The following letter was penned by Frederick Graham Latham (1823-1903) who came to Spartanburg, South Carolina, from Moneydie, Scotland some time in the 1850s. During the Civil War, he was elected Captain in the Palmetto Sharpshooters, Co. M (the “Pacolet Guards”). The letter was penned in December 1863 and requests a leave of absence to visit his dying mother in Scotland. It can be found in the Civil War Service Records of the National Archives.

Fred’s great-great granddaughter, Shelly Aliene DeStaffino-Hunter, asked me to transcribe the letter. She informs me that Fred had 5 children out of wedlock with her great-great-grandmother, Rebecca Eleanor Ramsey (1848-1929). Family oral history has it that Fred did not want to marry Rebecca for some reason so she later married an Italian named Joe DeStaffino.

Transcription

Headquarters [Micah] Jenkins Brigade
13 December 1863

Col.,

I respectfully ask for a leave of absence of such as extent as would enable me to pass sixty (60) days in Scotland, my native country. In my last letter from there an aged mother hopelessly sick urges me to visit her once more in which my father, a very old man, also joins. I entered the service in April 61 and been with my regiment in every action (except one). I have been absent about 50 days in my thirty-two months service. I wish to return to my command before hostilities are renewed in the Spring months.

Hoping to have the Lieut. General’s favorable consideration, I have the honor to be Colonel, your most obedient servant, — F. G. Latham, A.A.A.G.

Lt. Col. [Moxley] Sorrell, A. A. General