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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![Letter, 1863 July 16, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1123/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 July 16, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
Letter, 1863 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 near Berlin, Maryland. Oscar writes about his division being the first to enter Hagerstown, their division movements after Gettysburg, casualties, and more.
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![Letter, 1863 July 13, C. Ladley to My Dear Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1122/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 July 13, C. Ladley to My Dear Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley")
Letter, 1863 July 13, C. Ladley to My Dear Son [Oscar D. Ladley]
Catherine Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley from his mother in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Catherine writes about news from the battle at Gettysburg, her hopes that Oscar is safe, and other news.
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![Combined Letters, 1863 July 12 and July 18, Ally Ladley [Alice Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Alice Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1121/thumbnail.jpg "Combined Letters, 1863 July 12 and July 18, Ally Ladley [Alice Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Alice Ladley")
Combined Letters, 1863 July 12 and July 18, Ally Ladley [Alice Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]
Alice Ladley
Two separate letters, written on the same page, to Oscar Ladley from his sister in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Alice writes about news from home about various acquaintances, and about being unsure whether to write to Oscar after the most recent battle. Her second letter mentions "Morgan is within 5 miles of Cincinnati" and she writes about the excitement as all the "able-bodied men" leave to head to Cincinnati.
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![Letter, 1863 July 9, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1120/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 July 9, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
Letter, 1863 July 9, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from Boonsboro, Maryland. Oscar writes about fighting for four days at Gettysburg, the Ohio Brigade's success, and the casualties suffered by his brigade.
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![Letter, [1863] July 5, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1119/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, [1863] July 5, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
Letter, [1863] July 5, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary and Alice Ladley]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Oscar writes about the fighting he experienced, nearly being killed by a Rebel officer, and the losses at the Gettysburg battlefield.
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![Letter, 1863 June 15, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1118/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 June 15, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
Letter, 1863 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 Centerville, Virginia. Oscar writes about his division marching to new locations, the appearance of their officers' uniforms, and other news.
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![Letter, 1863 June 14, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1117/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 June 14, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley")
Letter, 1863 June 14, 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 news from the war and acquaintances in Yellow Springs.
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![Letter, 1863 June 11, Sister Mary [Mary Ladley] to My Dear Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1116/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 June 11, Sister Mary [Mary Ladley] to My Dear Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley")
Letter, 1863 June 11, Sister Mary [Mary Ladley] to My Dear Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]
Mary Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley from his sister in Enon, Ohio. Mary writes about being upset that Oscar could not come home on furlough and news about Clement L. Vallandingham.
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![Letter, 1863 June 7, Allie L. [Alice Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Alice Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1114/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 June 7, Allie L. [Alice Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Alice Ladley")
Letter, 1863 June 7, Allie L. [Alice Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]
Alice Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley from his sister in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Alice writes about Milo Lawrence breaking his leg and news about other acquaintances from Yellow Springs.
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![Letter, 1863 June 7, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1115/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 June 7, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley")
Letter, 1863 June 7, 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 being disappointed that Oscar will not be able to return home on furlough, being afraid for him, and other news from Yellow Springs.
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![Letter, 1863 June 2, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1113/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 June 2, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley")
Letter, 1863 June 2, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley]
Catherine Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley from his mother in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Catherine writes news of the war, as well as news about acquaintances.
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![Letter, 1863 June 2, Mary [Mary Ladley] to My Dear Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1112/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 June 2, Mary [Mary Ladley] to My Dear Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley")
Letter, 1863 June 2, Mary [Mary Ladley] to My Dear Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]
Mary Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley from his sister in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Mary writes about Milo Lawrence breaking his leg after poor weather, students being expelled from Antioch, and questions regarding the war.
