John Thomas Boyd (1846-1862) resided in Abbeville County, South Carolina with his family. In 1862, he enlisted after his brothers had joined Co. D, 7th South Carolina Infantry in 1861. He joined Co. G, 19th South Carolina Infantry. His other two brothers and his brother-in-law also served in the Confederacy. Along with four of these men, Thomas died during the Civil War. He had been repeatedly ill while in the military service. He was killed at the Battle of Murfreesboro on December 31, 1862. A letter notifying his father Robert Boyd of his death in battle is contained within this collection.