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Size | 7 items |
Abstract | John H. Speed, a white clerk or merchant of Edgecombe County, N.C., served in Company G, 3rd North Carolina Cavalry Regiment (also called the 41st Regiment, North Carolina Troops). William H. Edmondson was a white physician who served in Company G, 12th North Carolina Infantry Regiment and, later, in the 52nd Virginia Troops Regiment. The collection includes three original letters from 1864, typed transcriptions of two of them, and two supplementary documents providing background on John H. Speed and the Edmondson family. The 10 June 1864 letter was written by J. S.(?) Pierre Gibson transmitting his regards to the sister of the recently deceased "Dr. Edmonson," believed to be William H. Edmondson. The 23 September 1864 letter was written by John H. Speed to his daughter Kate(?) giving her news and instructions. During September 1864, Speed's company was on picket duty in Virginia, guarding the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad. The 18 November 1864 letter is from Speed, in camp, to his wife, in which he discussed weather, his improving health, and anticipation of another battle before winter. |
Creator | Speed, John H., b. 1826.
Edmondson, William H., d. 1864. |
Curatorial Unit | Southern Historical Collection |
Language | English. |
Collection title as per donor request.
Processed by: Jaime L. Margalotti, September 2003
Revisions by: Nancy Kaiser and Gillian McCuistion, September 2019
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John H. Speed was born in James City County, Va., in 1826. He married Ellen Jane Edmondson in 1850 and worked as a clerk or merchant until enlisting in Company G, 3rd North Carolina Cavalry Regiment (also called the 41st North Carolina Troops) in 1861. The 1850 Halifax County, N.C., census shows that Speed lived in Edgecombe with his wife; his father-in-law, John Edmondson; Ann B., Lavenia, Danford, and William H. Edmondson; and Drew Jones. Speed's children were Kate, Sallie, Charlie, Johnnie, and a Dr. Speed, who settled in Speed, N.C., also in Edgecombe County. William H. Edmondson is likely the recently deceased "Dr. Edmondson" discussed in the June 1864 letter from J. S.(?) Pierre Gibson. A doctor prior to enlisting, Edmondson served in Company G, 12th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, and transferred to the 52nd Virginia Troops Regiment in 1863.
Back to TopThe Edmondson and Speed Civil War papers include three original letters from 1864, typed transcriptions for two of them, and two supplementary documents providing background on John H. Speed of Edgecombe County, N.C., and the Edmondson family. The 10 June 1864 letter was written by J. S.(?) Pierre Gibson transmitting his regards to the sister of the recently deceased "Dr. Edmonson," believed to be physician William H. Edmondson of Company G, 12th North Carolina Infantry Regiment and the 52nd Virginia Troops Regiment. The 23 September 1864 letter was written by John H. Speed of Company G, 3rd North Carolina Cavalry Regiment (also called the 41st Regiment, North Carolina Troops) to his daughter Kate(?) giving her news and instructions. During September 1864, Speed's company was on picket duty in Virginia, guarding the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad. The 18 November 1864 letter is from Speed, in camp, to his wife, in which he discussed weather, his improving health, and anticipation of another battle before winter.
Back to TopThe Edmondson and Speed Civil War papers include three original letters from 1864, typed transcriptions of two of them, and two supplementary documents providing background on John H. Speed of Edgecombe County, N.C., and the Edmondson family. The 10 June 1864 letter was written by J. S.(?) Pierre Gibson transmitting his regards to the sister of the recently deceased "Dr. Edmonson," believed to be physician William H. Edmondson of Company G, 12th North Carolina Infantry Regiment and the 52nd Virginia Troops Regiment. The 23 September 1864 letter was written by John H. Speed of Company G, 3rd North Carolina Cavalry Regiment (also called the 41st Regiment, North Carolina Troops) to his daughter Kate(?) giving her news and instructions. During September 1864, Speed's company was on picket duty in Virginia, guarding the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad. The 18 November 1864 letter is from Speed, in camp, to his wife, in which he discussed weather, his improving health, and anticipation of another battle before winter.
Folder 1 |
Papers |