Civil War Archive of Captain John Simonton Wilson of the 1st South Carolina Cavalry.... (Total: 9 )

Description

Civil War Archive of Captain John Simonton Wilson of the 1st South Carolina Cavalry. An extensive archive comprising the correspondence, photographs, and related ephemera of the Wilson family of South Carolina, including more than one hundred Civil War-date letters from Captain John Simonton Wilson of the 1st South Carolina Cavalry. Captain Wilson served throughout the duration of the war, fighting in South Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, most notably at the Battles of Brandy Station and Gettysburg in 1863. His letters chronicle his time in the Confederate Army in striking detail, from the early days of his enlistment to his late-war duty at the Florence Stockade. Many of these letters retain their original transmittal covers, several with Confederate postage stamps still intact. Each of Wilson's war-date letters has been fully transcribed, and a Microsoft Word file containing the complete transcriptions will be provided to the buyer.

Wilson's letters are accompanied by more than 50 war-date letters from his wife, Jane Rosborough Wilson, writing to her husband from the home front in South Carolina. In addition to this wartime correspondence, the archive includes more than one hundred and thirty letters written by Wilson and his family between 1841 and 1900, of which approximately one hundred and two date to the Reconstruction period (1866-1877). These letters document the Wilson family's efforts to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of defeat, addressing poverty, labor arrangements with formerly enslaved people, political uncertainty, education, religion, and the changing social order of the postwar South. Transcripts of selected Reconstruction-era letters are available in the extended description of this lot. Further letters related to Wilson, his service, and his extended family are being sold in this auction as lots 47110, 47140, and 47141.

The archive also includes numerous photographs, notebooks, journals, store inventories, a pair of binoculars, and even a lock of hair belonging to the family members, giving an exceptionally full view of life in the Victorian American South. Of particular note is a beautiful 1/6th plate ambrotype of Wilson in uniform with gilt detailing, housed in its original case.

Captain Wilson was born, reared, educated, married, and died in Chester County, South Carolina. He entered South Carolina College in 1838 and graduated in 1841, opening a law practice in Chester. With his father aging, however, he soon dropped this practice to focus his attention on the family's plantation along Rocky Creek, where upwards of sixty people were enslaved to tend to the crops, home, and property. He served in the South Carolina State Legislature from 1855 to 1861 and was present when the state's Secession Convention voted to withdraw from the Union.

His earliest letters, dated 1855 to 1859, find him discussing his work in the state legislature as the tensions between the North and South mounted toward war. In a particularly striking letter from Columbia, dated December 15, 1859, he writes of the legislature's session convened to discuss John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry:

"We commenced the night Sessions on last night, and were in Session until 11 o'clock, discussing Federal relations, but come to no conclusion as to what should be the position of South Carolina in the present crisis, in relation to the late raid of John Brown & Co. at Harpers Ferry, and the present distracted condition of the House of Representatives in the Federal Legislature. We spent the evening in lengthy, fiery declaration..."

Brown's actions had sent the already tense nation into a frenzy over the increasingly controversial practice of slavery in the South. It was suddenly made clear that the issue would not simply resolve itself; Wilson, a proponent of slavery, was reminded of the similar secession crisis of 1851, in which South Carolina nearly left the Union in the aftermath of the Mexican War. He concludes his letter with a strong secessionist statement:

"I hope and trust that the Legislature may adopt something tangible, practicable, fine, and dignified, and assume a position in character with a firm, Brave, and patriotic people. A position which the State may not only assume, but stand by under any emergency. And not, as in 1851, take a position and in the next year recede from it."

The following year, with the possibility of war looming over the nation and Lincoln's election looking ever more likely, Wilson penned a draft of an article for the Chester Standard, further expressing his opinions on the matter. He urges the South to unite to defend itself, but remains optimistic that war and secession are unnecessary:

"I am no disunionist. I have always regarded a dissolution of the union as the greatest calamity that could befall us as a great nation...we have been forced to the conclusion that the time has come when the Southern people should begin in earnest to prepare for self-defense and self-protection...I do not think that upon a dissolution of the union that war is at all necessary. It is possible that not a single drop of blood will be shed, should the whole South, or at least the Cotton States, be united in the struggle."

