Ladley was a career army officer who fought in the Civil War with Company G, 75th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was later assigned to Fort Sully in the Dakota Territories. His papers consist primarily of letters written to his mother and sisters in Yellow Springs, Ohio, telling of his Civil War experiences, and later, his life as a frontier army officer. Also included are some Civil War military records.
For more information on this collection, please view the collection finding aid or visit Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.
For additional materials related to the Civil War, please view our Civil War series which collects materials from all series during that period.
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![Combined Letters, 1862 November 9, C. Ladley and Mary [Catherine and Mary Ladley] to Oscar and Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley and Mary Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1051/thumbnail.jpg "Combined Letters, 1862 November 9, C. Ladley and Mary [Catherine and Mary Ladley] to Oscar and Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley and Mary Ladley")
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.
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![Letter, 1862 November 2, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Oscar [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1049/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1862 November 2, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Oscar [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley")
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.
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![Combined Letters, 1862 November 1 and 2, Allie and Mary [Alice and Mary Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley and Alice Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1050/thumbnail.jpg "Combined Letters, 1862 November 1 and 2, Allie and Mary [Alice and Mary Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley and Alice Ladley")
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.
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![Letter, 1862 October 16, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1048/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1862 October 16, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
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.
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![Letter, 1862 October 13, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1047/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1862 October 13, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
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
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![Letter, 1862 October 1, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1046/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1862 October 1, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
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.
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![Letter, 1862 September 25, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1045/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1862 September 25, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice] by Oscar D. Ladley")
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.
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![Letter, 1862 September 19, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1044/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1862 September 19, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
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.
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![Letter, 1862 September 13, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1043/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1862 September 13, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
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.
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![Letter, 1862 September 7, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1042/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1862 September 7, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley")
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."
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![Letter, 1862 September 7, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1041/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1862 September 7, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
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.
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![Letter, 1862 September 1, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1040/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1862 September 1, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
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.
