Four-page autograph letter signed "Hayne Davis," headed "Statesville - August 10th, 63," to "My dear Miss Satterfield." Davis wrote it five weeks after the battle to the sister of Capt. Edward Fletcher Satterfield, Co. H, 55th North Carolina Infantry, who was killed July 3, 1863 in the Pickett-Pettigrew assault at Gettysburg.

The writer was Satterfield's own former company commander. Hayne Davis was the captain of Co. H, 55th North Carolina, and resigned his commission in 1863. His resignation papers survive in his Confederate service record. On them, the company's endorsement asks that the resignation be accepted because 1st Lt. Satterfield has been acting in command and is an efficient officer who would probably be appointed captain. The papers carry endorsements by Col. John K. Connally, Brig. Gen. Joseph R. Davis, Third Corps headquarters (July 9, 1863) and Army of Northern Virginia headquarters (July 16, 1863). The resignation was therefore working its way up the chain of command during the very days Satterfield fell. The letter closes the circle: Davis tells the family that Satterfield's commission as captain "will be issued to take rank from 10th Mar," and that they may draw his salary through the Auditor's Office at Richmond. The March 10, 1863 date agrees with the North Carolina roster record of Satterfield's promotion.

Davis writes as a close friend. He had "just returned yesterday from the army," where he sought news of Satterfield at the regiment. The letter is a rare family-side record of the uncertainty that followed the charge. Davis could find no one who saw the body after Satterfield fell, though men of his company reported seeing him struck by a shell, and Davis still urges the family to hope he may be among the prisoners. He records that Satterfield had a strong presentiment he would be killed and told his friends so. Beforehand, Satterfield had a long talk with a man named Williams of his own company, "one of the best Christians I ever saw."

The letter also names other officers of the 55th caught up in the battle. The adjutant, Lt. Henry T. Jordan, was captured July 1 and held at Johnson's Island until March 1865; he "will soon write by flag of truce," and "Poor Jordan will have a hard time." The fate of the regiment's colonel, John Kerr Connally, who was severely wounded and captured, "yet remains in doubt." Davis also mentions a debt of several hundred dollars he owes Satterfield, to be taken up by Daniel G. Fowle of Raleigh, later Governor of North Carolina.

Satterfield, of Person County, served earlier in Co. A, 24th North Carolina, before his commission in the 55th. The 55th fought in Joseph R. Davis's brigade of Heth's division. Regimental tradition, carried into the North Carolina roster literature, places Satterfield among the few Confederates who advanced farthest in the July 3 assault. That tradition is part of the foundation of the State's "Farthest at Gettysburg" claim.

Hayne Davis's compiled service record carries a later "See also Staff" cross-reference, and he died October 30, 1890 in Iredell County.

TRANSCRIPTION

Statesville - August 10th, 63

My dear Miss Satterfield -

I mourn with you - and your poor father and mother - I mourn for the loss of a friend - a kind - noble - generous and beloved friend - You mourn for an affectionate brother - for a dutifull & loving son - Full well do I know how fondly he loved you all - often have we talked about my visit to him & Jordan when the war should be over - but, alas. Cruel Fate has snatched him from us - & let us hope that he has gained in leaving this world - I just returned yesterday from the army and intended writing as soon as I got here - found your letter to me & hasten to reply - I was told at the regiment that my poor friend had a strong presentiment that he would be killed & so told his friends - he had a long talk with a man, named Williams - belonging to his own company - who is one of the best Christians I ever saw - I could find no one who saw his body after he fell - but men of his company say that they saw him when he was struck by a shell - Let us hope to God that he may be among the prisoners - and that those men were mistaken - 'Tis hard to have hopes kindled, only to be crushed - but what can we do - Jordan will soon write by flag of truce & I beg you to let me hear from you as soon as you receive any intelligence - Poor Jordan will have a hard time - Connally's fate - yet - remains in doubt - Lt. Towns is now at home - he has the coat - Tell your father that I owe Satterfield several hundred dollars - for which he has my note - I suppose he left the note at home - If he will present the note to Daniel G. Fowle of Raleigh he will take it up - Satterfield's Commission as Capt. will be issued to take rank from 10th Mar & you can draw the salary on through the Auditor's Office at Richmond - With much love & sympathy I remain Your friend Hayne Davis

CONDITION

Four pages on a folded sheet of ruled paper, approx. 5 x 8 in. per page. The letter is complete and fully legible in a strong dark ink. There are scattered brown foxing spots throughout and even toning. The original folds have old translucent repairs along the folds and margins. There are small blue ink spots on pages three and four, and a pencil inventory number at the foot of the final page.

The letter comes with the following research material, housed in a black leatherette folder:

- A typed transcript.

- Photocopies of Hayne Davis's Confederate compiled service record, including his resignation papers and North Carolina Roll of Honor card.

- Modern roster printouts for Satterfield, Jordan and Connally.

- A genealogical research summary on Davis.       [ss][ph:L]

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