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ELLISON CAPERS PAPERS A1961.1

BIOGRAPHY From the Dictionary of American Biography Base Set. American Council of Learned Societies, 1928-1936.

Ellison Capers (Oct. 14, 1837-Apr. 22, 1908), Confederate soldier, Episcopal bishop, was born in Charleston, . His parents were William Capers and Susan (McGill) Capers. With the exception of two years in Oxford, Georgia, Ellison Capers spent his childhood and youth in Charleston, where he attended the two private schools and the high school. He received additional training in the Conference School, Cokesbury, and in Anderson Academy. In 1854 he entered the South Carolina Military Academy (The Citadel). He graduated in 1857 and taught for that year at The Citadel as an instructor in mathematics. In 1858, he served as principal of the preparatory department at Mt. Zion College, Winnsboro, South Carolina but returned to The Citadel in January 1859 as assistant professor of mathematics. The next month he married Charlotte Palmer of Cherry Grove Plantation.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Capers was elected major of a volunteer regiment which took part in the bombardment of Fort Sumter. This organization gave way to a permanent unit, the 24th South Carolina Infantry, of which Capers was

1 lieutenant-colonel. After two years of fighting in the Carolinas, the bloodiest occurring at the battles on James Island, the regiment was ordered in May 1863 to go with General Joseph E. Johnston to the relief of Vicksburg, Mississippi. From this time until the surrender at Bentonville, North Carolina, Capers was in the midst of hard campaigning and intense fighting. He was wounded at Jackson, Mississippi in May 1863, at Chickamauga in September 1863, and at Franklin, Tennessee in November 1864. On March 1, 1865, he was appointed , succeeding Gist, in command of the .

A few weeks after his return to Anderson, South Carolina in May 1865, Capers was chosen secretary of state for South Carolina under Governor Orr. Moved partly by his experiences during the war, he chose to enter the ministry and be part of the Episcopal Church. His first charge, which he took in 1866, was Christ Church, Greenville, South Carolina. The following year he resigned his political position. In 1875, he went to Selma, Alabama, but returned the following year to the same Greenville parish. In 1886, he was elected bishop of the Easton, Maryland diocese, but he declined the position. In 1887, he was called to Trinity Church, Columbia, South Carolina. He was consecrated assistant bishop of South Carolina in 1887. In 1904 he was elected chancellor of the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. He died August 13, 1908 and was buried in the churchyard of Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbia, South Carolina.

Devoted as a churchman in his activities and his interests, Bishop Capers went beyond narrowly interpreted ecclesiastical duty. He was chaplain-general of the Confederate Veterans; he was an energetic member of the Southern Historical Association. He contributed many reminiscent sketches and book reviews to periodicals, and edited Volume V, the South Carolina volume, of Confederate Military History (1899). He championed higher education as a function of both church and state, and protested in many official charges against the growth of lawlessness and crime. The most fondly remembered of his achievements was his contribution, made by personal contact and by frequent addresses, to the return of good feeling between the once-divided sections of the Union.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

In 1961, The Citadel purchased the papers of Ellison Capers from Mr. Raynor Hubbell of Griffin, Georgia. The papers pertain to military activities from 1861-1865 and consist of official reports, general orders, special orders, diaries, muster rolls and personal letters from Capers to his wife. Correspondents include G. T. Beauregard, S. R. Gist, D. R. Jones, J. Johnston Pettigrew, C. R. Holmes, R.G. M. Dunovant, Thomas Drayton, C. G. Memminger, J. M. Shackelford, J. C. Pemberton. Correspondence from 1874-1905 is included also. The papers are arranged chronologically and comprise two linear feet. The inventory follows.

