Neill McLeod (1833-1864) was from Moore County, North Carolina and served as a private in Co. E, 3rd North Carolina Infantry. He was captured at the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864 and died at Elmira prison camp in December 1864. Four of the letters in this collection were written by McLeod to his wife, Elizabeth Matthews McLeod (b. 1837). The 1860 Census lists Neill McLeod’s occupation at “cooper” (his last name is spelled McLood in the census). The couple and their two daughters, Mary (3) and Margaret (1), lived next door to Elizabeth’s family. There is also a letter written by Neill McLeod to his brother, Daniel, and one written to Elizabeth by her brothers, Hardy and Nathan, who were serving as privates in Co. H, 30th North Carolina Infantry.