2023-08 Raynors HCA Live
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The following collection of letters were all written to Martha Susan ("Suzie") Overton (1844-1935) of Rice's Depot, Prince Edward county, Virginia, before and during the Civil War. The story that accompanies this small cache of letters claims that they were found "in the walls of the Overton/Walthall House in Prince Edward county, Virginia." The consignor has not been able to confirm this story but if true, it must have been Suzie Overton's mother's house where Suzie and her widowed mother were residing at war's end near Rice's Depot. It's possible that Suzie hid the letters there in 1865 when Union General John Gibbon's Corps approached the station on April 6th as they pursued Longstreet's retreating Corps westward from Richmond on the South Side Railroad. The letters certainly have the appearance of having been stored in the walls of a home-they are badly stained though mostly still legible. The archive contains FOUR Pre-War letters to Susie Overton; Period Manuscript TERMS OF SURRENDER, Appomattox; SIXTEEN CONFEDERATE WAR DATED letters to Susie; TWO War Period Poems sent to Susie; War Content 1865 Letter to Susie; Christian convergent 1869 letter to Susie; THREE post war documents; NINE post war letters. Below are excerpts of the Overton/Walthall collection.General Grant's Terms of Surrender Letter To General Robert E. LeeAmong the personal papers of Lindsay Branch Walthall (1840-1912) of Prince Edward County, Virginia, were found the following handwritten terms of surrender of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia to Gen. Grant on 9 April 1865. Lindsay served the entire war, entering initially in May 1861 with other boys of his county in the Old Dominion Rifles. The boys in this company were eventually consolidated into the 53rd Virginia Infantry. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Gettysburg, captured in "Pickett's Charge" on 3 July 1863-the 53rd Virginia serving as the color regiment of Armistead's Brigade. He was transported from the battlefield and confined at Fort McHenry, at Fort Delaware, and at Point Lookout where he was finally exchanged from the Hammond General Hospital suffering from chronic diarrhea on 31 August 1864. at the time of the fall of Petersburg and Richmond in April 1865, Lindsay was acting as aide-de-camp to Gen. Steuart. The surrender of Lee's army in the days that followed is well known and the drafting of the terms of surrender in McLean's farmhouse at Appomattox Court House has been immortalized in both words and pictures. Once the official copy of the terms were drafted, they needed to be disseminated to the officers of the various commands so it may be imagined that clerks were ordered to sit down and quickly make multiple handwritten copies for this purpose. It is my hunch that this copy was either one that Lindsay received, or wrote himself, as aide-de-camp to Gen. Steuart. Perhaps he used it to read the terms to the rank and file at the request of his commander. The 8-1/2" x 13-1/2" manuscript document is badly oxidize but can be read with difficulty. The top few lines are dark and easily legible, "Appomattox Court House April 9th 1865, General Robert E. Lee, Commanding, Confederate States Army: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of ". The docketing on the reverse is also dark and easily legible, "General Grant's letter to General Lee proposing the terms of surrender of the Army of N.V." Again, the body of the letter is very light yet legible with difficulty. "In part, "... The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and each company or regimental commander to sign a like parole for the men of his command. ... The arms, artillery, & public property to be parked, stacked & turned over to the Officer appointed by me to receive them. This will not include the side arms of the officers nor the private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and men will be allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by the United States authorities as long as they observe their parole... Very Respectfully, - US Grant, Lt General."Pre War LettersTwo letters from her brother William M. Overton (later a CSA Surgeon), February 6. 