Four page letter in ink from two brothers both belonging to Company D of the 18th South Carolina Infantry, M. V. Barkley and G. R. Barkley.  Nice Fort Sumter content!

                                                                                                                Camp 18th Regt. Christ Church Parish 
                                                                                                          4 miles from Mt. Pleasant Oct. 30th, 1863

                        Dear Father & Mother, Brothers & Sisters,

            We write you these few lines to let you know we are both well hoping these lines
may reach you & find you all well.  I have been laying off to write ever since we left
James Island but I was one of the baggage guards & did not have the chance to write
& yesterday we had to work on the breastworks.  The Yankees opened fire from Morris I
sland on last Monday with Eleven two & three pounder parrot guns.  On Monday they
fired one hundred and 88 eighty eight shots at Sumter 165 took effect on the fort.  25
passed over Tuesday.  I witnessed with my own eyes the balls striking Sumter.  They
will beat it to the ground if they hold on.   Yesterday, last night, & this morning the
firing is kept up with spirit.  I was glad to get to Mount Pleasant once more and if you
have not started Neal I think you might come for it is likely we will stay here for some
time if the Yankees don’t run us from the city but I expect to hear but little else than
the roar of cannon.  I am in hopes you will come & see us & bring my clothes.  Be sure
& bring some shoe wax with you.  Father, Mr. Joel Ellison says he wants to buy one of
your milk cows that will have a calf sometime before long.  He says he will pay you a
good price for one and let you have all the shucks he has to spare.  I don’t want to plan
 for you but I think that you have more than you can feed unless you can buy for such
a stock, will consume a great deal and I had to as soon part with them to the neighbors
and rather do it than to let them be pressed by the government.  Write back what you
will do in the matter.  Neal come on you can get from the Mt. Pleasant by enquiring for
the 18th Regt.  I am in a hurry.  Will have to close for the present.  Come buy your salt.  
                                        
                                                                                Write soon.

                                                        M. V. Barkley

                                                        G. R. Barkley

                        I will write Sunday.

#HC84SC – Price $395