As those of you who have been visiting here for the last, what, 4 years note that the emphasis has changed from the “American Civil War” to United States history in general. As you also may know for several years now I have been placing my Civil War focus over at SoldierStudies.org which is a database of Civil War letters and now a news blog. I encourage you to check it out and bookmark it!
Latest posts:
Battle of Fredericksburg Letter
Henry Frank Babcock, Company I, of the 122nd New York Infantry, to his parents, written during the Battle of Fredericksburg. Letter reads, On the Field of Battle, Sunday, Dec 14/62 Dear Parents, I take this chance to answer your kind favors of which I received yesterday. Our mail was brought to us on the field as we lay flat [...]
Confederate 3rd Virginia Cavalry Soldier’s Letter!
Cockletown July 13th, 1861 My Little Darling, I have just finished reading your dear sweet letter the second time. I received it last night about dusk. You cannot imagine how happy it made me. It came just at the right time. I had just returned to our camp after being absent on another scout ever since the evening before [...]
New 20th Maine Letters Found
From Ebay: A small and interesting group of 20th Maine Civil War letters from Private Henry C Simonds of 20th ME Regt Company C to his wife Lizzie Simonds of North Turner & Wilton, Maine Today it’s highly unusual to uncover anything of substance related to the 20th Maine Volunteers . The 20th Maine is of course [...]
Surgeon General of the State of Massachusetts
With the idea of improving our collection of Civil War Surgeons comes John G. Perry of Boston, Mass. John G. Perry of Boston, Mass., entered Harvard College in 1858, bearing with him a very youthful attachment; and in the undoubting judgment of youth, he and I, but boy and girl, in light-hearted gayety strolled one evening [...]
New Soldier: Chauncey Holcomb
Sergeant Chauncey Holcomb wrote letters while in Company F, 27th Massachusetts. November 23rd, 1861 at camp he wrote: We went to the African Church too. Meeting was very much entertainment to hear the old negro talk and sing. When we got home the boys had supper all ready. They had invited in Uncle Frank and some [...]
New Soldier: Henry H. Hitchcock
Of the New York 12th Infantry. June 1, 1861, he writes: Things look very warlike here. Down town you see nothing but soldiers, soldiers, soldiers. I see that the Volunteer force now amounts to 300,000. This is beside the regular army and the impression seems to be that the president will call for [...]
