January 22, 1861-Dated Civil War Era, Autograph Letter Signed, Written to the Author's Brother Describing the Seizure of Federal Forts near Pensacola and Mobile, the Standoff at Fort Pickens, Local Militia Companies, and the Effect of Secession on the Buying and Selling of Enslaved People, Very Fine.
This autograph letter, 3 pages, measuring 9.75 x 7.75 inches, is datelined "The Republic of Alabama, Janua(ry) 22, (18)61," written eleven days after Alabama's Secession from the Union on January 11, 1861, and addressed by the author to his brother. Text written later in the letter has statements such as: “They have caused many a poor negro to be hung here by their false sincerity. We have hung a good many in this county.”

This letter opens with family and financial matters, enclosing a check, relaying news of a family member selling his drug store to take charge of the "Walter Steam Mills" in Montgomery, and the birth of a daughter to "Walter's wife." It then turns to the unfolding secession crisis: the author reports that most of the young men of his town have gone to Pensacola and Mobile "to take possession of the Forts," and that they have secured every fort in the area with the exception of Fort Pickens, whose commander has refused to surrender "unless he get orders from the Government," adding that "Ten Thousand men could not take it." The author names two local militia companies, the "True Blues" and the "Home Guards" the latter of which he says numbers about one hundred and fifty members, and remarks on Lincoln's election having "got the county in a nice fix."

The letter's final page addresses, in direct and disturbing terms, the effect of the Secession crisis on Slavery in the writer's county. He reports having lost, through death, an Enslaved girl he valued at six hundred dollars, states that "the Planters are all afraid to purchase negros," and puts the depreciation in the value of the enslaved people he holds at over twenty-five hundred dollars. He goes on to write that he has "got two (enslaved people) directly for the Abolitionists," expresses a wish to see abolitionists "hung higher than Haman," and states plainly, "we have hung a good many in this County," an apparent reference to the extrajudicial killings of enslaved people carried out across parts of the South during the secession winter amid rumors, largely unfounded, of slave insurrections encouraged by abolitionists. (Read the full letter transcript online.)


FULL TRANSCRIPTION:

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The Republic of Alabama Janua[ry] 22, [18]61

Dear Brother

Enclosed you will receive a check for forty four 35/100 Dollars which is to pay a bill to Mr. Simon[s]. The Balance over I wish you to appropriate for an oyster supper for yourself and friends, [demijohn?] drinks included. June[y] was here last week, says they wer[e] all well. He has sold out his drug store, [he] is coming to Montgomery to take charge of Walter's Steam Mills. The family will not come down before next Fall. It is lucky for Walter that he is in the Bank for he gets two thousand dollars Salary which is good for these dull times. Walter's wife presented him last Saturday a fine daughter[.] Mother [and] child both doing very well. They did not loose much time. They [-] done business fast, they had been married nine months [and] three days. If he continues at the same rate he will have quite an extensive family. I am boarding

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at this time at Mr. Norton['s]. They are all well. The girls are very much frighten[ed] in regard to the times, most of the young men of the place have gone to Pensacola [and] Mobile to take possession of the Forts. They have got possession of all the Forts with the exception of Fort[e] Pickens [that] they can't get at present. The commander says he don't want to fight the boys but says he will not surrender the fort unless he get[s] orders from the Government. They say that Ten Thousand men could not take it. I don't believe there will be any fighting. I hope it will be settled yet. Tim D. has gone, he belongs to the True Blues, I belong to the Home Guards, we have about one hundred [and] fifty members. Lee [and] Norton belong to Doct[or] Henry['s] Company, they are the old fogies. The Election of Lincoln has got the county in a nice fix. I reckon the Black Republican[s] begin to think that we are in earnest. Last summer whilst I was th[e]re you know they laughed at me when I told them we would not stand the Election of old Abe. His Election has given me

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thunder. I have not sold a negro since I returned from the north. I lost a little girl worth six hundred dollars. That shows what luck I am in.

The Planters are all afraid to purchase negros. They don't know what effect these times will have upon them. The depreciation on what I have got is over Twenty five hundred Dollars. You can see what they have brought the country to. I am sorry for my friends at the north that will [have to] suffer from the Election of Lincoln. I have got two directly for the abolitio[nis]ts. I would like to see some of them hung higher th[a]n Haman. They have caused many a poor negro to be hung here by their false sincerity. We have hung a good many in this county. You must excuse me from writing more, for our papers give you all the news. I know you take the Herald which keeps you posted up. I hear through [the] Colum[bus] Enquirer that you wer[e] all well. Heard about the sad [fire?]. Give my respects to all from your Broth[er] (signature unclear)