More than 400 Civil War letters will go on the auction block September 29th ending a three-year battle over the writings.

This is the second time the auction has been scheduled. The first was cancelled in 2004 when the State of South Carolina tried to stake claim to the letters.

Tom Willcox, who was eventually granted ownership, found them in his mother’s house after she died nearly a decade ago.

“I didn’t know anything about them,” Willcox said. “I was carrying them around in the back of my car for six months.”

Saturday, Willcox and auctioneer Bill Mishoe will try to sell each letter individually. Six years ago, the letters were appraised at $2.4 million.

Willcox believes the papers have been in his family since the day before Sherman attacked Columbia. That’s when he says his great-great uncle, General Evander Law, retrieved them.

In the 444 letters, military leaders like General Robert E. Lee write to update the governors on the status of the war.

“One of the most interesting is a letter to the governor telling him what needed to be done to fortify Charleston,” Mishoe, the auctioneer, said.

Mishoe has worked with Willcox from the beginning and said he’s just as relieved to finally auction off the items.

If you’re interested in buying the letters the auction is being held Saturday, September 29th at Mishoe Auction House (6412 Fairfield Road, Columbia).

Bidders can preview copies of the letters up until Friday. The originals will be available for viewing at that time.

Posted: 09|25|07 at 9:44 am. Filed under: US News.