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 thanks his wife for her recent correspondence...
In the letter Somerville discusses a rumor that he will be dismissed from his position on the appraisal board. While his alleged offense involves a dispute with Secretary Shaw of the U.S. Treasury, he believes that "The real pretext for such...