At the time of the 1860 Federal Census, George A. Williams (b. in Orange Co. ca. 1830), his wife Mary (b. ca. 1830), and their three children resided near Chapel Hill in Orange County, North Carolina. Williams’ occupation was listed as “miller.” He enlisted in Co. G, 7th North Carolina Infantry on July 28, 1861 and was killed at Gravel Hill, Virginia exactly three years later, on July 28, 1864. The Census indicates that Williams could not read and write, and it is clear that most, if not all, of his letters were written by others. The collection also includes letters from Wake County resident, Richard Womble (b. ca. 1827), who also served in Co. G, 7th North Carolina Infantry, and from Francis M. Medlin, who served in Co. I, 47th North Carolina Infantry.