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Ellison Capers Papers Inventory

YEAR TO FROM LOCATION 1833 MEETING ST. TROOP CAVALRY RETURN BOX 1, F 1 1844/02/02 LEE, MISS ELIZABETH YARBOROUGH, B.Y. BOX 1, F 2 1845/06/15 LEE, MISS ELIZABETH HAYES, ELLIOTT BOX 1, F 3 CONNOR, JAMES / MONTGOMERY 1861/01/15 GUARDS BOX 1, F 4 1861-1862 MAP DRAWN BY CAPERS OF FOLLY ISLAND BOX 1, F 5 1861/02/03 JAMES, CAPT / FROM RIPLEY, R.S TO RIPLEY, R.S./ FROM GREGG, G BOX 1, F 6 1861/02/11 WADDY, J.R. HANCKELL, M.L. BOX 1, F 7 1861/02/19 DUNOVANT, BRIG. GEN. R.G.M. SHACKELFORD, JAMES M. BOX 1, F 8 1861/03/18 MARTIN, CAPT. R. PETTIGREW, J. JOHNSTON BOX 1, F 9 1861/04/01 CHISOLER, A.R. COOPER, S. BOX 1, F 10 1861/04/01 EVANS, N.G. BARKER, T.G. BOX 1, F 11 1861/04/13 DUNOVANT, BRIG. GEN. R.G.M. BEAUREGARD, G.T. BOX 1, F 12 1861/04/16 GENERAL ORDERS #23 JONES, D.R. BY ORDER OF GEN. B BOX 1, F 13 1861/04/16 DUNOVANT, BRIG. GEN. R.G.M. HATCH, L.M. BOX 1, F 14 1861/04/17 DUNOVANT, BRIG. GEN. R.G.M. GIST, S.R. BOX 1, F 15 1861/04/17 SPECIAL ORDER GIST, S.R. BOX 1, F 16 1861/04/17 SPECIAL ORDERS #70 JONES, D.R. BOX 1, F 17 1861/04/17 SPECIAL ORDERS #72 JONES, D.R. BOX 1, F 18 1861/04/18 REPORT. (TRANSCRIPTION) PETTIGREW, J. JOHNSTON BOX 1, F 19 1861/07/03 MOTHER WILLIE H.H. BOX 1, F 20 1861/07/03 GENERAL ORDERS #11 LAY, GEORGE BOX 1, F 21 1861/07/08 GENERAL ORDERS #35 JORDAN, THOMAS BOX 1, F 22 1861/07/19 DUNOVANT, BRIG. GEN. R.G.M. MOSES, F.J. BOX 1, F 23 1861/07/25 GENERAL ORDERS #5 ALDRICH, A.P. BOX 1, F 24 1861/07/25 MILLS, COL. T.I. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 1, F 25 1861/07/26 BACON, COL. ALDRICH, A.P. BOX 1, F 26

3 1861/08/02 GENERAL ORDERS #44 JORDAN, THOMAS BOX 1, F 27 1861/08/13 BACON, COL. HOLMES, C.R. BOX 1, F 28 1861/08/14 SPECIAL ORDER #94 HOLMES, C.R. BOX 1, F 29 1861/08/14 CIRCULAR HOLMES, C.R. BOX 1, F 30 1861/08/15 CIRCULAR HOLMES, C.R. BOX 1, F 31 1861/08/15 SPECIAL ORDER #97 HOLMES, C.R. BOX 1, F 32 1861/08/15 CIRCULAR HOLMES, C.R. BOX 1, F 33 1861/08/16 GENERAL ORDER #17 HOLMES, C.R. BOX 1, F 34 1861/08/17 SPECIAL ORDER #104 HOLMES, C.R. BOX 1, F 35 REPORT. MEMMINGER, C.G. BOX 1, F 36 1861/08/17 SPECIAL ORDER #247 JORDAN, THOMAS BOX 1, F 37 1861/08/26 SPECIAL ORDER #134 WITHERS, JNO. BOX 1, F 38 1861/09/04 ORDER HOLMES, C.R. BOX 1, F 39 1861/09/08 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 1, F 40 1861/09/27 CAPERS, ELLISON DRAYTON, THOMAS N. BOX 1, F 41 1861/10/22 ELECTION RETURNS FOR CO.E,7TH REG,SC VOL BOX 1, F 42 1861/10/28 COLONEL SMALL J. BOX 1, F 43 1861/11/18 GRANGER, JOEL CHARGES AGAINST BACON, THOMAS G. BOX 1, F 44 1861/11/25 JAMISON, GEN. D.L. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 1, F 45 1861/11/26 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 1, F 46 1861/12/06 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 1, F 47 1861/12/19 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 1, F 48 1861/12/19 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 1, F 49 1861/12/23 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 1, F 50 1861/12/30 MY DEAR SISTER ALLEN, I.H. BOX 1, F 51 1861 HANDBILL. RECRUIT REGT. FOR CONFED.SERV CAPERS,ELLISON / STEVENS, C.H. BOX 1, F 52 1862/01/01 GREGG, GEN. FLUDD, AUGUSTUS BOX 2, F 1 1862/01/05 GREGG, GEN. MORRISON, J.H. BOX 2, F 2 1862/01/06 EDWARDS, O.E., COL. MORRISON, J.H. BOX 2, F 3 1862/01/06 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 4 1862/01/07 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 5 1862/01/08 GREGG, GEN. PENBERTON, J.C. BOX 2, F 6

4 1862/01/08 GREGG, GEN. PEMBERTON, J.C. BOX 2, F 7 1862/01/08 GENERAL ? WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 8 1862/01/08 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 9 1862/01/09 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 10 1862/01/11 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 11 1862/01/11 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 12 1862/01/20 GREGG, GEN. CHISOLM, ROBERT BOX 2, F 13 1862/01/21 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 14 1862/01/25 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 15 1862/01/26 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 16 1862/01/28 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 17 1862/01/28 CIRCULAR WADDY J.R. BOX 2, F 18 1862/01/28 TELEGRAPHIC DISPATCH DRAYTON, T. F. BOX 2, F 19 1862/01/29 GREGG, GEN. PEMBERTON, J.C. BOX 2, F 20 1862/01/29 GENERAL ? WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 21 1862/01/30 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 22 1862/01/31 GREGG, GEN. MORRISON, J.H. BOX 2, F 23 1862/01/31 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 24 1862/02/03 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 25 1862/02/04 GREGG, GEN. PEMBERTON, J. C. BOX 2, F 26 1862/02/05 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 27 1862/02/06 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 28 1862/02/09 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 29 1862/02/11 PEMBERTON, BRIG. GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 30 1862/02/12 CIRCULAR WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 31 1862/02/13 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 32 1862/02/18 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 33 1862/02/20 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 34 1862/02/20? GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 35 1862/02/21 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 36 1862/02/25 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 37 1862/02/25 GREGG, GEN. WADDY, J.R. BOX 2, F 38

5 1862/3- 1863/11 CAPERS, ELLISON DIARY, PART OF BOX 2, F 39 1862/05/07 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 40 1862/05/08 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 41 1862/05/10 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 42 1862/05/10 MAP OF CAMP ON COLES ISLAND 1862 WITH MAY 10, 1862 LETTER BOX 2, F 42 1862/05/11 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS,ELLISON BOX 2, F 43 1862/05/17 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 44 1862/05/21 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 45 1862/06/03 CAPERS, MRS. BRYAN, PERRY BOX 2, F 46 1862/06/05 CAPERS, MRS. CAPER, ELLISON BOX 2, F 47 1862/06/16 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 48 1862/06/17-18 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 49 1862/06/21 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 50 1862/06/22 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 51 1862/06/29 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 52 1862/7- 1863/11 CAPERS, ELLISON DIARY, POCKET BOX 2, F 53 1862/07/02 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS,ELLISON BOX 2, F 54 1862/08/12 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 55 1862/08/13 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 56 1862/12/16 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 57 1862/12/18 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 58 MAP OF ONSLOW AND NEW HANOVER CNTY,N.C. HAND DRAWN BOX 2, F 59 1862/12/29 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 60 1862/12/31 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 2, F 61 1863/01/04 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 1 1863/01/12 CAPERS, ELLISON YEADON, RICHARD BOX 3, F 2 1863/01/18 NANCE, CAPT. FOOT, M. BOX 3, F 3 1863/02/22 CAPERS, ELLISON CAPERS, HENRY BOX 3, F 4 1863/02/26 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 5 1863/03/02 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 6

