Monthly Archives: May 2013

31 May 1863: “I find that the pamphlet has been industriously circulated, and as I have been attacked in it has become a necessity for me to defend myself…”

Item description: Letter, dated 31 May 1863, from Major General Lafayette McLaws to General Hood, defending McLaws’ leadership at the Battle of Antietam. Item citation: from folder 7 in the Lafayette McLaws Papers, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of … Continue reading

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30 May 1863: “The ‘Chattahoochee’ is no more! and I am truly thankful that I was not present to witness the horrible scene on board. But I am anticipating the ship exploded her boiler on the 27th, inst., 7 miles below Alum Bluff, causing the death of 16 persons instantly, and two more will not recover.”

Item description: Letter, 30 May 1863, from George Washington Gift to his fiancee Ellen Augusta Shackelford, concerning the explosion that destroyed the gunboat C.S.S. Chattahoochee on 27 May 1863. George Washington Gift (b. 1833) was raised in Tennessee, and went to California some … Continue reading

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29 May 1863: “Wishing for you, General, new laurels, and that your path to glory may not be darkened by a Single cloud…”

Item description: In this letter, 29 May 1863, to Brigadier General Raleigh E. Colston, a committee of officers (Francis Wayland Bond, John Cowan, Henry W. Horne, and William Henry Thomson) from the 1st and 3rd North Carolina Infantry regiments took … Continue reading

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28 May 1863: “Exiles from New Orleans + refugees from Jackson continue to pour into Mobile.”

Item Description:  Letter, dated 28 May 1863, from Margaret (Maggie) Lea Graves to her husband, Charles Iverson Graves.  In this letter, Maggie describes aspects of her life in Mobile, AL to her husband, Charles, while he is away on active duty … Continue reading

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27 May 1863: Drawing, “Bird’s eye view of the ’23 Camp from signal station on the top of Genl. Stevenson’s Hd Qrs”

Item description: Drawing, dated 27 May 1863, “Bird’s eye view of the ’23 Camp from signal station on the top of Genl. Stevenson’s Hd Qrs,” drawn by Herbert E. Valentine, a private in Company F of the 23rd Massachusetts Volunteers, who … Continue reading

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26 May 1863: “About five or six miles from Kinston our Brigade formed line of battle and commenced advan-cing on the Yankees…”

Item description: Letter, dated 26 May 1863, from James A. Graham to his mother.  He discusses troop movements and skirmishes with Union troops in the coastal North Carolina area around Kinston and New Bern. Item citation: from folder 2 in … Continue reading

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25 May 1863: “I am glad to see by your let-ter to me that Mr. McKay is a gentleman…”

Item description: Letter, dated 25 May 1863, written by Charles L. Pettigrew to his brother William.  The letter discusses the engagement of their sister Annie to the Reverend Neill McKay and William’s plans to leave the town of Winston for … Continue reading

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24 May 1863: “to hear once more and it might be for the last time the blending of sweet female voices . . .”

  Item: entry, D. Coleman diary, 24 May 1863. Notes: D. Coleman is Daniel Coleman. In his entry for Saturday, 23 May, Coleman wrote, “Make a visit to some dear friends – Mrs. Irving, Miss Roe Webster, Mrs I E … Continue reading

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23 May 1863: “About 9 a.m. the enemys firing being still kept up and proving very annoying I endeavored to drive off the enemy with Capt. Moody’s Battery”

Item description: Letter, 23 May 1863, from Edward Porter Alexander, providing great detail about the Battle of Chancellorsville. His original report contained several edits in blue ink, which are noted in the transcription below in brackets. Interestingly, in the report … Continue reading

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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

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