Tag Archives: Chapel Hill

7 April 1865: “The evacuation of Richmond Petersburg on Sunday last was a hard blow to our cause but I am not discouraged God will yet save us from our Enemies”

Item Description: A letter from a concerned father in Greensboro to his daughter in Chapel Hill who is staying with her Aunt and Uncle. He fears that if Raleigh falls, Chapel Hill will become violent, and is expresses concern that she … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on 7 April 1865: “The evacuation of Richmond Petersburg on Sunday last was a hard blow to our cause but I am not discouraged God will yet save us from our Enemies”

6 March 1865: ” What have you decided to do with your family and yourself in case the enemy come to Raleigh?”

Item Description: William Horn Battle was born in Edgecombe County in 1802, graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1820. He served on a commission that revised the statutory laws of North Carolina in 1833. In 1840, he was appointed … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 6 March 1865: ” What have you decided to do with your family and yourself in case the enemy come to Raleigh?”

12 October 1863: “Unless we can get corn from some other county than this, I am afraid there will be great suffering among the poor of this vicinity.”

Item description:  Letter, 12 October 1863,  from Judge William H. Battle to his son, Richard Battle. The letter reveals his anxiety about provisions for the coming winter.  Food shortages caused the prices on crops to skyrocket in Orange County, North … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

22 May 1863: “Kate thinks I had better get the grey dress you speak of – but I reckon I had better try and do without it and get a homespun next winter”

Item description: Letter, 22 May 1863, believed to be from Catherine “Cattie” Kennedy DeRosset (1830-1894) to her step-mother, Catherine DeRosset Kennedy (1800-1889). Item Citation:  From folder 57 in the DeRosset Family Papers #214, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on 22 May 1863: “Kate thinks I had better get the grey dress you speak of – but I reckon I had better try and do without it and get a homespun next winter”

4 May 1863: ” [Commencement] came off without much excitement, eight graduates; the number in peace time was between eighty & ninety.”

Item description:  Letter, May 4, 1863 from John Steele Henderson to his mother.  Henderson describes the significant loss of UNC’s student body due to the war.  While he shares his experience speaking at Commencement, Henderson express more concern with securing a pair of shoes. … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 4 May 1863: ” [Commencement] came off without much excitement, eight graduates; the number in peace time was between eighty & ninety.”

19 April 1863: “…I dont suppose the Jenkin’s being Presbyterians, will dance.”

Item Description: Letter, dated 19 April, 1863, from John Steele Henderson to his mother, Mary Henderson.  He discusses family members, including the death of a cousin, and the recent visit of a band to Salisbury. From folder 33 in the … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 19 April 1863: “…I dont suppose the Jenkin’s being Presbyterians, will dance.”

3 March 1863: “Reach Chapel Hill, N. C., sick and tired but find family well.”

Item description: Entry, dated 3 March 1863, from the diary of Alexander Davis Betts, D.D. This very brief diary entry mentions Betts’ return to his home in Chapel Hill, N.C. The diary was later published as, Experience of a Confederate Chaplain, … Continue reading

Posted in North Carolina Collection | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on 3 March 1863: “Reach Chapel Hill, N. C., sick and tired but find family well.”

18 January 1863: “I made twelve garments last week and worked sixty-two button holes and sewed on as many buttons. Can you equal that?”

Item description: Letter, 18 January 1863, from Bettie Maney Kimberly, Chapel Hill, N.C., to her sister, Annie Maney Schon, Atlanta, Ga. Item citation: From the John Kimberly Papers #398, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

22 December 1862: “Mr. H. was absent from the final examination without permission. His general deportment has been good.”

Item description: Report card, dated 22 December 1862, for John Steele Henderson, a student at the University of North Carolina. More about John Steele Henderson: John Steele Henderson (1846-1916) was born in North Carolina, the son of Archibald and Mary Henderson. … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on 22 December 1862: “Mr. H. was absent from the final examination without permission. His general deportment has been good.”

7 November 1862: “we seem to be threatened with something like a famine here. If our farmers have any thing to sell, they will not part with it at present…”

Item description:  Letter, 7 November 1862, from William Horn Battle to his son, Kemp Plummer Battle. Not long after learning about the death of his son Junius in a military hospital in Maryland, Judge Battle writes to his son Kemp … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment