Transcript of Eleanor Thompson's Letter to Jefferson Davis, Jan. 14, 1863

Letter written by Eleanor Thompson, the future wife of Harper Carroll, to Jefferson Davis in January 14, 1863 requesting that Harper Carroll be made lieutenant in the Confederate Army.

Historical Background: Eleanor Thompson was the younger sister of Caroline Thompson, wife of Charles Carroll, Harper Carroll’s brother. Her sister, Alice, called Carter, would become the second wife of John Lee Carroll. Thus, three Thompson girls married three Carroll boys. Eleanor would become Harper’s wife on June 18, 1863. In the letter, she refers only to Harper as her “friend”. Harper Carroll would be made aide-de-camp to Richard Stoddard Ewell and promoted to Lieutenant in May, 1864.

It appears from the tone of the letter that Eleanor had met Jefferson Davis. Her father, Lucas Thompson, was a Circuit Court judge in Augusta County, Virginia and the family moved in high circles.

Mr. Davis.

Dear Sir.

I am extremely desirous that a friend of mine should be promoted, and I know of no one but yourself, who has the ability to promote him; if I did, I think I should prefer making a request of my President than of any other man in the world. The young gentleman before you, is a Marylander, who has been in the service for twenty months, has fought in every battle on the Potomac, he is brave and good, has but one motive for action; duty, and but one hope in fighting; success, for his cause. I mention his qualifications not that his promotion should be based on merit; all of our soldiers are meritorious, but that you may feel, if disposed to be generous, your favor will not be bestowed on an unworthy object. Gen Fitzhugh Lee gave Mr. Harper Carroll permission to go over to Maryland with Col. Leslie and the Marquis of Huntington, he is there at present—and is of course perfectly ignorant of this application. How charmed he would be on his return to find himself, Lieut. of Cavalry in the P. A. C. S.? (illegible)!

Mr. Carroll has been with Gen. F. Lee and I suppose I could get letters from both Gen. Lee and Gen. Ewell; but I know neither gentleman and shall prefer the favor I ask to be extended no farther than yourself. I will vouch for my friend. Mr. Sheffry of the house, has promised to vouch for me. I hope Mr. Davis will pardon this interruption? on his very valuable time, and in granting this favor he will give pleasure and do his country “good and not ill”.

Very Respectably,

Eleanor S. Thompson

Jan. 14, 1863

Eleanor Thompson's Letter to Jefferson Davis, p. 2

Page 1 of Eleanor Thompson's Letter to Jefferson Davis

R. S. Ewell letter to Col. Charles Carroll, 1850

Historical Background:

Richard Stoddard Ewell was a graduate of West Point who had fought as a First Lieutenant in the Mexican War, where he served with Captain Robert E. Lee. The first time Ewell was under fire was when Lee took Ewell’s company as a covering force. After the war, Ewell and Lee deepened their friendship when the former served fourteen months in Baltimore, allowing him to call frequently upon now Brevet Colonel Robert E. Lee who was engaged in building a fort that in 1850 would be named Fort Carroll, after Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Ewell had many relatives in Maryland, and doubtless made the acquaintance of the Carroll family at that time, if not earlier. This connection would be important at the outbreak of the Civil War for the younger sons of Colonel Charles Carroll, Albert and Harper, both of whom would serve on his staff.

After Baltimore, Ewell was sent to the western frontier to keep the local Apaches, Utes, and Navajos from attacking the American settlers, as well as overseeing a population of Mexicans who had little use for their recent conquerors. Rayado was a stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe Trail and is marked by spectacular scenery of mountains and desert.

Rayado N. Mexico

Feb.y 1^st 1850

Col. Charles Carroll

Doughoregan Manor, Md.

Dear Sir;

The only excuse I can make for this annoyance is, that in this lovely region we think a great deal of those from whom we have received kindness when in the world and there are non to whom I am more anxious to express my gratitude to than to yourself and your family, Besides when I last saw you in Balt. On my way to Richmond Va. you told me to make a military report from that place on subjects relative to Cavalry and Joffer that order as an excuse.

