Robert Spainhourd (b. ca. 1843) was from Forsyth County, North Carolina where he was employed as a farm laborer. The family name is usually spelled Spainhour, as it is in Robert’s service records. He enlisted as a private in Co. D, 57th North Carolina Infantry on July 4, 1862. At the time of the 1860 Federal Census, Robert Spainhourd (spelled Spainhower in the Census) was living in the household of farmer Willis M. Marshall in the Salem neighborhood of Forsyth County. James Marshall (b. ca. 1834), who served with Robert Spainhourd in Co. D, lived next door. Most of the letters in this collection were written by Robert Spainhourd to his wife, Phebe. There are also letters by James Marshall and by Phillip A. James (b. ca. 1840), who served as a sergeant (later lieutenant) in Co. D, 52nd North Carolina Infantry. Robert Spainhourd was killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862.