Manuscript Database
Creator/Title
Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875. Papers, 1862-1865. 1 volume.
Call No.
Mss. A B829a
Content
This bound volume contains the headquarters correspondence of Confederate Major-General John C. Breckinridge which primarily reflects his tenure as commander of the Department of Western Virginia and East Tennessee. In a letter dated July 31, 1864 at Abingdon, Va. Lewis Castleman informs Gen. Breckinridge that his brother (Major) John (B. Castleman) was cut off by the enemy during Gen. John Hunt Morgan's recent Kentucky raid. He expressed his disgust with both the "command and the commander" due to the pillaging that occurred during the operation. In a letter dated Nov. 17. 1864 at Wytheville, Va. , Major J. Stoddard Johnston informs Gen. Breckinridge that Col. Caudill of the 10th Kentucky Mounted Rifles battalion had arrived and reports that his command was at Castlewoods (Russell County, Va.). He states that Caudill brought 150 men out of eastern Kentucky adding that he reports the border counties overrun by pillaging marauders, largely composed of Confederate deserters. pp. 33, 41, 66