Naomi L. D. Cox Civil War Letters Inventory

Naomi L. D. Cox Civil War Letters
Inventory

Note: This collection was received in the 1960's. It consists of the correspondence of the Cox family during and after the U. S. Civil War. The main correspondents are Naomi L. D. Cox, her mother Malinda D. Cox, and her two sisters Henrietta and Sallie. There are two sets of letters within this collection. One set is laminated; the other is not. Some of the letters were inventoried after the collection was received (mostly the laminated ones from what I can see), but others letters were not. This updated inventory includes all the letters in the collection. In the first section, headed "Original Inventory," each letter has been assigned a number. The original descriptive information has been kept. The second section, headed "Update," describes the uninventoried letters as much as possible. If it is noted that a letter has been digitized, that means a digital copy has been scanned and burned onto a CD available in the Special Collections office. This is eventually planned for all the letters.

Original Inventory

No. Laminated/
Unlaminated Letter Description Digitized?

1 Laminated Letter from Scotland - March 25, 1859
To: My Dearest Niece
From: Naomi L. Clayton
Re: Family matters, education of girls, invites her to live with them and go to school
Yes

2 Laminated Letter and envelope - May 21, 1860
To: Miss Naomi D. Cox (Oma), Clayton Mills, SC
From: M. D. Cox
Re: Family matters (Why hasn't Naomi written?)
No

3 Laminated Letter and envelope, February 19, 1861
To: Miss Naomi D. Cox, Hunters Mill, Pickens Dct., SC
From: Henrietta (sister)
Re: Family matters
Yes

4 Laminated Letter and envelope, April 25, 1861
To: Miss Naomi L. Cox, Pickens, SC
From: M. D. Cox
Re: Secession, family matters
No

5 Laminated Letter and envelope, June 19, 1861
To: Miss Naomi D. Cox, Clayton Mills, Pickens, D, SC
From: Malinda D. Cox (mother), Four Mile Branch, Tennessee
Re: Tennessee troops, accident at Strawberry Plains, family matters, crops and weather
Yes

6 Laminated Letter, December 4, 1861
To: Miss Naomi L. Cox, Clayton Mills, Pickens Dis., SC
From: M. D. Cox
Re: War - bridges burned, guns collected in county, hard times, salt $12/sack, children not in school as teachers no account
Yes

7 Laminated Letter, March 3, 1862
To: My dear Oma
Address on back: Miss Naomi L. D. Cox, Clayton Mills, SC
From: M. D. Cox
Re: Federal troops in Tennessee, Pennsylvania, says he will join a company, birth of Oma's little brother George, snow
Yes

8 Laminated Letter, April 16, 1862
To: My dear daughter
Address on back: Miss Naomi L. Cox, Clayton Mills, Pickens DT, SC
From: M. D. Cox
Re: Pa volunteered three weeks earlier, reports on fighting - killed old Buell and captured his regiment, battle by Wm. Vaughn's regiment - they captured prisoners, etc., family matters, farming
Yes

9 Laminated Envelope, February 1863
To: Miss Naomi L. D. Cox, Clayton's Mils, Pickens District, SC
On reverse: To: Mrs. Malinda D. Cox, Four Mile Branch, East Tennessee ?: Salubrity, SC 28th September
No

10 Laminated Letter, February 24, 1863, Black Oak Grove
To: Naomi
From: M. D. Cox
Re: Letter from Pa describing hard way of living, have returned to their house, family matters
Yes

11 Laminated Letter, February 3, 1864
To: Naomi
From: M. D. Cox
Re: Describes fighting in neighborhood, death of grandmother
No

12 Laminated Letter, February 21, 1864
To: Naomi
From: M. D. Cox
Re: Family matters, mail is running now
No

13 Laminated Letter, February 25, 1866, postmarked Mossy Creek, Tennessee
To: Miss Naomi L. D. Cox, Clayton's Mills, Pickens Dis, SC
From: Henrietta (sister)
Re: Family matters, she and mother do all the washing, writing school will start before long
Yes

14 Laminated Letter, March 30, 1866
To: Sister
From: Sister
Re: Family matters
Note: Together with undated letter from sister to sister re: family matters
No

15 Laminated Letter, September 21, 1866
To: Sister (Oma)
From: Sister (Henrietta?); also M. D. Cox
Re: Writes about school (girls stay upstairs), washing, George can count to 12 but not 100 and knows some of his letters. Mother writes family and neighborhood news. This is on United States Sanitary Commission paper. Papa is down at Aunt Sarah's - stays there more than half his time. - Henrietta
Yes

