Additional Personal Papers Collections (1861-1865)

These two letters to sisters Sallie and Lizzie offer a Union soldier’s views on camp life and on the conduct of Union officers.

In these three letters to his sister, Josiah Bloss provides a Union soldier’s perspective on the final months and defeat of the Confederacy. Bloss was a member of the 17th Pa. Cav.

Peter Boyer was a private in Company C, 117th Pa., a regiment which included several other companies that were from Franklin County. In February 1863, Boyer’s company was assigned to escort General George Meade’s Fifth Corp of the Army of the Potomac. Boyer became frustrated with the mundane duties that this assignment entailed, and he writes about his feelings in these letters to his father (also named Peter Boyer) and his brothers John D. Boyer, Cyrus Boyer, and Daniel Boyer. He also writes about the 117th’s engagements in northern Virginia, including battles at Cold Harbor and Petersburg.

James A. Carman was a private in the 107th Pa. His two letters to his father offer a Union soldier’s perspective on life in the Confederate prisons of Richmond, Virginia, and Macon, Georgia.

Henry Erisman was a 26-year-old shoemaker when he enlisted in the 77th Pa. in 1861. He served as a sergeant in this regiment, and these three letters offer his view of the 77th’s encounters—both conversations and skirmishes—with Confederate soldiers around Nashville in 1862.

Malcolm Fleming wrote to his mother on August 10, 1864 and recounts the burning of Chambersburg, tells of recent battle experience, reviews strategy, mentions life in camp, and describes the experience of being captured by “Yankees,” after having been turned in by “the negroes.” You may also see Fleming’s furlough order, which granted him leave and rations for his trip home.

This Union soldier’s letters to his sister, Eveline Hamer, deal with such topics as his health, his longing to see women again, and his views on slavery.

This Union soldier’s four letters to his mother report on his regiment’s activities in Virginia.

The Hunt sisters write to their relatives in the Union army about the health of family back home and about their strong feelings concerning the defeat of the Confederate army.

Metzger’s three letters to his father contain complaints about the treatment of privates in his Pennsylvania regiment.

These letters are addressed to George Miller of York County, Pennsylvania, from his friends and family. Although the authors were not from Franklin County, they fought with and lived side by side Franklin County men in their regiments. The collection consists largely of the letters of John J. Miller, a private in the 67th Pa. Vols. (also known as the Keystone Zouaves). His letters to George repeatedly discuss camp life on the Sea Islands in South Carolina and in Georgia. Other correspondents in this collection include brother Jacob Miller and friends Joseph Helker, Daniel Helker, and Sam Pile.

Lucius Mox was a baker during the war and served in several different units, including the 101st Pennsylvania and the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry. The letters collected here are to his sweetheart, Jennie. He tells many stories of camp life and writes repeatedly about how much he misses Jennie and the rest of his friends and family at home.

This collection includes letters from and to members of the 126th Pennsylvania Regiment of Volunteers. The collection also contains other miscellaneous documents, including medical certificates, loyalty oaths, and furloughs.

This collection contains letters written to the Pennsylvania Daily Telegraph newspaper by Pennsylvania soldiers, including William Tell Barnitz, A.H. Baum, and Samuel Reinhart. These authors were not necessarily residents of Franklin County, but they served in various regiments with Franklin County men and comment on the activities of those regiments. Some of the letters also discuss Chambersburg, and one notes conversations with Chambersburg’s merchants about the city’s burning by Confederate troops.

This extensive collection contains the letters of Union soldier Samuel Potter to his wife, Cynthia Potter. Potter describes his work in the hospital department of the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry and tells about his encounters with Confederate troops in Virginia. He also frequently comments on the likelihood that he will receive a furlough and return home. His letters often read like love letters and express a continual longing to see Cynthia again. The last letter in this collection is from J.R. Loyd, informing Cynthia of Samuel’s death in the service.

Bob Taggart’s letters to his family offer a Union soldier’s view of the battles of South Mountain and Bull Run. Taggart was a member of the 9th Pa. Reserve Infantry, and he writes about his regiment’s attempts to move toward Richmond. His letters include commentary on life in various army camps along the way. Correspondents in this collection include brothers John Taggart and Sam Taggart, and sisters Mary and Tilly.