Of course, Wilson's optimism was unrealistic; when South Carolina voted to secede following Lincon's election in 1860, war became an inevitability. Early in the summer of 1861, he gathered and organized a company of cavalry, personally furnishing horses and equipment for several of the men. He was commissioned first lieutenant of the "Chester Troop," later Co. D, 1st South Carolina Cavalry, and served under the command of his friend Captain William A. Walker.

His Civil War-date correspondence begins on September 12, 1861, as the regiment trained at Camp Johnson just north of Columbia. In his letters, he spares no detail in describing camp life and the organization of the Confederate Army, even regularly discussing the slaves who cooked, cleaned, and delivered goods for the troops. Wilson himself travelled with an enslaved man named Bill Harris, whose photograph is included with this archive. In a letter dated September 14, 1861, Wilson mentions that "Bill is doing finely," and that he and "Alex Walker's boy...do the cooking, table, and chamber, and parlor service," for the men.

The 1st South Carolina Cavalry trained through the end of 1861, then spent much of 1862 on duty in South Carolina, serving as the state's defense force as the Union advanced further south. Wilson continued to write letters home, sending updates on what he had heard of the war's battles, such as Shiloh in April 1862, and writing of his fellow soldiers' injuries, illnesses, and various camp controversies.

In the final days of 1862, Wilson was called to Fredericksburg to testify as a witness in a Court Martial. The Battle of Fredericksburg had taken place on December 11-15, 1862, and he had fought in some of the skirmishing that followed in the battle's devastating wake. He writes on January 2, 1863, recounting his experience:

"I was at Fredericksburg four days...One of the days was spent in viewing the late Battle ground. The ravages of war there are awful to behold...This is the worst repulse the enemy have had met with yet, and our Generals were not aware of what a victory they had gained for some days after the fight...Stuart had three Brigades of Cavalry numbering about 3,000 men and eight pieces of artillery. They had two little fights and took some wagons & teams and about 200 prisoners. Killed several of the enemy and lost but two men..."

The following summer was a brutal one for Wilson's regiment. On June 9, 1863, the regiment saw their first major combat since Fredericksburg at the Battle of Brandy Station. The battle seemed to be a resounding victory for the Confederates. On June 16, Wilson writes an account of the battle's casualties:

"Our loss was not so much as was thought to be at the time I wrote you. 500 will cover our loss in killed and wounded and missing. The enemy admit a loss of double that amount. We had to fight against odds, they having one Brigade of Infantry engaged, whilst our Cavalry alone was engaged, numbering about eight thousand, they having 15 or 20 thousand."

On July 17, however, he writes home again in the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg, where the Confederates had suffered more than 23,000 casualties, with additional heavy losses in the relentless skirmishes and ambushes in the surrounding days. His letter, tense with exhaustion, reads:

"We have had a hard time of it from the time we left Brandy Station. We have been in some eleven or twelve battles since that time, most of them skirmishes. Some four of five of them severe engagements, in all of which I have been engaged and come through unhurt. My horse at Gettysburg was wounded in four places, all of them slight...In this fight, Maj. Walker & Genl. Hampton were wounded, the former shot through the calf of the leg. The latter seriously shot below the haunch bone and cut with the saber on the head and on one arm. His being disabled is a serious loss to his Brigade. I had only 13 men of my Company with me in this fight...The only loss in my Company was Serg. Janell, who I fear was killed in a charge we made on a battery of the enemy, and failed to take it. We recovered his horse, and he may have been taken prisoner. There are two marks of balls on his saddle and a saber cut on his horse's head."

Shortly afterward, Wilson fell ill with typhoid dysentery and was admitted to Midway Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. He continued writing home diligently during his long stay of several weeks. On August 23, 1863, he wrote a lengthy letter to his brother, describing the Battle of Upperville, the terrible conditions of the army, and skirmishing with Hampton's Brigade near Brandy Station:

"We had a severe fight, Andrew Hood and others killed, besides about a half of one of the Companies in our Regt. capt'd...Since our arrival back, Hampton's Brigade near Brandy Station had one very hard day's fighting with five Brigades of Cavalry and one Division of Infantry of the enemy. This was as hard a fight as we have ever had...Why Genl. Stuart fought this one Brigade all day, withholding assistance until late in the evening, being driven back on our Infantry picket, they came in and helped us to drive the enemy back, is unaccountable were it any other Genl. than Stuart..."

After his illness, Wilson returned to South Carolina where he remained through the remainder of the war, writing of his recovery and his duty at Florence Stockade, a prisoner of war camp. In one letter dated October 11, 1864, he writes that "Yankees" are being killed by "these cool mornings...very rapidly. From 50 to 60 are buried per day now." Between September 1864 and April 1865, more than 2,800 prisoners of war perished at Florence Stockade.

Accompanying the correspondence in the archive are numerous relics belonging to the Wilson family. A brief inventory is as follows:

One pair of Civil War-era binoculars engraved "Walter Ballard Optical Co. in Atlanta" and "Lemaire Fab in Paris"; two pocketbooks belonging to John S. Wilson, circa 1864-1865; a lock of hair from John S. Wilson's daughter, Sallie, sent with a letter dated June 17, 1862; four notebooks containing store inventories circa 1848; John S. Wilson's "Exchange Bank" account book, circa 1891; J. B. Rosborough's memo book, circa 1891; two school notebooks owned by C. Scott Wilson while he attended South Carolina College (now the University of South Carolina), circa 1858; two autograph albums owned by Martha M. Moffatt, one with only three entries and one with numerous entries from her friends and family, circa 1847-1848; three 1/6th plate daguerreotypes, in cases, depicting David Wilson, Robert Wilson, and Sarah D. Wilson; one 1/6th ambrotype of John S. Wilson in uniform, in a case; one photograph of Bill Harris, a Black man enslaved by John S. Wilson; one carte de visite of D. H. Wilson in uniform; one cabinet card of Judge J. D. Wilson and his grandchildren; and one cabinet card of John S. Wilson's wife, Jane Rosborough Wilson.

*Note: The description previously stated that there was a 1/6th tintype of Captain John Simonton Wilson included. It has been corrected to state that it is a 1/6th ambrotype.

Condition: Generally very good, with expected toning, mailing folds, and minor wear. Some letters written in pencil but remain very legible. Occasional separations, staining, and minor loss present, generally not affecting legibility. Wear to journals, pocketbooks, and other ephemera; photos with some toning or tarnishing. Binoculars with minor wear to the lenses, but still perfectly functional with clear optics; moderate wear to case.

More Information: Additional Civil War-era transcripts.

"Adams Run S.C. April 8th 1862

My Dear Wife: I expected a letter from you today but have failed to receive it, and feel somewhat disappointed. I hope that there is nothing the matter at home. I received a letter from father a few days ago, and also a trunk full of eatables which come in good time, as living down here now is becoming a little hard. I am still engaged here in prosecuting cases for the Court-Martial, and expect still to be engaged at the same business for the balance of this week and the next week at least. We have had some hard cases. In five cases, I had to contend with able counsel on the other side. I sustained myself much better than I expected. Many questions arose to the admissibility of testimony, questions which we had to argue before the Court. We had two cases which took us three days each to try. There are still more cases coming in yet, and one case that I understand will be referred to this Court for trial when the party of guilty of anything is guilty of treason, which not being properly speaking a military offense, I think, should be transferred to another jurisdiction, or in other words to a Court which would have jurisdiction in the case, as I consider that a Court-Martial has not.

We have had glorious news today from Tennessee. The great victory at Shiloh Church, which gives as great cause for rejoicing, and at the same time we have caused to mourn over the loss of many noble spirits there slain. Especially do I mourn over, and well may the Country mourn, the loss of Genl. A. S. Johnston. I regarded him as one of the best men and most skillful Generals in our Army, and I have no doubt that he exposed himself by placing himself in front of the battle when it was hottest unnecessarily. So too, I think, owning to an outside pressure that was brought to bear on him on account of the surrender of Nashville, for which many were disposed to consine him, but in which act I have no doubt but that he acted as he thought for the best.

It is thought now that the next move of the enemy will be to try to take Richmond, and the probability is that there will be one desperate battle fought there. If we should be victorious in that, I believe then that the war will not last a great while there after. That is, that active hostilities will not be carried on much longer.

