Item No. 6964612

A group of six Civil War letters written by Dr. John A. Reedy, a prominent physician and community leader of Chester District, South Carolina, together with one letter from his wife, Frances A. Reedy, to Captain William A. Walker of Company D, 1st South Carolina Cavalry. Close relatives of Walker, the Reedys kept him informed of events at home while helping care for his children during his service in Virginia.

Written between August and November 1862, the letters combine family news with reports from both Chester and the army. Reedy forwards whiskey, medicine, clothing, and other necessities to Walker, deposits $620 in the Bank of Chester to Walker's credit, and repeatedly reassures him about his children, who were living with relatives while he was away. Following the Second Battle of Manassas, he reports the first casualties from the 6th South Carolina reaching Chester, noting the death of Oscar Asbury and the wounds of C. Scott Wilson and others. He also records the opening of Lee’s Maryland Campaign, writing, “Gen. Jenkins told me that he had no doubt that a portion of our army was in Maryland now.” Reedy candidly questions the wisdom of the campaign, writing, “I doubt the policy of invading the Territory of the Enemy. It will certainly stir them up to their utmost effort.”

The correspondence also records numerous local events and personalities. Reedy comments on the transfer of South Carolina troops to reinforce Stonewall Jackson in Virginia, recently victorious at the Battle of Cedar Mountain:

All the So. Ca. troops have been sent to reinforce Jackson, & it was reported yesterday that they were fighting up about Culpeper. Jackson gave Gen. Banks a terrible whipping last week on the Rapidan, and if he succeeds in whipping Pope as badly this week, I do hope that the Yankees will come to the conclusion that Peace is better than war.

In one letter by Reedy’s wife Frances, she relates that “Dr. Reedy has gone to Virginia” and that “Mr. Wilson prevailed on him to go on to see his son, S. Wilson.” This was Private C. Scott Wilson of the 6th Regiment, the younger brother of Walker’s comrade in the 1st South Carolina Cavalry, Lieutenant John S. Wilson. Frances’s letter evidently accompanied a small care package sent to Walker and provides updates on his children, including his daughter Fannie, who was attending school, and little Willie, who “can say some words very sweetly” and “will soon talk so that anyone can understand him.”

The letters were written in ink upon letter sheets of various sizes. Creased at the original folds. Includes six original transmittal covers, two of which carry Confederate postage stamps. The full transcripts follow below.

Letter No. 1:

Chester Aug 19th 1862

Capt. W. A. Walker

My Dear Sir
I received your very kind letter on Saturday evening about sundown, the train having been detained. I sent it to Fannie, who was at her Grandma’s on Sunday evening, and your Ma accidentally found someone going on Monday noon train & fixed up your coat and sent it on to you. I was out at your Father’s last evening. They did not send the cap because of some fixing your Ma wanted to do to it. I was called off early in the morning, or I would have sent the two bottles desired. I will try to send them by the first one coming to your camp.

Your Parents and the children are all well. Little Willie had a sort throat yesterday, but seems quite lively this morning. Fannie is staying with her grandma this week & going to school with the boys. The weather has been very hot and dry since you left, which will injure the late corn. We had a good shower in the neighborhood of town last Thursday, since which the weather has been more pleasant.

Mr. Douglas asked me yesterday if you had lost a black haversack or satchel as you passed through Columbia. Such a one was mistaken sent up to Florence with the Rev. Anderson’s baggage. Everything is dull here. All the So. Ca. troops have been sent to reinforce Jackson, & it was reported yesterday that they were fighting up about Culpeper. Jackson gave Gen. Banks a terrible whipping last week on the Rapidan, and if he succeeds in whipping Pope as badly this week, I do hope that the Yankees will come to the conclusion that Peace is better than war. I have no local news. Frances and all the children send much love to you. Write soon & as often as you can. We are alway anxious to hear how you are getting on.
Yours truly
J. A. Reedy

Letter No. 2:

Chester Aug 26th 1862

Capt. W. A. Walker

My Dear Sir
I send you by Lieut. Wilson the two bottles whiskey and two boxes purgative pills. You will find the directions around the boxes. Also, a box of opiate pills, the dose of which will be one pill every four hours until the discharges cease, or one pill whenever it may be necessary to check the bowels. Your children are all well. Fannie is at our house this week, going to school. The little boy is as bright as ever. We have had some rain in the last few days. A very good turnip season. I have nothing to write. Write soon.
Yours truly
J. A. Reedy

Letter No. 3:

Chester Sept 8th 1862

Dear Captain
Our community have been in a great suspense and anxiety since the three days fight at Manassas. We had no special news of the casualties until yesterday. Gen. Jenkins & Capt. Short come home yesterday. The report several killed and many wounded. Osker Asbury of this place was killed and Scott Wilson was badly wounded in the Knee. Boyd in the ankle. Brandt in the hip. I have not yet heard all the casualties.

