Letter from Lewis to his Sister
Contributed by Frank A. Chappell
“Beloved Sister,... Sis I think our
hardest battle is to be fought here yet, but I feel confident that we will be
successful. I feel also that I have got to stare danger in the face to
the greatest extent and that too before I get to see you all. Well if
great Jehova sees proper that we should meet again we will do so. If not
it is our duty to be resigned to the dispensations of his providence...”
This quote is from a letter written to
his sister, Lucinda Caroline Hunter in Union Springs, Alabama. Lewis
wrote this letter, one of 16 he wrote, in April 1864, just months before
he was killed by a sharpshooter at Harper's Ferry. All of his
letters are included in a book, “Dear Sister, Civil War Letters to a Sister in Alabama” which was published in
2003 by Branch Springs Publishing. Frank A. Chappell,
the great-great grandson of Lucinda Hunter found the letters and published the
book. Copies are available from Frank A. Chappell, 800 Watts Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801 or
fchap10220@comcast.net.
Was This the First Lewis in the Branscomb Family?
Email from
Frank A. Chappell to Eugenia Hobday
As far as I know Lewis
Sylvester Branscomb (1843-1864) was the first named Lewis in our branch of the
family. He was the youngest child of Bennett Hill Branscomb and Eliza Belotte
Branscomb and the only one born in Alabama. (All the others were born in South
Carolina). As you have discovered, there are many in the family who received
his name, including your uncle & brother.
Lewis Sylvester was killed on July 4, 1864 as the Third Alabama regiment
and others advanced into Harpers Ferry, WV (then Virginia). He was a sharp
shooter and was probably out in front of the main line and was shot and killed
in the front yard of a Mrs. Margaret Cross who later wrote to his mother to tell
her of the incident. John Rufus and I went to Harpers Ferry in the fall of 2007
and with the help of a park ranger located the house where he was killed. It
is on Washington Street in Harpers Ferry and still standing. The lady who lives
there now verified that Mrs, Cross lived there during the Civil War. We were
not able to determine where he was buried but at least we found the spot where
he died.
Reference:
ZACHARIAH BRANSCOMB & MAZY TOWNS and THEIR DESCENDANTS
Contributed by Fred Tubbs
A fellow soldier, Dick Stinson, was no doubt the first one to relay the fateful news to
Lewis’s family. On 14 July 1864 Virginia Branscomb wrote to her husband John in Lynchburg:
The death of poor dear Lewis came very near killing them both
[Bennett Hill and Eliza Branscomb]. He was killed instantly at Harpers Ferry.
Dick Stinson was shot at the same time through the heel. He has come home. He
said poor Lewis told him if he fell in that battle to get his bible & send
it to his poor mother. So he [Dick] started to him after he was killed to get
it and was wounded. Oh it is the greatest trial to Ma and Pa I ever saw.
Another letter, almost precisely a year later and after the war was over, concludes the record:
Harpers Ferry VA July the 2nd 1865
Mrs.Branscomb
Dear Madam,
On the 4 of July will be one year since the Confederate soldiers was here
and there was a young man killed in my yard by a sharp shooter. At the place he
died I picked up a Bible and written on the fly leaf was his name “L. S.
Branscomb Co. D, 3d regiment of Alabama. On the next leaf was written if found
on my person please send to my mother Mrs B H Branscomb at Union Springs Alabama
do so and oblige a friend who ever you be. I should have done so sooner but not
knowen that the way was open between here and there and as I have just herd that
I could send letters through embrace the first opportunity. If you wish for the
book you can [write and?–obscured] I will send it by mail immediately and if you
wish to know any thing more [I can?–obscured] write you all that I know
concerning your son. If you wish to write address
Mrs. Margarett A. Cross
Harpers Ferry,
Virginia
Care of Cathrin Shillings