1862 Palmetto Sharpshooter (South Carolina) Confederate Civil War Soldier Letter
NOTE - Sadly the writer of this letter died only a month after this letter was penned. Flag of the Palmetto Sharpshooters, South Carolina Volunteers. This Confederate Civil War soldier letter written by William C.
He enlisted 2 June 1861 for one years service. He was initially enrolled on 14 April 1861 at Pickensville, South Carolina by Capt. As a part of the general reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia in April 1862, Col.Micah Jenkins was authorized by congress to organize a new regiment which he called Jenkins Palmetto Sharpshooters. This regiment was intended to be a detached specialty unit, the companies of which could be separately attached to various infantry regiments for sharp shooting support.
Unfortunately this never occurred and the regiment was more or less permanently assigned to Gen. Andersons 2nd Brigade of Gen.
The Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment was formed of twelve companies, which had formerly been assigned to other regiments. Five companies came from the 5th Regiment, four from the 4th Regiment, and three from the 9th Regiment. After his service with the 4th South Carolina, William re-enlisted with the Palmetto Sharpshooters, Company I, Pickens Guards, South Carolina Volunteers, in April 1862. He was wounded at Fraysers Farm on 30 June 1862 and died of his wounds on 15 July 1862.
Camp in the woods May 17, 1862. Yours of the 17th ult. It was the first letter I have seen with my name on it since I left home, the last day of March. I have written just two to you at home, both of which you said you had received. I wrote a long letter to Narse a few days ago. I hope she may receive it in due time. I was at Richmond when I wrote last.We had been on the stir ever since then been in the very face of the enemy the most of the time witnessed the Battle of Williamsburg marched day and night frequently had but little to eat and still less to eat with it and almost nothing to cook it in. And I have stood the marches the best of any times before. We have gone through more and seen more of the soldiers life in the last six weeks than I did during the whole term I had served before. We do not stay in one place long at a time not more than a day or two at a time. Neither do we stop for rain, mud or darkness sometimes marching through the mud all night long.
We came here yesterday evening and I expect we will move before tomorrow morning at daylight. Perhaps though we wont have far to go as we are now within nine or ten miles of the City of Richmond. The great battle for Richmond is not yet fought. It is uncertain when it will come on. It certainly cant be at a very distant day when the great contest will begin that will decide the fate of Richmond and a great portion of our Confederacy.
Since witnessing the Battle of Williamsburg and observing the brave conduct of our troops at that place, I have renewed confidence in the ability of this army to successfully cope with the legions of McClellan. The way father backed that letter was very good. You might make some improvement thus.
[Micah] Jenkins Palmetto Sharp Shooters Care of Capt. I suppose, backed thus, it would be very apt to come safely. Vans letter said that Butler was dead and Susan still very poorly. Ted Garvin, Joe Smith, Joe Brook, Van and Silas W. Jack Lawson is in the hospital.
I dont know how he is getting [along]. He was not very bad off when he left the regiment. You must send word to Elizabeth and Susan Ann as I cannot possibly find time to write to them yet.
I will do so as soon as I can. I want you to write as often as convenient.
Your brother as ever, W. I found a very good supply of clothing on the retreat from Williamsburg. You need not send me any clothes until I write for them.
You might tell father to get old man White to make me a pair of shoes like them he made me last fall. I will need them by the time he will make them and they will get to me. We're members of the American Philatelic Society, the U. Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society. We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies or reproductions). Some of our letters have been transcribed and nicely presented for future genealogists and history buffs on the Spared & Shared blog. The item "1862 Palmetto Sharpshooter (South Carolina) Confederate Civil War Soldier Letter" is in sale since Friday, November 11, 2016.This item is in the category "Stamps\United States\Covers\Postal History". The seller is "cmvolz" and is located in Washington, Illinois. This item can be shipped worldwide.