Charlottesville Dec. 22nd 1873
My Dear Colonel
As Gen. Maury tells me that you promise to interest yourself in behalf of the Sothrn H. Scty. I write to beg you to bring the subject before your friends & especially before the club of which you are Presdt. I am sure that if you will do this, you can at once get a large number of sub[scription]s & it is very important to accomplish this before Jan. When the Hist[orica]l papers will begin in the Mag[azine]. If you can send me some names, the certificates will at once be sent to you, or I can send you as many as you can place. You know the objects contemplated by the Scty & realize how important they are to the South, so I need not trouble you with details. You can present this subject singly & I hope that you will give me your aid.
I shall try to visit your city before long to address the people on this matter, but in the meantime, I must ask the aid of my friends. Is Maj. John Neal in Norfolk? If so tell him that I expect him to join & to bring in some good recruits. Do let me hear from you as soon as possible I am.
Very truly yrs,
Wade Hampton
Col. W. H. Taylor
Source: The Archives of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Papers of the Lee Family, Box 8, M2009.403
Transcribed by Caitlin Connelly, 2016 July 15
