Edgefield Chronicle:
Many of our readers have never seen a "furlough" and will no doubt be interested in a perusal of the following. It is a bona fide document, as we have it direct from the hands of the private soldier named in it. The names of all the officers from Longstreet commanding the department to Lieutenant Bouknight commanding the company are quite familiar names to Edgefield people.
FURLOUGH,
To all whom it may concern:
The bearer hereof, B. C. W. Matthews, private of Captain Goggan’s company, Infantry, Seventh Carolina Regiment, aged twenty-nine years, five feet six inches high, light complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair, and by profession a farmer, born in the District of Edgefield, State of South Carolina, and enlisted at Edgefield Court House, July 1st, 1862, to serve for the period of two years, and re-enlisted February, 1864, for the war, is hereby permitted to go to Edgefield District, South Carolina, he having received a furlough from the ---- day of ---- to the ---- day of -- --at which period he will rejoin his company or regiment at Bristol, Tenn., or wherever it may be, or be considered a deserter.
Subsistence has been furnished to said B. C. W. Matthews from ---- day of ---- to the ---- day of ---- and pay to the first day of November, both inclusive.
Given under my hand at Bristol this 6th day of April, 1864.
A. P. BOUKNIGHT,
Lieut. Com’d’g Co. M, Seventh South Carolina Reg’t.
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The applicant desires to visit home to look after his family interests, he having a wife and three children who need his attention.
He is also deeply involved in some estates of which he is administrator - they being unsettled and in a state demanding some immediate personal attention.
A better soldier never shouldered a gun. He has not lost a day, or missed a roll call since he has been in service. His case certainly merits all attention and reward, and I earnestly recommend that this application be granted.
A. P. BOUKNIGHT,
Lieut. Com’d’g Co. M, Seventh South Carolina Reg’t.
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CAMP SEVENTH SOUTH CAROLINA REG’T,
April 6th, 1864. Private B. C. W. Matthews, Company M, Seventh South Carolina Regiment.
Special application for furlough to visit home to attend to important business. The application is specially recommended on account of his high soldierly qualities, by his company officers.
Approved.
A. P. BOUKNIGHT,
Lieut. Com’d’g Co. “M”, Seventh South Carolina Reg’t.
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HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH SOUTH CAROLINA REG’T,
April 6th, 1864.
In consideration of the high character of the soldier, I respectfully forward. Approved.
BENJAMIN ROPER,
Capt’n. Com’d’g. Reg’t.
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HEADQUARTERS KERSHAW’S BRIGADE,
April 6th, 1864.
Respecfully forwarded.
Approved.
JOHN D. KENNEDY,
Col. Com’d’g Brigade.
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DIVISION HEADQUARTERS,
April 7th, 1864.
Respectfully forwarded.
Approved.
W. S. WOFFORD,
Brigrdier Com’d’g Div.
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HEADQUARTERS DEP’T EAST TENN.,
April 8th, 1864.
Respectfully returned, approved, in consideration of the excellent character of this soldier.
By command of
LIEUT. GEN. LONGSTREET.