This Port is occupied by two camps of dragoons under Brt Maj and Cap. Grier and is about 160 miles nearer the states than Santa Fe, holding somewhat in check some of the worst Indian tribes of the side of the territory of New Mexico. I wish I could give you an account of an Indian fight, but not having been in any yet must postpone that pleasure. I copied the plans last Fall from Fort Leavenworth Mo. With 150 raw recruits, mounted and having to escort a wagon train, was two months in arriving at my port. The only incident on my march was meeting the celebrated Kit. Carson with a small escort of dragoons in pursuit of a wagon train. It seems that Sam’l Wethered of Balt. and other merchants were riding to the states with a large amount of specie and that a plot had been formed, or there was good reason to suppose one had been by one of the men with the train to raise the alarm of Indians and murder these men for their money---? had followed with the small det. to warn the merchants of their danger and arrest the suspected men.

As there were more than forty men with the train I deemed his party too small and ret’d with a detachment from my command overtaking the wagons late at night. We concealed our object pretending to have come from another direction and informing Wethered of our intentions, he pointed out the man lying asleep and we were so fortunate as to arrest and carry him back without resistance. I was considerably relieved as it was thought had our intentions been known there would have been bloodshed. I have seen the affair mentioned in some of the papers in which we are credited with having rode 128 miles in 24 hours!!!! Some of us though were in the saddle nearly 30 hours out of 36. But every person of the plains enjoys such health that they are much more capable of great exertions than in ordinary times.

This country of N.M. has agreeably disappointed me in regard to its resources. It is unequalled as a growing section, the group even now, that it has been long dead is very nutritious; cattle keeping fat all the winder without the diseases they are liable to in the states, Wool is worth from 1 to 2 cents per lb, it is coarse, as a farmer told me the other day, sheep never did here—The mutton is peculiarly find—The land generally requires irrigation to produce grain, but very little of that suffices in a growing country and from thirty to fifty bushels I am told is an average crop. The climate is remarkable for its salubrity (sic), every one enjoys good health. Some day or other we will have an attack of the gold mania here and nothing but the apathy of the Natives has prevented it before. I heard that a Mexican had, in riding along a stream in the Taos Valley, picked up $17.00 worth without any delay in his journey, and a short time since a man in crossing a stream in this neighbourhood carried home a little sand in his handkerchief as an experiment out of which he took about one dollars worth, I must confess that in all my wanderings I have not seen the first particle.

We have some game about here, grizzly bear in the summer, at this time antelope two varieties of deer, ducks &c & c. You may wonder with all this to occupy myself with that I should pester you with a long letter, but my abrupt departure prevented my taking leave of your family as I wished to have the honor of doing and this infliction is some alleviation. May I ask you to give my respects to Mrs. Carroll and the young ladies?

With remembrance to Charles I remain & c.

R. S. Ewell.

P. S. I came near omitting the “tactics”. We have a fine squadron which is being drilled ? chiefly under the imperintendance ? of your humble servant, and I often think of our discussion over the book. I want to go to Europe if they would let me and re-moddle (sic) them for they are undoubtedly deficient. We depend for horses on the ? and consequently are not always well provided—They could raise fine horses here, though has yet they have only ponies.

Yours & c—

R. S. E

Slave Census for Charles Carroll of Doughoregan in 1860

Charles Carroll kept three slaves at his home in Baltimore, but the remaining 76 slaves were in Howard County, presumably at Doughoregan Manor, though some may have been at outlying farms. They ranged in age from a male and female aged 71 to four 1 year old children.

50	Male	Black	Charles R Carroll	Baltimore City Ward 11, Baltimore, Maryland
45	Male	Black	Charles R Carroll	Baltimore City Ward 11, Baltimore, Maryland
27	Male	Black	Charles R Carroll	Baltimore City Ward 11, Baltimore, Maryland
71	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
71	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
69	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
68	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
65	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
63	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
62	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
62	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
60	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
57	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
52	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
50	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
49	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
48	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
44	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
38	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
38	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
37	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
37	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
36	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
36	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
33	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
32	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
32	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
32	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
32	Female	Mulatto	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
31	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
30	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
30	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
29	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
29	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
27	Female	Mulatto	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
26	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
21	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
20	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
19	Male	Mulatto	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
19	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
18	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
18	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
17	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
17	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
16	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
16	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
16	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
16	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
15	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
15	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
13	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
12	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
10	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
10	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
10	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
9	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
9	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
8	Male	Mulatto	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
8	Male	Mulatto	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
8	Female	Mulatto	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
7	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
5	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
5	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
5	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
4	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
4	Female	Mulatto	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
4	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
4	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
3	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
3	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
3	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
2	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
2	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
2	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
1	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
1	Female	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
1	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
1	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland
1	Male	Black	Charles Carroll	District 2, Howard, Maryland