Autograph letter signed by Pvt. Andrew J. Willis, Co. C, 41st Georgia Infantry. Corinth, Mississippi, 12 May 1862. 3 pages, small 8vo, 3 7/8 x 6 1/8 in., with envelope addressed to Miss H.A. Robertson or Acworth, Georgia.

A heartfelt letter written by Confederate Private Andrew J. Willis to a friend back home in Acworth, Georgia. 

Willis enlisted on 4 March 1862 as a private in Company C of the 41st Georgia Infantry. Recruited from Cobb and other surrounding counties, Company C was known as the "Acworth Invincibles." After organization, the regiment moved to north Mississippi where they joined the Siege of Corinth, from where this letter is written. 

He writes home of the difficulties faced by his regiment and the uncertainty of their next move: "I have saw pretty hard times since I left. Though through the kindness of God's mercy I hope to be spared to return again, although I have closed the eyes of several of my fellow soldiers. Miss Harriet, our Regt. is badly prepared for we are now encamp[ed] 2 miles north of Corinth Miss., right in the Swamp. When we all have had health, we have not had a fight yet. We have been called out twice to form a line of Battle, which we returned in better spirits than we went." He continues: "This war is the most ungodly affair that ever was waged against a people we can give them a big fight and at this place at present can whip them but they will not fight us here they will flank us and perhaps cut us off. We have been cut off by them twice already."

After Corinth, the 41st Georgia moved into Kentucky, where they were bloodied at the Battle of Perryville. Willis's military records note that he was absent on the day of the battle, 8 October 1862, with the note, "left as nurse." He was paroled in Harrodsburg, Kentucky on 28 December 1862. It is noted that he was confined on 24 April 1863 at Kemper Barracks in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 1863, the 41st returned to Mississippi and engaged in the fighting around Vicksburg but were captured on 4 July 1863. After being exchanged, they were assigned to General Stovall's Brigade in the Army of Tennessee and fought from Chattanooga to Nashville, with their final battle at Bentonville. 

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Overall toning, tape repairs to verso of second leaf.