Alexander Elliot
Alexander “Sandie” Elliot was born in North Carolina in 1836. He came from a wealthy family and was the nephew of renowned citizen Colonel Alexander Elliot, the owner of Ellerslie Plantation, near Fayetteville.
When war broke out, Elliot rushed to join the Army. On April 17, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company F, 1st North Carolina Volunteers. Sandie served with the regiment until his enlistment expired. He was discharged in November 1861.
In July 1862, Alexander Elliot enlisted in Company K, 51st Regiment North Carolina Troops. He was promoted to sergeant a few months after joining the company. Sergeant Elliot was wounded slightly at Goldsboro in December 1862. In April 1863, he was promoted to sergeant major and transferred to regimental staff. On October 1, 1863, Elliot was promoted to Third Lieutenant and transferred back to Company K. On June 1, 1864, Sandie Elliot was mortally wounded while commanding Company K during the battle of Cold Harbor. He died the next day.
Sandie returned home on furlough in March 1864. During his leave, he visited his Uncle Alex at Ellerslie. His Aunt Jane made the following touching entry in her diary on March 22: “Sandie Elliot came in this evening to bid us good-bye and will be ‘off for the war’s again’, as soon as the weather will allow him to travel. He is a dear affectionate relative & I trust he will be spared to us when this cruel war is over.”
The Letter
NOTE: the letter is part of the George E. London Collection, PC.1275, North Carolina State Archives. Only the first two pages of the letter are contained in the collection.
[COVER NOTE IN FOLDER WITH LETTERS]
Letter describes death of Lt. Alexander (“Sandie”) Elliot, K Company 51st N. C. Regiment, killed at battle of 2nd Cold Harbor, Virginia June 1st or 2nd 1864.
Writer is unknown[1] but addressed to Miss Sophie Mallett who apparently was Elliot’s sweetheart according to entry on p. 87 of Diary of Mrs Jane Evans Elliot. (p. 85 of same diary also mentions Sophie Mallett as teaching Elliot children) [NOTE: Jane Elliot’s diary is available in UNC Chapel Hill’s Wilson Special Collections Library (Collection# 5343-z) and online at https://finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/05343/]
Vol. III of Clark’s N. C. Regiments p. 211 has picture of Lt. Elliot also p. 212 and 220 refer to his death
Note written by George London, Raleigh, 11-9-65
[page 1]
Gaines Mills
Army Northern Va
June 5 1864
Miss Sophie Mallett
Dr Friend.
The sad news of Sandie’s death (my late comrade and true friend) has before this reached you all. He rec’d the mortal wound Wednesday evening June 2d[2] while gallantly leading and cheering his men on and lived until next morning. He was not allowed to remain on the field long but soon carried to the rear for attention, the wound was in the [BLANK] from a minie ball. Every thing that medical attention could do, was done and rec’d all due attention from Dr S. B. Morisey[3] our Surgeon & a good one. He was able to converse I am told to the last & was aware that his wound was mortal, said he knew he must die, it was not my fortune to be with him and sorry I could not. He was decently buried at the Hospital 3 miles from the battle field and grave marked, when his remains are sent for, they can be easily found.[4] The loss of such an officer the Col and entire Regiment
[page 2]
deeply lament, as we know his place will be hard to fill. The company, our company has like all the others fared bad, our Regt has lost 450 since we left Petersburg 1 month ago. Capt Murphy[5] was captured May 16th & has not been heard from since. Lt Tew[6] was wounded May 31st and I was in another command, which accounts for Sandie being only officer with company, the boys who were with him speak highly in his praise and say he led them gallantly. Capt M will be deeply pained when he hears of his death. Most of Sandie’s baggage is in Petersburg & can easily be gotten, we had very little with us. I have rec’d 3 letters directed to Sandie in last 2 days, 2 from Fayetteville & 1 from Hillsboro, will be delivered over when his friends come on. Our Boys are very cheerful & confident that Genl Lee will out General Grant, Grant is compelled to get his men ½ drunk before he can get them to charge. Can such a general succeed. Another good officer we have lost from our Brigade, Lt Col J. R. Murchinson[7] killed, which you have heard of before this
[end of letter; subsequent pages are missing]
[1] The writer was almost certainly First Lieutenant Edwin T. McKethan. McKethan was apparently detached at the time of the battle, leaving Elliott in command of the company after the capture of Captain Murphy and the wounding of Second Lieutenant Tew.
[2] Elliott was wounded at Cold Harbor on June 1 and died the next day.
[3] Dr. Samuel B. Morrisey.
[4] Unable to locate a gravesite for Elliott; his body may have never been recovered.
[5] Captain William F. Murphy, captured at Drewry’s Bluff on May 16, 1864. Imprisoned at Fort Delaware and became one of the Immortal 600.
[6] Second Lieutenant John J. Tew, wounded in the arm (arm fractured) at Cold Harbor on May 31, 1864.
[7] John Reed Murchinson, 8th Regiment NCT, killed at Cold Harbor on June 1, 1864.
Cover Note
Page 1
Page 2
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