It was old man Willingham’s own negro that killed him. It was old Bill. They burnt him last Friday. - Mariah Cotton

Two page letter written on July 12th, 1864 by Mariah Cotton to her husband, Confederate soldier John Cotton of the 10th Alabama Cavalry. In the letter, Mariah mentions a Coweta County, Alabama man (Isaac Willingham) who was murdered by his "own negro." The enslaved man, "Old Bill," was apparently familiar to Mariah. She writes that he was burned for the crime. Mariah's letter also references Confederate deserters and family news. She closes by stating her desire for the war to end.

We have been able to locate a period notice (photo 3) in the Montgomery, Alabama Weekly Register that announces Bill's guilt and his sentence- to be chained to a stake and burned alive. The horrific method in which Bill was executed was likely chosen to frighten local enslaved people and deter them from committing a similar crime.

The letter is accompanied by a wartime cover addressed to Mariah from John, which notes his rank and regiment.

Complete transcript available upon request.



[African-American History, Slave, Slavery, Abolition, Abolitionist, Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, Union, Confederate, Document, Letter]