Civil War Collections

2011-2015 marks the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the American Civil War. To commemorate this event the Special Collections and Archives of Wright State University has gathered materials related to the Civil War from several of its collections. This series contains many letters, diaries, and other ephemera from Ohio natives. The authors of these letters and diaries served the Union Army and often wrote about daily life in the camps, fighting, and more. Though these materials often include factual information such as accounts of the weather, ledgers, and other lists, a closer inspection will often reveal content of a more personal nature.

The Civil War Collections includes materials from the following series:

James F. Overholser Papers (MS-5)

Oscar D. Ladley Papers (MS-138)

Patterson Family Papers (MS-236)

Wallace Family Papers (MS-92)

For more information on these collections, please visit Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.

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Letter, 1862 April 23, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Oscar D. Ladley

Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother and Sisters from Camp at Monterey. Oscar writes about a recent skirmish, a description of an enclosed drawing, and more. He also mentions in his postscript that the Gazette incorrectly reported the number of dead and wounded.
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, April 19, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, April 19, 1862. In the letter he talks about the recent battle at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.
Letter, 1862 April 14, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Oscar D. Ladley

Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from Camp at Monterey. Oscar writes about marching from Huttonsville to Monterey, Virginia, a skirmish with the Rebels, and more.
Letter to Jefferson Patterson from an unknown sender in 1862

Unknown

This letter is to Jefferson Patterson from an unknown sender from 1862. The letter relates information that the sender received from Pittsburg Landing.
Letter from William Patterson to his mother Julia on April 10, 1862

William Patterson

William Patterson wrote this letter to his mother, Julia, on April 10, 1862 from Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. He writes to say that he is alive and well, and survived the battle which recently took place there.
Letter, 1862 April 6, Mary [Mary Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]

Mary Ladley

Letter to Oscar Ladley from his sister in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Mary writes about the weather, events in town, and more.
Letter, 1862 April 3, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Oscar D. Ladley

Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from Camp Milroy. Oscar writes about preferring to hear news from home than the war, participating in the company drill exercises, the weather and more. Oscar enclosed a few news articles, an advertisement for a "Substitute in a Mounted Ranger Company," and a Song of the Sentinel from the Richmond Dispatch.
Letter, 1862 April 2, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley]

Catherine Ladley

Letter to Oscar Ladley from his mother in Yellow Springs, Ohio. She writes about reading about the 44th Regiment in the newspaper, the weather, and more.
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, March 16, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney, while in Nashville, TN, to his cousin Martha McKinney, March 16, 1862. In the letter he talks about personal affairs at home.
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, March 12, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, March 12, 1862. In the letter he talks about personal affairs at home and in his camp near Nashville, TN.
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, March 10, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, March 10, 1862. In the letter he talks about his recent movement to a new area near Nashville, TN and he describes his experiences during the march.
Letter from Stephen Patterson to his father, Jefferson Patterson on March 3, 1862

Stephen Patterson

Stephen Patterson wrote this letter to his father Jefferson on March 3, 1862 from school at Oxford. Stephen writes that he has been ill with measles and that the students were glad to hear of the occupation of Nashville.
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, March 2, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, March 2, 1862. In the letter he talks about the troop movement towards Bowling Green, Kentucky and explains what he observed along the way.
Letter written from L.K. Shaffner to Julia Patterson on March 1, 1862

L. K. Shaffner

This letter was written by a family friend, L.K. Shaffner, to Julia Patterson on March 1, 1862. The friend discusses her travels around the country and dissatisfaction with Peoria.
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, February 22, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, February 22, 1862. In the letter he talks about his personal affairs and his recent move to a new camp. This letter was written while McKinney was in Munfordville, KY.
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, February 19, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, February 19, 1862. In the letter he talks about his personal affairs and life at Camp Glenbrook.
Western Union telegram from William Patterson to his father Jefferson Patterson dated February 17, 1862

William Patterson

This Western Union telegram was sent from William Patterson to his father Jefferson on February 17, 1862, requesting his father to send him twenty dollars.
Letter from William Patterson to his mother Julia on February 16, 1862

William Patterson

William Patterson wrote this letter to his mother Julia on February 16, 1862. He talks about the possible movement of their troops to Green River, Bowling Green, and Nashville.
Letter from Stephen Patterson to his mother Julia on February 14, 1862

Stephen Patterson

Stephen Patterson wrote this brief letter to his mother from Oxford on February 14, 1862. The letter thanks her for sending clothing items and makes inquiries about family members and a friend of the family, Jim Reynolds.
Letter from William Patterson to his mother Julia Patterson written February 9, 1862

William Patterson

William Patterson wrote this letter to his mother Julia from Camp Wood, on February 9, 1862. In the letter he complains of not having received mail from home for a while, and having been ill for several weeks with "camp fever." He says that they will likely be marching to Bowling Green now that Fort Pickett has been taken.
Letter from William McKinney to His Aunt, February 6, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his aunt on February 6, 1862, while he was at Camp Wickliffe, KY. In the letter he discusses events at his home. The letter is dated as February 6, 1861 but the actual year of the letter was from 1862.
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, February 5, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, February 5, 1862. In the letter he talks about his personal affairs and life at Camp Wickliffe in Kentucky.
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, February 1, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, February 1, 1862. In the letter he talks about his personal affairs and life in the camp.
Letter from William Patterson to his mother Julia dated January 30, 1862

William Patterson

William Patterson wrote this long letter to his mother Julia on January 30, 1862. In the letter he discusses personal concerns of his recent illness, clothing needs, and camp life.