James Lockhart Scudder Letter

This collection contains a letter dated Oct. 1862 from James Lockhart Scudder to Confederate Colonel Henry B. Davidson, his brother-in-law. In the letter, Scudder assures Davidson of the falsity of the rumor "that [he] had turned Union man."

From the vendor: “…[A]ll the family were very anxious about your safety as you were exchanged before the great battles which have been fought lately.

"I know well Davidson that you were much grieved to hear as you say in your letter 'that I had turned Union man.' I only submitted to the force of surrounding circumstances, and we nearly all here believed that the cause was hopeless, and that the arms of the South had abandoned Tennessee and could not retake it. I became a submissionist and nothing more. But as all my acquaintances here well knew, that in heart and soul, I desire the success of the South... As soon as the Federal army left we had a public meeting here in Shelbyville at which Mr. Colyer addressed the people upon the Southern cause. At this meeting I addressed the people and defined my position and requested them to forgive and to forget the unfortunate pardon that I seemingly accepted. I desire the success of the South as much as you can do and I now only regret that my disability will not permit me to take the field in active service." However, if Davidson can arrange for him to return to duty "in any active capacity" despite his disability,"! will accept it and come immediately."

With the advance of Union troops, and "Gen. Bragg falling back to the Gap," he expects "that the Federals will overrun the county again... We all fear the worst."