The weather here is becoming somewhat like summer. The gnats, sand flies, and mosquitoes are becoming very troublesome, especially late in the evening. It is near sundown, and I can scarcely write for them.

We are enjoying pretty good health here. Not as much sickness among the troops now as there was some time back. I have heard today of the death of one of our Company, Henry Worthy, who was at home furlough. He was well when he left camp, has taken sick, and died since he went home. He was a stout whole hearty young man. The health of the Company, still over on Wadmalaw Island, is good. Ed. Stringfellow was with me last night over here. He is well, and says that Capt. Walker is recovering slowly from the effects of his fall, though not yet able to walk. Able to sit up, but confined to his room.

Our Company has subscribed eight hundred Dollars to build the Charleston Gun Boat. It has made the largest subscription of any Company in the service on the coast that I have heard of.

I have nothing of interest more to write you. Have been busy all day and hardly know what I have written, so I will close.

Write me oftener if you please. I am so glad to hear from you. Give my love to the children. Kiss them for me. Remember me to William & Alex.
Your most affectionate
John"



"John's Island, June 14th 1862

Dear father:
All is quiet here now and the last few days. We have had less to do than we have had since my return. We have been reinforced by two more Companies of our own Regiment from Adams Run, which somewhat relieves us from a portion of the picket duty. Three Companies are out daily. Two on picket duty, and scouting. The enemy have mostly left John's Island for James Island. The force here is at Legareville, which is cut off from us by a large creek, so that there is no chance to reach them.

I am afraid that Billy Stevenson's wound will carry him off. He had a box of percussion caps in his pocket, which was struck by the ball when it entered, tearing the box to pieces. The caps were driven into the wound. Several have been picked out. They being brass, have poisoned the wound, which will be very much against him. The balance of the wounded in that unfortunate affair are getting on very well.

Tell Scott that if he gets able, that I would like for him to come down to see me before he returns to Virginia. I am exceedingly anxious to see him. Tell Mrs. Flemiken to let David stay at home until she gets notice from either Capt. Walker or myself for him to come down.

I will send this by Lieut. Crawford, who goes home again on sick furlough. I send by him, also, the old trunk and direct him to leave it with John Walker at the Chester Depot. I would like very much to have some butter whenever you have an opportunity of sending it to me. We are living pretty hard. How is my horse getting on at home? I found on my return that Pagan had given my horse here more ride than feed, and that he was not in very good fix with a sore back. I was on him day and night for ten days, and he is very much worsted.

You will please send this letter up to Jane. I wrote her two days ago, and received one from her on yesterday, which I will answer tomorrow.

We have a few cases of fever in the Company, mostly light cases. Otherwise, the Company is healthy.

Give my love to Scott. Nothing more.

Your affectionate son
J. S. Wilson"




"Camp Whatley, Culpeper Cty Va. Jany. 6th 1863

My Dear Wife:

Yours of Dec 28th was rec'd last night. I wrote you on the 2nd inst. Nothing new has transpired here since. Bill is sick again with Pneumonia pretty bad off, suffering with pain in his right side. I applied a large blister two days ago. I have not been to see him this morning, but understand that he rested better last night & slept more than for several nights before. I will endeavor to send him home as soon as he is able to travel. He will be worth nothing but an expense to me here this winter. I am afraid to start the fellow by himself, and it may be some time before I have an opportunity of sending him by anyone leaving here. I will take Clabe if sent to me, but he must be well clad or he will get sick here, and be worthless too. I myself will need a couple of shirts, your "nice Gloves," your jeans pants, and a pair of woolen socks if you have them. I have drawers enough to do me this winter. I received two letters from you asking me to state what clothing I needed. In my answer to the first making the enquiry, I neglected to state what I wanted, but answered in my last letter to you. In that, also, I requested you to send some clothing for Bill, which you need not send as I will send him home. We have had ten days of very pleasant weather, and this is a delightful morning. The roads here are fine this winter. We have had scarcely any rain since we come to Va. and nothing to wet the ground except two snow, one of them very light. This is very much in our favor, for mud & muddy roads, I understand, is usual at this season of the year here. We have suffered but little with cold as yet. We have had some very cold weather, but dry. The winter is now half gone, and I hope to be able to weather the other half with less suffering than expected before coming out here. We are much more exposed to the inclemency of the weather than the Infantry or any other arm of the service. The nature of our service requires that we should be out of camp nearly all the time.