16 Laminated Letter, July 28, 1867 (envelope postmarked Mossy Creek, Tennessee)
To: My dear child - Naomi L. D. Cox, Salubrity, Pickens, SC
From: M. D. Cox; also Sallie Cox
Re: M. D. says they have written tho Naomi has not heard since February. Letters went to Hunter's Mills. "Your Papa stays down there (Harriet or Sarah?) three-fourths of his time and I stay at home and try to take care of my children." Relatives don't visit. Sallie writes about family matters, school beginning, etc.
No

17 Laminated Letter, December 10, 1867 (envelope - Mossy Creek, Tennessee, 4 July)
To: Miss Naomi L. D. Cox, Clayton's Mills, Pickens District, SC
From: Henrietta (sister)
Re: Family matters. Wants Naomi to come home for Christmas. Papa came by home yesterday on his way to Dandridge. This is court week and he had to be there. He says he is coming home before long to stay, has been staying at Aunt Sarah's tending to her business.
No

18 Laminated Letter, December 30, 1867 (envelope postmarked Mossy Creek, 1-2-1868)
To: Miss Naomi L. D. Cox, Salubrity, SC
From: M. D. Cox
Re: Had 2 letters from Oma. Snowing - "half leg deep." Candy pulling for young folks at Christmas. Harriet going to Texas with Papa and Willie; she thinks it best for young girls to have an older female for protection. No preaching except at chapel three miles away. Dedrick - good heart but awful lazy.
Note: Also letter to My Dear Aunt - tells about hard times, money scarce, soldiers burned fences, some corn, taxes high. Would like to visit "your state" (S.C.)
No

19 Laminated Letter, March 14, 1868
To: Dear sister Naomi
From: Henrietta
Re: It has been eight years since Naomi left. Willie is going to S. C. and they want Naomi to come home with him. Revival going on for two weeks. Cousin Albert preaching.
Note: small envelope from Will saying he is on the road South. Can't tell when he will be at her house.
No

20 Laminated Letter, June 6, 1868
To: Sister (Naomi)
From: Henrietta
Re: Pleads with her to write; family matters.
Note: Letter very dim - portions illegible. Leaf imbedded in plastic - no info.
No

21 Laminated Letter, November 11, 1868 (postmark written Mill Spring, Tennessee)
To: Sister Naomi L. D. Cox, Salubrity, SC
From: Unsigned
Re: Family moved last week. Papa seems very well pleased. Family and community matters (marriages, deaths, etc.)
Note: Parts are illegible.
Yes

22 Laminated Letter, September 2(?), 1869
To: Miss Naomi D. Cox, Clayton's Mills, Pickens, SC; my dear children Sis, Joseph
From: M. D. Cox
Re: Mendenhalls never said a word to me about what they owed you for schooling. Continued Friday, September 24 - have letter from them on the road; Pa brought more "lotry papers" from the office. Pa wants Joseph back in time to sow wheat.
Yes

23 Laminated Letter September 28, 1869 (postmark not clear)
To: Miss Naomi D. Cox, Pickens CH, SC; my dear children
From: M. D. Cox
Re: Pa wants Joseph to come home as soon as he can, sell the horses if he can get a good price for them but bring them back if he can't. Man came Sunday to see him about the government claims and thinks he will have favorable answer. Sis is also in SC (Henrietta?).
Yes

24 Laminated Letter, October 2, 1869 (postmarked ? Creek Apr? 30, 3¢ stamp)
To: Sister and brother, Miss Naomi Cox, Pickens Courthouse, SC
From: Sallie
Re: Tell Joe not to smother his horses to death trying to make them look fine as she would like to take ride on Frank or Buck again. Family visits. If Joe comes back Sis may stay in SC.
Yes

25 Laminated Letter, November 23, 1869 (postmarked New Market, Tennessee, 11/29)
To: Dear Sister (Naomi), near Pickens C. H., SC
From: Hennie
Re: Tells of death of Hattie (buried in her wedding dress). Willie Davis (apparently the husband) says he can't stay in Bristol. She appears to have been Uncle Ren's (Ken's?) daughter. Continued Wed. 24th and Sun. Writes of marriages, preaching, having toothache, molded 60 candles
Yes

