Camden, South Carolina

June 23^rd 1865

 

Admiral J. A. Dahlgren

 

Sir

                        I have the honor respectfully to request that you will have the enclosed letter forwarded to Captain Williams Comdg the Catskill Passaic as I am unable at this place to learn his address.

 

                        The object of the communication is to request him to repeat some kind expressions in regard to the treatment received by himself and his comrades at my hands when captured at Fort Sumter on Sept 9^th 1863.

 

                        As my rank in the late Confederate army renders a special application necessary before I can assume the right of citizenship such testimony will of course be very valuable to me.

 

                        I learned with regret the death of Lieut Preston and Porter in the assault of Fort Fisher but little thought at the time that it would affect me so nearly as / were they alive I could easily procure such testimony as would secure the favourable consideration of my papers.

 

                        Should you personally be conversant with the fact that your prisoners were well treated while in my hands a statement to that effect would be most gratefully received.

 

                        It is not without reluctance that I am forced to obtain credit for that humanity which should be inseparable from the nature of every soldier and gentleman but the close of the war has left me physically disabled with my estate in the hands of Government and my duty to myself and my family demands that I should spare no honorable effort to be re-instated in my former rights.

 

            Please direct any answer to Stephen Elliott Jr. Care of Dr H. W. DeSaussens, Charleston

 

Very respectfully

Yr obt servant

Stephen Elliott Jr

Brig Genl late C.S.A.

formerly Comdg Fort Sumter

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