Box 4273.001

This collection contains two items, a letter from Thomas B. Hall to his "Cousin Mary" and a typewritten transcript of the letter. Hall writes from Camp Beauregard in Alabama, describing his manservant, "Jackie," as one of the cleverest fellows he ever knew. He also discusses drills and camp life; he says the only thing he doesn't like is that he "can't go see the fairer sex."

This collection consists of one letter written by Union sailor, J.D. Rence, to his mother, on June 10, 1861, while aboard the U.S.S. St. Louis, moored near Fort Pickens, in Pensacola Bay, Florida. Rence describes some excitement created by the movement of Rebels on the opposite side of the Bay. He also comments that Lieutenant Warden is still a prisoner at Montgomery and fears that he will be treated harshly.

This collection consists of a letter to Governor Joseph E. Brown of Georgia from Robert McMillan discussing the organization of ten companies from Georgia. Two additional letters are added to the first letter. One letter is also written by McMillan and discusses the need for guns for practice. The other is written by an unknown author and written to Senator Ira Foster. All letters are written on one piece of paper.

This collection consists of three letters, with accompanying envelopes, addressed to Duncan, a fragment of a fourth letter, which contains no evidence as to its recipient, and a glassine envelope containing the crumbling remains of some grape leaves picked at the site of George Washington’s tomb.

This collection consists of one letter from Benedict, stationed at Camp McClellan, Iowa, to a Miss Susan Benedict, perhaps his sister, written August 31, 1861. Benedict mentions that there are fourteen prisoners there, one a "rebble [sic] Colonel With one arm off."

Letter from a Civil War Union soldier stationed in Pilot Knob, Missouri, to Daniel Spangler, a friend from home. He discusses the current activities of his regiment in the war and camp life and inquires about people at home.

This collection consists of one letter from Mortimer, a member of the Union forces in central Kentucky, under the command of General Don Carlos Buell, to William Smith of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the letter Mortimer describes Union designs on Bowling Green, the weather, the state of his regiment's health, and other matters.

This collection consists of one letter from Taylor, as directed by Mahone, to Captain Benjamin W. Belsches, on the latter's operations in obstructing a canal in the defense of Norfolk, and in organizing a new cavalry company, March 13, 1862.

This collection consists of two letters written by Edmund Fish's mother, on August 10 and 21, 1862, from Partridge Island to her son in Bellevue Hospital, New York. She writes about a local boy who was "taken prisoner at Culpepper in the last battle between Pope and Jackson."

This collection consists of one letter written by H. Bandy to his wife Mary on November 17, 1862. In the letter, he refers to a rumor suggesting that North Carolina was going to leave the Confederacy and go back to the Union. He also writes about the difficulties in obtaining news.

Three letters written by Cade to his wife discussing crops, their children, and the Civil War, written from Mississippi, Tennessee, and possibly Kentucky. Collection includes handwritten transcriptions of all letters.

This collection consists of one letter written by A. W. Dwight, a Lieutenant Colonel of the 122nd Regiment New York Volunteers, to C. E. Smith, Esquire. The letter discusses the reading and writing of personal journals. He also talks about the progress of the war.

This collection consists of one letter written by John De Wolf to his wife, L. D. M. DeWolf, on March 28, 1862. He writes of life in the camp, explaining that it is difficult to know what is going on in the larger world because they do not have access to news. When they are able to obtain newspapers, the papers are out-of-date and often sell out.

This collection consists of one letter written to Lieutenant Colonel A. J. McKay updating him on the condition of the camp, including the arrival of supplies of wagons and mules. He mentions needing more workmen and asks for help to get action taken on papers already sent to Washington. Letter has a watermark of "Irving Mill O & H" and Eagle emblem. The letter is also embossed with an image of the United States Capitol.

The collection consists of a single letter from Lynn to his father, Joel Lynn of Hartford, Ohio County, Indiana, written from Camargo, Illinois, February 28, 1863. Most of the letter relates to cattle, but Lynn also mentions that "There is Strong talk of a [military] draft here & also in some parts of the State Strong talk of resistance (which will prove a Humbug)".

This collection consists of a letter from E. C. Gray to his sister, Sarah T. Gray. He told her of the execution of at least fifteen men who had deserted the Confederate Army and that conditions were the same as when he last wrote to his family.

This collection consists of one letter from Daniel to his sister, describing the military situation in and around New Iberia, Opelonsas, and Brashear City, Louisiana in late 1863. There is mention of the Boston Journal and the name of an officer from the 33rd Massachusetts Regiment, who was listed as killed by the newspaper, suggests that the author was from Boston or its vicinity.

This collection consists of one letter from Confederate soldier, R. M. Rucker. Rucker wrote to his mother in March of 1863 from Tullahoma, Tennessee. In the letter he refers to the fight at Murfreesboro and refers to Union soldiers stripping the people of their corn and stock.

Note: Envelope addressed to "Samuel R. Rucker," but the letter is addressed to "Mother."

