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.
-
![Combined Letters, 1863 February 8, Allie and Mary [Alice and Mary Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Alice Ladley and Mary Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1074/thumbnail.jpg "Combined Letters, 1863 February 8, Allie and Mary [Alice and Mary Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Alice Ladley and Mary Ladley")
Combined Letters, 1863 February 8, Allie and Mary [Alice and Mary Ladley] to Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]
Alice Ladley and Mary Ladley
Two separate letters, written on the same page, to Oscar Ladley from his sisters in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Alice writes about the weather, a professor from Antioch dying, and other news from home. Mary writes about the recent snow, wanting a picture of Oscar, and other news from home.
-
![Letter, 1863 February 8, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1075/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 February 8, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley")
Letter, 1863 February 8, 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 her arm improving, her concern over the loan co-signed by Derostus Ladley, and more.
-
![Letter, 1863 January 31, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother [Catherine Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1073/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 January 31, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother [Catherine Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
Letter, 1863 January 31, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother [Catherine Ladley]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother from Belle Plain, Virginia. Oscar writes about "rough" weather they have been having, having to change campgrounds multiple times, and more.
-
![Combined Letters, 1863 January 28, Allie 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_ms138/1072/thumbnail.jpg "Combined Letters, 1863 January 28, Allie and C. Ladley [Alice and Catherine Ladley] to Brother and Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Alice Ladley and Catherine Ladley")
Combined Letters, 1863 January 28, Allie 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 sister and mother in Yellow Springs, Ohio. In her letter, Alice apologizes about not writing more frequently, she shares the names of the two new boarders, and news about Milo Lawrence. Catherine writes about a loan that was co-signed by Derostus Ladley. She writes about how she doesn't know how she will pay the debt and interest if it is proven that Derostus did co-sign the loan.
-
![Letter, 1863 January 28, Mary [Mary Ladley] to My Dear Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1071/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 January 28, Mary [Mary Ladley] to My Dear Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley")
Letter, 1863 January 28, 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 the two new boarders they have taken on, news about Antioch, and Milo Lawrence's broken leg that needed to be reset.
-
Letter, 1863 January 23, Oscar D. Ladley to Folks at Home
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley's family from Belle Plain, Virginia. Oscar writes about marching from Stafford C.H. to Bell [sic] Plain Landing, getting a promotion, and questions about home. He also writes about a new "contraband cook," Rufus, that joined his regiment.
-
![Letter, 1863 January 21, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar Ladley] by Catherine Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1069/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 January 21, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar Ladley] by Catherine Ladley")
Letter, 1863 January 21, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar Ladley]
Catherine Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley from his mother in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Catherine writes about suffering from straining her arm, the recent snowstorm, and more
-
![Letter, 1863 January 16, Mary [Mary Ladley] to My Dear Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1067/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 January 16, Mary [Mary Ladley] to My Dear Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Mary Ladley")
Letter, 1863 January 16, 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 an accident that may have broken their mother's hand, a snow storm, news from home, and more.
-
![Letter, 1863 January 16, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1068/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 January 16, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
Letter, 1863 January 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 Stafford, Virginia. Oscar writes about not wanting to have to march as they are "fixed very comfortably" in their current camp. He also mentions that if his family gets a copy of the Daily Gazette they will see that he was recently promoted.
-
![Letter, 1863 January 11, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1066/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 January 11, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley] by Oscar D. Ladley")
Letter, 1863 January 11, Oscar D. Ladley to Mother and Sisters [Catherine, Mary, and Alice Ladley]
Oscar D. Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley's mother and sisters from Stafford C.H., Virginia. Oscar writes about the type of tent he sleeps in, justification for Colonel Tulleys being a strict officer, and he encourages both sisters to continue attending Antioch.
-
![Letter, 1863 January 4, Alley [Alice Ladley] to My Dear Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Alice Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1065/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 January 4, Alley [Alice Ladley] to My Dear Brother [Oscar D. Ladley] by Alice Ladley")
Letter, 1863 January 4, Alley [Alice Ladley] to My Dear Brother [Oscar D. Ladley]
Alice Ladley
Letter to Oscar Ladley from his sister in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Alice writes about news of the war, Mary receiving a certificate to be a teacher, and thieves attempting to steal their gate on New Years Eve.
-
![Letter, 1863 January 4, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley](https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms138/1063/thumbnail.jpg "Letter, 1863 January 4, C. Ladley [Catherine Ladley] to Son [Oscar D. Ladley] by Catherine Ladley")
Letter, 1863 January 4, 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 of the war, the cost of tuition for both of Oscar's sisters at Antioch, and other news from home.
