I don't find it entirely improbable that the letter could be authentic. Even if he'd not had the opportunity for much education, his children were clearly going to school. I've helped family members with letters before, and don't find it improbably that a letter of such import went through several drafts.
I recall a skit once by a comedian discussing letters from the front by Civil War veterans discussing the considerably higher literary quality of letters than you would find today among people of almost any education.
Edit: I don't know what TN laws were, but I know that in VA, there were some slaves who were educated and were often plantation or business administrators. I know the overseer of the Beazley place was a slave. (*wince* My grandfather's grandparents...)
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Date: 2009-05-13 01:04 pm (UTC)I recall a skit once by a comedian discussing letters from the front by Civil War veterans discussing the considerably higher literary quality of letters than you would find today among people of almost any education.
Edit: I don't know what TN laws were, but I know that in VA, there were some slaves who were educated and were often plantation or business administrators. I know the overseer of the Beazley place was a slave. (*wince* My grandfather's grandparents...)