Use Restrictions

Public Domain. There are no known restrictions.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Two Civil War letters on shared paper signed by Union soldiers Daniel G. Marshall and Homer, C0426, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Donated By C. Harrison Mann.

Processing Information

Processing completed by Meghan Glasbrenner in February 2024. Finding aid completed by Meghan Glasbrenner in March 2024.

Biographical and Historical Information

Daniel G. Marshall and the soldier identified only as "Homer" both served with the Union Connecticut Volunteers' 19th Regiment Infantry, which was organized at Litchfield, Connecticut from July 25 through September 9, 1862. On September 15, the Regiment left Connecticut for Washington, D.C., and assumed guard and patrol duty at Alexandria, Virginia until January 12, 1863. On November 23, 1863, the designation of the Regiment was changed to 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery. According to the National Parks Service Civil War database there are 7 soldiers listed as belonging to the 19th Regiment Infantry with the name of "Homer."

Daniel G. Marshall was born on May 14, 1843 in Lisbon, New York and joined the Union Connecticut Volunteers as a Private. He survived the Civil War, eventually exiting military service at the rank of Corporal, and married Betsey Ann Chamberlain in 1866. He died on June 19, 1931 at the age of 88 and is buried in Center Cemetery in New Milford, Connecticut.

In the early years of the Civil War, between 1861-1862, stationers, printers, and publishers created stationery and envelopes bearing colorful patriotic designs and slogans, including military figures, state seals, eagles, and flags, to promote support for the war. While these were primarily published by companies in Northern states, a small number were printed bearing anti-Union imagery by Confederate states as well. Paper and postage were valuable commodities for both Union and Confederate soldiers and combined with the constant and sometimes unpredictable movement of locations creative steps were often taken to conserve paper and the number of letters being sent. These included cross-writing, which involved turning paper 90-degrees and writing between the already written lines, writing in the margins, addressing letters to a general group of friends to be shared, and in some cases sharing paper with fellow soldiers.

Scope and Content

Two Civil War letters on shared official stationery paper signed by Union soldiers Daniel G. Marshall and Homer. The paper had been folded in half, with each soldier writing on both the front and back of one half.

In his letter, addressed "Dear friend," Daniel reassures the recipient of his health and safety, passes along updates on other soldiers known by the recipient or those back home, and asks the recipient to please write with updates and to pass his letter and news along to his parents and other friends. The letter written by Homer, addressed informally possibly to his sister "Hatt" or "Hal," covers similar topics as Daniel's letter, but the tone is more playful in parts and also includes details on the writer's experience on patrol duty in Alexandria, direct criticisms of the "rebels," and recounting of acts of violence he has witnessed.

Arrangement

This is a single item collection.

Related Material

The Special Collections Research Center holds other Civil War collections , including other pieces of correspondence.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• Mann, Charles Harrison, Jr., 1908-1977
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
• United States. Army. Connecticut Infantry Regiment, 19th (1862-1863)
• War