Description:

Slavery
Lexington, MO, May 31, 1863; June 12, 1864
Missouri Woman Writes to Sister About Loss of Slaves During Civil War
ALS

[SLAVERY.] Elizabeth Carlyle Wallace, Autograph Letter Initialed, to Martha "Patsy" Carlyle Graddy, May 31, 1863, Lexington, Missouri. 2 pp., 7.75" x 9.75". Expected folds; very good. With: Elizabeth Carlyle Wallace and Eudora "Dora" Wallace, Autograph Letter Signed, to Martha "Patsy" Carlyle Graddy, June 12, 1864, Lexington, Missouri, 4 pp., 7.75" x 9.75". Expected folds, .75" x .25" hole in all four pages, affecting a few words; otherwise, very good.

Includes two envelopes, one addressed to "Mrs. Patsey Graddy" in Versailles, Kentucky, and postmarked in Lexington, Missouri, and the other to "Miss Fannie Graddy" in Oxford, Ohio, and postmarked in Versailles, Kentucky. Opened on the ends; the one postmarked in Lexington likely held the second letter.

This rare and rich pair of letters describes the feelings of a white woman in Lexington, Missouri, in the middle of the Civil War. In these letters to her sister, Patsy Graddy, in Versailles, Kentucky, Betsy Wallace writes of the shock she and her family felt at the overnight loss of eleven of their twelve slaves. She longs to see her sisters in central Kentucky but fears that the war will prevent her from ever seeing them again.

Both Versailles, Kentucky, and Lexington, Missouri, were alternately occupied by Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War. Woodford County, Kentucky, and Lafayette County, Missouri, were deeply divided and supplied soldiers for both the Union and Confederate armies. It is unclear which side these families supported. The husbands of these two sisters were too old to fight during the war, and one died in January 1863. Even several of their sons were too old for military service. At least one son in each family was enrolled on Union draft lists as subject to military duty but in Class II (married men between 35 and 45), who were not likely to be drafted.

In 1860, in Lafayette County, Missouri, Henry and Elizabeth Wallace owned 7 male and 3 female slaves, ranging in age from 1 to 50 years. At the same time, in Woodford County, Kentucky, William and Elizabeth Graddy owned 30 male and 23 female slaves, ranging in age from 3 months to 60 years.

Excerpts
[May 1863:]
"I never have dispared of seeing some of my Sisters again until this awful war commenced, I now know not what the end will be but be that as it may we are ruined already. we have suffered in many ways but most of all in losing our servents. We have lost eleven have but one left and he was not at home when the rest left, that is old Jo. he say that he will not go, but we do not know that. there are but few left here now. ours was helped off, one night, when we was not expecting in the least, nor did I think that those that we raised would leave us until they was all gone, for we raised them all. Mr W. and I and little Kent was all sick at the time and thought we could not get up until some of the servents would come and make a fire but it was in vain, every one gone ten that night. Judy Ann and Charles and there children Martha, husband, and children, a boy that we raised sixteen or seventeen and a girl about the same age, left some time ago, so you see that we have no servent now, for the first time, several weeks we did not know what in the world to do. I almost felt like running to you that had servents yet, but we woried along the best way we could until now. we are getting along a little better. we have an Irish girl that is a very good worker and that is all that we have, you would be surprised to see how quiet everything is, about the house has had a death like appearance every since the servents left, have not heard a word from them, our family are all well."

[June 1864:]
"I have written several times to you and have not received a line from you or any of your children since the death of your dear husband.... O how much I would like to see and hear for myself but that cannot be I am affraid in my life again, and O how hard it is for me to believe that I never shall see you my dear Sisters that I love so dearly again in this world....
"We are enjoying more quiet than we have for some time and have gotten along this far better than we expected but live in continual dread as many of our neighbours have suffered a great deal there are but few days or nights that some family does not suffer from one side or the other.... heretofore you have been in a measure quiet but we see from the papers that there has been some trouble in the state some what like ours but it never will it never can be as bad there as it has been here, you doubtless have heard that we lost all of our negroes and are doing all of our house work our selves and expect to be negres until the war is over if you onley could see me cooking Mr Wallace milking I know you would laugh...."
[Dora:]
"We propose giving Father & Mother a family Album to be filled with the Photographs of all their children & grandchildren, their Brothers & Sisters. We want to have it ready to present on their golden wedding day which will be the 18th of August next, so you must be sure & send your likeness in time, & tell Aunt Polly & Rachel & Margaret to do the same....
"My dear Aunt we would like to have a golden wedding sure enough & have you all to come & be with Father & Mother to commemorate the joyous 18th full fifty years ago, but this terrible war, the troubles by which we are threatened just now & the yearnings of our hearts towards our Brothers who are engaged in this deadly strife forbid the indulgence of gaieties or extravagance.. .. yet we tremble & dread lest before the wedding day rolls round some who are dear to us as life itself may have found a soldiers grave."

Elizabeth "Betsy" Carlyle Wallace (1797-1892) was born in Woodford County, Kentucky. In 1814, she married Henry C. Wallace (1792-1875), and they had at least ten children. By 1850, they had settled in Lexington, Missouri.

Eudora "Dora" Wallace Carter (1829-1924) was born in Woodford County, Kentucky, to Henry Wallace and Elizabeth Carlyle Wallace. She moved with her family to Lexington, Missouri, by 1850. In 1867, she married George W. Carter (1813-1877), with whom she had at least one child.

Martha "Patsy" Carlyle Graddy (1800-1871) was born in Woodford County, Kentucky. In 1819, she married William L. Graddy (1793-1863), with whom she had at least four children. He died on January 31, 1863, in Versailles, Kentucky.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

  • Dimensions: 7.75" x 9.75"
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

January 7, 2026 10:00 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000