1860 and March 14, 1861, personal family content. Plus Two letters written by friend Lou, April 5, 1860 and June 1, 1860 personal family content.Two PoemsBoth written by Suzie married Lindsay Branch Walthall (1840-1912) in May 1866 in Prince Edward County, VA. They had three children. Lindsay served in Co. C of the 53rd Virginia Infantry Regiment. He was acting aide-de-camp at the surrender. After the war, Lindsay and Suzie settle in Lockett, Prince Edward county, VirginiaSixteen Confederate Letters written to SuzieIncludes; ( Union Female College Saturday, April 1861, 2pages, from cousin Alice) in part, "Give my love to cousin Mollie and tell her John Ed. has gone to war. I hope he will fight a little faster than he talks. ..." (Danville Thursday night, May 7th, 1861, 2pp some cross writing, from Francis) ... in part "I am exceedingly low spirited tonight. In fact, I have felt sad ever since our volunteer companies left town. ... Mr. Taylor told me he saw your brother William in Richmond a few days since. I suppose you hear from him very often. It is heart-wrenching to give up a true brother. ... I don't think there are enough gentlemen [left] in Danville to protect the ladies. ... My friend George is now at West Point. Poor fellow. I am fearful we shall never see him again. .. (Yorktown, May 27, 1861, 2pages written by Richard Phillips, 53rd VA), in part, ... ""I would not be surprised if we were attacked tonight. We are all called out tonight. It said that Lincoln's men is landing below here in large numbers. I hope that the excitement will soon be over though I fear it will not be the case. We can but hope for the best , if the worst comes ... It said that Lincoln's men is landing below here in large numbers. I hope that the excitement will soon be over though I fear it will not be the case."(Williamsburg, June 24th 1861) written by cousin Richard H. Phillips, Old Dominion Riflemen, in part, " I am sorry you have taken up an idea that I had become offended at something you wrote in your last letter. I can assure you that far from that, I was more than pleased to receive a letter from you and was glad to find that you were interested enough in my welfare to give me advice upon an important subject as you did. ... Our company is stationed in one mile of Williamsburg. I like the place very much. ... I find the ladies here very kind.(Camp Williamsburg, Virginia, July 3rd 1861), 4 pages written by Richard Phillips, 53rd VA), in part, " Does the Capt. talk as foolish now as he did before he was married? If he does, I pity his poor wife for I know she will get tired of such nonsense. What does she call him and what does he call her? ..."(Camp Page, Virginia, July 22, 1861, 3 pages, written by Richard Phillips, 53rd VA), in part, " You should have been here yesterday to see the cannon fire. We fired off eleven here and seventeen at Yorktown were fired to salute the battle fought on Sunday [at Manassas]. I was very sorry to hear that so many of our brave and gallant boys were left on the field but we can't expect to gain our independence without some loss and it may be that some of our nearest and dearest friends may fall. ..."Undated Likely late July, early August 1861, written by cousin Joe Boy), in part "Well, Dr. Owen 1 has left us. He left last Monday. Said he was going to his Pa's and from there to Manassas. ... I had my picture taken in Petersburg as I came on down here. It is not a very good one but if you will accept of it, you are perfectly welcome to it. I will send it by the first passing. I would like to have yours very much. .." (Camp Page [near Williamsburg, Virginia] August 16th [1861], 3pages written by Richard Phillips, 53rd VA), in part, ... "We also had a great sermon last night from Mr. Witt and he complimented us very highly indeed and I believe brought tears from almost every one of us for he spoke very touching in winding up-called us all "his boys" and wondered if he should ever meet us all again under similar circumstances. ... I was very sorry to hear you could not have your picture taken for me for I would like very much to have [it and] would prize it very highly. ..."(Camp Page near Williams[burg], August 21st 1861, 3pages written by Richard Phillips, 53rd VA, ends abruptly), in part "I received your very dear and interesting letter yesterday and will now try and answer it tonight as I will have to be on guard duty tomorrow and will not have time to write ... I went down to Williamsburg to preaching last Sunday and what do you think-I went to sleep as soon as I sat down and slept the whole time the man was preaching. But that was because I had just come off of duty and had not slept any since the night before so I think I was excusable for it.(Partial letter likely late 1861, written by Mollie) in part, "...many serious moments here ... I occasionally hear from r. and Mrs. Penick ... he was down here about two weeks ago. He says Mr. Penick is in Halifax (James B. Penick, 53rd VA was discharged for disability Nov. 14, 1861, thus placing this date pre Nov. 1861). ... You ought to see Mr. Robertson. I know you would laugh. He talks about marrying. He is 49 or 50 and wants to marry a girl about sixteen or seventeen. You know he is a grump. ..."(Farmville, Virginia, December 5th, 1862, 4 pages, unknown writer) in part, "I reckon you have scolded me before this for not writing to you sooner but the days are so short I scarcely have time to write much of a letter after school before night come on and then I have to prepare my lessons for the next day. ... I saw Mrs. Farley 2 yesterday evening. I have not been to see her yet, nor do I expect to as long as she stays at a hospital. She begs me to visit her every time she sees me.