Item No. 4924613

A group of six Civil War letters and documents addressed to Captain William A. Walker of Company D, 1st South Carolina Cavalry, written by comrades, associates, and physicians between October 1861 and September 1862. The correspondence chronicles military service, home-front shortages, local politics, and personal affairs during one of the most eventful periods of the war.

The earliest letter, written from Yorkville in October 1861, concerns the purchase of a suitable parade horse for Walker. A May 1862 letter from Adams Run discusses operations in the Charleston defenses, directing that William D. Chisholm be detached to the Commissary Department under orders from General Nathan G. Evans and Colonel John Logan Black, while noting that the assignment would involve “some handsome riding about the country.” Another correspondent asks that his horse be returned home if no longer fit for cavalry service, providing a glimpse into the dependence upon privately owned mounts.

Particularly noteworthy are two lengthy September 1862 letters concerning accusations that Walker had mishandled company funds intended for uniforms. Matthew Williams alerts him that rumors are circulating that he retained part of the money rather than distributing it to his men. James S. McLure writes at length to reassure Walker, dismissing the allegations as “falsehood” and promising that he would “promptly pronounce him a slanderer and liar” should anyone repeat them. McLure further praises Walker's standing within the regiment, observing that he enjoyed “the testimony of your command, with whom I understand you are deservedly popular.” The same letter discusses John Dunovant's court-martial, the approaching Chester District legislative election, wartime salt production and prices, the condition of Walker's children, and Dr. Reedy's journey to Virginia to care for the wounded C. Scott Wilson of the 6th South Carolina following his wounding at the Second Battle of Manassas.

The group concludes with a physician's certificate extending the furlough of Private J. O. Clement after an attack of chills and fever.

The letters were written upon letter sheets of various sizes. Creased at the original folds. Includes four original transmittal covers, one of which bears a Confederate postage stamp. The full transcripts appear below.

Letter No. 1:

Yorkville Oct 12th 61

Capt W. A. Walker

Dear Sir
A friend of mine has a very good horse four or six year old, carries himself up well, medium size, believed to be perfectly sound. I think will make a handsome parade horse. He is anxious to sell him. Will take $250 delivered here or at Rock Hill or Chester if you prefer, or will show him any day here or at Rock Hill. The horse was offered to Maj Cad Jones by Dr. Harris. The Maj can describe him to you or any friend wishing to buy.
Yours truly
S. R. Moon

Letter No. 2:

Adams Run
May 31st 1862

Lt. Col. Melton
Johns Island, S.C.

Dear Sir,
Your favor by Bill is at hand. Who is the [……]. Bill will take your horse &c over with him. I am glad to hear you are better. Come over & see us. We have nothing interesting here but would like to hear you talk of Chester. It has been an age since I was posted on Chester matters.

I have an order from Genl Evans to detach Wm. D. Chisholm for extra duty in the Commissary Dept. Will you please to give him a permit to come over tomorrow? The order is to Col. Black, and as he (the Col.) has gone down to camp today, or I would get his order.

Let Bill come up and tell him to bring up his trappings and all necessary articles for […] including John Lewis. I would put him through when get here. The first thing I went […] is to go to the R.R. every day and look after freight &c, and the next. Will be some handsome riding about the country, he may get home every night. I will hand the order to the Col. tonight.

Tell Bill I will not work him very hard, not one [……] per day, and feed him on commissary rations.
Very truly
Yours &c
James Ragan

Letter No. 3:

Chesterville Aug 1862

Capt W. A. Walker
I have been informed by some members of your company who have returned, that my horse is broken down & unfit for any service. If you have no use for him & he is unfit for your service you will please send him home, as he may do me some service on the farm. If you send him home pay all necessary expenses of shipping & I will send the money to your order. But if you have any use for the horse, let him remain in service.

