wiley Inventory of the Major Wiley Parris Civil War Letters, 1862 Processed by: George Frizzell; machine-readable finding aid created by: Tim Carstens Special CollectionsWestern Carolina University Hunter Library
Cullowhee, NC, USA
 2008

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 Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: May 2008 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS Inventory of the Major Wiley Parris Civil War Letters, 1862 Western Carolina University Hunter Library Descriptive Summary Western Carolina University Hunter Library Special Collections Parris, Wiley Major Wiley Parris Civil War Letters, 1862 ' Material in English 3 For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Hunter Library Special Collections. Contains 3 letters of M.W. Parris, Confederate soldier and Jackson County native Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

 Copyright Notice

Copyright for materials resides with the creators of the items in question, unless otherwise designated.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Major Wiley Parris Civil War Letters, Special Collections, Western Carolina University Hunter Library, Cullowhee, NC, USA.

 Acquisitions Information

Bequest

 Processing Information

Processed by George Frizzell, June,2000

Encoded by Tim Carstens, May 2008

 Biographical Note

M. W. [Major Wiley] Parris of Jackson County, North Carolina, was 37 when he enlisted in May, 1861, and became a private in the North Carolina 25th Infantry Regiment, Company B.

Content and Scope

The three letters presented here are to his wife, Jane Parris. Less than two weeks after his letter of July 3, 1862, he was discharged "by reason of being over age" (North Carolina Troops, vol. 7, p. 376). The Federal Census of 1860 for Jackson County, North Carolina, lists an M.W. Parris, age 36, and Jane Parris, age 34, as wife.

Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Parris, Wiley--Correspondence United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 Detailed Description of the Materials Letter 1

Wiley Parris, Camp Lee, Grahamville, South Carolina, to Jane Parris, February 6, 1862. Parris writes of his health, that his unit has not yet seen military action, gives advice on planting crops, and asks Jane to settle specific debts. He notes when he has written or received letters from her, and asks for details on when she receives his letters.

Letter 2

M.W. Parris, Lenoir County, Kinston, North Carolina, to Jane Parris, April 13, 1862. Parris writes of camp life and drills, his health and that of family members with him, the shortage of paper with which to write letters, his interest in how his wife's crops are doing, his hopes to return home, and that he has not seen military action. The Alfred referred to in letter is probably Alfred Parris, who was age 20 at enlistment in the North Carolina 25th Infantry Regiment, Company B. Alfred Parris was wounded at Malvern Hill on July 1, 1862 (North Carolina Troops, vol. 7, p. 375).

Letter 3

M.W. Parris, Petersburg, Virginia, to Jane Parris, July 3, 1862. Parris writes of the battle at Malvern Hill, Virginia, on July 1, 1862, which was part of the Seven Days' Battles (June 25 - July 1, 1862). He lists the names of fellow soldiers from Jackson County killed and wounded in the battle. He briefly mentions the military action and comments on men in the hospital.