John P. and Sallie Ecklin Thurman papers
Contributors: Thurman, John P.; Thurman, Sallie Ecklin.
Published: 1844
Language: eng
Number of pages: 75
Subjects: Thurman, Beverly S.; Thurman, John P.; Thurman, Sallie Ecklin.; Ecklin family.; Thurman family.; Confederate States of America. Army -- Military life.; Confederate States of America. Army -- Officers -- Correspondence.; Confederate States of America. Army. Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, 3rd.; Confederate States of America. Army. Tennessee Infantry Regiment, 4th.; Macon Female Institute (Macon County, Tenn.) -- Students -- History.; Family -- Tennessee -- Social life and customs.; Love-letters -- History -- 19th century.; Shiloh, Battle of, Tenn., 1862.; Slavery -- Tennessee.; Soldiers -- Confederate States of America -- Correspondence.; Women -- Confederate States of America -- Correspondence.; Women -- Confederate States of America -- Social conditions.; Women -- Education -- Tennessee -- History -- 19th century.; Women -- Tennessee -- Correspondence.; Women -- Tennessee -- Social life and customs.; Confederate States of America -- Social conditions.; Fayette County (Tenn.) -- History.; Hickory Withe (Tenn.) -- History.; Shelby County (Tenn.) -- History.; Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.; Tennessee -- Social conditions.; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns.; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Cavalry operations.
Genres: Correspondence.
Description: The collection consists of letters chiefly received by Sallie Ecklin Thurman, most of them from John P. Thurman, but also from family members and school friends from the Macon Female Institute. Before the Civil War, topics chiefly reflect Sallie Ecklin's life as a young woman. Her letters concern everyday family affairs; her experiences at the Macon Institute, including a description of a student who had to leave school because the two slaves sent with her to work in lieu of tuition ran away; and the beginning of her romance with John P. Thurman. After 1861, letters focus almost exclusively on how the Civil War affected family members. In addition to reporting on the local news from Hickory Withe, Tenn., Sallie Ecklin Thurman's letters to her husband describe raising three small children and running a farm in his absence. On several occasions, she made reference to difficulties with slaves. John P. Thurman's letters home document his military service with the Third Tennessee Cavalry Regiment (Forrest's), and, although he was a firm southern partisan, contain criticisms of the southern war effort and of the Confederacy. They describe taking part in many battles and raids along the Mississippi River and its environs, including the Battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing. Beverly S. Thurman, John P. Thurman's brother, wrote of his military service with the Fourth Tennessee Calvary Regiment (Neely's). Also included are six portrait photographs taken from a federal vessel that was captured by Forrest's cavalry on the Mississippi River. The Addition of 2007 is a letter to John P. Thurman from his sister Kate in which she discusses family affairs and the economy.