2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
A Confederate soldier's 4pp. letter written by J W. Norris who enlisted on 8/1/1863 as a Sergt Major into "C" Co. SC 1st State Troops Infantry. Out of concern that the Union army would attempt to take Charleston in 1863, Jefferson Davis requested South Carolina to raise a local defense which resulted in five regiments being organized that became known as the South Carolina State Troops. The initial enlistment was to be for 6 months but the men could be called upon to serve longer. The 1st Regiment, South Carolina State Troops was organized in July 1863. It was also known as Roberts's Regiment and did not go into active service until 4 September 1863. Datelined Charleston, South Carolina, 20th October 1863. In large part, "We are still in Charleston but with some prospect of being ordered to Greenville or Ashville, North Carolina. I believe I would prefer remaining here. The Yankees are firing very rapidly & steadily for the past few days-nearly every fire causes the sash on our windows to rattle. They have not thrown any more shells into the city since Monday as they burst their gun. ... We cook the peas & rice together & the boys are very find of them & all want seed of the peas. The government issued to us red peas which have so hard a skin on them w... I stand in need of my undershirts & must trouble you to have them sent down by Mr. Avery or Caldwell who will be coming down next week. ...e can hardly eat them at all. We have not tried the fruit but I think I would have preferred the peaches. ... Tell Mattie & Lula I have got some straw now & have a straw bed which does better than sleeping on the floor but I get very cold before day these cold mornings & would like to have Lula's arms twine about my neck. there are very few nice clean children in the city. Most of them are dirty & bad looking.
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