In our last Raid (under command of Genl. Stuart) our men were out one week, captured some wagons & teams, and about three hundred prisoners. We had about 3,000 Cavalry and six pieces of Artillery along. Less was accomplished than has been done by Genl. Hampton with about 400 men from his own Brigade in some of his raids. I prefer Hampton to Stuart as a military leader. He has less vanity, more prudence, and much more general information than Genl. Stuart, and his equal in gallantry. I suppose that the people at home, from what they have read of Stuart, would say that this was saying much for Genl. Hampton, but in my opinion it is nothing more than what is due Hampton. Stuart is a Virginian, and the Virginia papers proclaim his exploits to the world, very often to Laurels won by the labor, courage, and daring of others.

We have been blessed with two victories in the West. These, with the victory at Fredericksburg, may have something to do with bringing our enemies to their proper senses and putting a stop to this wicked war.

I am glad to hear of Scott's improvement and hope to hear of his being able toon to lay aside his crutches. Where are the reserves gone, and what are they doing?

Remember me to Father, Scott, and my friends generally. Give my love to the children. I will write you soon again. Perhaps by then I will have something worth writing. Write me often.

With much love,
I am your affectionate
John"


"Near Martinsburg Va. July 17, 1863

My Dear Wife,

I am this far back on our retreat from Pennsylvania safe and unhurt, but not well, and broken down by fatigue and exposure. We have had a hard time of it from the time we left Brandy Station. We have been in some eleven or twelve battles since that time, most of them skirmishes. Some four of five of them severe engagements, in all of which I have been engaged and come through unhurt. My horse at Gettysburg was wounded in four places, all of them slight. Only one that has injured him any, and it will not render him useless. In this fight, Maj. Walker & Genl. Hampton were wounded, the former shot through the calf of the leg. The latter seriously shot below the haunch bone and cut with the saber on the head and on one arm. His being disabled is a serious loss to his Brigade. I had only 13 men of my Company with me in this fight. The balance either themselves or their horses having broken down. The only loss in my Company was Serg. Janell, who I fear was killed in a charge we made on a battery of the enemy, and failed to take it. We recovered his horse, and he may have been taken prisoner. There are two marks of balls on his saddle and a saber cut on his horse's head.

In going over to Maryland, we crossed the Potomac some seven or eight miles above Washington. Many of the small horses had to swim. On the next day, after we crossed at Rockville, we had a little fight and captured one hundred and seventy-five wagons and teams, eleven or twelve hundred mules, and some two hundred horses with their harness and equipments. Took seven hundred prisoners, some two hundred of them being negroes stolen from Va. Rockville is about six or seven miles from Washington, and a portion of the wagons & teams we took from a wagon yard 3 miles from Washington City, making the employees there gear up and drive them out of the yard. In this feat, I think we have fully paid back Stoneman for his raid near Richmond.

I will not at this time undertake to give you an account of our campaign in Pen. & Maryland. I will leave that for another time, when I have more time and a better chance of writing. I received on night before last your letter of the 22 June, intended to be sent by Jim, enclosing one of the 28th, also one from Scott of June 18, the only thing received from home since the day I left Brandy Station. I am extremely anxious to hear again, and in a few days I think that probably our mail may reach us regularly. We have mail communication from Winchester via Staunton. I am now on my way to Winchester, where I have been ordered to procure Iron to shoe our horses. We have lost a great many of our horses. They become lame for the want of shoeing and broke down. I am fearful that I will not get both of mine back. My mare is on three feet now. I am riding my horse although lame from wound on the knee. We crossed the River on our retreat at Williamsport, and are still picketing the river there. We cannot remain long here, as we cannot be fed. I will write you soon again.

your most devoted

John"


