Letter from Bolling Hall, Jr., at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, to his father in Alabama.
From June 1862 to November 1863, Bolling Hall, Jr., was lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Battalion, Hilliard's Legion. In the letter he discusses troop movements; possible reorganizations and officer promotions in the army ("I believe almost all the officers of the Legion favor the change but...
| Format: | Electronic |
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Alabama Department of Archives and History
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| Online Access: | http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/voices/id/4880 |
| Summary: | From June 1862 to November 1863, Bolling Hall, Jr., was lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Battalion, Hilliard's Legion. In the letter he discusses troop movements; possible reorganizations and officer promotions in the army ("I believe almost all the officers of the Legion favor the change but the difficulty will be to arrange it to suit every man's particular convenience"); support for the Confederacy from outside sources ("I do not rely on Vallandigham nor on French intervention although Buckner's chief of staff offers large bets that France has recognised [sic] us. I simply rely on the patriotism of our army"); recent political events in Alabama, including activity by a "traitorous Secret Society" ("The most discouraging thing I have seen is the elections in Ala...However in spite of all this hope the old state will come out right in the end"); and conditions in camp. He also expresses optimism about the war despite negative attitudes on the home front: "Tom gave amusing accounts of how low spirited & badly whipped the people about Montgomery are. I am astonished at all this. The army here is far from being in such spirits. I suppose however that the Montgomery people are like all other cities have been during the war as soon as they see their own particular city or country captured think the South subdued. The Montgomerians thought their time certainly coming next when Jackson fell. I hope not though this is possible yet if it does happen we will still be far from whipped." A transcription is included. |
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