Request Material





Barfield family collection

Barfield family collection

Descriptive Summary

Title: Barfield family collection
Creator: Barfield, Richard Lee, 1836-1912
Inclusive Dates: 1822-1929
Bulk Dates: 1829-1864
Language(s): English
Extent: 0.5 Linear Feet 2 half boxes, 1 oversize folder
Collection Number: ms2878
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

Although there are several families with the Barfield name in Georgia going back to Colonial times, the R. Lee Barfield in question is probably Richard Lee Barfield, born in Georgia in August 1836 to Richard Barfield and Epsy Bardin Barfield. R. Lee would have been approaching age 30 when called upon to serve in the Confederate army. He married Sarah Margaret Peacock in 1861 and between 1861 and 1867 they had three children, Sealina, Sallie, and John R. Barfield. Not much is known abour Richard Lee Barfield, but a Federal U.S. Census of 1870 shows R. L. Barfield and his family farming in Dooly County, Georgia. He died in November 1912.

For more see Families of Southeastern Georgia by Jack N. Averitt.

Scope and Content

The major portion of the Barfield Family Collection is three letterbooks filled with the letters of R. Lee Barfield and written while he was a Confederate soldier in the Civil War. The letters were all written to his wife Maggie in Henderson, Georgia. Many of the letters are in poor condition, but a typescript is included of the legible letters. As he moved through North Carolina and Virginia, Barfield described such topics as a prison camp; the health of himself and others; the execution of a deserter; Negro troops; the supplies of food, horses, and arms; his company's skirmishes; and other war news. He continued to be optimistic that the war would soon be over.

Also in the collection are various legal documents, deeds, promissory notes, accounts, and receipts. Many of these are from the area of Bibb county, Georgia, and the name of Tillmon Barnett is often mentioned. The Southern Side, a book about Andersonville prison, is included.

From a later time period are a 1918 Macon News newspaper, a 1921 Athens Banner newspaper, and a 1929 letter to Mrs. M. B. Medlock of Macon.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Barfield family collection, ms2878, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2009 October 16.

General Notes

Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available online as part of America's Turning Point: Documenting the Civil War Experience in Georgia.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Belle Isle (Prison)
Bibb County (Ga.)
Confederate States of America. Army. Georgia Infantry Regiment, 62nd
Henderson (Ga.)
Houston County (Ga.)
North Carolina -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
Petersburg (Va.)
Richmond (Va.)
Soldiers -- Georgia.
Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons.
Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 
boxfolder
11Letterbook - Lee Barfield, 1862-1864 Access Online
(also illegible pages)
 
12Letterbook - Lee Barfield, 1863 Access Online
 
13Letterbook - Lee Barfield, 1864 Access Online
(also illegible pages)
 
14Typescript of Letterbooks, 1862-1863 Access Online
 
15Typescript of Letterbooks, 1863-1864 Access Online
 
boxfolder
21Deeds, 1834-1840
 
22Legal Documents, 1837-1840
 
23Accounts, 1829-1841
 
24Promissory Notes, 1835-1842
 
25Receipts, 1832-1842
 
26Correspondence, 1929 November 25
 
27Book - The Southern Side
 
oversized_folder
1BDeed [oversize], 1822 June 15
 
1BNewspaper-Macon News [oversize], 1918 November 11
 
1BNewspaper- Athens Banner [oversize], 1921 January 30