Consisting primarily of the Civil War letters of Edward Laight Wells (1839-1917), a northerner and member of the Charleston Light Dragoons (Co. K, 4th South Carolina Cavalry), 1864-1865, addressed mainly to his parents in New Jersey; letters discuss the mood in Charleston during the secession crisis, 1860, fighting with Hampton's Legion, 1864-1865, and the immediate aftermath of the war; other letters of Eliza Carolina Middleton Huger Smith (1824-1919), wife of William Mason Smith, of Charleston, discuss the health and welfare of her family during the war.

Chiefly Civil War correspondence of Edward Laight Wells (1839-1917), relating to Charleston, S.C., at time of secession, and his service with Company K, 4th South Carolina Cavalry Regiment (Charleston Light Dragoons) and Hampton's Legion; and Eliza Carolina Middleton Smith (1824-1919), relating to family and the Civil War. Includes accounts, scrapbook of poems, diary (1865-1866) of Isabella Johannes Middleton Smith, and commonplace book (ca. 1865-ca. 1914) of Eliza Carolina Middleton Smith. Other persons and places represented include Wells's wife, Anna Mason Smith, and Athens and Augusta, Ga.

This collection from the South Caroliniana Library consists primarily of the Civil War letters of Edward Laight Wells, discussing the mood in Charleston during the secession crisis in 1860, fighting with the Hampton's Legion 1864-1865, and the immediate aftermath of the war. Other letters are from Eliza Carolina Middleton Huger Smith discussing the health and welfare of her family during the war. Also included are quotations, autographs, Confederate notes, poetry, recipes, genealogical information and newspaper clippings.