Hiram Berry Letters, 1862 March 5-1863 April 4

This collection contains twenty-four letters. Twenty-two are from Union General Hiram G. Berry to US Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, who served together in the Maine legislature. Berry's letters cover his military activities in Virginia during the US Civil War, including the Union's Peninsular Campaign (March-July 1862) in southeastern Virginia. In a letter dated June 13, 1862, Berry notes to Hamlin that he wrote about Maine men's participation in the Battle of Fair Oaks and is "trusting to your generous self to see that Maine gets her fair share of the credit for the conduct of her sons." The collection also contains copies of two recommendation letters written on Berry's behalf, both dated October 15, 1862. One, from Major General Samuel P. Heintzelman to Abraham Lincoln, commends Berry for "saving the day" during the Battle of Williamsburg. The other letter is from Major General Joseph Hooker to Major General Henry W. Hallack, chief army commander, and refers specifically to Hooker's support for Berry's promotion to major general.