letters

[rebelfirefighter07]

I'm looking for a source for some letters from the Southern home front. I've searched high and low for letters sent to soldiers describing life at home and came up empty handed. All I can find is letters sent home from soldiers. I'm looking for ideas so that I can eventually put together some period letters to give out to my men at mail call. Thanks in advance.

[Annette Bethke]

Re: letters

Check out here http://www.txcwcivilian.org/id202.html

[bizzilizzit]

Re: letters

Perhaps here:

http://library.duke.edu/specialcollections/bingham/guides/cwdocs.html

or here:

http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/homelife.html

[Bones]

Re: letters

try "the Granite Farm Letters" ,pub.by university of georgia press. has both letters from home and soldiers letters.

Doug Bones Jarrett
Armory Guards

[Eric Burke]

Re: letters

Many/most archival collections include letters both coming and going in the collection. It's pot-luck, really, and usually alot more of one or the other exists (depending on the situation both parties found themselves within), but most finding aids provided by repositories address the general composition of the material. I would recommend identifying a general area/county which you're interested in learning more about and contacting local or state repositories/archival libraries. There is no shortage of home-front letters on either side, you just have to know what you're looking for specifically. Best of luck!

Also...it was not uncommon for civilians to write into local newspapers (much like soldiers) to have their letters published commenting on life in their county, their feelings on the war, thoughts to the editor of the paper, etc. Microfilmed papers might be a good place to look.

[Mark Britton]

Re: letters

There a few letters, both from the soldier in the field and from home to the soldier at this link http://www.tngenweb.org/tnletters/isaac-howard.html

Mark Britton

[Poague41stVA]

Re: letters

Andy,

Not a source for letters, but I think a good source for the info you are looking for, Behind the lines in the Southern Confederacy by Charles W. Ramsdell. You should be ableto get a copy from Louisiana State University Press.

Dave Bushmole

[Eric Burke]

Re: letters

Also, I might add that often times soldiers will address or even re-state concerns voiced in letters to them when responding, therefore a careful study of the soldier's letters home and the fears/concerns he tries to alleviate or comment on can go far towards illuminating the general pervading mentality back home even if the original letters from the spouse/sweetheart/family member are no longer in existence. Just a tip. Again, best of luck!

[colorsgt26nc]

Re: letters

You can find letters written between my great-great grandparents here:
http://ourspecial.net/26nccf/
The letters start shortly after enlistment in 1861 and go through Gettysburg.
Some of the info in the introduction is inaccurate. Granddaddy didn't spend the rest of the war in a Yankee hospital. He was exchanged and spent the rest of the war on light duty back home as a conscription officer.

[rebelfirefighter07]

Re: letters

Thanks for all the replies!!