(Mrs. Farley was identified as the Chief Matron at the Farmville General Hospital) ..."(Amelia county, Virginia, June 24th, 63, 2 pages written by sister Nannie), in part "Cousin Toody has been quite sick for a fortnight-confined to her bed all the time and Dr. comes to see her once a day. She is strongly threatened with the typhoid fever ... Has Jimmie gone to his company? If he has, does he ever write to any of you. I heard from my friend & you know who last week. He was well but has to be on the march all the time. He was [with Lee's army] in or near Pennsylvania at the time he wrote. ..."(Amelia county, Virginia, August 13th 1863, 4 pages written by friend Mollie), in part "I will not go until I find out whether Uncle Charlie has to go in the army or not. So you see I am bothered on all sides. ... Dr. Lipscomb is a sergeant in the navy at Charleston. What do you think of that? I would not like to take medicine from him. William Henry is still in the army. I suppose you got the buttons for your wedding gown when in Farmville. ..."(Camp Bruce near Wilmington, North Carolina, February 10th 1864, 4 pages, James (Jimmie") Jefferson Overton (1845-1924) of Capt. Paris' Company, Virginia Artillery), in part, " Since I wrote to you, we have had to march for ten days without any rest and nearly all night but I did the trip very well. ... I have been in a small fight with the Yankees and by the kindness of Providence came out unhurt and all the rest of our company came out unhurt . The Yankees did not make much of a fight before they began to run. We chased them about ten miles. We captured around eighty prisoners. We lost in the whole engagement about five men killed and about twenty wounded and that of the enemy was double ours. The Yankees had very fine living in their encampment and everything that heart could wish for. We got some nice eatables. I captured a very nice overcoat and some other things. ..." (Oak Grove, Amelia County, Virginia, March 5th 1864, 4 pages written by Mollie Vaughn), in part, "You would not want me now and I would be afraid to come as we have the variola small pox here. I have not yet been exposed to it but am awfully afraid I will get it. ... I must tell you of the pleasant time I had at the Springs on Wednesday last. You know the Amelia Cavalry had a dinner and party given them on that day. I had a delightful time. ... I saw your Brother William [Confederate Surgeon]. ... Their furlough was not out until the fifteenth but the Yankees were advancing so fast they were called back. The city battalion acted very badly & surrendered. The say everyone run like anything. If I were you I would advise my beau to leave that company and join some other. I heard it from good authority. Give me a cavalryman, but no doubt some of them have run too. ... Burn this if you please."(Woodlawn [Carroll County, VA., October 7th 1864, 4pages, damaged, written by friend Nellie), in part, "You were unusually still the evening you were here. Why so? I was indeed sorry to see you so. .. Miss Lucy Gills' funeral was preached yesterday at Sandy Creek. ... Well, enough of my nonsense. I know you will be perfectly disgusted at my writing such a letter. For mercy sake, do not let anyone see it. .."Post War With Strong Texas Reconstruction Content to Lindsay B. Walthall(Houston, Texas, December 18, 1865, 2pages damaged,, written by Thomas Willis Blanton [entered the Confederate service as a member of the Old Dominion Riflemen (ODR) in May 1861], in part, " Doubtless many changes have taken place among our friends and relatives there since I last had any advices from them. I fear that the unhappy termination of our late struggle has placed many in awkward circumstances. It has almost left me penniless; but while I possess health, I shall not complain. It was the sad result for which I had long since prepared myself. I entered the contest fully resolved to attain our object or lose everything in the attempt. ... I scarcely knew what to advise you in regard to coming to this state. Everything is unsettled. We have a tyrannical, despotic, military government with but little prospect for an early change for the better ... Planters have been taught by this year's experience that freedmen will not comply with their contracts, and only half the work can be obtained from them as formerly. Lands are renting at low figures and can be purchased on desirable terms if preferred. ..."Eight Post War Letters and Three DocumentsIncludes: 1869 letter regarding Christianity; 1879 letter to LB Walthal, 1885 letter from Susan to her mother; 1887 letter to Susan; 1908 letter to Susan; 1896 letter to L.B. Walthall; 1896 letter to L.B. Walthall from Law Office 1932 letter to Susan; Three documents.
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