An archive of letters and ephemera related to Confederate Captain William Henry Tabb (1837-1864), 14th Mississippi Regiment Co. G, Agency Rifles. Includes a 2 1/2 in x 2 in tintype photo of Tabb in Civilian clothes, his two signed appointments to 1st and 2nd Lieut. of the Agency Rifles Company of the Army of Mississippi signed by Gov. John Pettus and Gen. W.H. Brown, and an archive of more than 70 letters, some with original covers.

The archive begins with approximately 14 letters written prior to the war, when Tabb was a student at Cumberland University's law school in Lebanon, Tennessee. He writes to his family in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, of his first visit to Nashville, a city which he describes as looking too "ancient" and which he found to be "expensive". Unaware of how the Civil War will alter his fate, he also writes "I often think of... my future life, which I anticipate spending with those to whom I am indebted for all that I am or ever shall be... I have been blessed and favored all my life. (Feb. 23rd, 1860). Tabb's accounts of the Civil War include 2 letters from Bowling Green and Russellville, Ky, Jan. 21- Feb. 3 1862 about his scouting activities and various troop movements in the days leading up to the Battle of Fort Donelson, during which he and his unit were taken captive. There are several subsequent letters from Johnson's Island Prison in Sandusky, Ohio, where Tabb delivers news of the death of some fellow soldiers and references the death of his cousin Lewis (whose letter and hand-drawn related to the Battle of Fort Donelson is also for sale in this auction). "Willie" Tabb also writes of life in prison stating he is treated generally well. "I am getting to be a good cook," he writes. "... it is amusing to see men one day Confederate officers and the next day cooking or around the wash tub - we have no servants."  

Tabb's final letter to his immediate family is dated July 5, 1864 ("the last letter" is written in pen, presumably by his sister, on the envelope. He begins by thanking his family for their recent messages: "These letters make me forget for awhile I am in a large army in sight of the enemy ..hearing their cannon and small arms day and night. I am transported to home. My dear Pa, Mother, sister and many friends occupy my mind." He goes on to report of picket fights and other war related subjects, but this particular letter is very faded and hard to read. A subsequent letter to a cousin dated July 9, 1864, 9 miles from Atlanta, writes of increasing tensions among the officers:  "I found the regiment very much divided. Col. _____ under arrest with charges pressing by General Adams for neglect of duty. I fear nothing will be done with him. Major Crampton(?) under arrest with charges pressing by Lieutenant Colonel ______ for disrespect. Officers and men seem discontented. I intend to keep out of all the fusses... A great many of the men have been sent to the hospital sick... a great many of the men have the scurvy slightly... they eat bean leaves, polk tops and almost anything green they get hold of... There has been heavy firing on the left every day in front of Hood and Hardee... our corps is __ on the east side of the railroad... we have been in the second line of entrenchments but have moved in the front line today ... We captured a Colonel Sherman's orderly day before yesterday... General Loring has command of our division. The people of Atlanta are leaving..."  He goes on to describe troop movements, positions, skirmishes, and shelling in the days before the fateful Battle of Atlanta.

Also included in this lot is a letter, written in pencil, dated Aug. 9, 1864 "in the trenches near Atlanta" from S. J or T. Oldham informing Rev. and Mrs. Tabb: "A gallant soldier has fallen. Billie (sic) is dead" and detailing the events around their son's death. "As a soldier he was... regarded as one of the most promising officers in his regiment or brigade... In fact I have heard his commanding officer say in regards to his death 'I have lost my main support'. 

Also included with this lot are a few letters to Tabb from his father and sister, and a later handwritten copy of his obituary, offering details on Captain Tabb's death, and a memorial poem, copied in 1893 by his nephew Willie Tabb Moore. Note: a shirt with Tabb's name on it and other items from his family are also for sale in this auction. 

History: The 14th Miss. was organized at Jackson, MS in Oct. 1861. It was sent to Kentucky, then Tennessee, and captured at Fort Donelson in 1862. After being exchanged it was attached to Tilghman's and Gregg's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. The regiment saw action at Coffeeville and in various conflicts around Vicksburg. Later it was attached to J. Adams' and Lowrey's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. The 14th was active in the Atlanta Campaign, Hood's Tennessee operations, and the fight at Bentonville.  It was organized with 1,034 officers and men, had 650 effectives in February, 1862, and had 24 officers and 287 men fit for duty in April, 1863. The unit surrendered with no officers and 40 men.

Three of the most important letters: the letter re: Fort Donelson, Tabb's last letter to his parents, and the letter notifying the family of his death, are written in pencil and/or are very faded, with some creasing. Others are in mostly good condition, with signs of age and handling wear; toning, fading, and creasing. Tintype with some wear, spotting and scratching. Appointment documents with toning, creasing and edge chipping. 

The Estates of Thomas Maxfield and Sara McIntyre Bahner, by descent in the family of Mollie Tabb Moore, sister of Capt. William Henry Tabb.