This letter has been entirely crumpled up, then flattened; it has stains, is very worn, and many parts are nearly illegible. She’s flirting with men who aren’t W.C. Bailey, which implies this is before their relationship develops; and she references deserters being rounded up, indicating the war has been going for a little while.
This letter from Victoria Cunningham to her sister, Margaret Sullivan. It references “Mike” — Michael M. Cunningham, their younger brother, who would be killed in battle one year later. He entered as a second lieutenant and ended a first lieutenant. He was Captain of Company D, 6th Regiment, 13th Infantry. Received a gunshot wound to the thigh on June 30, 1862 in a Seven Days Battle before Richmond. Admitted to Chimborazo Hospital No. 4, Richmond, Virginia on July 1, and he died July 5, 1862 from gangrene. The letter also mentions Chevis Crawford Montgomery, an uncle who was in the company, or his son.
Victoria Cunningham, age 18 or 19, is writing her sister Margaret, who is seven years older. Margaret had married at age 16, but her husband died a year or two before this letter was written; she remarried just after this letter.
This letter is very unusual in several respects. It is not fully dated, as most of Victoria's letters are. It begins with “Dear Margaret,” a striking departure from the normal “My dear Sister.” The grammar and spelling are less developed; and the “sound” of her writing feels younger and less mature than her other letters. It doesn’t mention their brother Mike at war, which implies it was written before he left. The postscript is also very unusual, and seems to indicate an early discomfort with letter-writing (many other American womens’ letters from this period have requests to burn or destroy or hide or protect the letter, but Vic does this no other time — even for letters discussing rather private matters). For these reasons, I tend to think this is August, 1860. She does mention Ben Morgan being elected Lieutenant, but the Confederate military had not yet begun muster at that point; that could indicate an August 1861 date. However, all the other factors point to an earlier date, and it’s entirely possible Ben is in the state militia — which was in massive growth and development in August 1860. The letter makes no mention of Washington Sullivan; Margaret married him in December of 1860.
Set of 20 pictures-tokens used at Victor Mill Store for employees, Copy of 50 cent pc given for opening account at Bank of Greer, City Park, Presbyterian Church, City Hall, Downtown Greer, Grammar School, First Baptist Church
1997.81.1.2 - Photograph of City Park, Greer Postcard
1997.81.1.9 - Photograph of Grammer School
1997.81.1.8 - Photograph of Grammar School
Sud Paget 1937, Greer High Band 1941, C and D used Car Sales Advertisement, one page newspaper ad Chevrolet 1928-1976, Lake J. C. Cunningham , reservoir and dam, opening commissioners