6 1863/03/07 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 6 1863/03/04 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 7 1863/03/15 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 8 1863/04/13 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 9 1863/05/07 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 10 1863/05/08 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 11 1863/05/12 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 12 1863/05/19 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS,ELLISON BOX 3, F 13 1863/05/26 CAPERS, FRANK CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 14 1863/06/05 BARKLEY, J.M. VICKSON, W.L. OR DICKSON, W. L. BOX 3, F 15 1863/07/10- 11/1 CAPERS, ELLISON DIARY & TRANSCRIPTIONS OF NOTE BOX 3, F 16 1863/11/17 CAPERS, ELLISON STEVENS, C.H. BOX 3, F 17 1863/12/17 MISS R.L.B. P BOX 3, F 18 1864/01/13 BLACK, COL. J.L. LIST OF SHIRTS GIVEN BY BLACK BOX 3, F 19 1864/07/13 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 20 1864/08/09 SPECIAL ORDERS #187 BROWN, R.M. BOX 3, F 21 1864/08/13 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 22 1864/08/14 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 23 1864/08/23 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 24 1864/08/24 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 25 1864/08/26 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 26 1864/08/26 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 27 1864/09/07 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 28 1864/09/09 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 29 1864/09/12 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 30 1864/09/15 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 31 1864/09/16 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 32 1864/09/17 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 33 1864/09/19- 12/2 CAPERS, ELLISON DIARY & NOTES ON EXPENSES OF W BOX 3, F 34 1864/09/28 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 35

7 1864/09/29- 11/01 TENNESSEE, ARMY OF DAILY MARCHES BOX 3, F 36 1864/09/30 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS. ELLISON BOX 3, F 37 1864/10/04 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 38 1864/10/21 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 39 1864/10/24 CAPERS, ELLISON MAXWELL, PINCKNEY J. BOX 3, F 40 1864/10/28 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 41 1864/11/01 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 42 1864/11/05 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 43 1864/11/08 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 44 1864/11/09 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 45 1864/11/12 CAPERS, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 46 1864/11/29 CAPERS, MRS. STRADLEY, SAMUEL BOX 3, F 47 1864/12/01 LEAVE ON ABSENCE REQUEST DUE TO WOUND CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 3, F 48 1865/01/27 CAPERS, ELLISON JOHNSTON, J.E. BOX 3, F 49 1865/05/10 CAPERS, ELLISON CHATHAM, GEN. BOX 3, F 50 1866/10/17 CAPERS, ELLISON SMITH, B.B. BOX 3, F 51 PRISONER OF WAR RELEASE-FEDERAL 1865/06/29 CERTIFICATE U.S. BOX 3, F 53 1865/06/29 OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE U.S. BOX 3, F 54 MAP ST. HELENA'S SOUND BOX 3, F 55 1874/02/19 CAPERS, ELLISON JOHNSTON, J.E. BOX 4, F 1 1874/05/04 CAPERS, ELLISON JOHNSTON, J.E. BOX 4, F 2 1874/06/30 CAPERS, ELLISON JOHNSTON, J.E. BOX 4, F 3 1874/07/04 JOHNSTON, J.E. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 4, F 4 1874/07/23 CAPERS, ELLISON JOHNSTON, J.E. BOX 4, F 5 1877/02/24 CAPERS, ELLISON FALCONER, KINLOCH BOX 4, F 6 1879/07/30 CAPERS, ELLISON MORGAN, T.W. BOX 4, F 7 1879/08/02 CAPERS, ELLISON SMITH, B.B. BOX 4, F 8 1879/08/22 CAPERS, ELLISON CARTLEDGE, S.C. BOX 4, F 9 1880/03/18 CAPERS, ELLISON JOHNSTON, J.E. BOX 4, F 10 1880/04/03 CAPERS, ELLISON SMITH, B.B. BOX 4, F 11 1882/06/07 CAPERS, ELLISON SMITH, B.B. BOX 4, F 12

