Civil War Soldiers Letters and Diaries Archive

Soldier Profile - Austin, Matthew S.

Full Name: Austin, Matthew S.

Home State: New Jersey

Allegiance: Union

Unit/Service Branch: 5th Infantry

Matthew S. Austin was a Commissary Sergeant of the 5th New Jersey Volunteers, when mustered out he achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

Captain Matthew Steve Austin, who is buried in Mercer County Cemetary, NJ. They are letters from Steve & his brother that were in the 5th New Jersey Volunteers, one of whom died in the war. Also from their friend, Colonel Frank W. Pickett, of the colored infantry in Missouri and are written to their father, mother, cousin and girlfriends. The 5th NJ volunteers is one of the least known units in the Civil War. Many of these letters are between officers and include information not in history books.

This particular letter is from M. Lindsly, Asst. Surgeon USA, Executive Officer of the Lincoln General Hospital where AUstin was placed to recover from his wound.

We have had Civil War historians view the letters and they all agree that these letters are GENUINE! In fact, John Hayward has reviewed them as part of research for his upcoming novel on the 5th New Jersey Volunteers. The book should be published by the fall of 2007 with the proposed title of "FOLLOW ME JERSEY MEN".

This collection covers the entire Civil War (1861 - 1865) and several events leading up to the war in 1860. The significance of these letters include: New information (previously unknown): Information supportive of current knowledge: In-depth personal feelings and rare content.

Letters Written by Austin, Matthew S.