This collection consists of twelve letters that William Howard wrote to his sister Sallie while he served in the Union army aboard the USS Brilliant. The letters are primarily concerned with personal matters, especially William's complaints that no one but Sallie writes to him, but he does describe battles and other war news occasionally. His April 6, 1863 letter is addressed from outside of Gnashville, and the final letter is addressed from the U.S. hospital ship Home off of Charleston, South Carolina. There is also a small photo of William Howard in his military uniform, taken in 1863 by W. H. Jennings of Norwich, Connecticut.