Tag Archives: slaves

14 January 1865: “After all what is the use of “putting men into the Army” whether they be white or black if we cannot keep them there?”

Item Description: Letter from William Porcher Miles to Gen. Beauregard about use of slaves as soldiers in Confederate Army.  Miles goes back on his earlier idea of arming the slaves because he believes that will make them more likely to … Continue reading

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6 December 1864: “tell him to send your boys some money and something to eate”

Item Description: A letter from a slave at Fort Fisher sending thanks to his master for money and instructions for the care of his family. Despite difficulty spelling due to lack of education, he writes well and enough to communicate that … Continue reading

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3 November 1864: “I have considerable misgiving as to the question of Negro troops”

Item Description: Letter dated 3 November 1864 from William Porcher Miles to Robert E. Lee. He discusses the use of slaves as soldiers in the Confederate Army. Item Citation: Folder 52, William Porcher Miles Papers, #508, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson … Continue reading

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12 August 1864: “an investigation of the negroes of the neighborhood during the Yankee Raid.”

Item Description:  An invitation to George W. Burwell to attend an a trial investigating the conduct of negroes during a Union raid. He was a business man and physician in Virginia. Item Citation: From Folder 7, in the George W. Burwell Papers #4291, … Continue reading

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13 May 1864: “not get off without giving my parole”

Item Description:  Letter dated 13 May 1864. It discusses receiving parole and also mentions slaves. Item Citation:  Letter dated 13 May 1864, found in folder 42 of the Benjamin C. Yancey Papers #2594, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University … Continue reading

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21 March 1864: “So by Father’s request I now write to inform you of the result of last Saturday’s election which terminated in you being elected.”

Item Description: Letter dated 21 March 1864 from Maggie Espey to her brother, Joseph Espey. In it, Maggie discusses Joseph’s victory in a local election, potentially getting him excused from his military duty as a result, the weather, her parents’ activities, … Continue reading

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20 February 1864: “…I bind myself, my heir, executors, and administrators firmly by these presents. Sealed with my seal, and dated this 20th day of Feb. 1864.”

Item Description: Draft of a legal document, dated 20 February 1864 concerning the will of Martha Burke Eppes, who died on December 6, 1863.  Item Citation: Folder 188 of the Hubard Family Papers #00360, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University … Continue reading

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23 January 1864: “Colored troops, under General Wild, liberating slaves in North Carolina.”

Item description: Illustration, published in Harper’s Weekly on 23 January 1864, entitled “Colored troops, under General Wild, liberating slaves in North Carolina.” The illustration depicts the liberation of slaves in Camden County, North Carolina. Item citation: From the North Carolina … Continue reading

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15 January 1864: “Our best protections will be our poverty and bad roads…”

Item description: In this letter dated 15 January 1864, Walter Waightstill Lenoir (1823-1890) wrote from Crab Orchard in Watauga County, N.C., to his mother, Selina Louisa Avery Lenoir (1783-1864) in Fort Defiance, Caldwell County, N.C., about the weather and its … Continue reading

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6 January 1864: “Cousin Mary says, don’t you think she could hire Derry in Wilmington?”

Item description: Letter, dated 6 January 1864, from Catherine “Cattie” Kennedy to her stepmother, Catherine DeRosset Kennedy.  She discusses slaves belonging to the family, and circumstances of hiring them out. [transcription available below images] Item citation: From folder 60 in … Continue reading

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