Joseph Zebulon Hearst letters

This collection contains typescript transcriptions of twenty-one letters written by Confederate soldier Joseph Zebulon Hearst. The typescript, addressed to Hearst's daughter Annie Hearst Alison, is dated 1931 and includes a brief introductory statement description of Hearst's military service. The included biographical sketch incorrectly lists Hearst as a resident of Mississippi; the family resided in Richmond, Alabama.

The letters, dated from May 24, 1862, to December 4, 1864, are addressed to Hearst's wife and young daughters. Hearst typically describes camp life in a lighthearted manner, filling his letters with reports of practical jokes and social events. While he briefly discusses war related news, describing events such as the capture of Union soldiers, his letters provide few direct descriptions of battle. In addition to descriptions of military life, Hearst also discusses family news, instructing his wife on how to manage the family plantation in his absence and suggesting names for the couple's newborn daughter.