Best I can do at deciphering: Civil War Letters (civilian and Confederate soldier/s) are from North Carolina, Greenville--not sure which Carolina at this point, Lenville ? South Carolina, Mobile, Rocky Hills Baldwin (?)County, Alabama, Granville, North Carolina, Washington---I think North Carolina, Fort _________, Smith's Island, ________Arbor(?) North Carolina, Acheboro?, Tawboro?, Fort Fisher, Wilmington North Carolina, Clarksville, Georgia, Baldwin County, Beaufort County ?, North Carolina, several don't have any locations on them--looks like the ones from the North, but refer to towns within the contents of the letters, others I just can't decipher. I probably could if I were from the South. Several other letters from right after the war up until 1900 or so include the envelopes and stamps--or envelopes that came with the stamps on them. One of the Civil War letters has the stamp--but you can see the 10 cent stamp complete only when you refold the letter. There's also a marriage license (hand sewn with thread) of Richard H. Bonner to Elizabeth L. Bowen December 26, 1879 in Beaufort, North Carolina--I believe he fought in the war. Some later letters are on some pretty cool letterhead paper--Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Southern Railroad. It's a monumental task to decipher alone--wow--what scrolls and so forth in some of the letters. You can FEEL the emotion when you hold and try to read the letters--what a desperate time in our country.
I'll be scanning the pictures of Elijah James and Francis M. Sherrill at first opportunity and sending as soon as possible. With your knowledge, I bet you can tell if one of the uniforms was Illinois issued. I believe both of these soldiers are in the Illinois State Civil War Database as well as the National Parks. The name Sherrill is often spelled differently--Sherell, Sherwell, and so fort--but correct in those databases. First cousins were fighting against them on the Confederate side. I've often wondered if the cousins were at the same battles--firing at each other. Most likely they were--at sometime or the other.
Thanks for all of your help--I think it would be great to share the contents with other interested parties. There might be some details of interest regarding the movement of the enemy--the North--I spotted that in at least two of the letters.
Marsha