The Proffits were a farm family Wilkes County, North Carolina. William Proffit (b. ca. 1803) and Mary Proffit (b. ca. 1805) were the parents of four sons who served in the Confederate army. William H. Proffit (b. ca. 1839) served in Co. B, 1st North Carolina Inf. and died at Gordonsville, Virginia on October 18, 1863. Alfred N. Proffit (b. ca. 1842) and Andrew J. Proffit (b. ca. 1834) served in Co. D, 18th North Carolina Infantry and survived the war. Calvin Luther Proffit (b. ca. 1842) served in Co. H, 13th North Carolina Infantry and died in camp on March 23, 1863. According to the 1860 census, Andrew and William H. were both school teachers. Their two younger brothers Alfred N. and Calvin L. were farm laborers on the family farm. Several of the letters are directed Rachel Proffit (b. ca. 1837), the sister of the four Proffit brothers. There are also letters from relatives who served in the 1st and 53rd North Carolina Infantry regiments. Calvin L. Proffit died in camp in March 1863. William H. Proffit died at Gordonsville, Virginia in October 1863.