8 1882/10/16 NEWS & COURIER EDITORS MAXWELL, PINCKNEY J. BOX 4, F 13 CAPERS, ELLISON STEVENS, C. H. BOX 4, F 14 1883/07/19 CAPERS, ELLISON SMITH, B.B. BOX 4, F 15 1883/08/06 CAPERS, ELLISON WRIGHT, MARCUS J. BOX 4, F 16 1885/11/03 CAPERS, ELLISON BEAUREGARD, G.T. BOX 4, F 17 BEAUREGARD PORTRAIT- ENGRAVING BOX 4, F 18 1884/05/17 CAPERS, ELLISON STEINMEYER, J.H. BOX 4, F 19 1885/07/20 CAPERS, ELLISON SMITH, B.B. BOX 4, F 20 1885/07/25 CAPERS, ELLISON SMITH, B.B. BOX 4, F 21 1885/07/29 CAPERS, ELLISON CARTLEDGE, S.C. BOX 4, F 22 1885/08/22 CAPERS, ELLISON SMITH, B.B. BOX 4, F 23 1885/09/26 CAPERS, ELLISON JOHNSTON, J.E. BOX 4, F 24 1885/10/13 CAPERS, ELLISON SMITH, B.B. BOX 4, F 25 1889/05/01 CAPERS, ELLISON HAMILTON, EDWIN BOX 4, F 26 1889/05/27 CAPERS, ELLISON TRIEST, M. BOX 4, F 27 1894/11/16 CAPERS, ELLISON SMITH, B.B. BOX 4, F 28 1896/07/21 TARRH, MRS. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 4, F 29 1898/05/26 CAPERS, ELLISON LUCAS, J. JONATHAN BOX 4, F 30 1898/08/08 CAPERS, ELLISON EVANS, CLEMENT A. BOX 4, F 31 1902/01/02 DUBOSE, REV. W.P. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 4, F 32 1908/05/03 FUNERAL ORATION FOR CAPERS BOX 4, F 33 1905/02/10 CAPERS, ELLISON COLCOCK, CHARLES J. BOX 4, F 34 HISTORY OF GIST'S BRIGADE CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 4, F 35 HISTORY OF 24TH S.C. VOLUNTEERS (6 PGS.) CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 4, F 36 MUSTER ROLL. C CO., 24TH S.C.VOLS. BOX 4, F 37 MUSTER ROLL. E CO., 24TH S.C.VOLS. BOX 4, F 38 MUSTER ROLL. K CO., 24TH S.C.VOLS. BOX 4, F 39 MAP. BATTLE OF 2ND MANASSAS DRAWN BY CAPT. E. BLAND BOX 4, F 40 MAP. CHANCELLORSVILLE. DRAWN BY CAPT. E. BLAND BOX 4, F 41 WINDOW DEDICATED TO CAPERS-STAINED 1914 GLASS BOX 4, F 42 MUSTER ROLL. I CO., 24TH S.C.VOLS. BOX 4, F 43

9 1890/06/17 CAPERS, ELLISON JR. CAPERS, ELLISON BOX 4, F 44 1908/05/00 THE DIOCESE BISHOP CAPERS MEMORIAL EDITION BOX 4, F 45

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