2025-01 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/25/2025
Charles Wetmore Broadfoot (1842-1919), a student at the University of North Carolina who interrupted his studies to enlist as a private in the Confederate Army. Serving first with Co. H, 1st North Carolina Infantry, Broadfoot mustered out after 7 months service in November 1861. A few months later, he enlisted as a private in Co. D, 43rd North Carolina Infantry. In September 1862, however, he was commissioned as an Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Theophilus Hunter Holmes, his uncle, and later entered the western theatre of the war when Holmes was made the commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department. When Holmes was sent back East to command the Reserve Forces in North Carolina, Broadfoot followed him and in May 1864 was commissioned as major of the 1st Battalion, North Carolina Reserves. This 2pp Confederate pencil letter is written by Charles to his Mother, datelined Trininty, Louisiana, March 2nd 1863. In part, “We arrived here last night and will remain here until we can get a boat going up river ... I thought the roads between Brookhaven and Natchez were bad enough but they are good in comparison to those between Natchez and this place. We left Vidalia about 1:00 and traveled all day making about twelve miles. At sundown we came to a stream with a bridge that was floating. Our driver refused to cross ... We went back to the owner of the team to get a boat but could not get one .... Our mules were then taken and led over ... we pulled the waggon over by hand ... we had to walk a great part of the way .... Charles.”
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.