Southwest Railroad. RICHMOND VA. JAN 3 cds and DUE 10 rating handstamp endorsed From E.J. Eldridge, Genl. Cobb's Brigade to Mrs. E.J. Eldridge, Flat Pond, Lee County, Georgia; endorsed via "Adams Station, S.W.R.R." at bottom left; small stain top left. Ex Burton. $200.

Dr. Erwin J. Eldridge was a surgeon in the 16th Georgia and then Cobb’s Legion. He served in Virginia, Atlanta and Macon. The Eldridge family letters are at the University of Georgia. An extensive article in the Nov-Dec 1977 Confederate Philatelist by Etta M. Jurissen and Robert W. Werner describes in detail the correspondence between Eldridge and his wife, Emma Louisa Ronaldson Eldridge. Eldridge was born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1833, graduated from Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia PA, and provided medical services during the Crimean War before going to Starkville, Ga., to begin his medical practice. Eldridge married Emma on November 15, 1860. Eldridge was appointed 3rd Sergeant, Co A, 11th Battalion Georgia Light Artillery (Sumter Flying Artillery), but was soon reassigned as Assistant Surgeon of Col. Howell Cobb's 16th Regiment GA Infantry effective July 19, 1861. He was promoted to Surgeon of the 16th on July 22, 1862. Eldridge served with the 16th until he was reassigned in late 1863 as Chief Surgeon on Maj. Gen. Howell Cobb's Staff at Atlanta. Eldridge was assigned as Chief Surgeon, Medical Department Headquarters, Georgia Reserve at Macon, Ga.
Southwest Railroad was chartered in 1845; construction began in 1848 and was completed in 1851. Branch lines were constructed from 1852 to 1860. The short line connected southwestern Georgia to Macon.