In the letter he describes reaction to a report that Union forces were approaching Tuscaloosa. The alarm was proven false after the cadets were called to arms, but the event demonstrated the city's weakness in case of invasion: "The scouts came...
From June 1862 to November 1863, Bolling Hall, Jr., was lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Battalion, Hilliard's Legion. In the letter he describes his own somber feelings about the war: "I believe the anticipation of the time when peace again shall...
During the Civil War, Semple served as a captain of an artillery battery organized in Montgomery (known as Semple's Battery). He was later appointed a major and transferred to Mobile. In the letter he describes a recent battle and his mindset...
From June 1862 to November 1863, Bolling Hall, Jr., was lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Battalion, Hilliard's Legion. In the letter he discusses recent troop movements and upcoming campaigns; conditions in their new camp ("The water here is...
During the Civil War, Moore served as a colonel of the 11th Alabama Infantry Regiment. In the letter he discusses troop movements; conditions in camp ("The whole army is without tents & provisions have been scarce"); recent fighting with Union...
From May 1861 to May 1862 Crenshaw Hall served in the 6th Alabama Infantry. In the letter he discusses troop movements and possible fighting; activities and duties in camp; and the morale of the soldiers: "...as soldiers we do not suffer from...
During the Civil War, Riggs served in Company G of the 27th Mississippi Infantry Regiment. In the letter he describes a recent campaign by General Joseph E. Johnston, which was a surprising success: "Gen Johnston completely surprise both our army...
Article discussing the first raising of the Confederate flag over the capitol; a description of the banner is included: "It consists of three bars of red and white. The upper red, middle white, lower red. The lower bar extends the whole width of...
This article describes the celebration held in Montgomery after South Carolina seceded from the Union: "The demonstration of sympathy for the gallant Palmetto State, and of rejoicing that she had at length 'disrupted every tie that bound her to the...
The introduction briefly discusses the terms of the "compromise bills" and encourages support for the decisions of the federal government: "There appears no objection from any Southern man to the Fugitive Slave Bill. After the Wilmot Proviso has...
In the letter King discusses sectional division over slavery and expresses his hope that compromise will settle the issue and maintain unity: "The slavery question is the all absorbing subject here; and how it is to terminate God only knows...but I...
During the Mexican-American War, Moore organized and led the Eutaw Rangers, a group of volunteers from Greene County, Alabama. In the letter he describes the Battle of Vera Cruz, which resulted in the surrender of the city to American forces: "I am...
In the letter Clay discusses Creek Indians who have escaped from removal camps and are hiding in their old territory: "It is...impossible to ascertain satisfactorily how many of these deluded savages, are still lurking within our limits, but I am...
In the letter Clay explains "that hostilities have been commenced, by the Creek Indians, upon the inhabitants of Alabama, as well as those of Georgia." He then explains local troop preparations and proposed tactics for winning the fight, and he...
Report submitted to the United States House of Representatives by Dixon Hall Lewis of the Committee on Indian Affairs. The committee requests "relief for certain Creek Indians of mixed blood, within the State of Alabama; and also the petitions of...
In his address Cobb insists that the slavery question, the central issue influencing the pending secession of the South, was not answered by the recent presidential election: "But gentlemen say they cannot do anything. They say that the edict went...
The committee reporting argues that "the line run is the true line, and they entertain too high a respect for the good sense, justice and magnanimity of the citizens of Alabama to believe for one moment that a difference of opinion will be...
Account written by Richard Blount (while serving on the Georgia-Alabama Boundary Survey Commission) describing the Cherokees' negative reaction to the boundary survey. Blount met with Cherokee representatives to defend the work: "We are sent here...
In the letter Toulmin briefly mentions plans to establish a salt works nearby, and then he criticizes Caller's recent efforts to prevent the division of the Mississippi Territory before statehood: "That the whole Mississippi Territory never will be...