MS049
COUNCIL LETTER, 1862

Mrs. C.A. Council received a letter from her brother stationed at Bees Creek Battry [sic}, SC dated February 17, 1862. He describes the location of his unit "near the mouth of broad [sic] River" and the unlikelihood of eminent attack by the enemy. According to the letter, Bees Creek was located "near half way between" Savanah [sic] and Charleston. Seven men in his unit had been lost since the beginning of their service. He mentions hearing daily that an attack is expected upon Savanah [sic] Georgia, and that his unit will be sent there as ".....ther [sic] are poorly prepared for it". Charleston is "somewhat better prepared". He writes proudly of his unit's readiness for battle by stating "tho [sic] say it myself we have the best drilled Regiment in the south". He sends his love to all of her family and asks that she will write soon and to direct her letter to Cooswatchia, SC 18 Reg NCV [18th Regiment Volunteers].

The 18th Regiment N.C. Troops was organized at Camp Wyatt, near Wilmington, in July, 1861 for twelve (12) months' service and was designated the 8th Regiment N.C. Volunteers. August 20, 1861 the regiment was transferred from state to Confederate service. On November 7, 1861 the regiment was ordered to Pocataligo, South Carolina, midway between Savannah and Charleston, and was stationed at Camp Stephens, on Huguenin's Neck, near Grahamville. While the troops were stationed there the regimental designation was changed from the 8th Regiment N.C. Volunteers to the 18th Regiment N.C. Troops (8th Regiment N.C. Volunteers) by Special Orders No. 222, Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, Richmond, dated November 14, 1861. During the winter of 1861-1862 the regiment remained at Camp Stephens and served on outpost duty at regular intervals. (See North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: a roster. Vol. VI, Infantry, p. 294).

Mrs. Council was probably a resident of Columbus County. Based on the sketchiness of personal information in the letter and the lack of a signature or addressed enveloped, further identification is impossible.

This item was donated to the William Madison Randall Library by Mr. Bob High of Whiteville, North Carolina on June 4, 1987. The owner of the original letter is Mrs. Betty Neilson of Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina.

This Collection has been designated Accession Number 49 of the Manuscripts Collection, Special Collections Department, William Madison Randall Library, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403-3297.

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Processed by Lana Donaldson Taylor 
Special Collections Librarian 
January 3, 1990
Manuscripts Collection 
William Madison Randall Library 
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington
1990

COPYRIGHT:  Retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.