Inventory of the Benjamin Schwartz Papers, 1861-1868
A Collection in the
Manuscripts and Rare Books Department
Accession Number Mss. Acc. 2007.01
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Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
Special CollectionsEarl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8794
USA
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Email: spcoll@wm.edu
URL: http://swem.wm.edu/scrc/
© 2009 By the College of William and Mary. All rights reserved.
Processed by: Special Collections Staff
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to all researchers.
Use Restrictions
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Preferred Citation
Benjamin Schwartz Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information
This collection was purchased 01/05/2007.
Biographical Information
A Benjamin Swartz (alternate name: Benjamin F.Swartz), enlisted in the 5th Pennsylvania Calvary, Company F. His rank upon entering the regiment is listed as "Saddl.", his discharge rank was Sergeant.
Scope and Content
These letters are written from or on behalf of Benjamin Schwartz, who was stationed in Virginia with the 5th Pennsylvania Calvary, Company F. The letters primarily document a brother's concern over his family's health and money he sends to his sister. There is limited discussion of skirmishes, troop movement, taking and being taken prisoner, and recurrent predictions that the war will end soon. Schwartz mentions that the Union camp at Williamsburg, Virginia was burned by rebel forces.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in chronological order.
Contents List
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Item 1: Letter, Camp Griffin, to Sister Libby 11/23/1861
"fixing up things to keep us a little warm" Went to two reviews, one at Bailey's Cross Roads.
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Item 2: Letter, Camp Griffin, to Dear Sister 3/5/1862
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Item 3: Letter, Williamsburg, to Dear Sister 11/21/1862
Concerned about money sent, busy building winter quarters, notes that they have many new horses and recruits, predicts war will not last long.
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Item 4: Letter, Williamsburg, to Dear Sister 4/23/1863
Hard week, rebels burned Union camp, but repulsed them, captured a number of rebel prisoners.
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Item 5: Letter, Williamsburg, to My Dear Sister 5/1/1863
Predicts rebels will have to give up as "they are near starved[?] out and played out to nothing" "was taken prisoner and made my escape."
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Item 6: Letter, Williamsburg, to My Dear Sister 6/10/1863
Sending money.
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Item 7: Letter, Portsmouth, Va. 2/25/1864
Describes march to Richmond, foiled plan to burn city.
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Item 8: Letter, Camp near Portsmouth 4/11/2864
Their camp has moved many times.
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Item 9: Letter, Camp near Portsmouth, To: My Dear Sister 4/26/1864
Sending money.
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Item 11: Letter, Camp Near Jones Landing to My dear Sister Elizabeth Schwartz, North Buffalo, Erie County, N. Y. 8/21/1864
Surprised that Home Guard was called out to defend Buffalo, describes prowess of Company F.
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Item 12: Letter, Richmond to Dear Sister 4/29/1865
The war is over.
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Item 13: Letter, Sollomon City, Saline County, Kansas to Dear Sister 3/3/1869
Discusses cold weather and high water. Folder also contains a single sheet, with paper and ink similar to letter above, asking for Henry's location, noting the loss of Eve's husband.
Stationery printed with "U. S. Christian Commission." handwritten underneath "and hard tack." Sent money, "Benjamin has gone out on a raid."
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Item 15: envelope addressed to Miss. Elizabeth Schwartz, Williamsvill[e], Erie Co., New York 10/18/n.y.
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Item 16: envelope addressed to Elizabeth Schwartz, Williamsville, Erie Co., N[ew] York 9/13/1862
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Item 17: (month?) 27 1868
Envelope addressed to Miss. Elizabeth Schwartz, Williamsville, Erie County, N. Y. has word "Coyote" written on it.