The collection is made up of a United States Civil War Shoot Him on the Spot token. The quote, "If anybody attempts to tear it down, shoot him on the spot", refers to the image of the flag of the United States on the other side of the token.

A single letter from Denman to his sister, written from "home" on 22 March 1863. The letter covers a variety of topics: weather, prices, Denman's son, father, and other relatives, and his desire for a visit from his sister. There is a single reference to the Civil War, namely "we had a good union meeting at Toldeo the 18[th.] there was quite a crowd there[.] we had a good speech from Col Hawkins of Tennessee[.] he is down on Jeff Davis and Co[.]"

This collection consists of one letter by Curlis, written from Gallatin Convalescent Camp, Tennessee, on June 25, 1863 to an unnamed recipient, informing him of his brother's death a few days earlier. The grammar and spelling are both very poor.

This collection consists of two letters from Benjamin Hurd of the 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery G. In these letters to his brother he says, “Richmond has fallen into our hands” and adds that he does not think the war will be over soon. He also makes a reference to the Confederate Army, saying the Rebels “fight like the Devil.” In the February 10 letter, he makes extremely disparaging remarks about the local population near Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Letter to Ma detailing aspects of life at Fort Lee and delays in his assignment in the camp - hopes to work as a farmer. Refers to an upcoming "great battle" and expresses his hope to be allowed to come home soon on leave. The letter is burned in some places.

This collection consists of one letter from Willis, a soldier in the 60th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, to his parents, written from Camp Burnside, Indianapolis, Indiana, where the unit was guarding Confederate POWs, on November 5, 1864.

This collection consists of one letter and one partial transcript written by Billie, a Confederate soldier from North Carolina, to his sister, Maggie, about hearing the "salute of the Yankees saluting General Sherman for landing on the coast." He also asked his sister to tell their father to hide his corn from deserters.

The collection consists of the document by which W. N. Smith was guaranteed as a bonded constable for the Snow Hill Precinct of Wilcox County, Alabama, as well as Smith's signed oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America.

The collection consists of a single receipt, recording the payment of $150 by D. A. Boyd to Wall as partial payment for a team of mules, dated February 5, 1864. The remainder of the sum owed--$600--appears to have been due within a month of February 8, although the wording is not clear. The high price for the team suggests that this transaction took place in the Confederacy, where inflation had reached ruinous levels by early 1864.

This collection consists of a pass issed by the British government for English citizen, Isaac Milner, who lived in Lauderdale County, Alabama. The pass allowed Milner to pass through Union lines during the American Civil War.

This collection consists of a State of Georgia Confederate bond of five dollars, No. 11548, dated Milledgeville, 6 April 1864. It states, "The State of Georgia will pay the bearer five dollars at her treasury on the 25th day of December next, in Confederate Treasury notes issued after the 1st of April 1864, if presented within three months after maturity, otherwise not redeemable except in payment of Public Dues."

This collection consists of one letter from Luther K. Casey, Union soldier in Anderson Court House, South Carolina, to his uncle, W. D. Barrell, in Turner, Maine, 16 October 1865. Casey discusses the health of his fellow soldiers (evidently a part of the 1st Maine Battalion), an incident in which three of his comrades were murdered, and denounces South Carolina as "the hardest Secesh hole in the whole south."

This collection consists of one letter from Shelby to an unidentified colonel, apparently on the latter's request for information about Shelby's commissary activities in the Military Department of the Gulf from late February to late May or early June 1862.

This collection consists of a pass by Wait, countersigned and approved by Lieutenant Colonel H. E. Jones, permitting Private Silas Dickens of the 56th Ohio Volunteer Infantry to pass from Algiers, Louisiana, "to and through the city of New Orleans."

This collection consists of Berkey's discharge from United States military service. Berkey enlisted on 4 November 1862 and was discharged on 31 December 1864, prior to the completion of his three year enlistment "by reason of S.O. No. 211, dated Hd Qrs M[ilitary] D[istrict of] W[est] Miss[issippi] dec [sic] 12 1864". The discharge took place at Morganza, Louisiana.

Letter from a Christian minister (possibly Lutheran) in Jonesboro, Illinois, to his friend George Schramm in Farmington, Iowa. The letter discusses a growing church membership in his area. He also discusses at length national politics, U.S. Army deserters during the Civil War, and former slaves in the South, saying, "God pity the poor negro."

This collection consists of one letter from Duffield to Major Lewis M. Maney, CSA., relative to a grape vine sent by Duffield to Maney in 1862, and to Maney's impending visit to Woodside. It also refers to Maney as one "who sheltered me when a stranger, and who healed and comforted me when wounded and a prisoner," evidently a reference to the two men's encounter during the Civil War. That, however, is the lone reference to the conflict.

This collection contains a letter from Mrs. Joseph O'Neil of Louisville, Kentucky to William McAdams of Kansas, Illinois. Mrs. O'Neil writes on behalf of her husband about Company "I" of the Illinois Regiment to which he belonged.