Item description:  Letter of 17 August 1861 from Susie Mallett, in Chapel Hill, N.C., to her father Peter Mallett, a Confederate captain with Company C of the 3rd Infantry Regiment (North Carolina). It appears that Susie Mallett was staying with family in Chapel Hill while her father was serving in the Confederate Army. It is unclear where Capt. Mallett was stationed at the time of this letter. In the letter, Susie Mallett informs her father that she has been enjoying Chapel Hill, has been attending a local school for three weeks, and she includes her first grade report in the letter.

Item citation: From folder 5 of the Peter Mallett Papers #480, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Item transcription:

August 17 1861

My Dear Papa

I received your kind letter yesterday. And was very glad to hear that you and Cousin Charley are well. I got a letter from Mama the same time I got yours. I go to school to Miss Margaret Mitchel and like her very much indeed. I am studying. I take music lesson from Miss Betty Martin. Last night I went to Mrs. Ash’s to spend the evening. there was a good many girls there. And we had a great many tableaux and we had a very nice time. I got a letter from Lizzey[?] Reston. Chapel Hill is a beautiful place. And I like it very much indeed. They are all very kind to me. We have to go to school at 8 oclock and come home at one. At first it seem singular to go to school after being away so long but now I don’t mind it. Uncle Charles arrived here last night from Yorktown on his way to Fayetteville. We expect Uncle Ed to night. Dear Papa do write to me soon. tell cousin Charley to write also. I send you in this letter my report. 8-0 is the highest number this is not a very good one because I have not been going to school but 3 weeks. I hope the next will be better. Love to cousin Charley, and they all send love to you.

From your true

and devoted

daughter

Susie

More about Susie Mallett:

Susan Gibbs Mallett was born 16 October 1849, in Wilmington, N.C., to Peter Mallett and Anna Bella Gibbs. She married Gabriel Holmes on 5 January 1882. They had two children: Pierre Mallett Holmes and Owen D. Holmes. Susan Gibbs Mallett Holmes died in 1927 and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington, N.C.

More about Peter Mallett:

Peter Mallett was a merchant of Fayetteville, N.C., and New York City; and a Confederate Army officer and head of Confederate conscription in North Carolina.

The following military service record is available for Peter Mallett:

Biographical data and notes:
– Born in North Carolina
– Pre-enlistment occupation: Merchant

Enlistment:
– Residing in New York at time of enlistment
– Enlisted as Captain

Mustering information:
– Transferred from 3rd Infantry (North Carolina)
– Commissioned into C Company, 3rd Infantry (North Carolina) on May 16 1861

Promotions:
– Promoted to Major (Full, Vol) on May 23 1862 (& Asst Adj Gen to serve as Commandant of Conscript)

Sources for the above information:
– North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster, (1993)