Tag Archives: Lafayette McLaws

13 March 1864: “Genl Longstreet is playing a very bold game…”

Item description: Letter, dated 13 March 1864, from John Edwards to W. R. McLaws relating details of the court martial of Major General Lafayette McLaws.  McLaws stood trial for his actions during the 1863 battles surrounding Knoxville, Tennessee, including failure … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 13 March 1864: “Genl Longstreet is playing a very bold game…”

3 February 1864: “You will consider yourself under arrest …”

Item description: Letter, dated 3 February 1864, from General Longstreet’s Eastern Tennessee Headquarters to General Lafayette McLaws, relieving him of his command and placing him under arrest.  These actions preceded McLaws’ court-martial (and eventual exoneration) for failure to cooperate with … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

16 January 1864: “… the greatest loss being from hand grenades.”

Item description: Letter, dated 16 January 1864, from Brigadier General Goode Bryan to General Lafayette McLaws.  In this letter, Bryan delivers his opinion to McLaws that the Confederate defeat at Fort Sanders (referred to here as Fort London) was not … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 16 January 1864: “… the greatest loss being from hand grenades.”

12 November 1863: “…we sat down to fine old ham, roast mutton-haunch, chicken pie, a dozen broiled partridges, sweet potatoes, rice-fritters, and butter.”

Item description: Letter, dated 12 November 1863, from Launcelot Minor “Lanty” Blackford to his mother, Mary Berkeley Minor Blackford.  Blackford discusses the death of his Uncle Lucius, camp life (including hunting and visiting officials), rail travel, and his pride in … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 12 November 1863: “…we sat down to fine old ham, roast mutton-haunch, chicken pie, a dozen broiled partridges, sweet potatoes, rice-fritters, and butter.”

14 October 1863: “The President has been here for some time…”

Item Description: Letter, dated 14 October 1863, from Lafayette McLaws to his wife.  He discusses a visit from President Jefferson Davis, family affairs, weather, and troop movements. [transcription available below images] Item citation: From folder 8 of the Lafayette McLaws … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 14 October 1863: “The President has been here for some time…”

19 September 1863: “…not being disturbed but once and that by a rat which I found beneath under my pillow this morning.”

Item Description: In a letter to his wife dated 19 September, 1863, Lafayette McLaws describes the day-to-day activities, including the economy, in Atlanta as an officer in the Confederate States of America. McLaws survived the war, living to 1897 and served … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

12 August 1863: “…no one seems to think of marriage, the times being too hard.”

Item description: Letter, dated 12 August 1863, from Lafayette McLaws to his wife.  In this letter he discusses the various talents of their children and the family on whose farm his division is camped. Item citation: From folder 8, Lafayette … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 12 August 1863: “…no one seems to think of marriage, the times being too hard.”

15 June 1863: “It is reported that our army will not be allowed to plunder or rob in Pennsylvania […]”

Item description: Letter, dated 15 June 1863, from General Lafayette McLaws to his wife, Emily.  He describes his division receiving orders to march into Pennsylvania, as well as orders for the army to not “plunder and rob.” Item citation: From … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 15 June 1863: “It is reported that our army will not be allowed to plunder or rob in Pennsylvania […]”

5 June 1863: “I think that if I was a lawyer I would argue that extortioners are beyond the law, not entitled to its protections, and every one has a right to help himself from their possessions.”

Item description: Letter, 5 June 1863, from Lafayette McLaws to his brother William Raymond McLaws (1819-1880). Item citation: From folder 7 in the Lafayette McLaws Papers, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Item transcription: Raccoon Ford on … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 5 June 1863: “I think that if I was a lawyer I would argue that extortioners are beyond the law, not entitled to its protections, and every one has a right to help himself from their possessions.”

2 June 1863: “Rest assured my dear exacting wife…”

Item description: Letter, dated 2 June 1863, from General Lafayette McLaws to his wife. Item citation: From folder 7 in the Lafayette McLaws Papers, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Item transcription: Headquarters Division … Continue reading

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on 2 June 1863: “Rest assured my dear exacting wife…”