17 handwritten letters from 1858-1876 by a North Carolina man living in Alabama detailing to his sisters and brother his life in the Deep South before, during, and after the Civil War. Archiblad M. McLaughlin was a teacher and "farmer", although gardener would be more apt in the early years. Orginally from North Carolina, Archibald wrote to his siblings Mary, Sarah, and Neil during his time in Alabama. "Archie", as he refers to himself, writes from several Alabama locations including Lower Peach Tree, Eufaula Barbour County, Lowndes County, and Ashe Creek