Signed and addressed by a Confederate captain who was wounded at Sharpsburg, Md., and Fort Harrison, Va.

Confederate war period used postal envelope. The cover has been signed and addressed by Captain Winsmith as follows. Written at the upper left corner is, "From Capt. Winsmith, Co. H, 1st S.C.V." He has addressed it to his father, "Dr. J. Winsmith, Glenn Springs P.O., South Carolina." The cover has a C.D.S. from Winchester, Va., Oct. 18, and it has been stamped in black at the upper right, "Due 10." Light corner wear but otherwise a very nice war date Confederate cover.

John Christopher Winsmith, was a resident of Spartanburg, South Carolina, when he enlisted as a private on March 1, 1861, and was mustered into the 1st South Carolina Volunteers. He was promoted to lieutenant, and then captain of Co. H, the dates of his commissions being unknown. During the War Between the States, Winsmith was twice wounded; the first time being in the bloody battle of Sharpsburg, Md., in 1862, and his second wound was received in 1864 during action at Fort Harrison, Va., which was a very important part of the Confederate defenses of Richmond.

The hard fought 1st Regiment of South Carolina Infantry were assigned to the brigades of Generals' Maxey Gregg and Samuel McGowan, and fought with the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor. It then participated in the very difficult Petersburg, Va. campaign and siege, and in the Appomattox campaign. The regiment lost 20 killed and 133 wounded during the Seven Days Battles, had 53 percent disabled of the 283 engaged at Second Manassas, and had 4 killed and 30 wounded at Sharpsburg. It suffered 73 casualties at Fredericksburg, and 104 at Chancellorsville, and then lost 34 percent of the 328 that fought at Gettysburg. There were 16 killed, 114 wounded, and 7 missing at The Wilderness, and 19 killed, 51 wounded, and 9 missing at Spotsylvania. On April 9, 1865, the regiment surrendered at Appomattox Court House with 18 officers and 101 men.