Confederate Archive of 4th Private Elbert S. Cassady, Georgia Company G, 9th Regiment (Walker Co., GA – Lafayette Volunteers). 10 total letters (2 pre-war, 8 Civil War period) letters from Elbert S. Cassady to his cousin, Nancy E. Sawyers (Nancy E. Sawyers McBee married name) of Knox Co., TN, 5 covers (most war period), 1 1864 letter from Nancy E. Sawyers. Elbert S. Cassady enlisted as a private in June 12, 1861 and was discharged a month later on July 14, 1861 for tuberculosis. He was born December 16, 1830 and died October 28, 1902. January 20th, 1862 Lafayette letter – writes that he received a letter from Rus dated Dec. 25, 1861 and January 8th, 1862. "We have a report here that England has acknowledged our independence… For us Rebeles as they call us in Lincolns Government, I love to be called a Rebele, in this fight. I had much rather be a Rebel or called one than to be a tory, for I look upon them as being the last of Gods Creation…"I always think of the Boys every night and wish they had or could have a good soft bed to sleep on like they had at home, but I know they cant. They are Brave Boys and I love them. I wish I could be with them and help them fight for my Country and defend our fair sides…..I had a fine time in Missouri and Kentucky a spying around among the Lincoln Armies…Elbert goes on to speak about the first case of murder that has taken place in Lafayette. June 28th, 1862 letter – Elbert writes, "Sorry to hear of the destruction of property in your section of Country (Knox Co.) by the enemy. But there is a better coming and I think that it is near at hand when victory will pearch upon our Banners and we will be free.. August 14th, 1862 – "there has been a skirmish at or near Tazwell and our troops drove the feds back and occupied the town that is the way to serve the Rascals they aught to be driven to the Northern Ocean and the Baptized head formost-through ice 40 feete thick. There is hundreds of Soldiers + waggons passing through here every day from Tupelo to Chatttanooga. I saw the Commissary last week. he told me that we had one hundred + twelve thousand soldiers at Chattanooga then there as several thousand gone their since..there is 2 companies some where above Knoxville from Walker Co., one commanded by Capt Brady…..(he lists other regiments and their commanders..). Elbert goes on to write, "Several Negros started to Lincoln's Army last weeke from here. We caught them and brought them back South. There is a woman in jail that will be hanged for burning a house…" January 21st, 1863 letter – speaks of attending weddings and spending time in the woods and Piggeon Mountain. He has not received a letter from Russ since the second of the month and writes of him being in the hospital. March 20th 1863 letter – "I had seen a dispatch from the Knoxville Register a few days ago about the difficulty that you spoke of in your last…very mean in those poeple to conseal torys + traitors about their house…There has been some bush whacking in our County in the last few days but nobody killed yet, the balls whispers tolerably close, some times they pass through a mans hat but generally though his coat…I must now tell you that the small pox is here.. April 26th, 1863 letter – "I keepe moving a bout to keepe the Blues off. There is two Companies of Soldiers stationed in Lafayette at present one company of Cavalry and one of Infantry. They have caught seventy five deserters since they arrived here, So the bush whacking has ceased for the present.. I received a letter from Russ dated 13th of this month he said he was still improving…the Regiment is at Suffolk Va, under Longstreet." July 25th 1863 letter – refers to an Exhibition of Tableaux and how the performance came off well…"money made by this arrangement goes to our sick and wounded soldiers in the hospital at Ringgold…about 30 cases of smallpox at Ringgold..There is an other one (soldier) in our jail to be sent to Chattanooga to be tried by the Military authorities for deserting the Army and murdering a soldier..(Elbert knows the young soldier as he also enlisted in the 9th Regiment)…The Georgia Boys are flocking to Savannah by the hundreds.." Elbert also writes he has not heard from Russ. August 9th, 1863 letter – speaks of the capture of Morgan (General). "a true Southern patriot would be willing to die half a dozen times if it were possible for him to have than many lives…all the good people of the Confederate States ought to be found upon their knees as often as each day as was Danil of Old, in humble supplication to Almighty God in behalf of the people of the Confederate States…there is too much extortion, stealing going on in our land, God will not recognize such conduct as that, and my opinion is that the People of the Confederacy will have to Repent of their sins National and Individual before this war closes… CONDITION: Letters and covers overall very good condition, one cover with stamp cut off.