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 April 26, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1099/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 April 26, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
Letter, 1863 April 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 Brooks Station, Virginia. Oscar writes that his mother should not worry about settling the loan that Derostus Ladley co-signed with Oscar's money, the possibility of marching the next day, and other news from camp.
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![Letter, 1863 April 22, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1097/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 April 22, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley")
Letter, 1863 April 22, 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 consulting a lawyer in Xenia who advised her to pay the total of the loan Derostus Ladley co-signed. She also writes about hearing a story about Jo Badger, planting a garden, and more.
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![Letter, 1863 April 22, Mary [Mary Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1098/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 April 22, Mary [Mary Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley")
Letter, 1863 April 22, 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 wanting to see a military review and jokes about going back with Oscar as a cook for the camp. She also writes about news at home, the status of her prospective teaching position, and other news from home.
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![Letter, 1863 April 19, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1096/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 April 19, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
Letter, 1863 April 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 Brooks Station, Virginia. Oscar writes about the heavy rain has kept his company from leaving the area, responds to questions from previous letters, and information about receiving pay.
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![Letter, 1863 April 14, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1095/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 April 14, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
Letter, 1863 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 Brooks Station, Virginia. Oscar writes about the amount of supplies and rations officers and their men carry, information regarding his wages for the previous three months, and being congratulated by General Howard for their recent appearance before the President.
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![Letter, 1863 April 12, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1094/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 April 12, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
Letter, 1863 April 12, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from Brooks Station, Virginia. Oscar writes about his company being reviewed by Abraham Lincoln and General Hooker, when he would be able to take leave, and other news from camp.
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![Letter, 1863 April 10, Mary [Mary Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1093/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 April 10, Mary [Mary Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley")
Letter, 1863 April 10, 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 possibility of planting a garden this year and predictions on when the war will end.
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![Letter, 1863 April 9, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1092/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 April 9, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley")
Letter, 1863 April 9, 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 Alice starting school at Antioch, their previous boarders not returning this term, and more.
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![Letter, 1863 March 27, Mary [Alice Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1090/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 March 27, Mary [Alice Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley")
Letter, 1863 March 27, Mary [Alice Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]
Mary Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley from his sister in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Mary writes about the school term ending, repairing the college gates so they can't be removed, and other news from home.
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![Combined Letters, 1863 March 27, Alley and C. Ladley [Alice and Catherine Ladley] to Brother and Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Alice Ladley and Catherine Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1091/thumbnail.jpg "Combined Letters, 1863 March 27, Alley and C. Ladley [Alice and Catherine Ladley] to Brother and Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Alice Ladley and Catherine Ladley")
Combined Letters, 1863 March 27, Alley and C. Ladley [Alice and Catherine Ladley] to Brother and Son [Oscar D. Ladley]
Alice Ladley and Catherine Ladley
Two separate letters, written on the same page, to Oscar Ladley from his mother and sister in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Alice writes about the weather, news about deserters being allowed to report to Camp Chase by April, and other news from home. Catherine writes about offering to pay the value of the loan co-signed by Derostus Ladley, how much money she has saved, and more.
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![Letter, 1863 March 21, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1089/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 March 21, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
Letter, 1863 March 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 Brooks Station, Virginia. Oscar writes about the photographs he sent home, the shifts in command that allowed him to take the position of 1st lieutenant, the weather, and more.
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![Combined Letters, 1863 March 18, Alley L. and C. Ladley [Alice and Catherine Ladley] to Son and Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Alice Ladley and Catherine Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1086/thumbnail.jpg "Combined Letters, 1863 March 18, Alley L. and C. Ladley [Alice and Catherine Ladley] to Son and Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Alice Ladley and Catherine Ladley")
Combined Letters, 1863 March 18, Alley L. and C. Ladley [Alice and Catherine Ladley] to Son and Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]
Alice Ladley and Catherine Ladley
Two separate letters, written on the same page, to Oscar Ladley from his mother and sister in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Alice writes about the pictures Oscar sent and how popular they are, a lecture she attended, and more. Catherine writes about the photographs Oscar sent home, that the signature on the loan matches Derostus Ladley's signature, and other news.
