SCOUT

In three letters from 1864 and 1865 to his wife Katy, Hugh Ryan, a private with the 24th Kentucky Infantry, describes the life of a Union soldier at the close of the Civil War.

Isabel Belle Scott of Gratiot, Wisconsin wrote this letter to her brother James, who was then serving with Company B of the 23rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, on 15 February 1863. Belle is under the impression that James is helping to construct a canal at Vicksburg and the letter is addressed to him via Memphis, Tennessee.

This collection features three letters and a newspaper clipping regarding James Harold Fox's service during World War II as a member of the Bombing-Fighting Squadron 89 and the Fleet Tactical Support Squadron 21.

In this letter written from Waverly, Tenn., and dated February 16, 1864, James E. Pritchard of the 8th Iowa Cavalry writes to his brother John. He comments that the Rebels will never regain a hold on East Tennessee, noting that in Waverly, 300 Confederates surrendered and took the oath of allegiance.

This collection consists of a letter from Jethro Hill, dated February 3, 1864, sent from Lenoir's Station, Tennessee, to Jodie. Hill describes a brief battle and his good living conditions. He also asks for news of the family and wonders why Jodie hasn't responded to his previous letters.

John D. Messinger wrote this letter to his friend E. Smith Woodworth from Pulaski, Tennessee on November 20, 1864. In it, Messinger discusses Lincoln's victory in the recent presidential election and Confederate troop movements in Tennessee. He also expresses his hope that the Union will soon win the war so that he can return home.

This collection consists of a letter and a poem written by John Edward Thompson of the 20th Illinois Infantry. The letter, written on March 17, 1862 to a friend while Thompson was stationed in Savannah, Tennessee, discusses Thompson's thoughts on surviving the war and on arriving in Savannah. The poem, entitled Good Night: Who Wouldn't be a Soldier and written before the Battle of Shiloh, was published in the Advocate in 1887.

John McNickle Laird, Jr. of the Ohio 124th Infantry Regiment (U. S.) writes to his mother, Julia Laird, from a camp near Knoxville, Tennessee and from Marietta, Georgia.

According to Lieutenant Colonel John Scott, Colonel Nelson G. Williams of the 3rd Iowa Regiment incorrectly and maliciously reported Second Lieutenant Benton A. Mathews, Second Lieutenant Ole A. Anderson, and Lieutenant Colonel Mathew M. Trumbull of Company D as well as Captain Emilius I. Weiser of Company I as deserters. He calls for an investigation so that these men, who had been wounded and served valiantly, might have their records corrected.

This collection houses a letter that John Cleland wrote to his sister, Mary J. Jennie Cleland, in Defiance County, Ohio from Knoxville, Tennessee on December 14, 1863. In it, he discusses his regiment's participation in the Battle of Knoxville, including the losses they suffered.

This collection includes two handwritten letters by John Cleland, Union soldier during the Civil War, written to his family from outside Knoxville, Tenn. during February and March 1864.

This collection consists of one original letter and one reprinted letter written by John W. Fox that discuss his life in the army and his religious faith.

While encamped in the Cumberland Ford area of Knox County, Tenn., John W. Hammer serving in the 16th Ohio Infantry Company K writes to a friend named Annie. In this letter dated June 4, 1862, he describes the fortifications that are in place to protect them from the Confederates. His company moves toward the Confederate camps and skirmishes occur.

The Boyd Letters, 1862-1864, contains six letters written by Joseph E. Boyd of the 115th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Specifically, this correspondence describes Union military camp conditions, the environment of Tennessee, Union soldiers' viewpoints regarding the war and Confederates, battles and military operations in Middle and East Tennessee, and the family concerns of Union soldiers.

This collection contains the diary and daybook of Julius E. Thomas, 2nd Sergeant and Chief Bugler of Company F, 1st Tennessee Cavalry (Union). Entries range from August 5, 1864 through April 5, 1865. Thomas writes about the movement of his company throughout Tennessee. Part of the book contains notations of supplies used for construction.

The material in this collection documents the World War II military service of Lloyd Hamilton Boyd. Included are approximately 50 letters written from Boyd to members of his family in North Carolina; these were written while Boyd was stationed at Camp Cooke in California as well as overseas in the European Theatre of War (including from England, France, Belgium, and Germany). Also included are ration books, unused V-mail sheets, copies of newspaper clippings, and some memorabilia.

Moses Owen of the 7th Ohio Infantry, Company F, wrote this letter to his mother on February 18, 1862, just after the Battle of Fort Donelson.

This letter to Verness Williams documents recent activities of Myron Comstock's unit (11th Michigan Infantry Regiment) and speaks of his recent illness and homesickness.