Quattlebaum Family of South Carolina, Extensive

Quattlebaum Family of South Carolina, Extensive Confederate Archive Featuring Civil War Correspondence from Five of Six Brothers, and Ninth Plate Tintype of J.E. Quattlebaum, 13th SC Infantry

Collection of 44 Confederate letters from the Quattlebaum family of Frog Level, SC (now Prosperity). Letters, spanning spring 1861 through winter 1864, are from five of six brothers who served in several different regiments. Excellent content includes battle references as well as poignant observations of the Civil War South. Accompanied by a ninth plate tintype of one of the brothers, Private J. E. Quattlebaum, likely taken at or near the time of his 1861 enlistment, possibly in the Columbia, SC, studio of Richard Wearn and William P. Hix. Tintype is evocative and crisp, with the young private wearing a distinctive uniform reflecting the kaleidoscope of early war clothing.

The Quattlebaum family was of German descent and traced its roots to Pennsylvania pioneers who settled in the areas of Newberry and Lexington County, South Carolina, in the 1760s. Until his death, Joseph Quattlebaum (1800-1848) was the patriarch of his large family which included six sons who served in the Confederacy: Simon Peter Quattlebaum (1829-1862), KIA at Second Manassas, the oldest of the six Quattlebaum brothers and the only son of Joseph and his first wife Nancy Threat; David Belton Quattlebaum (1835-1862), died at home of measles, the oldest of Joseph's children with his second wife Margaret Lynch Spillers Quattlebaum; John Philip Quattlebaum (1838-1913), WIA and later POW at Ship Island, MS; Joseph Elijah Quattlebaum (1839-1914), captured April 1865 and POW Hart's Island, NY; Giles Michael Jefferson Quattlebaum (1845-1912), the youngest of the brothers to serve, captured April 1865 and POW Hart's Island, NY; and finally, Lewis Spillers (ca1830-1863), son of Margaret by her first husband, half brother to the Quattlebaums, KIA at Chickamauga. The archive offered here features personal correspondence from all of the sons except Simon Peter. Most letters are addressed to Margaret Lynch Spillers Quattlebaum.

Three of the brothers, Simon, Joseph, and "Jefferson", served together as Privates in "G" Co. South Carolina 13th Infantry, the "DeKalb Guards." David enlisted as a Private with "H" Co., Pickens Guards, Holcombe Legion Infantry, a regiment with the unenviable distinction of suffering one of the highest desertion rates of any SC regiment in the war. John, who had relocated to Mississippi by the outbreak of the war, enlisted as a Private into "E" Co. Mississippi 20th Infantry, the first MS regiment to serve in the field under Gen. Robert E. Lee. Lewis enlisted as a Private with "H" Co. South Carolina 3rd Infantry.

Correspondence reflects the harsh circumstances faced by all Civil War soldiers, as well as a close-knit family committed to the defense of its new country. Sample content includes in very small part the following excerpts:

From John Philip, Canton, MS, January 13, 1864: "Mother I am glad to learn that the people in your settlement is not laying out in the woods so much as the are in this State. In sum sections of country in this State tha arena large companies and has kild several of the cavalry that was hunting them. This is mity bad for our southern men to act in such a way. Tha are killing hogs and other stock that they poor wimin and children is trying to keep to live on while there husbands and sone is in the army defending our glorious country. I think some good men ought to kill Spence Beard if he is puting mischief in the negroes. If I was thare I would as soon kill him as a yankee. Such men as him is an mean as the yankees and ought to be shot."Â

From Jefferson, written to his little sister "Lizzie," Camp Near Orange CH VA, September the 20th 1863: "...Sister I saw something yearstidy that was a awful site surtin. I sean too men run out in an open field in presence of thar own brigade and marched a rond the brigade under guard foloing a band of musick. The pitifulest tune I ever hurd in mi life was plaid and when tha was dun a marching them around tha taken the too men and made them both neal down side and side with thare backs again too stakes and that tide them fast to the stakes and the guard was formed about 15 steps in front of them and the captain gave the command redy aim fire. Tha was 12 muskets fired at each ones brest. One of the pore felars made too tries to get up but he was tied and could not get the chance to rize. I tel you I don't think I will go to see any more men shot they were shot for diserting and going home to see that peple...."

From Lewis, General Hospital No. 26, January 4 1863, WIA at Battle of Fredericksburg: "Dear Mother...I this day take up my pen in order to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am improving very fast from my wound....We was call up one morning about an hour before day by the long roll and was formed in line and ws double quick about a mile and lay thear in line of batel untel Saturday evening and then we was doublequicked about a mile to the left and thear we commenst firing and the order was to lay down and not shoot unless you see sumpthing to shoot at...a ball struck me in the side of the neck and come out a little on my left shoulder...I lay thear a turned a bout a while and got up a went out be hind a big brick house whear the rest of the wounded was and stade thear a while...The canon balls was a roring over our heads...."Â

Letters and tintype accompanied by the following: 4pp MS titled "A Copy of a Letter Wrighten By our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, And found under a great stone sixty five years after His Crucification," hand copied February 22, 1852 for Margaret Quattlebaum, with notations that "this letter was distributed by a traveler it was printed" and "All goodness and prosperity shall be in the house where a copy of this letter shall be found"; albumen photograph titled "Newberry Confederate Veteran Soldiers - Confederate Memorial Day 1910,"Â approx. 12 x 9.5 in. matted and framed to 18 x 15 in.; bound title "The History of a Brigade of South Carolinians, Known First as 'Gregg's,' and Subsequently as 'McGowan's Brigade,'" originally published in 1866 by Philadelphia's King & Baird Printers, this edition published in 1984; and extensive historical and genealogical research provided by consignor.
Condition Report: Large albumen photograph not removed from frame for inspection.