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Folder 3: Letters, 1863

 File — Box: 1, Folder: 3
Collection number: Folder 3

Scope and Contents

1863 Folder 3

Dates

  • Created: 1863

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 1.00 Boxes

Language

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Transcription Update - 1863 Letter 19

1863 Letter 19: It was initially thought that W.W. Knight was asking for correspondence to be sent to "Doc Nettles" towards the end of the letter.

Further investigation revealed the mention of "Forsyth County," suggesting that the hospital might be Hardee Hospital, which W.W. Knight might have spelled as "Hardie." Upon examining the name of the doctor, it seems unlikely that the first letter is "N," as it resembles the "W" in W.W. Knight's signature. This suggests the name might be "Watters" instead of "Nettles."

Research on Confederate hospitals and their medical officers shows a Dr. W. Webb at Hardee Hospital, not matching the name "Watters." However, there was a Dr. Watters stationed in Alabama, although no records confirm his presence outside Alabama. Given the circumstances of the war and the conditions in Confederate hospitals, it is possible records were lost, leading to discrepancies in historical documentation.

The researcher consulted sources that list Confederate hospitals and medical officers, including a specific reference to Hardee Hospital.

Here is a source that briefly mentions the Hardee Hospital: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/monroe/military/civilwar/hospitals.txt

Dr. Watters was assigned to a hospital in Tunnel Hill, Georgia, between 1863 and 1864, likely at the Clisby Austin House, which served as a field hospital. The nearby tunnel connected the railroad between Chattanooga (where Watters was stationed before Tunnel Hill) and Atlanta. Tunnel Hill is approximately 90-100 miles from Forsyth County. While no documents place him at Hardee Hospital, he was operating as a surgeon in Georgia around the time of the letter, frequently traveling to different field hospitals. This evidence suggests the letter might be from 1863 rather than 1862-1863. This Find a Grave entry matches other information from previous resources: [Dr. John Henry Watters](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51176760/john-henry-watters).

Thanks to researcher Christopher Skipper for this updated information (2024-07).

Digital Objects

Physical Storage Information

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections Repository

http://www.valdosta.edu/archives/
Contact:
Valdosta State University Archives, Odum Library
1500 N. Patterson St.
Valdosta GA 30601 United States
7063728116
229-259-5055 (Fax)