"Near Martinsburg Va. July 20, 1863

My Dear Wife

I wrote you from here a few days ago and now write you again. I have been absent from my Company for three days, being unwell (bowel disease). I will return this morning. A portion of the enemy have crossed the Potomac and we are having daily skirmishes with them daily. On yesterday, three of my Company were taken prisoners. Lt. S. Anderson, Thomas M. Faddin, & Robert Wix. They had been dismounted as sharpshooters, and were cut off, being overpowered and forced to fall back, no support being sufficiently near, which has happened too often lately with us. On day before yesterday in a skirmish, John Bradley (son of John A. Bradley at the Chester Bank) was killed. He was in the 2nd S.C. Regt. of Cavalry. He was a very genteel young man, a good soldier, and one of the best scouts we had. I regret his death very much, and sympathize with his family in this, their sad bereavement. You will please tell Scott to mention this to Col. Bradley, as I have not time at present to write but a very short note to you.

Our trip over to Maryland, I think, has not been of any benefit to our cause. I feel more depressed now than at any time since the war commenced. The fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson has been a heavy loss to us. This is giving up of Mississippi & Louisiana. Tennessee is also gone. On the 4th of July Vicksburg fell, and on the same day we commenced our retreat from Gettysburg. We were not whipped there, as the enemy claims, but I think Genl. Lee failed to accomplish what he aimed at, and we have lost more than we gained by the invasion, to which I was opposed on the outset. I have not time to write more. My health improved. With much love to you & children.

I am your devoted
John

[This section struck out] P.S. Tell Scott not to get a suit for me from Carroll & West. I will pay them no such extravagant prices. They robbed me once, and if I am to be robbed again, let someone else do it.
J. S. W."




"Florence S.C. Sept 22nd 1864

My Dear Wife
My Destination, after reporting to Genl. Jones in Charleston, I found out to be here, and I am here without any clothing except what I have on. There were a larger number of Yankee prisoners sent over here from Charleston (7,000 in number), without the necessary preparation beforehand, to be guarded by the Reserves, encamped in an open field. A large number broke over the lines on Thursday last, the first day they were brought here. We were sent here to pick them up. They are scattered all over this country, in the swamp, and everywhere else. We have re-captured over two (200) hundred and returned them. But they are still making their escape, and the same ones have been taken up a second time.

This is one of the best sections in the State, and the citizens are very kind. I am living upon the fat of the land, and could enjoy myself finely, had I a change of clothing to put on. I have become so dirty that I am ashamed to sleep between the nice white sheets I lie between. I have written back to Maj. Walker to send my baggage over by one of my men. He has Bill cooking for him, and I directed him if no one of the men could come, that Bill must come and bring my clothes. I look either for him or someone else tonight.

I have command of a Detachment of forty men & two officers from the Regt. Only six men are from my own Company. I wish the whole Company was here. Jim Brice and William & Tom Pedan are with me. I would like to stay here and play soldier until the end of the war.

I am anxious to hear from you, not having heard since I left home. My letters have gone to the Regt. They will be sent to me with my clothes when they come. What has become of Willie? I hear that the boys have been sent back home. I will soon need some new shirts. My collared shirts have become very tender. I have one on that is nearly split open. My other two are becoming the worse of the wear about the collar.

I sent Doc. Barker home from here for Green Ferguson and his dogs to hunt up the Yankees in the swamps below here. They have got with some deserters from our own army and some runaway negroes in the swamps, and there is danger of them committing depredations on the citizens.

I must close as I have been sent for. Write to me here.

Give my love to the children. With much love,
I am your devoted
John"



Selected Reconstruction-era transcripts.

"Ms. Jane P. Wilson
May 17th 1867

Dear Niece
Your letter in connection with the one from your mother gave me much satisfaction. I was indeed anxious to hear from you, my other relatives, and my poor old native state. I wrote to Joseph Gaston some time ago: but, as yet, have recd no answer; besides to hear from my relations and old friends. I was, and am, anxious to hear a general account of how the people are generally getting along. We hear through the papers of so much want—privation, and even starvation, in the Carolinas and Georgia that I am anxious to get direct information from those that could and would give me an unexaggerated account of how these matters stand. We are so close upon the burden of these conditions that our sympathies sympathies run high for their condition. Considerable efforts are here & in Kentucky making for the relief of the more Southern states. I think my condition is about midway between the most fortunate and unfortunate in this section of country; so far as the necessaries, and reasonable comforts of life are concerned, we, as yet have them; but my prospects are not very bright. I am unable to do anything in the ways & means of keeping up supplies; but am out of debt, except a trifle, and despair not but that I shall have enough of means to carry me th[r]ough the short remnant of time that may be allotted me. It is true I shall have very little with which to help my children to commence the world with; but they have good educations except that of Samuel's, which is only midway, which was caused from a defect in his eyes, or one of them, from birth, from which he was unable to pursue studies, particularly at night.

