Item No. 8166065

A group of eight letters with associated postal covers, all related to Company D, 1st South Carolina Cavalry—the “Chester Troop.” Nearly all concern the status of men on medical furlough and date between July and September 1862. Included are:

1. A short note from Dr. Ira S. Scott dated September 7, 1862, stating that Private J. B. McWaters was “under treatment…for an attack of fever” and did not believe McWaters could “report for duty to his Co…in a less time than 20 days.” Includes the original cover with a pair of 5-cent Confederate stamps.

2. An undated note from Lieutenant R. S. Lewis indicating that “poor Sam has his all in that country and is almost crazy to get there & see what has become of his property.” Includes the original cover addressed to Captain William A. Walker, suggesting this is an early-war letter when Walker still commanded the company.

3. A letter dated July 26, 1862, by A. F. Anderson of Chester, South Carolina, stating that Private Waters Pedergrass “is down very ill with fever and I fear of a Typhoid type. It is difficult to say definitely when he will be able to return to camp. If it is practicable, I think his furlough should be extended indefinitely.” On the reverse, Captain William A. Walker writes to the regiment’s adjutant, Lieutenant F. A. Sitgreaves, to “ask that the furlough for the within named private—W. Pendergrass, be extended for thirty days.” Includes the original cover addressed to Lieut. John S. Wilson of the company, with a pair of nice 5-cent blue Jefferson Davis stamps.

4. A short letter dated August 8, 1862, and written by Private Hiram Anderson. Writing from home in Chester, South Carolina, Anderson asks for “an extension of furlough on account of my health,” concluding that “If I am able at the expiration of the ten days I will come to my post.” Includes the original cover with a pair of 5-cent blue Jefferson Davis stamps.

5. In an August 31, 1862, letter, Private T. F. Johnsey writes to Captain Walker to let him know that he is “mending very slow,” having “I took the fever after I come home. It helt me ten days.” He states, however, that he intends to return to camp the following week, citing that he would “rather stay in camp as in Chester.” Includes the original unstamped cover.

6. Lieutenant N. J. Martin writes in an August 12, 1862, letter written from Wilson’s Springs, North Carolina, that his “health has been improving ever since I came to the Springs.” He adds that “The Physician thinks I should stay 15 days longer. As soon as I get able for duty, I will come back.”

7. Treating one of the Wilkes men in the company, S. W. B. N. Lurkin writes to Captain Walker on August 20, 1862, “I cannot see what me, a soldier having typhoid fever and confined to his bed all the time, would be in camp. I saw Mr. Wilkes the next day after he came home and have been attending to him regularly ever since. His is a well marked case of typhoid fever and I am certain that if we would haul him to Chesterville and place him in the cars and send him to Regt. Hd quarters that his convalescence would not be more speedy than at home.”

8. Writing to Captain Walker from Chester, Lieut. John S. Wilson writes: “I hereby certify that Sergt W. B. Robinson of Company “D” 1st Regt. S.C. Cavalry, now at home in this District on furlough, is quite sick and will not be able to return to his company at the time specified in his furlough. And therefore, respectfully recommend that he have an extension of his furlough for ten days from the end of his present furlough.” Docketed on the reverse.

9. Also included are two additional postal covers addressed to Walker and Wilson, one of which carries a 10-cent Jefferson Davis stamp.