This two page letter in ink in fine condition was written by Charlestonian Cornelius J. Colcock whose father William Ferguson Colcock was a Congressmen and Collector of the Port of Charleston (a position he held under both the Federal and Confederate Governments).  Cornelius served first of all in the 1st South Carolina Infantry and then under his brother Charles J. Colcock serving in Company H of the 3rd South Carolina Cavalry.  Cornelius would join his father’s law practice after the war.

 

                                                                                                                                            Charleston, Jany. 1st 1861

                        Mr. S. D. Cotany

                                        My dear Sir,

                                    I appreciate very highly your kind feeling & advice to South Carolina. 
We are in a position which requires the exercise of great prudence & at the same great
firmness in the management of our affairs.  The movement of Anderson in occupying Fort
Sumter has greatly complicated & perplexed our officers & I fear will result in what we
must & overtly desire to avoid – an issue of blood.  We cannot permit Fort Sumter to be
reinforced if we can possibly avoid it, & preparing to resist that contingency should it

occur & I fear the effort will be made to do.  If blood flows a heavy responsibility will rest
on Andersons head for he & his garrison even is no more damaged than you see now.  If
an issue can only be avoided until a few more states go out.  The naval influence of
cooperation may prevent an attempt at cohesion.  When matters arrive at their present
condition because the turn of events get beyond the construct of wise & prudent men &
use the mercy of impulsive parties.  God alone can direct the issue & in Him we place our
trust believing our cause is just & will triumph in the end. 

            I have never seen anything to equal the calm determination of our people to meet
the issue be it what it may. 

            I would like to hear from you about the sentiment of the people of the North Ala.
& what is meant by cooperation. 

                                                                                                    Yours truly,

                                C. J. Colcock

#HC74 – Price $1,295