John Sanderson Foster's letters from New Orleans (1861) relate his views on the secession of Louisiana and describe his life as a law student in New Orleans. Letters from his army training camp near Memphis, Tennessee, describe his captain, William T. Martin, and his unit, called Adams Troop. Letters from various camps in Virginia describe camp life; a railroad wreck of cars bound for Richmond; a hospital in Ashland; the efficiency, membership and size of the Adams Troop; picket duty; the activities of couriers; Confederate currency; and medical attention offered by women in Richmond to Confederate soldiers. Battles and skirmishes mentioned in John S. Foster's letters include the First Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Williamsburg, the Seven Days Battles of Mechanicsville (Ellison's Mills), First Cold Harbor, the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Antietam Campaign, fighting at Fredericksburg, Virginia, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Gettysburg Campaign. The formation of the Jefferson Davis Legion from the Adams Troop and other companies from Mississippi and Alabama and the activities of the Washington Artillery are described. Letters of Isaac Gaillard Foster describe his company's retreat from Corinth during the Shiloh Campaign, conditions during the Chattanooga Campaign, and at Camp Cleburne, Georgia (1863), the arrest of women at Natchez for carrying on contraband trade (1864), and fighting in the Atlanta Campaign. Confederate officers described include Patrick Cleburne, Leonidas Polk, and Joseph E. Johnston. Miscellaneous papers include letters and items relating to the deaths and burials of John S. and Isaac G. Foster, lists of things made for soldiers, a military pass issued to James Foster, an oath of allegiance taken by Kate Foster to the Confederate States (1865), photographs of members of the Foster family, and a narrative description of John S. and Isaac G. Foster. A diary kept by Isaac G. Foster (May-Aug. 1864) records his experiences during the Atlanta Campaign, detailing troop movements, duties, casualties, and skirmishes near Atlanta. Comments on Confederate military leadership and on the death of John S. Foster are included.
