Robert A. Patterson Civil War Letters

Collection

Identifier: MSS-4334

Scope and Contents

This collection of six letters to family members was written by Robert A. Patterson, who was traveling with Company F of the 57th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry through Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama between 1862-1864. The letters describe the unit's actions and movements, interactions with locals, and encounters with enslaved persons escaping slaveholders.

Dates

1862 - 1865

Physical Description

Letters are in good overall condition. Last letter has some water damage that affects a few lines of text.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are responsible for using the materials in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright claimants in collection materials. Copyright for official University records is held by The University of Alabama. The library claims only physical ownership of many manuscript collections. Anyone wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of literary property rights or copyrights. Please contact Special Collections (archives@ua.edu) with questions regarding specific manuscript collections. For more information about copyright policy, please visit: https://www.ua.edu/copyright/. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications, for which the University of Alabama assumes no responsibility.

Biographical / Historical

The 57th Infantry Regiment was a ground-based military regiment that served with the Union Army during the Civil War. The 57th Regiment was organized in Illinois and mustered into Union service in December 1861. The infantry consisted of 1025 reenlisted veterans, recruits, and volunteers. In July 1865 the infantry was mustered out.