They say that our Army advanced forward and Gen. Jenkins told me that he had no doubt that a portion of our army was in Maryland now. So if so, we will soon see the effects of an aggressive war. I doubt the policy of invading the Territory of the Enemy. It will certainly stir them up to their utmost effort, and if they should overpower our army, it would prove very disastrous to us.

I send you some papers by Mr. Martin. Mr. Douglas spoke of sending you a Box by him. Frances, that she will send you one by the next opportunity. I wrote you an acknowledgement of your letter Harley Horden the next day. I suppose you did not receive it. I deposited the $620—six hundred and twenty dollars, in the bank to your credit as you directed. Your children and friends are all well. Write soon. Frances & the children wish to be kindly remembered. Fannie kindly consented to put this in her envelope.
Yours truly
J. A. Reedy

Letter No. 4:

Chester S.C.
Sept. 12th 1862

Dear Brother
I send you a small box, hoping the things will be acceptable. You will not find a great variety. Dr. Reedy has gone to Virginia. Left on last Tuesday night. Mr. Wilson prevailed on him to go on to see his son, S. Wilson, who is badly wounded. The children are all quite well. Fannie is with me going to school. She is very studious and I think improving. Willie is a dear little fellow. He can say some words very sweetly. Your little boys are well. Could you not give as an agreeable surprise some day by coming in? Let me hear from you soon and often. With much love from your attached sister
F. A. Reedy

Letter No. 5:

Chester C.H. So. Ca.
October 18th 1862

Capt. Walker

My Dear Sir
I received your very kind letter two days ago & went to Parson Douglas to inquire about your Boots, & was pleased to find that he had sent them on by Wilkes. I can indeed appreciate the ordeal you had to pass through when you left. I was sorry that you could not stay a few days with your children, as I thought that you would have a great many things to say to them that you could not on that hurried and bustling occasion. Indeed, a private parting with a man’s family is always the most satisfactory. We have had a good season of rain, but too late for peas and potatoes. I know that you must necessarily have much anxiety about your dear children, but we will try to supply your place as near as that is possible. Although no one is like a parent to children, yet we will take as good care of them as we can. There is one consoling thought you can have, & that is that they are good children. They are all well. I wrote to you by Wilkes. The Election is over & Hemphill, Eaves, & McDaniel were elected. I sent you the Carolinian with the returns in it. I suppose you have received it. Eaves is quite jubilant, yet he feels badly because Hemphill beat him so far. He says, “What has Hemphill done for his country?” I received a letter from Wm. McLure yesterday by Mr. White. He is near Winchester, & says that the army is in good spirits & condition. John Stringfellow will leave to join his regt. next Monday & will be in Richmond next Tuesday night.

I have heard nothing from John Dunovant and I dislike to ask his friends about him.

Excuse this small piece of paper & short letter. Frances & all the children send much love to you. Write whenever you can. Your letters are most acceptable. Fannie & Willie send resps.
Yours truly
J. A. Reedy

Tell Capt. Fox that his man Droze is able to set up in his room & to send on his furlough or transportation.

Letter No. 6:

Chester C.H. S.C.
Nov. 15th 1862

Capt. W. A. Walker

My Dear Sir
I have very little to write, but as a convenient opportunity for sending a letter offers itself, I embrace it. FOr the last few days, we have had abundance of rain, which will help the turnip crop & perhaps the potatoes, & enable us to sow wheat, &c.

I wrote to Dr. Reynolds as you requested. I enclose his answer. I think he goes a long way around to come to a point. I showed his answer to Mr. Douglas. He said that he would be in Columbia shortly in attendance on a meeting of his Presbytery, & that he would call and see the Miss Reynolds. Fannie and the boys are still going to Mr. McDonald’s school and are quite well. Fannie is staying with her Grand Ma this week. Little Willie is doing well & growing very fast. Is now smacking his mouth over his breakfast. He will soon talk so that anyone can understand him. This is the day of the Election. The Candidates were in town yesterday doing their best on the thin material present. The opinion is that Hemphill will be elected and probably Mills. The thing is uncertain. One thing is certain. Some of them will be awfully disappointed. I believe each of them thinks his election certain. The little warrior is as busy electioneering as in his palmiest days. I do think that his wisdom has not increased with his days, or he would not have let himself become a candidate.

Maj. Mat is on a big drunk ever since you left. He was only enough so the day you passed to make him eloquent, but for the last few days his tongue has been a little too thick. I wish you were here to scold him a little. Woll arrived here on Sunday. Fannie said yesterday that your Ma had received a letter from you. Your friends are all well. Frances and the children all send their love to you. Write when you can.
Yours truly
J. A. Reedy