Powers, John H. [Collection of John H. Powers, 1st regiment, Vermont, cavalry] [decimalized]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02181 Author/Creator: Powers, John H. Place Written: [various places] Type: Header Record Date: 1860-1877 Pagination: 87 items Order a Copy
Collection of 75 letters written to a private in the first Vermont Cavalry, 1860-77, from friends and schoolmates at Newbury Seminary, and fraternity brothers from Wesleyan College. Some of the letters are from soldiers in the field, while others are from civilians writing about the war and their work at home. Letters discuss political climate, college courses, the trials of teaching, and the war. The collection also includes a group of 14 printed items.
Highlights include ten letters from Dr. George Gale, four while he is Acting Staff Surgeon, Calvary Corp. Hospital, City Point, Virginia. He writes of his work and the course of the war as he witnesses it. He continues to write after the war, while he practices medicine, operates a drugstore, and is a medical examiner for a life insurance company and the Pension Department. He writes of the Copperheads, and the use of "the everlasting nigger" to frighten weak men and inflame the fools.
Seven letters are from James Parker, from Mount Desert, then from Forts Alexander and Sumner. He writes of the contrabands and abolitionists, and well as the war.
One letter is from "Fred," Surgeon in Chief, 1st Vermont Cavalry, Camp Russell: "Rebs came down on us rough...skirmished until near dark...drove them to the South side of Cedar Creek capturing a few prisoners...officers would not let the boys drive the enemy only so far...Early had 1500 infantry at Midd Town...wanted to draw our cavalry out...Custer could not see the point..."
Eleven letters are from Jacob N. Perkins, describing in detail his teaching in school in North Hartland.
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