This collection contains twenty-one letters written by the two brothers while they were in the 27th Regiment of the New York Volunteer Infantry and then the 1st Regiment New York Veteran Cavalry. The brothers were from Lima, in Livingston County, New York. The letters to their father, sister Alta, and brother-in-law George date from 1861 to 1864. The majority of the letters were written by Henry, most of which were penned during his service, 1861-1863, with the 27th New York Volunteer Infantry. His last three letters were written while in service with the 1st New York veteran’s cavalry. Francis wrote seven letters, five between 1861 and 1862 as a soldier in the 27th New York Infantry, and two in 1864 as a member of the 1st New York Veteran’s Cavalry.

The letters furnish information about their daily life as soldiers, family matters, bad living conditions, limited food rations, and being grateful for receiving food from home as the army’s quality of food was not very good. Illness within the camps and barracks are included in the letters. Both brothers are stricken with an eye ailment that seems to be more serious for Frank.

They participated in some of the most important battles, Bull Run, Manassas, Martinsburg and Richmond. They write about preparing for battle and waiting to be called upon to fight, battle positions taken up, troop strength and movements, capture of prisoners, and the numbers of Union soldiers wounded and killed. Soldiers that are acquainted with the brothers are also mentioned.

Henry’s letter of June 24, 1864 is the last of his letters. On July 2 he was captured at Berryville, VA and taken prisoner. In June 1865 he was paroled at Anapolis, MD. The last letter written by Frank is July 4, 1864 and in it he mentions that Henry was well, unbeknownst to him that Henry had been captured two days earlier.

This collection has been digitized and is accessible from the New York Heritage Collection.