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 from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, December 2, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, December 2, 1862. In the letter he talks about personal affairs and recent movements and hardships with his regiment near Nashville, Tennessee.
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, December 1, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, December 1, 1862. In the letter he talks about personal affairs and recent movements and hardships with his regiment near Nashville, Tennessee.
Letter, 1862 November 30, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley]

Catherine Ladley

Letter to Oscar Ladley from his mother in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Catherine writes about attending the funeral of a woman who was killed in a train accident. She also writes about news from home.
Letter, 1862 November 30, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Oscar D. Ladley

Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from Chantilly, Virginia. Oscar writes about feeling the effects of a late night march, news about acquaintances, questions regarding money sent home, and more.
Letter, 1862 November 9, Allie [Alice Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]

Alice Ladley

Letter to Oscar Ladley from his sister in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Alice writes about neighbors and acquaintances from home.
Combined Letters, 1862 November 9, C. Ladley and Mary [Catherine and Mary Ladley] to Oscar and Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]

Catherine Ladley and Mary Ladley

Two separate letters, written on the same page, to Oscar Ladley from his mother and sister in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Catherine writes about her feelings on his recent commission, how she hopes for an end to the war, and news about home. Mary writes about a benefit being held by the "soldier's aid society" and congratulates Oscar on receiving his commission.
Letter, 1862 November 2, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Oscar [Oscar D. Ladley]

Catherine Ladley

Letter to Oscar Ladley from his mother in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Catherine writes about her concern for Oscar having to sleep in "little Shelter [sic] tents," news about Don Carlos Buell being relieved of command, and news about home.
Combined Letters, 1862 November 1 and 2, Allie and Mary [Alice and Mary Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]

Mary Ladley and Alice Ladley

Two separate letters, written on the same page, to Oscar Ladley from his sisters. Mary writes about remembering spending an "Indian Summer" in Virginia, dressing up in Oscar's clothes to escort a friend home, and other news from home. Alice writes about realizing that though they are comfortable now, they "may come to want" because the war isn't over yet. Mary's letter was written on November 1st and Alice's letter was written on November 2nd.
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, October 26, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, October 26, 1862. In the letter he talks about personal affairs and recent movements near Columbia, KY and hardships with his regiment.
Letter from John H. Patterson to his mother Julia dated October 25, 1862

John H. Patterson

John H. Patterson wrote this letter to his mother from Oxford on October 25, 1862. In the letter he talks about happenings at school and about a social event he attended at the home of Miss Mary Hall.
Letter, 1862 October 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 Centerville, Virginia. Oscar writes about the possibility of his regiment having more companies added to it. He also writes about the possibility of a commission and the status of other acquaintances from home including Channing White and Tom Wilmarth.
Letter, 1862 October 13, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Oscar D. Ladley

Letter to Oscar Ladley's to his mother and sisters from Centerville, Virginia. Oscar writes about the weather, Channing White's discharge, and more
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, October 4, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, October 4, 1862. In the letter he talks about personal affairs and recent battles and movements with his regiment near Mount Vernon, KY.
Letter, 1862 October 1, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Oscar D. Ladley

Letter Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from Centerville, Virginia. Oscar writes about needing to recuperate from marching, the possibility of Tom Wilmarth deserting, the opportunity for Channing White to be discharged, and more.
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, September 30, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney to his cousin Martha McKinney, September 30, 1862. In the letter he talks about personal affairs and recent movements with his regiment near Louisville, KY.
Letter, 1862 September 25, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice]

Oscar D. Ladley

Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from camp at Centerville, Virginia. Oscar writes about James Swope resigning, that he will send money home when he is paid, and more.
Letter, 1862 September 19, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Oscar D. Ladley

Letter Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from Camp Upton, Virginia. Oscar writes about seeing General Jesse L. Reno before the Second Battle of Bull Run, the status of Captain James Swope being asked to resign, and being able to see Washington D.C.
Letter, 1862 September 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 in sight of Washington." Oscar writes about the status of his brigade, the status of other soldiers from home, and more. This letter has a stamped of General George B. McClellan in the upper left corner.
Letter, 1862 September 7, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley]

Catherine Ladley

Letter to Oscar D. Ladley from his mother in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Catherine writes about being glad to have received a letter from Oscar after reading about his brigade fighting in battle. She also mentions that all the local men were marching to Cincinnati to confront a group of "Rebels" who had "whiped our army in Kentucky."
Letter, 1862 September 7, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Oscar D. Ladley

Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother from Upton Hill, Virginia. Oscar writes about his unit "acting as a kind of reserve corp" to be sent where they are needed, the status of other soldiers from home, and more.
Letter, 1862 September 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 Centerville, Virginia. In this letter Oscar writes about members of the regiment being wounded, directions on where to write to him, and more.
Letter, 1862 August 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 near Culpepper, Virginia. Oscar writes about getting a recommendation for promotion from the captain of his regiment, marching from Sperryville to Culpepper, and other news from camp.
Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, August 7, 1862

William M. McKinney

This letter was written by William M. McKinney, while in Tullahoma, TN, to his cousin Martha McKinney, August 7, 1862. In the letter he talks about personal affairs and recent movements with his regiment.
Letter from Robert Patterson to Colonel J. F. Harrison on August 7, 1862

Robert Patterson

Robert Patterson wrote this letter to Colonel J. F. Harrison from Army headquarters in Sperryville, Virginia on August 7, 1862. In the letter he complains about Colonel Schliech and his method of appointing officers based on personal acquaintance and friendship rather than competence, and says he will probably not receive one under the Colonel's command. Robert also talks disparagingly about the way the North handles the Volunteer Service system. Lastly, he says they will be marching to Madison soon.

Civil War Collections

Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, December 2, 1862

Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, December 1, 1862

Letter, 1862 November 30, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley]

Letter, 1862 November 30, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Letter, 1862 November 9, Allie [Alice Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]

Combined Letters, 1862 November 9, C. Ladley and Mary [Catherine and Mary Ladley] to Oscar and Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]

Letter, 1862 November 2, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Oscar [Oscar D. Ladley]

Combined Letters, 1862 November 1 and 2, Allie and Mary [Alice and Mary Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]

Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, October 26, 1862

Letter from John H. Patterson to his mother Julia dated October 25, 1862

Letter, 1862 October 16, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Letter, 1862 October 13, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, October 4, 1862

Letter, 1862 October 1, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, September 30, 1862

Letter, 1862 September 25, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice]

Letter, 1862 September 19, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Letter, 1862 September 13, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Letter, 1862 September 7, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley]

Letter, 1862 September 7, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Letter, 1862 September 1, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Letter, 1862 August 13, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]

Letter from William McKinney to His Cousin Martha McKinney, August 7, 1862

Letter from Robert Patterson to Colonel J. F. Harrison on August 7, 1862

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