James Alexander Hanlin Civil War letters, 1863 - 1864
Scope and Contents
Within the six letters written by Hanlin, he describes to his wife what it like for them as they are stationed at Camp Nelson in Kentucky. The first letter is written on December 30th, 1863, and the rest in the spring of 1864. He discusses the state of his clothes and salary extensively, as well as some of the work that he is doing. He also explains some other soldiers being discharged and what he believes to be his fate in the next few months. The letters are photocopied from the originals and were transcribed by an unknown Butler University Special Collections worker.
Dates
- Creation: 1863 - 1864
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. When requesting access to a small collection, please include the File Identifier (eg. MSS-SM ###) in your request.
Historical Note
These letters come at a very important time in the Civil War, when the tide started to change, and the Union made a big push against the Confederacy to propel the war in their favor. Camp Nelson in Kentucky was an integral part of the Civil War. According to the National Park Service, “The site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for African American soldiers (United States Colored Troops) and a refugee camp for their families. Camp Nelson served as a shelter for civilians fleeing war and for enslaved people hoping to secure their freedom and aid in the destruction of slavery.”
Extent
0.01 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Russell L. Shearin allowed Butler University Special Collection to photocopy letters written by his great grandfather in 1991.
Bibliography
Repository Details
Part of the Butler University Special Collections and University Archives Repository
4600 Sunset Avenue
Irwin Library 345
Indianapolis Indiana 46208 United States
specialcollections@butler.edu