Here’s a faded and unsigned letter (last page missing) so that it is not usable in the database. Written by a Federal soldier at what looks like “Camp Roberts” which was located near Bridgeport, Alabama (NE). I’m not familiar with the camp so if anyone has information, please respond. Anyway, the content is useful so here it is: Camp Roberts, Alabama, 1861 August 30th Friend Lib This is Sabbath evening…

Charles H. Weygant’s history of the 124th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (titled “Orange Blossoms”) was years ago linked to have, at the very least, “suggested” the idea for Stephen Crane’s famous novel The Red Badge of Courage. It is probable that Weygant’s regimental history was also influential in some of the events as portrayed by Crane in his novel. Published in 1895, The Red Badge of Courage, is still…

Historian and writer Paul Taylor has written a very nice portrait of a previously little known regiment. The 26th New York Volunteer Infantry served for 2 years, saw some hard service and marches, and tough fighting at the battles of Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run, and Fredericksburg. Known also as the “Second Oneida Regiment,” the unit was organized at Elmira by Colonel William H. Christian on the 17th of May,…

On August 16, the 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry captured the enemy works at Deep Run — despite a 200 yard crossing under heavy fire. New in the database is a written account of the attack by Captain Homer Plimpton of Company G. He wrote the letter weeks later on September 16th, 1864 from the confines of the Headquarters of the 39th Regiment: Shall I tell you of an interesting scene…

In 1964 Stephen Z. Starr published his interesting short study “The Grand Old Regiment” that dealt exclusively with the historiography of the Civil War regimental history. If you’re serious about being a Civil War Soldier Studies historian than you need to read Starr’s excellent essay on the average regimental history as he offers some very interesting data. One aspect of Starr’s research that fascinated me was the data he collected…

The 4th North Carolina Infantry Regiment completed its organization in May, 1862, at Camp Hill. On May 6th of 1864 the 4th Regiment found itself on the extreme left of the Confederate line at the Wilderness. On the 7th they were moved to reserve and checked Union General Burnside’s movement between Ewell and A.P. Hill’s Corp. Ramsuer’s Brigade saw heavy fighting at Spotsylvania on May the 11th and 12th and…