The Ramsey family came to America before the American Revolution, settling first in Delaware, then Pennsylvania. Francis Alexander Ramsey and his wife, Margaret McNitt Alexander, were the first of the family to settle in North Carolina, circa 1789. Francis Ramsey was a surveyor, clerk and sheriff in Washington County. Francis and Margaret later moved to the State of Franklin, which became part of Tennessee, and lived near Knoxville. Their son, James Gettys McCready Ramsey (named in part for a relative, Samuel Gettys, who laid out the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) was born at Swans Pond, Tennessee in 1797, and married Peggy Barton Crozier in 1821.

James Ramsey studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, then returned to Tennessee to set up his practice in Knoxville. He became a trustee of several colleges and an elder of the Presbyterian Church, was chosen by Governor Trousdale to sell bonds for the Hiwassee Railroad, and served as president of the State Bank of Tennessee during the Civil War.

James and Peggy had 10 surviving children, one of whom was Susan Amelia Ramsey (Sue); Sue collected the letters that make up this collection. At the time of the Civil War, Sue lived at the family mansion in Mecklenburg, Tennessee with her mother and her sister, Charlotte. Her sister Henrietta was married to a Dr. Lenoir, and her other sister Margaret Jane was married to Howard Dickson.

Meanwhile, five of Sue's brothers joined the Confederate forces: Francis Alexander served in the Confederate army; John Crozier was taken prisoner at Vicksburg; Arthur was killed at Piedmont; Robert served first in the Confederate Army, was taken prisoner at Piedmont and later served in the Confederate Navy; James McKnitt was dismissed from the army after contracting malaria and later became commander of a Confederate supply steamer. Another brother, William Wilberforce, went overland to California and died there.

Union forces destroyed the family mansion when they invaded the area, and Mrs. Ramsey, Sue and Charlotte were evacuated first to temporary quarters in Knoxville and then to Henrietta's home, nearby. The three women then attempted to travel to Mrs. Ramsey's relatives, the Croziers, in Liberty, Virginia, via a "flag of truce train." However, Sue was detained by Union forces for investigation of "disloyal acts" (according to family reports these included refusing the attentions of federal officers, in addition to what the family deemed a natural indignation toward the army that had destroyed their home). Sue became separated from her mother and Charlotte and took refuge with her sister, Margaret.

However, Sue was again detained by Union forces, this time for not having a passport. The Union forces would not issue a passport to an individual until he or she took the federal loyalty oath, and Sue refused to do so.

Eventually Sue met a carriage driver she knew from home, and she instructed him to speed past the Union guards while she held up two pieces of paper to represent passports. The ruse worked, and Sue was able to rejoin her mother in Virginia. Charlotte died in 1863 as a result of exposure to the cold while aiding Confederate soldiers.

After the war, surviving family members reunited and took refuge with relatives in North Carolina. Eventually they returned to Mecklenburg, Tennessee and built another home. Dr. Ramsey resumed his medical practice and carried on extensive litigation in an attempt to obtain remuneration for property losses during the war. He also helped organize and served as president of the Historical Society of Tennessee. Both he and his wife lived long lives -- he died in 1884, she, circa 1889.

Sue married William Davidson Alexander in October 1867, and they established their home in Alexandriana, North Carolina (near Charlotte). They had seven children, of whom four survived: James, Grace, Willie and Lattamer. Sue died in 1890 at the age of 47. Of Sue's brothers who survived the war, one settled with his family near Sue's home in North Carolina; one eventually moved to Texas; John Crozier died in 1869; the fate of the others is not clear from the letters. The married sisters remained in close contact with the rest of the family.