This letter originated from a camp in the field near Enterprise, Mississippi and was written on September 22, 1863.  In the letter, a soldier named W.P. Billingsley writes to Elizabeth Williams of Paynetown, Mississippi concerning the death of her son.  He writes as someone who knew “Freeman” very well and says ‘he was his best friend of all the men in their company.’ Much of the content is quite touching and deeply personal.

Selected excerpts include: “I am well as to health but I am separated from and bereaved of one who I had always considered the best friend I had in the company and it is no less than your son… But I would ask you to not grieve him. I know it seems hard to give up so good a boy as he was but I earnestly believe that his spirit rests in a better world than this one… He always done his duty cheerfully and without a murmur.  Everyone was his friend. I don’t think he had an enemy in the Regt. and no one in the company could be missed more than him… He died the death of a true soldier and in perfect peace and good will to all his comrades. It was beyond my power to be with him in his sickness or to detail a friend for that purpose.  Times were pressing then and there was no chance to stay with him without disobedience of orders. He died the 6^th day after I left him and about the 8^th day after he was taken sick. He was first taken with something like the cramp colic then he took fever and died.” The writing encompasses one and a half pages – front and back of a single piece of paper – with a postscript that reads “Tell any of my People that you see that I am well”.

The letter measures 7” x  8.5” and is written in a light ink.  The lined paper shows no damage, save for a slight separation and small area of holing along the vertical folding lines at the top right and left of the letter.  The envelope was apparently hand delivered, as there is no postage, and a note reads “By hand of Mrs. Sarah P????”. The cover is addressed to “Mrs. Elizabeth Williams At-Home Paynetown, Mississippi”.

This letter is an extraordinary relic of the terrible consequences of war – a portrait of a life of one of the many beloved sons and cherished friends cut short by the Civil War.  [cm][ph:L]

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