Item No. 6415755

A group of four letters written to Captain John S. Wilson of Company D, 1st South Carolina Cavalry. Spanning August 1863 through August 1864, this group provides a look at post-Gettysburg cavalry picketing along the Rappahannock River, equipment shortages on the South Carolina coast, and a letter from WIlson’s brother-in-law discussing how Wilson’s candidacy for the state legislature might get him a discharge from the Army.

In the first letter, written August 24, 1863, Lieutenant R. S. Lewis writes to Wilson while on picket near Stevensburg, Virginia, during operations along the Rappahannock line. Wilson had been confined to a hospital and had his horses sent away. Lewis reports on securing pasture for Wilson's horses near Gordonsville as Virginia forage dries up, while speculating on the exact location of the horses being at the property of a man named Hudson:

I would not advise you to have the horses brought back to camp, for things are getting worse here every day. The pastures are drying up and very little corn to be had... This man Hudson lives in the neighborhood of the Morris and oversees for the widow Watson.

The next letter, also by Lieutenant Lewis, was written a week later, on August 31, 1863, from the regiment's camp near Raccoon Ford. Lewis opens with his frustrations over sorting out missing signatures on the pay rolls so his men could get paid. Beyond administrative headaches, he inquires about a fallen comrade. “Did you not get a notice of Dan Sammons death at the Hospital? If so, please let me know to what time he had been paid as someone will want his final statements before long.” He then turns to the harsh reality of maintaining their mounts in the field. He details a frustrating outbreak of leg disease that was sidelining their horses:

Everything is quiet. Our duty is about to be increased a little. A Squadron went on picket this time instead of a company. I guess we have to picket some new posts. Our horses are holding their own and that is about all. The new horses all have some kind of Sore legs and heels. E. Worthy’s and Barbour’s are both unfit for duty. The disease resembles Scratches. My new horse has it, but seems to be getting well, except one hind foot. It brings the horses down very fast. Worthy and Barbour’s horses are affected pretty much the same way my mare was last winter.

Despite the grueling conditions, Lewis closes with a bit of resilient camp humor, passing along news from a veteran trooper: “Bill Chisholm has reported for duty. The old fellow is regaining his spirits. He sends his respects to you and says if you don’t mind, he will outlive you yet.”

The third letter, dated May 19, 1864, shifts to a lowcountry South Carolina detachment post at Chisholmville. Private Alexander Wise writes to Wilson pleading for help getting pay and basic tack, while describing harsh picket conditions:

I want you to get my commutation money from Lieut White and Capt Whatley, for I hear that we are going to be separated soon and I will not have an opportunity of getting it. I also want you to get me a saddle and send to me the first opportunity, for I am doing duty without one and several of the comp. is in the same fix. We are having a greateal of picket duty to do and sand gnats & flies & mosquitoes are desperate bad. Water is scarce & very bad at the pocket post. We have to carry it near two miles.

Wise closes:

We are having a plenty to eat as yet, for both man and beast. Weather is warm. We have a goodeal rain this portion of country. Is not a desirable place at all. I hear nothing of the yankees here and think will not hear of them doing anything in this section of country during this war, for I cannot see what advantage it would be to them.

The final letter was written from Chester, South Carolina, on August 16, 1864, by Wilson's brother-in-law, W. A. Rosborough. It offers a rare look at Confederate homefront politics, specifically weighing the option of Wilson running for the State Legislature, a position he had held up to the beginning of the war. Rosborough writes:

You mentioned you had been solicited to be a candidate for the Legislature & what I thought of it. Scott [Wilson’s brother C. Scott Wilson] came to my house some two weeks since to see me on the subject of your being a candidate. I told him I would like to see you relieved from the Army for a time very much. I feel if you were a candidate & beaten, it would be better to not have been a candidate. You having been in army 3 years & the other candidates at home, would give the advantage.

Rosborough closes by commenting on the condition of his crops. “Our crops are good in some neighborhoods & others very light for want of rain. I have commenced grinding wheat for the Govt & will have to spend the half of my time at the mill.” This letter includes its original cover bearing two 5-cent Confederate stamps.

The ink on the Lewis letters is faint, but legible. All are in good condition and creased at their original folds. The full transcripts appear below.

Letter No. 1

Cavalry Camp 1st S.C.C.
Near Stephensburg Aug 24th

Dear Capt. Yours of the 17th came to hand yesterday & I would have answered at once, but I was on picket and could not do so. I know not where Ed. L. took your horses to. I thought that he would certainly let you know as soon as he got a place for them. I told him to go to Mr. Hudson in the green spring country seven miles from Gordonsville. I have forgotten Hudson’s initials, nor do I know his P.O. Whether Ed got him to keep the horses or not, I am not able to say. But it is very probable that he did. I have heard nothing from him since he left. I would not advise you to have the horses brought back to camp, for things are getting worse here every day. The pastures are drying up and very little corn to be had.