26 Laminated Envelope (no letter)
To: Miss Naomi L. D. Cox, Clayton's Mills, Pickens Die, SC
No

27 Laminated Letter (undated, envelope dated March 28, Asheville, NC)
To: Miss Naomi L. Cox, Clayton's Mills, Pickens Det, SC
From: Sister (Sallie Cox?)
Re: Family matters; sheet of paper "from United States Sanitary Commission"
Yes

28 Laminated Letter (no date)
To: My dear sister
From: Your sister
Re: Also part of letter from MDC telling her about possibility of coming home with a family moving to Tennessee
Note: Envelope return: US Christian Commission; in ink (date written) Sept. 1866; paper (first letter has Washington and Mr. AMMMM written in another hand).
Yes

29 Laminated Premium Offers for 1 year subscription to the Tri-Weekly Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia (October 1911)
With this $1 subscription for one year choices range from Uncle Remus Home Magazine, 6 free roses, choice from four weekly newspapers or 5 farm papers to Confederate memorial reproduction and dolls of the nations
No

Note: The following items were listed as being in the collection in the original inventory. They are not in there any longer, and attempts to locate them have been unsuccessful.

Envelope, Mossy Creek, Tennessee, May 4
To: Miss Naomi D. Cox, Clayton's Mills, Pickens District, SC
Symbol on envelope: "The Union now, henceforth and forever Amen"
Date: 1866 in ink

Letter, July 10, 1866, Black Oak Grove (envelope postmarked Mossy Creek, Tennessee)
To: Miss Naomi D. Cox, Clayton Mills, SC
From: H. M. Cox (sister Henrietta?); also M. D. Cox; also Sallie to her sister
Re: Family matters, school to start in September. Mother writes about indictments against Reese. Albert's trial was two years ago and he "came out clean." Sallie writes that "chickapins are in full tassel now."

Letter August 186?
To: Dear Sister
From: Henrietta
Re: Willie going to SC for his carriage this fall and would be chance for her to come home.
Note: Very dim - much not legible. Appears to be August 1867. Will went for his carriage in spring 1868. Attached envelope postmarked Mossy Creek, March 12, 1868; does not go with this letter.

Note, April 27, 1882 No. 179 ("M. B. Hendrix $45.00-" on back)
To: P. B. Wever, or bearer $45 for 2000 pounds of commercial manure

Update

No.
Laminated/
Unlaminated
Description

Digitized?

30 Unlaminated Letter from Scotland, Jan. 7, 1858
To: My dear niece
From: N. L. Clayton
Re: Family matters

31 Unlaminated Letter from Scotland, Dec. 1, 1859
To: My dear niece
From: Naomi L. Clayton
Re: Education, family matters, "will let Lucretia close as she wants to open a correspondence with you."
On reverse: Letter, Dec. 2, 1859
To: Miss Naomi L. Cox
From: Naomi L. Odell
Re: "I am an entire stranger to you, and yet you seem to be an acquaintence of mine."

32 Unlaminated Letter, February 14, 1860
To: My dear daughter
From: M. D. Cox
Re: Family matters

33 Laminated Letter and envelope, April 11, 1860
To:My dear Naomi
From: M. D. Cox
Re: Family matters
Note at bottom to Naomi from Wm. S. Cox - "You will find enclosed five dollars if some rascal does not take it out."

