Stephen Dodson Ramseur (1837-1865) rose meteorically through the Confederate military ranks. He excelled in every assignment and was involved as a senior officer in many of the war's most important conflicts east of the Appalachians. His letters--over 180 of which are collected and transcribed here by George Kundahl--provide his incisive observations on these military events. At the same time, they offer rare insight into the personal opinions of a high-ranking Civil War officer.