I found civil war/slavery letters. Help please

Jexxie

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Aug 7, 2017
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They are from San Augustine Texas New Orleans and a couple other places. The names on them are Charles Polk, Margaret Polk , James Ballard, Bettie thacker and a few others. I think I have 7 letters some are in bad shape others aren't. They're from 1853 -1863
I tracked down James Ballard history. He was the grandson of aquilla Whitaker who was Capt in the revolutionary war. He's also I believe the grandson of another James Ballard who was a spy in the same war. They all fought as a family. The writer James fought in the civil war. The letters were to man named ben who is related to James. James talks about the battle of sharpsburg and Grant and price and rosencrans. Talks about 25,000 casualties . It also talks about selling a slave named jim for $4000 to pay off a debt. The letter from Bettie thacker talks about buying and selling negro women and girls and her wanting to know how much negroes were selling for. There's a lot of cool finds in these letters. They also talk about getting letters of exemption. Does anyone know what that means? And how would i Know if a letter was actually from a slave? Would it be addressed differently? I have a few letters that says "direct your letters to smithfield, polk county" Anyone heard of these folks?
 
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