AN OLD CONFEDERATE FURLOUGH.
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.
_______
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.
_______
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.
_______
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.
_______
HEADQUARTERS KERSHAW’S BRIGADE,
April 6th, 1864.
Respecfully forwarded.
Approved.
JOHN D. KENNEDY,
Col. Com’d’g Brigade.
_______
DIVISION HEADQUARTERS,
April 7th, 1864.
Respectfully forwarded.
Approved.
W. S. WOFFORD,
Brigrdier Com’d’g Div.
_______
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.
