Charleston, SC history

Provost Marshal of Charleston

The Letter Book of Colonel Alexander Haskell Brown, Provost Marshal of Charleston

Edited with an Introduction by Robert G. Carroon

The Custom House, Charleston

This CD-ROM is now available.  for more information.

This historically important document, edited and indexed by the great great grandnephew of Col. Alexander Haskell Brown, the Provost Marshal himself, represents our first publication of South Carolina history.   

One might say it is also our first publication of military history.  However, the role of the Provost Marshal, under martial law (Charleston was under martial law for several months in 1862 following the fall of New Orleans -- an event ascribed by some in the Confederacy to the fact that New Orleans had NOT been under martial law when it was lost) was virtually that of a dictator.  The subject matter in these letters, orders, lists and related documents that make up the Letter Book covered the range of military and prisoner of war administration, as well as criminal and civil justice in the most important seaport of the Confederacy.  As such, its importance is not limited to the boundaries of South Carolina, nor is its scope limited to military history. 

The Letter Book represents a fascinating view of the Confederacy in operation at a point in the war before their situation began to appear dire.  It provides a view of an army in operation, with all the attendant issues that have arisen in military units forever and probably always will.  It also provides a picture of wartime Charleston from an unique point of view.  One sees patriotism combined with rivalry, and altruism combined with greed. 

There are some interesting lists included in the compilation, including an inventory of cotton of various types then in the City, arranged by owner, listing quantities, where stored, and destination.  Other information one might be surprised to find included name, rank, and unit information about Federal prisoners of war who passed through (or died in) the hospitals set up in Charleston to care for them, as well as the orders conveying them to the POW camp (referred to as the "Camp of Instruction") where they were sent when well enough to be transported.

If you would like to view the index of the completed work, please click here.

You may want to check the credentials of Robert Carroon, who edited the document and provided the scholarship behind it.  Click here to read a biographical sketch of the editor.

The CD-ROM, which includes the text of the Letter Book, introductory material and notes by the Editor, a new index, and illustrations and photographs, is now complete and available for purchase.

This CD-ROM is now available for $15.00 plus $1.50 shipping and handling per order. Purchasers within Connecticut, please add 6% sales tax.  Click "Add to shopping cart" to pay with a major credit card or PayPal.

If you'd prefer to order the Provost Marshal of Charleston CD-ROM -- or any of our other CD-ROMS -- by US Mail, simply to print our convenient mail order form.

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Between the Lakes Group publishes historical materials, largely local history, genealogy and Americana.  Our strengths are concentrated in New York State and Connecticut, but we have resources in other locations as well.  We sell our CD-ROMs to genealogists, historians, students (and teachers), librarians, archivists, and others with an interest in a particular subject, family, or locality.  On this website you'll find lots of free material, such as pictures, finding aids of various kinds, and links to other websites, as well as free searchable indexes of many of our CDs.  And, of course, you can order our CDs.  Thanks for visiting us!  We're growing all the time, so bookmark us and come back and visit us again soon! This website was last updated 05/07/2008

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