In a December 3, 1863 letter from James to My Dear Sister Kate, a Confederate soldier describes his situation after participating in the Battle of Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga during the Civil War.

This collection includes several maps and two Civil War prints. The maps depict geographical and ecological areas in the United States, including maps of Tennessee and Kentucky, along with maps of the United States. The Civil War prints come from a book and depict battles in Tennessee during 1863.

The Lanphear Family Letters, 1854-1872, document the Civil War-era experiences of a Minnesota family. The majority of the letters are from George Lanphear, a soldier with the 2nd Minnesota Infantry who spent most of the war in Tennessee.