The following letter was written by Edward Middleton Goodwyn (1835-1862), the son of wealthy physician Thomas Jefferson Goodwyn (1800-1877) of Columbia, South Carolina. In 1860, Edward was enumerated as a 25 year-old clerk living with his parents, 5 younger siblings, his maternal grandmother, and 33 slaves. He was an 1855 graduate of South Carolina College. He enlisted as a Private, Co. C, 2nd South Carolina Infantry on 8 April 1861 in Columbia, SC (or 24 April 1861 on Morris Island) for one year. He reenlisted for two years and was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 13 May 1862. He was mortally wounded in action at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862 and died on 5 October 1862 at Martinsburg, Va. (now WV).

The men in this regiment were recruited from  Columbia, Camden, and Charleston, and the counties of Sumter, Richland, Greenville, Kershaw, and Lancaster. After fighting in Bonham’s Brigade at First Manassas, the unit served under Generals Toombs, Kershaw, Kennedy, and Conner. It participated in many conflicts of the army from the Seven Days’ Battles to Cold Harbor except when it was detached with Longstreet at Chickamauga and Knoxville. The 2nd was active in Early’s Shenandoah Valley operations and ended the war in North Carolina. It reported 5 killed and 43 wounded at First Manassas, and lost eighteen percent of the 338 at Savage’s Station, twenty percent of the 203 at Malvern Hill, thirty-seven percent of the 253 at Sharpsburg, and forty-one percent of the 412 at Gettysburg. The regiment sustained 10 casualties at Bentonville and totalled 184 men on March 23, 1865. It surrendered with the Army of Tennessee.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Fairfax Court House
July 1st 1861

Dear Mother,

Time is wearing away slowly and peaceably notwithstanding our close proximity to the enemy. Two of our Virginia cavalry which have been acting as picket guard a little in advance of our own pickets were taken yesterday. That is about all the changes that have taken place since I wrote last. Beauregard (so I hear) telegraphed to Davis that he was ready to advance. Davis answered “hold on yet awhile.” I expect they must be waiting for Congress to act. The estimate of the number of forces concentrated in and about this village is various. Some say 20,000. Some say 30,000 and so on. So no one knows but [P. G. T.] Beauregard, [Milledge Luke] Bonham & a few of the chiefs.

We are all well. Love to all. Direct your letters to Fairfax Country House. Your affectionate son, — E. M. Goodwyn