William is a fine scholar and a very successful and popular teacher, and for the present, at least, I believe that is as good a vocation as almost any other—he is, I think, doing pretty well. As to Josephine I think her prospects are quite fair; she has a very clever nice young husband, of excellent character and pretty well off—no besetting fault—every body likes him.

Jennie has a chance from the same neighborhood which it is probable she will accept, still better off in the ways & means than Josephine, and he is without any besetting fault known to m, has an excellent farm, is an excellent farmer & successful trader and money-making man of good family.

There was left at your house a black, or very dark brown, young horse by Capt. Lipscomb, that belonged to Henry Harlan (now my son in law)—he had the scratches so bad that he could not travel. Henry's father gave him the horse when he was up here in Hooks raid. I presume he would like to hear what has become of him. You will please let me know when you answer this which I hope you will, before you leave Lincoln.

Your uncle, affectionately
Saml S. Porter

I must tell you a rather flattering joke on Josephine. She was telling me that at a very splendid infair party that she had been at a night or two before that there were the prettiest set of ladies she had ever seen at one place. I told what a gentleman had told me not an hour before, that many of the gentlemen of the party gave her the helm of being the prettiest lady of the party."




"So. Ca. University
Columbia, So. Ca.
Dec. 30th, 1867

Dear Father:
I began a letter to you two days after receiving your letter with twenty ($20.00) Dollars enclosed but was interrupted by some one & did not finish it. I thank you very kind for the money & also for the general information contained in your letter. I would liked very much indeed to have been at home while Sis was there. I know that I could have spent Christmas much more pleasantly than I did. I was very dull all last week. Nearly two thirds of the students went home: the remainder like myself had very little money to spare & so kept in their rooms most of the time.

You say that you have hired some hands for next year: have you divided your farm in manner you told me you thought of doing? If so, have you got Steve & Holdman Caldwell, as foremen? I hope that you will succeed in getting a better set of hands than you had last year. I suppose many of your old slave will want to get 'back home once more'? John Flenniken kept his engagement mighty close. I did not hear of it untill about a week before he was married. It is a new idea to get married at 10 o'clock A. M. Ask John Spence, if he has asked Miss Bradford 'to stick to him through thick & through thin,' 'for weal or for woe' yet or not?

I suppose the revised edition of Bill Caldwell, alias Harvey Hood Jr. is still in a flourishing condition. Tell Harvey that we had enough of Bill Caldwell in our neighborhood without a new edition.

But, enough of this foolishness for one letter. Many of the students have left the University on account of a shortage of funds. Several others speak of leaving the first of Feb. for the same reason. I am afraid, if cotton does not rise, the University can not hold out another year. Some of the professors cannot more than support themselves on their present salaries. Several of them could make twice or three times as much other places. Tell sis to write to me while she is at home. I have not time to write often. Give my love to Ma, sis & Will Henry. I remain your affection son,

W. A. R. Wilson."




"At Home Feb. 9th 1868

My darling
I have been thinking a great deal about you this rainy weather, for I fear that your face may be hurting you such weather as this. Let me hear from on the reception of this your pa and I are alone, and getting as well as you could we are without you and the two buds, will look for your 'big bird' home in a few days (this week)

