William W. Howard Letters
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.
Dates
- 1862 August 21-1865 January 15
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
1.8 Linear Feet (1 oversize folder)
Abstract
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.
Biographical/Historical Note
Sarah "Sallie" W. Pickering was born in November of 1832. By 1860, she was married to Arthur Pickering and they were living in Boston, Massachusetts. Her siblings, William H. Howard, James H. Howard, and Hepsia Howard also lived with them at that time. She had five children, Arthur H. in 1853, John in 1855, Edith in 1864, Gertrude in 1867, and Arthur C. in 1876.
The USS Brilliant was built in Brownsville, Pennsylvania in 1862. During its service in the Civil War, it supported the attack on Nashville. In 1865, it was sold and renamed the John S. McClune, and in 1867 it burned at Prairie Landing, Arkansas.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository