View of tents of the First Minnesota Regimentin a field. The First Minnesota Regiment was the first voluntary infantry regiment to serve in the Union Army during the Civil War. The camp shown was located between Poolesville, Maryland and Edward's Ferry on the Potomac River near the site of the Battle of Ball's Bluff, which was on October 21, 1861.
Group of Civil War veterans at the home of H.R. Jefferson in Bingham Lake. House is in the background. Men include: D.A. Day, H.M. Clark, H.M. Graveley, Joe Bailey, Corlius Mead, A.M. Kogle, William Potter, Ruel V. Byron, John A. Brown, Watkins Jones, H.R. Jefferson, W.W. Barlow.
Collage of studio portraits from Minnesota Company A, Seventh Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, 1862, including 52 oval portraits of Civil War soldiers, some in uniform and some in later years. An eagle, flag, and banners appear at the top.
Daily experiences of William E. Stork as he recounts the towns he travelled through, the mileage covered, and the expenses incurred during his tenure with the military; his enlistment of January 1865; his arrival in Knoxville, Tennesee; attempts to learn the bugle; recognition of Robert E. Lee's surrender and Abraham Lincoln's death; his duty moving refugees across the river in Decatur, Illinois, near Fletcher's Ferry and ensuing duties transporting and guarding rebel prisoners; his daily life of washing clothes in the river and picking berries; the arrival of the U.S. Colored Artillery which would relieve them of duty; mustering out of the military September 27, 1865, and details of his trip home; his visit to the Belmont Gardens and Minnehaha Falls; his ride on the War Eagle and return to Brownsville; his work on the farm making repairs before leaving for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to study at the Commercial College; his political timeline and financial information.
Daily experiences of William E. Stork at Bryant Stratton and Spencer's Commercial School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the reconstruction era of the Civil War, and farming in southern Minnesota. Events of particular interest include his work near Vicksburg, Mississippi, cutting wood, clearing brush, and working on the ice boat; the difficulties of getting food rations and payment during this time; news of his sister Ann's death in May of 1866 and the ensuing difficulties getting home via steamer with a fever; farm labor that included slaughtering hogs, digging potatoes, plowing fields, digging wells and placing stones, and taking grain to the mill; visits with his mother, Grace Stork, and siblings Rosalie, Charley, Edwin, Adaline, and Aaron; notes of natural events like the first frost October 22 and snowstorms; teaching school at the Stone School House beginning December 3 and the ensuing spelling and singing schools; serving as Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and holding special town meetings in 1867.
Eleven men seated next to tents, including Governor Alexander Ramsey and Col. Colville. The First Minnesota Regiment was the first voluntary infantry regiment to serve in the Union Army during the Civil War.This was taken at the country residence of Mr. George Brackett, Orono, Lake Minnetonka.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Camp Blackwater, Missouri. Several acquaintances have gone home on furlough but Jacob does not think he will be able to get home because it will cost about fifty dollars for the trip. He is only on guard duty once a week. They have fresh pork and can buy honey for one dollar a gallon.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter while he was at Fort Ridgley, Minnesota. He made his way from Rochester, through Mankato and New Ulm to Fort Ridgley. He is waiting for the pay master and will send money home as soon as possible. He mentions several acquaintances and reports on their health.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Independence, Missouri. His health is still good. He has newspapers from Saint Louis giving accounts of General Grant driving Lee towards Richmond. Jacob thinks the war will soon be over. He plans to buy Mary a ring as soon as he is paid. He only has ten cents left. He hopes to be paid for four months wages in July. He thanks Ellen for sending the book mark. He thinks it is a great blessing to have a chance for his children to go to school. In the south, the poor do not get any formal education and have to make do with what they learn from home. He has not had any drills recently and is doing mostly guard duty. Sam Mott has small pox.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from camp in Independence, Missouri. He was impressed with the beauty of the countryside. Bushwhackers have been operating in the area and they passed many burnt buildings on the way to Independence. He is now three hundred miles south of Rochester and about one hundred and fifty miles east.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Jefferson City, Missouri. He mentions that he has sent twenty dollars home. He has guard duty frequently because most of the companies have moved south.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Osage City, Kansas. He had two boils on his face. Mail has been slo9w coming from home but he believes that it is due to the heavy snows in Illinois and Wisconsin. New Years day it was twenty-two degrees below zero in his camp. He has been working and has earned sixteen dollars since he came to Osage. He spent five dollars and twenty-five cents for a pair of boots and another dollar and a half for an ax.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Osage City, Kansas. He is doing well and expects to earn some more money if they stay in the same place. It is warmer and the snow is almost all gone. The rings that he sent home cost one dollar and fifteen cents.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Osage City, Kansas. He is well and hopes they are all doing fine. He has already sent ten dollars home this month and expects to send another three dollars as soon as he gets paid. He earned one dollar splitting rails. He mentions wanting Martha to get a cow from Nat Irish. It was rumored that the paymaster was in Jefferson. He has not heard from his brother, William. He is anxious to hear how his father is doing.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Osage City, Kansas. It has been very cold and snowy. He bought himself a pair of boots. He is owed two months pay. He asks if Martha received the jewelry he sent.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Warrensburg, Missouri. He has earned twenty-eight dollars working out, but does not know if he will get more work. He tells Martha that Parks Penharlow is in the hospital, so the rumors that she had heard that he was dead are untrue. While they were in Osage City they slept in a building, but in Warrensburg, they are sleeping in tents. He received a letter from his father. His company expects that they will move about five miles to guard a bridge.
Rhoda George wrote this letter from Lebanon Junction, Kentucky to her children. She describes the trip from Fort Snelling to Lebanon, Kentucky and life with her son, George. A mortgage, property and James George's military duties are mentioned. She expresses concern over the state of the nation. On the last page, James George sends greetings and tells his family how to find the location of Lebanon on a map.
James George wrote a short greeting to his children at the beginning of the letter and tells them that his regiment will march out the next day. Rhoda and Ned were expected to stay in Lebanon, Kentucky, until other lodgings could be found. Rhoda mentions her cooking, Mr. Cilley and other acquaintances. The letter is continued by Rhoda the next day as she describes her loniness at the departure of her husband from Lebanon Junction, Kentucky.
James George wrote this letter while in camp near Columbia, Tennessee. He expects to go south again in a few days and join a force of about 170,000 men. He talks about his prospects for a promotion. Ned is scolded for using bad language.
This letter is unsigned, but presumed to have been written by James George. It is dated eighteen sixty one, but James George's unit was not in this area until January of eighteen sixty two. This letter was written from camp in near Jamestown, Kentucky. They are about sixteen miles from the enemy. There are rumors around camp the the enemy force is between nine thousand and twenty-five thousand men. He thinks Clinton Cilley will be promotes to one of the offices of Company C. He belives politics will prevent Cilley from being promoted to captain now.
James Greorge wrote this letter from camp near Nashville, Tennessee. He has heard reports that the rebels destroyed parts of the railroad between the camp and Louisville. His unit will be marching south the next day. He does not feel that they will be involved in any more fighting because the rebels have been retreating and disbanding in all directions. He does not think that the South can make a stand against the superior force of the North. He hopes that Rhoda and Ned got home safely.
James Greorge wrote this letter from camp. He has not received mail in about a month and presumes it is because the Confederate forces control the area to the rear of his unit. He has heard of Union victories from the Potomac to the Gulf, but has no news of the enemy forces near him. He hopes Rhoda and George had a good trip home and arrived safely.