Your pa went to Church today & will have to come home in the rain. I have not been absent since you were here, when it breaks up I think I will go out some, Belle & the children spent two days with me last week. Mag was much pleased with her dolla and is talking more Jane has improved very much, can stand if you place her in a corner and is very fat and stout: Could you believe a few months ago, she look as perished. Darling I am afraid your face hurts you, do let me hear. I saw a remedy in newspaper a few days ago, and will cut it out for your benefit. If Willie comes home this week I will tell him to write to you. He will not remain long enough to visit you. Big Eliza [a former slave] does very well indeed seems to try so much to please me & is so well satisfied. And I now have plenty of time to sew all that I can buy to work at. Wish I had something of interest to write, but I scarcely ever hear of anything new. And most of the ladies about here stay at home. You will almost envy me buds visit, but then you will see Mrs. Thornwell's boys probably & hear from him. Hoping to hear from you soon Your aff. mother

J. P. Wilson."





"Chester Dis S. C. June 15th 1868

My Dear Daughter Sallie
You think it is a long time since I have written you, and is even so. I have been out of letter paper for a long time, and your pa seldom goes to Chester & when he did go I forgot to send for it. We both have been working hard and, don't often leave home. I have made one visit this year, spent one day last week with Mrs. Barber. I have not seen Mrs. Forbit this year, every one seems to stay at home and mind their own business, and they can't even do that very well, for our hirelings most of them are so indolent that we can't get them to work as they should. And that keeps us closely confined at home, and we have to work hard to get along.

I am busy doing different kinds of work get but little time to sew. I am now preparing wool to have some coverlets made. I don't much admire them but I am very scarce of bed clothes now, and they are warmer than any other kind bed covers, is the reason that I concluded to make that kind. One is as warm as two comforts.

We received a letter from Willie on Saturday, was well, but like yourself very busy preparing for the examination. Now don't get so much excited if you can avoid it, for it is no crime to miss. I have missed questions, at an examination, try not to feel frightened & if you do miss why just laugh, that will do as well as crying. We are well. Willie Henry is with us now. Your uncle William was well last week, when bud left him. I have never been to Alex's yet. It seems that it is hard to leave home. No sickness in this vicinity.

Dr. Bill Wylie was very low when I last heard from him, which was several days ago. You have heard of the sudden death of Mrs. Jordan Bennett. No other news of interest.

I hope God may spare your life & health & that of your brother, and that you both will soon be with us.

I anticipate much happiness, and hope we will be spared to see you home in a few weeks! Have you asked Mrs. Manigault to come home with you & spend her vacation with you, if not you may ask her at once & let me know, and ask her to bring her guitar.

You can ask Miss Pattie to come and spend a week or so, if you think it would be pleasant to her, to do so. I received a letter from Clara about a week ago. Will answer it when I am done this, no that I have got paper at last. Nothing more of interest

Your aff.
Mother"




"Chester S. C. Oct 29th 1869
W. A. R. Wilson

Dear Son,

Yours of [left blank] to me has been received. We are all in good health here, and getting along as well as we anticipated. The Synod of South Carolina met here last week, a pretty full attendance. It rained on Friday & Saturday which prevented some from attending. The clergy were distributed among the various families in town. We had but one preacher, Mr. Ervin and his elder Mr. Jo. Caldwell. We had Miss Hattie & Rose Say, but were not crowded. We had fine preaching and lots of it. All the Churches in Town even the African, were tendered to the Synod and occupied on Sunday by the Presbyterian Even the Court House, was occupied on Sunday evening where Dr. Jeridean held forth to a crowded house of colored population.

We are buying a little cotton and selling some goods at our store, doing as well as I expected. Cotton is too high (23/4 to 23/2) here for us to make anything out of it.

Jamie Price is with us now, has been here all this week. We had Charlie Thornwell on yesterday and day before. He will be down here on to morrow again. His brother James married a Miss Earle of Anderson on yesterday and Charlie will meet the party here on to morrow evening on this way up to York. Mrs. Thornwell perhaps will come down with Carlie and spend the day with us.

Joseph A. Wylie died night before last and was buried on yesterday evening at Pleasant Grove Church. He was a good citizen and will be missed in his neighborhood.

Rev. W. Banks has been elected by Bethel Presbytery Evangelist for that Presbytery and his Churches will now be vacant. Dr. Boyce has also been Elected, and accepted, to a professorship in the Theological Seminary at Due-West. He has moved there, and his Church, New Hope is now vacant.

This about all the news gathered by me worthy your attention. Write me soon and often

Your father
J. S. Wilson."