Among the families who left the United States after the Civil War to seek their fortunes in Brazil, and settled in the vicinity of Santa Barbara, Sao Paulo, and later Americana, was the clan of Henry Strong. Henry left his home in Brookhaven, Mississippi, in 1867, and headed South with his daughter Sarah Amanda (Sally) and other family members. Sally Strong did leave behind a love-sick young Mississippian named Tom Atkins. From the middle years of the war, through its convulsive conclusion and into the turmoil that was the Reconstruction, Tom pined for his love across the seas. Sally kept his letters in a little suitcase. and these letters were preserved over the years until, through the tireless efforts of Maria Elisa Byington, they have come to light in this collection. Tom's chronicles open a window onto life in 19th century Mississippi. - Cyrus B. Dawsey

Volume IV: Compiled and revised by Silas Felton. 1063 pp., revised with books missed in vols. I,II, and III, regimental publications, personal narratives, biographies, campaigns and battles, Northern and Southern. Felton?s new compilation is without peer. He covers the subject from five different perspectives: Regimental Publications and Personal Narratives, Union and Confederate Biographies, General References, Armed Forces and Campaigns and Battles.And, making the work extremely useful, the last 236 pages contain a complete Index of Authors of Volumes I through IV as well as a new Index of Titles in the Revised Volume IV.Furthermore, to clear up confusion created by the multiple names often used by Confederate units during the war ? artillery batteries in particular ? which carried a state designation but were commonly known by the battery commander?s name, Felton has cited a written work with a single number designation but indexed and listed it under its common appellation to aid the researcher and eliminate confusion.

Based on reports from American repositories of manuscripts.