No.	Laminated/ Unlaminated	Letter Description	Digitized?
1	Laminated	Letter from Scotland - March 25, 1859 To: My Dearest Niece From: Naomi L. Clayton Re: Family matters, education of girls, invites her to live with them and go to school	Yes
2	Laminated	Letter and envelope - May 21, 1860 To: Miss Naomi D. Cox (Oma), Clayton Mills, SC From: M. D. Cox Re: Family matters (Why hasn't Naomi written?)	No
3	Laminated	Letter and envelope, February 19, 1861 To: Miss Naomi D. Cox, Hunters Mill, Pickens Dct., SC From: Henrietta (sister) Re: Family matters	Yes
4	Laminated	Letter and envelope, April 25, 1861 To: Miss Naomi L. Cox, Pickens, SC From: M. D. Cox Re: Secession, family matters	No
5	Laminated	Letter and envelope, June 19, 1861 To: Miss Naomi D. Cox, Clayton Mills, Pickens, D, SC From: Malinda D. Cox (mother), Four Mile Branch, Tennessee Re: Tennessee troops, accident at Strawberry Plains, family matters, crops and weather	Yes
6	Laminated	Letter, December 4, 1861 To: Miss Naomi L. Cox, Clayton Mills, Pickens Dis., SC From: M. D. Cox Re: War - bridges burned, guns collected in county, hard times, salt $12/sack, children not in school as teachers no account	Yes
7	Laminated	Letter, March 3, 1862 To: My dear Oma Address on back: Miss Naomi L. D. Cox, Clayton Mills, SC From: M. D. Cox Re: Federal troops in Tennessee, Pennsylvania, says he will join a company, birth of Oma's little brother George, snow	Yes
8	Laminated	Letter, April 16, 1862 To: My dear daughter Address on back: Miss Naomi L. Cox, Clayton Mills, Pickens DT, SC From: M. D. Cox Re: Pa volunteered three weeks earlier, reports on fighting - killed old Buell and captured his regiment, battle by Wm. Vaughn's regiment - they captured prisoners, etc., family matters, farming	Yes
9	Laminated	Envelope, February 1863 To: Miss Naomi L. D. Cox, Clayton's Mils, Pickens District, SC On reverse: To: Mrs. Malinda D. Cox, Four Mile Branch, East Tennessee ?: Salubrity, SC 28th September	No
10	Laminated	Letter, February 24, 1863, Black Oak Grove To: Naomi From: M. D. Cox Re: Letter from Pa describing hard way of living, have returned to their house, family matters	Yes
11	Laminated	Letter, February 3, 1864 To: Naomi From: M. D. Cox Re: Describes fighting in neighborhood, death of grandmother	No
12	Laminated	Letter, February 21, 1864 To: Naomi From: M. D. Cox Re: Family matters, mail is running now	No
13	Laminated	Letter, February 25, 1866, postmarked Mossy Creek, Tennessee To: Miss Naomi L. D. Cox, Clayton's Mills, Pickens Dis, SC From: Henrietta (sister) Re: Family matters, she and mother do all the washing, writing school will start before long	Yes
14	Laminated	Letter, March 30, 1866 To: Sister From: Sister Re: Family matters Note: Together with undated letter from sister to sister re: family matters	No
15	Laminated	Letter, September 21, 1866 To: Sister (Oma) From: Sister (Henrietta?); also M. D. Cox Re: Writes about school (girls stay upstairs), washing, George can count to 12 but not 100 and knows some of his letters. Mother writes family and neighborhood news. This is on United States Sanitary Commission paper. Papa is down at Aunt Sarah's - stays there more than half his time. - Henrietta	Yes
16	Laminated	Letter, July 28, 1867 (envelope postmarked Mossy Creek, Tennessee) To: My dear child - Naomi L. D. Cox, Salubrity, Pickens, SC From: M. D. Cox; also Sallie Cox Re: M. D. says they have written tho Naomi has not heard since February. Letters went to Hunter's Mills. "Your Papa stays down there (Harriet or Sarah?) three-fourths of his time and I stay at home and try to take care of my children." Relatives don't visit. Sallie writes about family matters, school beginning, etc.	No
17	Laminated	Letter, December 10, 1867 (envelope - Mossy Creek, Tennessee, 4 July) To: Miss Naomi L. D. Cox, Clayton's Mills, Pickens District, SC From: Henrietta (sister) Re: Family matters. Wants Naomi to come home for Christmas. Papa came by home yesterday on his way to Dandridge. This is court week and he had to be there. He says he is coming home before long to stay, has been staying at Aunt Sarah's tending to her business.	No
18	Laminated	Letter, December 30, 1867 (envelope postmarked Mossy Creek, 1-2-1868) To: Miss Naomi L. D. Cox, Salubrity, SC From: M. D. Cox Re: Had 2 letters from Oma. Snowing - "half leg deep." Candy pulling for young folks at Christmas. Harriet going to Texas with Papa and Willie; she thinks it best for young girls to have an older female for protection. No preaching except at chapel three miles away. Dedrick - good heart but awful lazy. Note: Also letter to My Dear Aunt - tells about hard times, money scarce, soldiers burned fences, some corn, taxes high. Would like to visit "your state" (S.C.)	No
