Tag Archives: Gen. Stonewall Jackson

23 April 1865: “Mankind has lost its best friend since the crusifiction of Christ” and “How I loved him! He was my hero.”

As this blog’s end draws near, we present two different accounts of grief. The first letter mourns the loss of Abraham Lincoln, while the second diary entry laments the loss of Stonewall Jackson. Item Description: Letter dated 23 April 1865 … Continue reading

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7 April 1864: “It may be a belief entertained and justly founded, but I am persuaded expression would be severely criticised.”

Item Description: In this letter, dated 7 April 1864, William Brown at Richmond wrote to Robert Lewis Dabney regarding edits to the manuscript biography of Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson written by Dabney. Brown suggested that Dabney rewrite potentially controversial references … Continue reading

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18 November 1863: “he prayed for him last night as he had never prayed for his soul.”

Item Description: Diary entry, 18 November 1863, written Peter Wilson Hairston (1819-1886), a tobacco planter of southwestern Virginia and north central North Carolina, Confederate soldier, and commission merchant. The entry discusses movements of the Confederate army, third party reminiscences of the … Continue reading

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18 May 1863: “We shall look for further news from that quarter with much interest.”

Item: editorials and advertisements, The Daily Journal (Wilmington, N. C.), 18 May 1863, page 2, columns 1 and 2. Notes: 1) The Siege of Vicksburg began on 18 May 1863.  2) Colonel Thomas Purdie, of the 18th North Carolina Regiment, … Continue reading

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15 May 1863: “I am sorry to inform you that I unfortunately fell into the hands of the enemy on Sunday the 3rd inst.”

Item description: Letter, 15 May 1863, from Corporal Andrew J. Proffit to his father, William Proffit of Wilkes County, N.C., in which the son described his unsuccessful attempt to protect the North Carolina 18th Regiment’s colors (and himself) from capture … Continue reading

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14 May 1863: “… there was no Regiment under a hotter or longer fire than our Regiment and none stood fire better.”

Item description: Letter, dated 14 May 1863, from George Washington Baker to his mother.  Baker, a lieutenant in Company K, 123rd New York Volunteers, hailed from Washington County, NY.  In this letter he describes the battle of Chancellorsville and his attempt … Continue reading

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9 May 1863: “Twas a splendid charge, straight forward for two miles, while their cannon were pouring an iron hail into our ranks.”

Item description: Letter, dated 9 May 1863, from Harrison Wells to his sweetheart Mollie Long.  Wells, a sergeant in the 13th Georgia Infantry Regiment, describes his homesickness and his experiences at the Battle of Chancellorsville.  He notes the injury of … Continue reading

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15 July 1862: “…We have been compelled by the pressure of our enemies to give up more of our mother state to their brutal army.”

Item description: Letter, 15 July 1862, from Robert W. Parker of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry to his wife, Rebecca Louise Fitzhugh Walker Parker, at home in Bedford County, Va. Parker wrote of his company’s retreat from Culpeper to Rapidan Station, … Continue reading

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