The Patterson Family Papers are an eclectic collection of financial and business records, family correspondence, scrapbooks, 19th-Century newspapers, family histories, and photographs which document three generations of Patterson and Johnston Family personal and business matters.
Of particular interest are letters to Julia Johnston Patterson from four of her sons who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. These letters have been digitized, transcribed and made available electronically in CORE Scholar.
For more information on this collection, please 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 to Eliza from an unidentified person, dated August 2, 1864
Unknown
This note was written to Eliza on August 2, 1864 by an unidentified author, to say her letter had been received and that brother Frank was quite ill with "lung fever." The author is unknown but the origin of the letter was The Rubicon, family home of the Pattersons.
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Letter to Julia Patterson from an unidentified person dated June 3, 1864
Unknown
This partial letter was sent to Julia Patterson from an unknown author dated June 3, 1864. In the letter the sender talks about daily life and the possible sale of the Patterson farm.
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Letter to a Mr. Patterson from Alice Winters, dated November 15, 1864
Alice Winters
This letter was written from Alice Winters to a Mr. Patterson, dated November 15, 1864, inviting him to be a member of the "Bazique" Club.
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Letter to Stephen Patterson from a friend, George Winters, dated June 28, 1864
George Winters
This letter was written to Stephen Patterson by a friend, George Winters, on June 28, 1864. In the letter the friend describes his work and daily life.
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Letter from John H. Patterson to a brother, dated March 11, 1863
John H. Patterson
John Patterson wrote this letter on March 11, 1863 to his brother. In the letter he talks mostly about news of family and friends. The stationary bears the seal of Miami University.
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Letter from Robert Patterson to his mother Julia dated December 17, 1863
Robert Patterson
This letter was written by Robert Patterson to his mother Julia on December 17, 1863. Robert writes from his brother William's quarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In the letter he refers to a recent battle and a long march and he asks her to send clothing and boots.
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Letter from Robert Patterson to his mother Julia dated September 8, 1863
Robert Patterson
Robert Patterson wrote this brief letter to his mother Julia on September 8, 1863 to let her know he was rejoining his regiment in Catletts Station, Virginia and would not be able to come home for a visit.
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Letter from Robert Patterson to his mother Julia on November 8, 1863
Robert Patterson
Robert Patterson wrote this letter to his mother Julia on November 8, 1863. The letter is a detailed description of a battle which took place in Lookout Valley, near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Also included with the letter is a hand-drawn map of the area in which the battle took place.
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Letter from Robert Patterson to his mother Julia on October 4, 1863
Robert Patterson
Robert Patterson wrote this letter to his mother Julia on October 4, 1863 from Bridgeport, Alabama. In the letter he talks about troop movements, railroad targets, and about a distant relative he has met, Goodlett Adams. He also talks about the welcome the troops received at the train depot in Xenia, Ohio as they passed through.
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Letter from Robert Patterson to his mother or father dated October, 1863
Robert Patterson
Robert Patterson wrote this letter to one of his parents in October, 1863. In the letter he complains of a lack of administrative ability on the part of General Rosencrans which has led to great suffering of the troops. He also talks of personal affairs and needs.
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Letter from William Patterson to his mother Julia dated December 6, 1863
William Patterson
William Patterson wrote this letter to his mother Julia on December 6, 1863. In the brief letter he asks her to send clothing, and says he expects his company will soon be moved from Chattanooga to Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Letter from William Patterson to his mother Julia, dated July 6, 1863
William Patterson
William Patterson wrote this letter to his mother Julia on July 6, 1863 from Tullahoma near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. In the letter he talks about a significant battle victory of the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, camp conditions, illness, and bad weather.
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Letter from William Patterson to his mother Julia dated June 22, 1863
William Patterson
William Patterson wrote this brief letter to his mother Julia on June 22, 1863. In the letter he mentions a recent illness and says they expect a battle to take place soon and believes that it will be difficult.
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Letter from William Patterson to his mother Julia dated June 7, 1863
William Patterson
William Patterson wrote this letter to his mother Julia on June 7, 1863. In the letter he tells her he was recently commissioned as a Captain.
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Letter from William Patterson to his mother Julia dated May 6, 1863
William Patterson
William Patterson wrote this brief letter to his mother Julia on May 6, 1863. In the letter he says they have recently had good news from the Potomac and he believes if it is true the war will be over by the following year.
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Letter from William Patterson to his mother Julia dated September 21, 1863
William Patterson
William Patterson wrote this note to his mother Julia from the battlefield on September 21, 1863. In the letter he talks about the battle and names some of the men that were wounded or killed.
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Letter from William Patterson to his mother Julia on December 6, 1863
William Patterson
This letter was written by William Patterson to his mother Julia on December 8, 1863. In the letter, he talks about clothing needs and a recent battle in which his company was involved.
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Letter from William Patterson to his mother Julia on September 6, 1863
William Patterson
William Patterson wrote this letter to his parents while marching across Lookout Mountain on September 6, 1863. He talks about the difficulties of moving artillery up and down the mountains and says the mountains are full of deserters from the Rebel army.
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Letter from Rachel Reynolds to William Patterson dated April 5, 1863
Rachel Reynolds
This letter was written to William Patterson from his aunt, Rachel Reynolds on April 5, 1863. In the letter she sends him her condolences on the recent death of his father, Jefferson Patterson.
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Letter from J.D. Sharp to Stephen Patterson, dated March 18, 1863
J. D. Sharp
This brief letter was written by a friend, J.D. Sharp, to Stephen Patterson on March 18, 1863. Sharp writes about how busy his post is when freight comes through and talks about mutual friends back home.
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Letter from J.D. Sharp to Stephen Patterson, dated March 6, 1863
J. D. Sharp
This letter was written by J.D. Sharp on March 6, 1863 to Stephen Patterson. In the letter he talks about his new post in Nashville and includes details about daily life.
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Letter from J.D. Sharp to Stephen Patterson, dated May 1, 1863
J. D. Sharp
This letter was written to Stephen Patterson from a friend, J.D. Sharp, on May 1, 1863. The letter discusses mutual acquaintances and daily life.
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Letter written to Julia Patterson from her niece, Lilly, on July 20, 1862
Lilly
This letter was written to Julia Patterson by her niece, Lilly, on July 20, 1862. In the letter she discusses their recent visit with family and friends in Cincinnati and Louisville, and their return home to Paducah.
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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.
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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.
