Ward, Edward K. [Collection of Edward Ward, 4th regiment, Tennessee, infantry] [decimalized]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02232 Author/Creator: Ward, Edward K. Place Written: [various places] Type: Header Record Date: 1861-1864 Pagination: 34 letters + 1 business card + 17 envelopes Order a Copy
The collection consists of thirty-four letters written by Edward K. Ward to his sister Elmira Ward. Edward enlisted in Company A of the 4th Tennessee as a Second Lieutenant. He writes of his experiences at Murfreesboro, Shiloh, Nashville, Chattanooga, Seminary Ridge, and Atlanta, where he was killed. The collection is accompanied by an oil painting of Ward and a collection of carte-de-visites of Ward family members and acquaintances. Also making a frequent appearance in the correspondence is Edward's brother Samuel Marshall Ward (often referred to as "Marshall"). Marshall Ward enlisted as a hospital steward in the same company as his brother. Selected highlights from the collection include: letter 11 from Murfreesboro; letter 27 of 8 December 1863, which has a fairly graphic description of Missionary Ridge; letters 29, 30 and 31 (8 February 1864, 2 April 1864, and 21 April 1864) are written from Dalton, Georgia; letter 30 warns his sister very strongly not to associate with union sympathizers and looks forward to independence; letter 33 is written by Lieutenant B. S. Thurman, reporting Ward's death in battle. This last letter is accompanied by an obituary signed by members of his company: "Killed on the 22nd of July 1864, in the charge made by Hardee's Corps on the enemy's works near Atlanta, Geo., Lt. E. K. War, aged 27 years. He was a member of 'Shelby's Grays' of Memphis Tenn. ...." Thurman notes that Ward was buried in Atlanta, Georgia. Modern, hand-written transcripts are available for most of the letters. A separate inventory for the carte-de-visites is also available.
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