Current Archive Statistics: 682 correspondence entries, 213 soldier profiles

Your database will be quite valuable to researchers. - James McPherson, author, Battle Cry of Freedom

Life of a Civil War Soldier Series

BATTLE OF SHILOH - THE SECOND DAY'S FIGHTING Our attack yesterday was so sudden and successful, that the enemy found it impossible to remove his quartermaster and commissary stores, or even to save the baggage of the men. The temptation thus presented was too great for our troops to resist. Sunday night large numbers of them, supposing there would be no more fighting, set to work to gather up such spoils as the Federal encampment contained. There were arms, overcoats, caps, shoes, coffee, sugar, provisions, trunks, blankets, liquors, private letters, and numberless other things which the enemy had been compelled to abandon. Civil War Manuscripts in the VMI Archives A great list of letters and diaries from the VMI that are linked to detailed descriptions or full text. In addition to these manuscripts, the Archives contain many other Civil War resources. Additional information about alumni can be found in their collection of alumni biographical files. For more information about their collections, contact the VMI Archives. A great resource that we highly recommend. If only it was contained in a searchable database such as we have here! A Nurse's View of Battle: Bull Run, First Manassas Sarah Emma Edmonds was a Civil War nurse, soldier (disguised as Frank Thompson), and spy. In this excerpt from her memoir, she recounts her experiences at the Battle of Bull Run (also known as First Manassas), July 21, 1861, and the events leading up to it and her exploits after the battle, returning to Washington, DC. Available is an extract is from Chapter II and III (pp. 29-54) from Edmonds' memoir published in 1864: Nurse and Spy in the Union Army: The Adventures and Experiences of a Woman in Hospitals, Camps, and Battle-Fields. Which can be downloaded in its complete form (PDF) via this site. Also: Reminiscenes of a Soldier's Wife: Mrs. John A. Logan Vicksburg: Carried Back By Grape-Shot James M. Sanford was born May 2, 1836 near St Joseph, Michigan. This is a short memoir he dictated to his children on his death bed before his death on December 7, 1910 at Fairfield, Nebraska. He was 74 years, 7 months and 5 days when he died. He served with the 11th Wisconsin. He served in Company B and earned the rank of Corpl. Here is an excerpt; "My regiment was placed well in the front of the first of the three lines of battle, which gave me a splendid view of the field. As I turned and looked to the rear, I could see 100 battle flags sweeping on for a grand charge. As I looked to the front, I could see General Pemberton's whole army, who had left their ditch and were on their way back to Vicksburg. Not ten rods from me was General Pemberton in all his splendor, calling to his retreating troops, saying: "Go back to your works! There's only one line. We can whip them."

Features

Why Married Men Fought in the Civil War This is a recorded lecture from June 30, 1997 at the Smithsonian Institution by Dr. McPherson shortly after the publication of his book, For Cause and Comrades, Why Men Fought In The Civil War, which is a comprehensive analysis drawing upon more than 25,000 letters and nearly 250 private diaries from men on both sides of the conflict. Written by the most literate soldiers in history and uncensored by military authorities, these letters and diaries are especially revealing as the soldiers tell their own stories.

Transcribed letter from Peter S. Tubbs to his sister, Sarah Jane Merrell - Wisconsin Private Peter Tubbs, of Co. I, 29th Regiment Wisconsin Infantry, writes home to Neosho from Ft. Gaines, Dauphine Island, Alabama on February 10th, 1865. Unknown Correspondent report (4 pages) published in the Wisconsin Daily State Journal on December 30, 1862.

Articles

Indiana Magazine of History Civil War Letters and Manuscripts - The IMH has placed online PDFs of all of the Civil War correspondences they have published. This is a great resource! Online FREE Self-Guided Civil War Class One Soldier's Story - The memorial stands on a curve in the road near the American Legion Post, a silent piece of granite atop a patch of freshly cut grass. Cars pass it day after day, year after year, and it seldom attracts a visitor. Missives of War in Another Time - In his letters home, George Bartlett wrote about the financial benefits that had lured him into the military, questioned the war's aims, and criticized inept commanders.

Citing this Website

http://www.soldierstudies.org or for a specific letter, here's an example: Charles W. Gooch to his Wife, April 9th, 1863. http://www.soldierstudies.org/index.php?action=view_letter&Letter=158

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