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)
For more information on these collections, please visit Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.
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Letter, 1861 November 28, 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 John McLean. He writes about conditions in the camp and being served Thanksgiving dinner "by the ladies of Lockland."
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Partial letter from Robert Patterson to an unidentified recipient dated November 25, 1861
Robert Patterson
This is part of a letter from Robert Patterson to an unidentified recipient which describes the surrounding countryside where he is encamped on November 25, 1861.
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Letter, 1861 November 13, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from Camp McLean. In this letter he asks questions about home, mentions not coming home for Thanksgiving, and encloses an excerpt from a paper about "a set of resolutions adopted by some ladies of Little York."
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Letter from Jefferson Patterson to his son Robert dated November 8, 1861
Jefferson Patterson
Jefferson Patterson wrote this letter to his son Robert on November 8, 1861. In the letter he talks about the issue of secession, recent elections and the Union ticket. Also mentioned is a battle which took place at Belmont, Missouri.
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Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, October 13, 1861
William M. McKinney
This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, October 13, 1861. In the letter he talks about daily life at the camp in Huttonsville, WV and a recent battle that he was in.
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Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, September 16, 1861
William M. McKinney
This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, September 16, 1861. In the letter he talks about daily life at the camp and the Battle of Rich Mountain in West Virginia while he was stationed at Camp Elk Forks. Camp Elk Forks was also called Camp Elkwater and was situated near Huttonsville, West Virginia.
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Letter, September 8, Oscar D. Ladley to [Unknown]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter from Oscar Ladley in Georgetown. In this letter Oscar writes about how certain high-ranking officers are received by their men, an acquaintance health, and wanting to visit Washington D.C.
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Letter from Colonel A. Sanders Piatt to Captain Robert Patterson dated August 14, 1861
Abram Sanders Piatt
Colonel Abram Sanders Piatt wrote this letter to Captain Robert Patterson on August 14, 1861, inviting Robert to join his Zouave regiment.
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Letter from Chas McDougal to Robert Patterson dated July 29, 1861
Chas McDougal
Chas McDougal wrote this letter to Robert Patterson as a means of introduction for Clive Robson on July 29, 1861. In the letter he asks Patterson to assist in recruiting troops for Clive Robson.
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Letter, 1861 July 26, 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 Oakland, Maryland. Oscar writes about being in Oakland and that it is "a great summer resort of the fashionable from Baltimore." He also mentions that his company is up and that they are waiting orders to return home.
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Letter, 1861 July 16, 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 Bealington. Oscar recounts "chasing the rebels," eventually catching up to them, and being fired upon.
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Letter, July 6, Oscar D. Ladley to [Unknown]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter written by Oscar Ladley from Emmetsburg, Maryland. In this short letter he writes that Perry Taylor was wounded in the leg and that one soldier from his company was killed.
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Letter, 1861 June 26, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother, Sisters, and Friends [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley, et al.]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother, sisters, and friends from Camp Philippi. Oscar writes about a story published in the Cincinnati Daily Times "slandering the Indiana troupes [sic]," which causes tension between the Indiana and Ohio volunteers. He mentions that a drunk officer from "one of the Indiana companies" rode through the Ohio camp threatening and cursing the soldiers there.
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Letter, 1861 June 23, James O. Salsbury to [Unknown]
James O. Salsbury
Letter from James O. Salsbury at Camp Philippi. Salsbury served in the Sixteenth Regiment with Oscar Ladley and was originally from Yellow Springs. He writes about being asked to give his signature and that he did not feel "the effects of such fare as much as most of the boys."
This note was originally enclosed with Oscar Ladley's letter to his mother and sisters from June 23, 1861.
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Letter, 1861 June 23, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother, Sisters, and Friends [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley, et al.]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother, sister, and friends from Camp at Philippi. Oscar writes about being pressured to reenlist, and how he wished that those people pressuring him would experience the conditions that he has endured in his time in the service.
Oscar originally enclosed a letter from James O. Salsbury with this letter.
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Letter, 1861 June 21, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from Strasburg, Virginia. He recounts looking for Mrs. Miers, a sister of Derostus Ladley. Oscar found her and she told him that her son John Derostus was in Jackson's army in the 320th Virginia Regiment and her other son Robert was at the Battle of Manassas.
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Letter, 1861 June 15, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from Philippi, Virginia. In his letter Oscar recounts being awoken by a call "to arms," but the secessionists spotted by the picket guard never appeared. This was one of four times that this had happened to their company. Oscar also informs his mother and sisters that he has sent them many letters, but that he has only received one from them so far.
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Letter, 1861 June 1, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from Grafton, Virginia. Oscar writes about arriving in Grafton after a large group of secessionists previously occupied the area.
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Letter, 1861 May 29, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar's mother and sisters from Fairmount, Virginia. Oscar writes about being in the "enemies [sic] country," but that the Virginians are glad to see them and are treating them very well.
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Letter, 1861 May 22, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother, Sisters, and Ann [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley and Ann Griswold]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother, sisters, and Ann Griswold from Camp Jackson. Oscar writes that many of the men "break guard" to sneak out of camp. He also writes that many officers are pressuring privates to stay in the service for three years; however, he isn't interested in reenlisting because how differently the privates are treated from the officers in the service.
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Letter, 1861 May 19, 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 Jackson. Oscar recounts conditions in the camp, what the soldiers are given to eat, and the nearby penitentiary catching on fire.
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Letter, 1861 May 13, 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 Jackson in Columbus. Oscar describes the camp and mentions that it "looks like a pig pen."
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Letter from Robert Patterson to his mother on April 28, 1861
Robert Patterson
Robert Patterson wrote this letter to his mother on April 28, 1861. In the letter he talks about his health, food conditions at camp and orders to troops to move to Camp Dennison, at Loveland, Ohio from Camp Jackson.
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Letter from William Patterson to his brother on April 13, 1861
William Patterson
William Patterson wrote this letter to his brother on April 13, 1861. In the letter he talks about daily life and family concerns.