Confederate general (1838-1864) who fought in nearly every major battle of the Eastern Theater, and was killed at the Battle of Totopotomoy Creek. His brother, Union officer William R. Terrill, also died in battle. Together, they came to epitomize the notion of 'brother against brother' during the Civil War. ALS signed "Jas. Barbour Terrill," four pages on two adjoining sheets, 6.25 x 8.25, March 7, 1858. Handwritten letter to his brother George, in part: "I received your very welcome letter…& was delighted to hear that mother is recovering. I suffered a great deal of anxiety on her account during my stay in Richmond…I was sorry to hear that William was married, but think that he has made the best of a bad bargain by marrying the daughter instead of the mother. I think that Father has allowed his feelings to carry him too far. I attribute the action he has taken in this case to the too deep interest he takes in the welfare of his children in regard to such matters…The ceremonies on the 22nd were very imposing indeed, the military Regiment defied description, sufficient to say that those…under arms on that day about four thousand of the flower of Virginia's Army wearing every shade & hue of uniform, the company from one of the Northern cities as far as dress was concerned eclipsed anything I ever saw…one of my classmates dubbed it the Millionaire Company…It would be useless for me to attempt to describe the enthusiasm manifested at the appearance of the Cadets as we were marching up Main Street amongst other tokens of admiration for the gallant." In fine condition, with intersecting folds, edge creasing, and a few small edge tears.
It was a tumultuous period for the Terrill family in 1858, with matters about to get much worse in the year ahead. As noted here, his mother, Elizabeth Pitzer Terrill, was very ill at the time. Despite the expression of optimism, she would never recover and died several weeks later. More interesting is the reference to his brother William, who would swear his allegiance to the Union Army during the Civil War, angering his family—particularly his father, a man with a deep interest "in the welfare of his children." James remained loyal to his Virginia roots and training at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), from which he would graduate in July 1858.
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