I remain yours truly
James Loury

P.S. If you hsend the horse direct him to be sent to Chesterville
Yours
J. G. L

Letter No. 4:

Chester Sept 1, 1862

Dear Alex
I received yours & was glad to hear that you were improving from your hurt & could ride. Your people area ll well. I have just heard a few moments ago that a report is in circulation that you had drawn Fifty dollars to buy uniforms for your men, that you had bought uniforms at twenty-five dollars a piece, & report pay the balance to the men, and the report gives no information of what you have done with the other twenty-five dollars, as it may do you an injury. Please write me soon the correct statement, that I may contract the report. McAliley told me he says it is reported near where he lives on broad river & said to come from some of your men. A number wants to go to the Legislature and considerable stir here today. Col. Rives is […] on the papers. W. T. Gilmore is out in the field. Col. McDaniel spoken of & from what I can learn will be a candidate. Scaife, Hemphill, & Frank Ingram spoken of to […] now very cloudy & may rain this evening. Nothing new.
Yours truly
Matthew Williams

Letter No. 5:

Redcliffe
Sept 18, 1862

My Dear Mr Walker
On reaching home from Charleston, I found your letter of the 7th awaiting me. I regret very much to hear of the aspersion cast upon your conduct, but had already learned somethign of the matter from John Dunovant, whome I met in the City. He seemed to think James Hally the author of the report. If so, I have been greatly disappointed in the man. I had hitherto regarded him more of a gentleman than to originate such a falsehood. You should not suffer it, however, to give you too much annoyance, irritating as it must be, for you have the approval of your own conscience (the greatest consolation in any difficulty), that of your superior officer, that of every right-mided man who understands anything of the matter, and will have on your return home the testimony of your command, with hom I understand you are deservedly popular in your favor. Besides, you should remember that no man in position has ever escaped the slanders of the malignant or the detractions of the curious. They are incident to office and always to be expected, but the straightforward course of duty will ultimately crush them out. In the meantime, you may rest assured that should I find anyone circulating that report, I will promptly pronounce him a slanerer and liar.

How did John Dunovant’s case before the Court Marital terminate? Favorably, I hope, as I like him a great deal better than formerly, and he seems now to be a staunch friend of yours, so much so that he is anxious for you to run for a seat in the Legislature. I do not know what to advise you, as you know better what course to pursue than I do. Your chances of election I should think very good. The following is a list of the candidates already announced, viz: Jno. Douglas, Maj. Eaves, J. Y. Mills, Hemphill, Gilmore, J. G. Backstrom, and it is understood that one or two others, old Jim McDaniel amongst them, are to run. I have also heard that your lieutenant Wilson would be a candidate.

I succeeded better in my salt trips than most persons from this district, but still not so well as I wished. On reaching there, I found salt selling at from ten to twelve dollars per bushel of fifty pounds, higher than it was at home. I determined not to pay those prices, and got a contract for hauling wood, by which I received one bushel of salt and one dollar in money for every cord hauled. With my two teams, I could average five cords per day, which at the price of salt was some thirty dollars to the team, and for a while I got on finely. But my wagons began to give way, and I had to quite before I had procured as much salt as I needed. I have since been endeavoring to purchase some, but have been unable to get it for less than eighty dollars per sack for Liverpool, as which price I did not care too much. I had a very pleasant trip. The climate was delightful and the water almost as cold as ice. A spring of it in your country just now would be worth a fortune.

Your buggy stood up very well, with the exception of one wheel, which had been ruined before by cutting the tire, and which I have had refilled. I am much indebted to you for your kindness in letting me have it.

Your children are all well, or were well when I heard from them day before yesterday. Dr. Reedy is absent in Va, where he has gone to nurse Scott Wilson, wounded in one of the fights.

Sallie sends a great deal of love. Write soon and believe me your friend
Jas. S. McLure

Letter No. 6:

I hereby certify that I have examined Private J. O. Clement, Co. D, 1st S.C. Cavalry, and find him still unable to return to his duties, having just recovered from an attack of chills and fever. I therefore recommend an extension of his Furlough for thirty days longer.
Sept 24th 1862
J. W. Harris M.D.