Slayton, Emma to Asa W. Slayton
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03955.13 Author/Creator: Slayton, Emma Place Written: Keene, Michigan Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 15 November 1863 Pagination: 4 p. ; 17 x 10.8 cm. Order a Copy
Emma thanks Asa for sending her a birthday package. She reports that the other brothers have also sent packages. Emma reminisces about times when the family was together and expresses grievance over recent death of their father. She offers to answer any questions about their Father's illness as she was there in the last days of his life while the brothers were at war. Emma finds the division of the farm among descendants to be the brothers responsibility and explains her father's wishes for inheritance. She requests to know the location at which Asa stored the picture of her father in case he does not return from war.
Asa W. Slayton and Chester M. Slayton were brothers from Grattan, Michigan who served in the 25th Michigan Infantry Regiment. Asa W. Slayton enlisted as a sergeant at age 30 and Chester as a corporal at age 27, the later being promoted to full sergeant on 15 July 1864 during his participation in the Atlanta Campaign. Asa resigned from his position in the army in 1864 and returned to Grattan where he worked a school teacher, farmer and amateur artist. Chester served as a surveyor and draughtsman in the Engineers Department of the 25th Infantry until the end of the war. After being mustered out in June of 1865, he returned to Grattan to live as a farmer.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.