The Culbersons were from the Mudlick neighborhood of Chatham County, North Carolina. At the time of the Federal Census of 1860, Jane Culberson (b. ca. 1815) was a widow running a farm with her son, John W. Culberson (b. ca. 1847). John Culberson served in the 1st North Carolina Junior Reserves before transferring to the 26th North Carolina Infantry, where he served as a private in Company G. He died of disease in December 1864. Two of the letters in this collection were written by (or for) Jane Culberson to John Culberson while he was in the army. The 1860 Census indicates that Jane Culberson was not able to read and write. There are also letters from relatives of the Culbersons, including William D. Carter (b. ca. 1833) and Daniel M. Carter (b. ca. 1840), while they were serving as privates in Co. E, 26th North Carolina Infantry. William and Daniel were the sons of Chatham County blacksmith Simri Carter (b. ca. 1805). The two brothers were both wounded at Gettysburg, and Daniel died of his wounds on July 20, 1863.