News On The Battle of Seven Pines Reaches Home

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A great war-date Confederate letter written by the father of Confederate General John Caldwell Calhoun Sanders, Dr. Charles Peak Sanders (ca. 1812-1889), 3pp. 4to., to Elizabeth C. Steele, wife of 1st Lt. Abner Newton Steele, 11th Alabama Infantry, Clinton, Ala., June 7, 1862, reading, in part: "…Dr. Jolly of the 11th Ala. Regt. reached [here] and through a friend handed me one hundred dollars for you from Col. S. [her husband] I. have not heard…no message only a request to hand you the money…the Regt. move[d] on picket when he left and…consequently brought no-a very few letters. The Richmond battle is now over…I hope you have heard before this dispatch from the Col's. [her husband's] company. William telegraphed on [June] 2nd. Col. Moore [former Alabama Congressman and Alabama militia general, Sydenham Moore MWIA Seven Pines, Va., 31, 62] severely wounded in the leg. Company C all safe…the Regt. went into the action at 4 P. M. Saturday…the Selma reported…mentioned the loss in killed & wounded inn [the] Bibb County Grey's. One of the companies of the 11th. We hope to get farther intelligence today but enough had been recorded to satisfy us it was a hard contest…bloody field and on that may again very soon become one of more deadly contest…we have great confidence in our troops and indulge hope in their triumphant success…M. Thomson made us a very unexpected visit…he is now from Corinth in fine health…says his western company has a friend with him. He will return in a few days. No news of importance from Mobile or Vicksburg. A good deal of preparation being made for their defense but I am fearful it will not be successfully made. We will be compelled to give up the river for the present but with portable artillery…the banks will lined with sharp shooters we will make it of much less advantage to them than they anticipated. Should we get any news of interest…from Va. I will write immediately…C. P. Sanders." Also included is the original transmittal cover addressed to "Mrs. E. C. Steele, North Port, Ala." with docketing indicating that it was carried to her by Sanders' slave "Robert." Overall VG.

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