19	Laminated	Letter, March 14, 1868 To: Dear sister Naomi From: Henrietta Re: It has been eight years since Naomi left. Willie is going to S. C. and they want Naomi to come home with him. Revival going on for two weeks. Cousin Albert preaching. Note: small envelope from Will saying he is on the road South. Can't tell when he will be at her house.	No
20	Laminated	Letter, June 6, 1868 To: Sister (Naomi) From: Henrietta Re: Pleads with her to write; family matters. Note: Letter very dim - portions illegible. Leaf imbedded in plastic - no info.	No
21	Laminated	Letter, November 11, 1868 (postmark written Mill Spring, Tennessee) To: Sister Naomi L. D. Cox, Salubrity, SC From: Unsigned Re: Family moved last week. Papa seems very well pleased. Family and community matters (marriages, deaths, etc.) Note: Parts are illegible.	Yes
22	Laminated	Letter, September 2(?), 1869 To: Miss Naomi D. Cox, Clayton's Mills, Pickens, SC; my dear children Sis, Joseph From: M. D. Cox Re: Mendenhalls never said a word to me about what they owed you for schooling. Continued Friday, September 24 - have letter from them on the road; Pa brought more "lotry papers" from the office. Pa wants Joseph back in time to sow wheat.	Yes
23	Laminated	Letter September 28, 1869 (postmark not clear) To: Miss Naomi D. Cox, Pickens CH, SC; my dear children From: M. D. Cox Re: Pa wants Joseph to come home as soon as he can, sell the horses if he can get a good price for them but bring them back if he can't. Man came Sunday to see him about the government claims and thinks he will have favorable answer. Sis is also in SC (Henrietta?).	Yes
24	Laminated	Letter, October 2, 1869 (postmarked ? Creek Apr? 30, 3¢ stamp) To: Sister and brother, Miss Naomi Cox, Pickens Courthouse, SC From: Sallie Re: Tell Joe not to smother his horses to death trying to make them look fine as she would like to take ride on Frank or Buck again. Family visits. If Joe comes back Sis may stay in SC.	Yes
25	Laminated	Letter, November 23, 1869 (postmarked New Market, Tennessee, 11/29) To: Dear Sister (Naomi), near Pickens C. H., SC From: Hennie Re: Tells of death of Hattie (buried in her wedding dress). Willie Davis (apparently the husband) says he can't stay in Bristol. She appears to have been Uncle Ren's (Ken's?) daughter. Continued Wed. 24th and Sun. Writes of marriages, preaching, having toothache, molded 60 candles	Yes
26	Laminated	Envelope (no letter) To: Miss Naomi L. D. Cox, Clayton's Mills, Pickens Die, SC	No
27	Laminated	Letter (undated, envelope dated March 28, Asheville, NC) To: Miss Naomi L. Cox, Clayton's Mills, Pickens Det, SC From: Sister (Sallie Cox?) Re: Family matters; sheet of paper "from United States Sanitary Commission"	Yes
28	Laminated	Letter (no date) To: My dear sister From: Your sister Re: Also part of letter from MDC telling her about possibility of coming home with a family moving to Tennessee Note: Envelope return: US Christian Commission; in ink (date written) Sept. 1866; paper (first letter has Washington and Mr. AMMMM written in another hand).	Yes
29	Laminated	Premium Offers for 1 year subscription to the Tri-Weekly Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia (October 1911) With this $1 subscription for one year choices range from Uncle Remus Home Magazine, 6 free roses, choice from four weekly newspapers or 5 farm papers to Confederate memorial reproduction and dolls of the nations	No

No.	Laminated/ Unlaminated	Description	Digitized?
30	Unlaminated	Letter from Scotland, Jan. 7, 1858 To: My dear niece From: N. L. Clayton Re: Family matters
31	Unlaminated	Letter from Scotland, Dec. 1, 1859 To: My dear niece From: Naomi L. Clayton Re: Education, family matters, "will let Lucretia close as she wants to open a correspondence with you." On reverse: Letter, Dec. 2, 1859 To: Miss Naomi L. Cox From: Naomi L. Odell Re: "I am an entire stranger to you, and yet you seem to be an acquaintence of mine."
32	Unlaminated	Letter, February 14, 1860 To: My dear daughter From: M. D. Cox Re: Family matters
33	Laminated	Letter and envelope, April 11, 1860 To:My dear Naomi From: M. D. Cox Re: Family matters Note at bottom to Naomi from Wm. S. Cox - "You will find enclosed five dollars if some rascal does not take it out."