I send you some letters. Would have sent them before now, but did not know where you were. This man Hudson lives in the neighborhood of the Morris and oversees for the widow Watson. There is a Station on the Central R.R. within four miles of his house, but I don’t recollect the name.

No news here. Please let me hear from you often.

Hoping this may find you improving. I remain yours most respectfully
R. S. Lewis

Letter No. 2

Cavalry Camp 1st S.C.C.
Aug 31st 1863

Capt Wilson, Dear sir, yours of the 24th has been received. You will please accept my thanks for the papers you sent me, as I was needing them. This is Muster day and I am Mustering officer. The Regt is out on grand guard. We move tomorrow in the direction of Raccoon ford. A camp has been selected somewhere near our old camp. I have never yet found out what men had not signed the Rolls. Sam Banks says that C. B. Dorsey had signed and that E. L. Harden had not. But who the officer was that did not sign, I am unable to say. And Sam did not get to see the Rolls in Goodwin’s hands. I went up one day to see them myself, but Goodwin had sent them off, so I will have to pay Dorsey and dig and find out somehow who the other man is. I would like to know if any money was drawn for W. L. Wilks. I see his amt is not made out or at least the Column “balance paid” is filled with naught. Perhaps he is the other man. I am glad we have heard of your horses, for I was afraid Ned J. would go on without notifying you where he had left them.

Did you not get a notice of Dan Sammons death at the Hospital? If so, please let me know to what time he had been paid as someone will want his final statements before long. If you get home or have any chance of seeing John Simpson, say to him that I can’t furnish a final statement of John P. Cornwell until I see Maj. Walker. I have no news. Everything is quiet. Our duty is about to be increased a little. A Squadron went on picket this time instead of a company. I guess we have to picket some new posts. Our horses are holding their own and that is about all. The new horses all have some kind of Sore legs and heels. E. Worthy’s and Barbour’s are both unfit for duty. The disease resembles Scratches. My new horse has it, but seems to be getting well, except one hind foot. It brings the horses down very fast. Worthy and Barbour’s horses are affected pretty much the same way my mare was last winter. Raney has been discharged & has left us. The furloughs for the 2nd Det’mt of dismounted men have not come back. Bill Chisholm has reported for duty. The old fellow is regaining his spirits. He sends his respects to you and says if you don’t mind, he will outlive you yet. Hoping this may find you better, I remain yours truly
R. S. Lewis

Letter No. 3

Head Qrs Detachment
Chism. Ville S. Car.
May 19th 64

Capt. J. S. Wilson

Sir
I this morning will write you a few lines principally concerning some business I most respectfully resquest to attend to for me, as it lies beyond my power at present. I want you to get my commutation money from Lieut White and Capt Whatley, for I hear that we are going to be separated soon and I will not have an opportunity of getting it. I also want you to get me a saddle and send to me the first opportunity, for I am doing duty without one and several of the comp. is in the same fix. We are having a greateal of picket duty to do and sand gnats & flies & mosquitoes are desperate bad. Water is scarce & very bad at the pocket post. We have to carry it near two miles. We are having a plenty to eat as yet, for both man and beast. Weather is warm. We have a goodeal rain this portion of country. Is not a desirable place at all. I hear nothing of the yankees here and think will not hear of them doing anything in this section of country during this war, for I cannot see what advantage it would be to them. As I have nothing of interest to write, I will close, remaining with much respect
Your most humble & Obedient servant
Alex’r Wise

P.S. We are getting a plenty of clothing here. Capt Henderson is with us at this time. Give Lieut Wilks my kindest respects and all the other boys. So nothing more.
A. Wise

Letter No. 4

Chester S.C. Augt 16th 1864

J. S. Wilson

Dear Sir
I only received your letter of the 3d Inst night before last. You mentioned you had been solicited to be a candidate for the Legislature & what I thought of it. Scott came to my house some two weeks since to see me on the subject of your being a candidate. I told him I would like to see you relieved from the Army for a time very much. I feel if you were a candidate & beaten, it would be better to not have been a canddiate. You having been in army 3 years & the other candidates at home, would give the avantage, & therefore I thought it would be better not be a candidate than to be beaten. I thought same two years ago. I have been close at home & have heard but very little said about the Election. I hope if you are a candidate you will be Elected. Your family were well a few days since. We are well. Bell’s baby has spasms & can only keep clear by taking medicine every day. Our crops are good in some neighborhoods & others very light for want of rain. I have commenced grinding wheat for the Govt & will have to spend the half of my time at the mill. I am going there this evening & when I return I intend to go to see Jane & the children.
Your Brother
W A Rosborough