The following letter was written by James Preston Amole (1837-1916) of Rockbridge county, Virginia, who served the Confederacy as a private in Co. I of the 4th Virginia Infantry—part of the Stonewall Brigade. He wrote the letter from Elmira Prison in mid-October 1864 to Mrs. J. Eliza Bestor, a Southern sympathizer residing in Baltimore who had two sons in the Confederate service and provided assistance whenever she could to Confederate soldiers imprisoned in the North.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Prison Camp, Elmira, New York
October 14, 1864
Miss Bestor,
I must beg leave to be excused for thus addressing one whom I never saw, nor had the pleasure of forming their acquaintance. But having heard of the acts of kindness, and generosity you have bestowed upon others in administering to their wants under like circumstances with myself, I have availed myself of this plan to make known to you my wants with the hope that I may be the happy recipient of your philanthropy, if it has not already been taxed too heavily. I have been a prisoner for five months and during this time have been destitute of funds; not being so fortunate as some others in having numerous relations and friends in the North to send me such things as I need. Should you see proper, I would be under lasting obligations if you could send me a small sum of money. I have a brother [Thomas Franklin Amole], a prisoner in Baltimore, confined in [ ] Building, Ward G. I am a native of Rockbridge Co., Virginia.
Direct to Prison Camp Barracks No. 3, Ward 44 in care of Maj. Colt, Elmira, N.Y. 1
Your Sincere though unknown friend, — James P. Amole
1 Major Henry V. Colt was the 1st Commandant of Elmira Prison. He held the administrative post from July 1864 through October 1864. He was the brother of the arms manufacturer Samuel Colt.
