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THBConfederate Captain W.T. Lokey, 12th Alabama Cavalry, KIA, Civil War Letters to his Sweetheart, Cornelia Colquitt, Plus
About Seller
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
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About Auction
LiveJun 9, 2017 - Jun 10, 2017
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
View Full Catalog (392)
- Lot Description
Lot of 8, featuring 6 letters written by CSA Captain W.T. Lokey to Cornelia Colquitt, accompanied by her folding lap desk as identified by the Colquitt family and antique ink well stand.
Cornelia Colquitt was an accomplished pianist and Southern belle living in Columbia, TN during the Civil War. Her family hosted many “patriots” who served the Confederacy. One such person was Captain William T. Lokey of the 12th Alabama Cavalry. While stationed in Columbia, Cornelia caught his eye, and, according to family lore, it was love at first sight. With much regret I will have to decline visiting you today as we are now ready to march, wrote Lokey (Columbia, TN, February 19, 1863). In his next letter, he requested that he write her and that she do the same. He concluded, It is useless for me to attempt to express my love to you, for I am not possessor of the language to do so (Shelbyville, TN, February 27, 1863).
Lokey was not a prolific writer. He wrote brief correspondence littered with errors and occasionally attached poems to the end of them to express his affections for his sweetheart. He wrote infrequently and always apologized for the lack of writing; owing it to soldier life and a notoriously unreliable Confederate post. He shared his grief with her over the loss of his friend Micheleton Noles who was shot and killed at a battle in Nashville, TN. You know I must feel very sad as Unkle Mich was like a father to me, he wrote (McMinnville, TN, May 27, 1863). He also briefly described a battle near McMinnville, TN. He wrote, [We] attacked the enemy about fifty strong killing three and wounding eight or ten and capturing twenty five with two large mail bags…[with] important papers Official Business (McMinnville, TN, May 27, 1863). Near Shelbyville he told Cornelia that, It is generally believed among us that we will have an engagement here, that we will whip the Yankees out of Tennessee (Camp near Shelbyville, June 12, 1863). He was correct. A few weeks later he and the regiment engaged at the Battle of Shelbyville. Three months later he and the regiment were engaged at Chickamauga. Lokey survived the battle, but later perished with 20 other men while defending a bridge near Rome during the Dalton-Atlanta campaign.
Lokey’s correspondence ceased after his June letter. After not hearing from her beau for some time, Cornelia and her friend began writing to other Confederate officers and hospitals inquiring about his whereabouts. On July 1, 1866, Cornelia received her answer, although it was most likely not what she wanted to hear. Dr. A.G. Bennet wrote, There is a gentleman residing near central Ala, who had two sons in the Confederate Army. His name is Early Lokey. The sons, were, Sam’l Lokey, and W.T. Lokey. The latter was killed near Rome Geo, in May 1864. Sam’l Lokey lost an arm and I understand from a neighbor is now living with his father (Wokes Bluff, AL, July 1, 1866).
Records confirm that Lokey perished in the battle, and Cornelia never married.
Cornelia Colquitt's desk, which accompanies the correspondence, is thought to be English made, ca early 1840s. Constructed from attractive mahogany colored hard wood with brass inlays. When closed, it measures 12 x 9.5 x 4.25 in. When open, 19 x 12 x 2.75 in. An ink well stand that descended in the Colquitt family is also included, comprised of 9 x 5 in. wood base with two inset glass bottles with decorative brass caps.
Provenance: Descended in the Family of W.T. ColquittThe letters have typical folds, toning, and light soiling of the paper.Condition
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