Letters from Lee's Army, or Memoirs of Life In and Out of The Army in Virginia During the War Between the States

by Charles Minor Blackford, Susan Leigh Blackford (Editor), Charles Minor Blackford III (Editor)

Charles Minor Blackford was a Virginia aristocrat who fought for the Confederacy as much out of obligation to his class and region as for political reasons. Letters from Lee’s Army presents the correspondence between Captain Blackford and his wife, Susan Leigh Blackford, during the war. While Captain Blackford writes of the rigors of campaigning—the dramatically bad food, the constant dysentery, the cold and wet—we see the stoic Susan Blackford gradually relying less and less on her husband to make decisions. During the course of the war Susan Blackford lost her home, three children, and her belongings to the struggle, all without the camaraderie and sustaining sense of purpose known to the soldier. These letters emphasize the stresses that war and separation can place on a marriage.Blackford enlisted in the Second Virginia Cavalry at the outset of the war and in 1863 was posted to Longstreet’s Corps. Most of his service was in northern Virginia around the Rappahannock and the Rapidan Rivers, in the Shenandoah Valley, and with Lee’s army at Gettysburg. In 1864 Blackford went west with Longstreet’s army to Chattanooga, and he returned with Longstreet for the war’s final days.

Genres: History, Civil War, Historical, Nonfiction, War

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1894

Reviews

[Athena (OneReadingNurse) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book of letters, footnotes, diary, and Susan's commentary. Wonderful in audio form.

Thoughts can be found at https://onereadingnurse.com/2023/10/0... since there's something going on with my copy/paste feature 😅

[Gregory Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an execellent story - of a southern couple caught up in Lincoln's War. The primary characters are Susan Leigh Colston Blackford and her husband Charles Minor Blackford, with a home in Lynchburg, VA. The narrative starts before the start of the war with the temperature of the community and country. As soon as the war starts Mr. Black for enlists. From there forward almost the entirety of the book consists of the detailed letters between Susan and Charles. It's an honest account of how the couple survive the four years of chaos and stress in their family. I have not read anything similar and would highly recommend it.

[Lynette Lark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally finished reading this very interesting book. Some books I read in bed; others I read in the bathroom; oddly, I can't read in the car, but I can read on an airplane.

This is a book of letters that passed between a husband and wife during the Civil War--he's, of course, in the Confederate Army, and she's at home in Virginia trying to keep food on the table, clothes on her only surviving child, and generally doing all the things slaves had done for her in the past.

[Jolene Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

So compelling to read actual letters that were written between husband and wife throughout the Civil War. Imagine a real-time account of history with no other agenda than recording what it was like to be a soldier and a home-maker. Eye-opening, so thankful these letters were preserved and published.

[Shelly♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of letters written by Charles and Susan Blackford from the Civil War. The author's fill in gaps with some narrative when letters are missing or when there is an absence of correspondence because they are together. Blackford is a Captain in the CSA Army and serves in a number of positions under the various major figures of the Confederacy including Lee, Jackson, Longstreet and Stuart. He shares stories from the battlefields and from camp. His wife's letters give a taste to the suffering on the homefront. The war took the Blackford family from affluency to poverty in it's four year cycle.

Highly recommend this book for an inside look behind the lines of the CSA. For all students of the Civil War.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The letters written between Charles and his wife Susan Blackford provide unique insights into the personal toll the war took on families. The reader sees the war from both sides; the battle - field/camp and the homefront. The struggles endured by both while worrying about each other was at times tragic. If you want to get a glimpse of the life of a family man turned soldier, I highly recommend this book.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent first-hand account of the War Between the States. Fascinating personal observations of Lee and Stonewall Jackson. His recounting of battlefield experience and camp life is illuminating. Well edited and paced for modern readers. Highly recommend!

[Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book start to finish...