The Civil War Letters: of William H. Leatherwood, Joseph D. Leatherwood and Family

These letters were authored primarily by two brothers: William H. Leatherwood and Joseph D. Leatherwood. They demonstrate the importance of letters (communications) to the soldier and to posterity. These letters offer the perspective of men at war and all it encompasses from its fury to its boredom; from its glory to its horrors. As witnesses to war these letters speak to the times and are a testament to the perseverance of men at war - demonstrating the necessary price paid (war) to build this great nation. The editor hopes the reader will learn from the letters. Of course, none of this insight and understanding of the war and men at war would be possible without the authors of these letters sitting down around a camp fire or in a trench or under a tent and recording their thoughts and descriptions of the times they were living. Years later, it took the forethought of Lois Ellen Fenn to invest the time and effort to resurrect their thoughts and descriptions. She breathed new life into them with her transcription for posterity’s sake. And we owe Mary Hadley Francis for preserving these letters and sharing them with the family and the world. This book should be included in every genealogy library across the fruited plain, owned by genealogical societies and used by Civil War reenactment organizations to bring authenticity to their plans of action. -Joseph Dalton Leatherwood, Junior, Editor