Description of Civil War Resignation Letter

This document is a Civil War resignation letter written by Ellison Capers, who served as a lieutenant colonel in the 24th South Carolina Infantry. The letter was composed in Wilmington, North Carolina, an important Confederate port city during the later years of the war. It is addressed to Samuel Cooper, the Adjutant and Inspector General of the Confederate States Army, who was responsible for administrative matters, including officer commissions and resignations.

In the letter, dated December 28, 1862, Capers formally tenders his resignation from military service. While the specific reasons for his resignation are not detailed here, such correspondence typically reflected personal hardship, health concerns, or shifting wartime circumstances. The tone of the letter is respectful and formal, consistent with military protocol of the time, and demonstrates the structured chain of command within the Confederate Army. The letter is endorsed by General Sam Cooper and Colonel, later Brigadier Clement H. Stevens of the 24th South Carolina Infantry.

Ellison Capers (1837–1908) was a Confederate officer who served with distinction during the American Civil War, particularly with the 24th South Carolina Infantry. He participated in several major campaigns and engagements in the Eastern Theater. After the war, Capers entered the Episcopal ministry and became a prominent religious leader, eventually serving as the Bishop of South Carolina. His postwar career reflects the broader transition of many former Confederate officers into civilian and spiritual leadership roles during Reconstruction and beyond.

Samuel Cooper (1798–1876) was a senior officer in both the United States Army and later the Confederate States Army. During the Civil War, he served as the Adjutant and Inspector General, making him the highest-ranking officer in the Confederate Army by seniority. Cooper played a crucial administrative role, overseeing personnel records, orders, and official correspondence. Though not often in battlefield command, his organizational responsibilities were essential to maintaining the Confederate military structure.

Clement H. Stevens (1821–1864) was a South Carolina politician, railroad executive, and Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War. Born in Charleston, he graduated from the South Carolina College (now the University of South Carolina) and later became active in state politics, serving in the South Carolina legislature. When the war began, Stevens organized and commanded artillery units before rising to brigade command in the Confederate Army. He participated in several major campaigns, including the defense of Charleston and operations against Union forces in the Southeast. Stevens was mortally wounded during the Battle of Atlanta and died on July 25, 1864. He is remembered for his leadership in coastal defenses and his service to the Confederacy during the war.

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