The following letter was written by Georgia Ann Magruder (1840-1909), the daughter of Maj. John Archibald Magruder (1805-1887) and Mary Ann Wilder (1819-1895) of Sharon, Madison county, Mississippi. Georgia mentions her sister “Joe” in the first sentence of her letter. Joe was Josaphine America Magruder (1838-1885). She mentions her brother Henry in the second paragraph. He was Henry Archibald Magruder (1841-1896). The sister that she must have written this letter to would have been Martha Baldwin Magruder (1843-1898) who married James Hopkins (1839-1904), the son of William Hopkins (1805-1863) and Emma Goodwyn Hopkins (1808-1868) of Richland county, South Carolina. James Hopkins attended the University of Virginia and served in Co. B of the 9th South Carolina Infantry and Co. K of the 4th South Carolina Cavalry. He was wounded on Oct. 22, 1862, at the Second Battle of Pocotaligo and was captured at the Battle of Matadequin Creek, Va., on May 30, 1864. He was held as a prisoner of war at Point Lookout, Md., until he was exchanged in March 1865.
Georgia Ann Magruder was married to Dr. Isaac Asbury Shelby (1833-1909) in 1866 and had at least four children. She was born in Taliaferro county, Georgia, but lived most of her life in Madison county, Mississippi. Georgia’s letter was datelined “Oakland” which I believe must have been the name of her father’s plantation in Madison county. We learn from her letter that Georgia was employed as a private tutor and had as many as 12 scholars in 1861.
Georgia’s letter refers to a Confederate soldier known as “Kit,” a prevalent diminutive for Christopher, who appears to have originated from Madison County. This soldier faced disciplinary action for the act of scalping a Union soldier, supposedly as a war trophy intended for a female acquaintance. The identity of this soldier remains unclear.
[Note: This letter is from a private collection (RM) and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Oakland
September 23, 1861
My dear sister,
Sister Joe received your short letter last week and we are glad to know that you are still enjoying good health. I spent last week in Leake county [Mississippi] and found all our relations well except Grandma who had had chills, but had succeeded in breaking them. Uncle [Henry] Hill was married about two weeks ago to the Widow [Nancy] McCulloch of Conway. I did not approve of the match. In the first place, she has two children and is only twenty-six years old and I do not think her capable of taking charge of the children. Cousins Eubulous, Clay, and Tom [Hill] are all in the Army. 1 Their company is at Brookhaven [Mississippi] but I heard last Saturday that they were ordered to go to Kentucky in a week or two. Cam Leflore 2 is out on a visit but will leave in a few days to join a company in Arkansas. Joe will remain with her relatives.
Aunt Martha [Magruder Baldwin] sent to Canton today for Cousin Will [Owen Baldwin (1839-1911)]. He was discharged on account of his ill health. I and Mit will go to see him tomorrow night. Celeste Hayes came home last week. I have not seen her but I heard that she had grown quite tall. You will come in December. Then all the family will be at home but brother Henry.
Aunt Sarah [Magruder] Scott [wife of Elias Scott] will bring Winkey and Missie down next week to school. I think I will have my hands full when I get my twelve little scholars. Pomp is sitting by me studying Geography and says I must not forget to tell you that he made this ink. He is always experimenting on something. He and Bud Solomon are knitting comforters for the soldiers. They are learning as fast as any little boys can. Mit is studying music but declares she will never learn it, or at least she is afraid she will not.
We received a letter from Uncle Drane today stating that Virg 3, Mr. Staples, and Shaw are in the Army. Cotton crops were very promising until we had a wet spell and since then the farmers do not think they will average more than half a crop. Beck will be down soon to spend some time. I would not be surprised if she and George Thompson marry before next year although his wife has not been dead but four months.
Pompey Scott went to Leesburg to join Hill’s company and lost all his money before he reached the place.
Every lady on the county are sewing or knitting for the soldiers.
I have bad news to tell you about Kit. He was scalping a Yankee and was put on double duty for it. He said he promised to send a young lady a Yankee’s scalp and that was the cause of the punishment he had. Tell me in your next if you are the lady that Kit was working for.
Pa does not think it necessary that you and Cartagenia [Scott] remain in Salem longer than this year for he has concluded to bring you home and sending you to me two years. You will do to quit school. Mr. [William] Stigler has joined the Army, so Pa is his own overseer.
I intend putting Willie in reading next week. He is very smart. He says he wants to see sissie Morphy. Beulah and Fannie are the prettiest and smartest children in Madison county. Esq. Ried came home with me from Carthage. I do not think there is another school besides mine in the county. I am certain there is none unless they are in the lower part of the county.
Pomp had a chill yesterday but says I must tell you he is well and hardy. Mother says what has become of that gentleman you got acquainted with in Thompson.
I have written all I can think of so I will close by asking you to write soon. Yours affectionate sister, — Georgia
1 Eubulius, Henry Clay, and Thomas Hill were the three eldest sons of Henry Hill (1811-1884) who came to Landes county, Mississippi, from Warren county, Georgia. He was the son of Fielding Hill (1791-1845) and Isabella Gibson (1794-1834). Henry was married 1st to Sarah J. [unknown], and second to Nancy Elizabeth Phillips McCullough of Conway.
2 Lewis Campbell (“Cam”) Leflore (1836-1876) was the son of Benjamin L. Leflore and Mary DE Juzan. He was married to Josephine (“Joe”) B. Carrington (b. 1834) and lived in Leake county, Mississippi.
3 I believe this was Virgil Leigh Drane (1832-1903) was the son of James Drane (1808-1869). James was married first to Matilda Blanche Shaw (1813-1859) in 1840. He married second to Amelia S. Edwards in 1862.
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