1. Letters of Lafayette Mclaws By Jaiden Prichard and James Davis
A Soldiers General
Letters of Lafayette Mclaws
By Jaiden Prichard and James Davis

2. The author of the Letters
About
Settled in America because ship was broke
Married Elizabeth Huguenin
Began working as a cotton factor
Moved into county politics
He had two children
Anna and William
Joined because his father was in the army as a young man.

3. Intended audience
The intended audience mainly consisted of his family, almost all of his letters was mostly intended to his wife rather than both his wife and children.
He was a regular war general with various perks, depending on his rank in the battle that he was in.

4. What was happening locally at the time?
Lafayette Mclaws was working as a Court-Martial after his attempts in the war.
He had a clean record besides the Battle of Fort Sanders, this was his last battle before he had become a Court-Martial.

5. What was happening nationally at the time
Civil war was one of the main events happening.
The Emancipation Proclamation was being signed by Abe Lincoln on January 1st 1863.
Abe Lincoln was re-elected in Atlanta, and it was considered a very important victory.

6. Atlanta Georgia
September 19th 1863 [Friday]
6:30 A.M.
My Dear Wife
Mr. Dudley who is here proposes to go on and visit you this evening,30 he is not in the army and is not subject to conscription—I have advised him to get employment outside of the army, in order to keep himself free should our operations extend into Kentucky, when he could either make himself useful in organizing a force to join us, or can communicate with his family without hindrance. I will give him a letter to Hugh, who may be of service to him.
The reception of the troops all along the route was enthusiastic in the extreme, dinner and supper for all comers were provided with the greatest liberality—I was called on several times to “show myself” to the assembled multitude, as the ladies wished to see the Georgia General. The beauty displayed was not very great, but the hearty cordiality was remarkable. The pressure upon me for permits to see their friends has been very great, but I have refused except in a very few cases, presenting extraordinary claims to especial consideration.
I have a room in the Trout house, and was blessed with a very sound sleep last night—not being disturbed but once and that by a rat, which I found located under my pillow this morning. I will leave here to day or tomorrow morning early.
Genl Bryans Brigade is coming in and Genl. Woffords, will leave in an hour.
Our army is concentrating towards Ringold [Ga.], and the report is that Rosecrans is taking himself out of the state, but I do not believe it. That he will remain at Chattanooga [Tenn.] I think doubtful, but that does not necessarily imply a movement to the rear.

7. I cannot leave before this evening
I cannot leave before this evening. Everything here is enormously high and rapidly advancing. We must all economize very strictly, I never buy anything but something to eat, as every one laughs about, good naturedly however. Make arrangements for your winter supply of fuel, and for a hard winter—for if our army remains in Georgia the demand for all things will enhance the prices.
I send this by Mr. Dudley. My love to the children—a great deal is expected from my Division and I must be at work. Good morning my dear wife.

8. Bias
From what was read, the letters were mainly for his wife because it says, “My Dear Wife, or My Dearly Beloved.” The only bias in his letters was toward one of his partners (Dudley) and what his next move should be. Other than his wear abouts on the camp, his bias was minimal in his letters. Since he is an Army Captain in the Battle of Fort Sanders his bias would be of course with the U.S. even though he was with the Confederate Army.

9. Open-ended Questions
Why was his letters almost always to his wife and or family? What do you think his true bias was considering he was in the Confederate Army?