia Thomson. He studied … Continue reading

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25 February 1863: “Troops have been pouring in in great numbers from North Carolina.”

Item Description: Letter, dated 25 February 1863, presumably to Jane North Pettigrew, from Henry Lesesne. Item Citation: From folder 261 in the Pettigrew Family Papers #592, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Item Transcription: … Continue reading

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24 February 1863: “Promenading and flirting wound up the affair about eleven o’clock.”

Item description: Portions of “Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass., Dep’t of No. Carolina,” an account, written by John Jasper Wyeth of Co. E, of the experiences of the 44th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. The book … Continue reading

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23 February 1863: “The negro soldiers have surpassed the expectations even of most of their friends.”

Item description: Letter, 23 February 1863, from Captain Edward W. Hooper (1839-1901) to Henry W. Foote. Capt. Hooper was serving on the staff of Gen. Rufus Saxton during the “Port Royal Experiment.” Item citation: Folder 1a in the Penn School Papers, #3615, Southern Historical … Continue reading

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22 February 1863: “We had a pretty hard rain last night and, as some of our men were on open flat cars, fared pretty badly.”

Item description: Letter, 22 February 1863, from James A. Graham, officer in the “Orange Guard,” Company G, 27th Regiment N.C. Troops, to his father William A. Graham. Item citation: From the William A. Graham Papers #285, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North … Continue reading

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21 February 1863: “Drawing of ‘Gen. Ledlie’s H.Q., St. Helena Island S.C.'”

Item description: Drawing, dated 21 February 1863, of “Gen. Ledlie’s H.Q., St. Helena Island S.C.,” drawn by Herbert E. Valentine, a private in Company F of the 23rd Massachusetts Volunteers, who served in the United States Army between 1861 and 1864 … Continue reading

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20 February 1863: “Possibly we may go to the railroad and ride to the seat of war – probably our legs will furnish transportation, as has been the case ever since we landed in this state.”

Item description: Letter, 20 February 1863, from Ruffin Thomson, 18th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, to his “Pa” (William H. Thomson). More about Ruffin Thomson: Ruffin Thomson was the oldest child and only son of William H. Thomson and Hannah Lavinia Thomson. He studied … Continue reading

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19 February 1863: “…you can, cooperating with General Foster’s land force, destroy the rebel ironclads building on the rivers…”

Item description: “Order of Acting Rear-Admiral Lee, U. S. Navy, to Commander Murray, U. S. Navy, to cooperate with land force for the destruction of Confederate ironclads under construction.” To read more from the Official Records of the Union and … Continue reading

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