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Collections of college and personal papers, as well as a select number of individual documents, have been briefly described in entries available for browsing and searching on this site. All collection and document descriptions contain a representative image and a summary of the contents. 

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Letter from G. G. Beckwith to D. H. Hastings
January 21, 1862

G. G. Beckworth writes a letter from Frederick, Maryland, to Captain D. H. Hastings of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with news that the Confederate forces had left Winchester and speculation that they were moving North with two brigades and...

Location: I-Friends-1975-2

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: PDF icon Letter from G. G. Beckwith to D. H. Hastings

Letters from Israel Gutelius to Eli Slifer (Jan. - Dec. 1862)
January - December 1862

Israel Gutelius writes nineteen letters to Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Civil War, in which he describes his efforts to secure an appointment of collector of taxes for the U.S. government, requests Slifer's influence...

Letters from John Cuddy (Feb. 1862)
February 1862

John Taylor Cuddy writes six letters to his friends and family, describing life as a solider for the Union Army along with his experience in military campaigns during the Civil War. "We have good news from the south we have licked them a few...

Letters from Thomas Chamberlin to Eli Slifer
1862-1863

Thomas Chamberlin writes eleven letters to Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Curtin, regarding life in the camp of a Union Army company during the Civil War. Chamberlin also discusses the weather, sickness, geography,...

Letters from John Cuddy (Mar. - Apr. 1862)
March - April 1862

John Taylor Cuddy writes six letters to friends and family describing his experience as a soldier of the Union Army during the Civil War. Cuddy, who mentions the places that his division travels through, also maintains an optimistic outlook on...

Letter from C. Ruff to William Frishmuth
March 21, 1862

United States Mustering Officer C. J. Ruff writes Colonel William Frishmuth and requests a written response to several accusations of misconduct and corruption. “I am directed…. to call on you for an explanation (in writing) of your conduct in...

Location: I-Purchase-1968-6

Subject: Legal Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: PDF icon Letter from C. Ruff to William Frishmuth

Letter from Andrew Gregg Curtin to R. Butler Price (Copy)
March 24, 1862

Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin sends this copy of the charges against Colonel William Frishmuth to Colonel R. Butler Pierce and orders him “to investigate.” Colonel Price, of the 59th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, is the...

Letters from Jacob Frick to Eli Slifer
1862-1863

Jacob G. Frick writes eight letters to Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Andrew Curtin, on a number of topics, including military-related travel and campaigns, Frick's opinion on the administration of select regiments...

Letters from Thomas Dick (May - Aug. 1862)
May - August 1862

Thomas William Dick writes five letters to his family describing his experience as a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War. Dick discusses daily life in the military camp, in addition to his own thoughts on the war. "I think none of us...

Letter from James Buchanan to Thomas A. Goodman
May 8, 1862

Former President James Buchanan explains to Thomas A. Goodman that he will not provide the autograph of another individual. While "it is true that in the course of my life I have received letters from most of the persons you enumerate," Buchanan...

Letters from John Cuddy (May - Jun. 1862)
May - June 1862

John Taylor Cuddy writes a series of four letters to friends and family describing his experience as a soldier of the Union Army during the Civil War. Cuddy remarks on the places that he travels through and expresses some exhaustion amid hope for...

Letters from Alexander McClure to Andrew Curtin
1862-1864

Alexander McClure writes two letters to Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin regarding McClure's recent newspaper article that on Pennsylvania and the Civil War as well as the qualifications of a Lieutenant serving in the 2nd Pennsylvania...

Letters from Theodore Christ to Eli Slifer
June 1862- December 1863

Dr. Theodore Christ writes six letters to Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Andrew Curtin, regarding his experience as a doctor in the Union Army during the Civil War. Christ describes problems with supplies as well as...

"Our Nation's Glory," by Henry C. Speake
June 21, 1862

Henry Clay Speake prepared this oration, entitled “Our Nation's Glory," for the Junior Prize (Grigg Prize) contest held June 21, 1862. A committee selected the top two orations, based on "the combined merits of Declamation and Composition," and...

Location: Orations-1862-S741o

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: PDF icon "Our Nation's Glory," by Henry C. Speake

1862 Commencement Program
June 26, 1862

This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on June 26, 1862 shows the members of the graduating class and the speeches that they were scheduled to deliver.

Location: Dickinsoniana Programs

Subject: Dickinson College Events

Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: PDF icon 1862 Commencement Program

Letters from John Cuddy (Jul. - Oct. 1862)
July - October 1862

John Taylor Cuddy writes seven letters to his friends and family in which he shares his experiences fighting for the Union Army during the Civil War. Cuddy describes places he sees as well as several engagements, including noting the casualties...

Letter from R. H. Chamberlin to Eli Slifer
July 11, 1862

R. H. Chamberlin asks Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Andrew Curtin, for help in forwarding a letter from Bucknell University Professor Thomas Curtis to Curtis' brother in South Carolina during the Civil War....

Letter from William Wagenseller to Unknown Recipient
July 26, 1862

William Wagenseller writes an unknown recipient and asks them to not appoint anyone as a recruiter for the Union army until after an upcoming meeting in Middleburg, Pennsylvania. Transcript included.

Location: MC 2003.4, B10, F22

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: PDF icon Letter from William Wagenseller to Unknown Recipient

Letter from William Wagenseller to Andrew Curtin and Eli Slifer
July 28, 1862

William Wagenseller writes Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin and Secretary of the Commonwealth Eli Slifer regarding Dr, H. P. Hattenstein, who is up for approval before the Medical Board of Examination. Wagenseller encourages Curtin or Slifer...

Letters from William Wagenseller to Eli Slifer
1862-1865

William F. Wagenseller writes fourteen letters to Eli Slifer, Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Civil War, in which he updates him on the movement of Capt. Ryan's regiment and other companies, appointing Dr. B. F. Wagenseller as a surgeon...

Letter from M. Chamberlin to Eli Slifer
August 11, 1862

M. Chamberlin writes Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, to recommend the Hon. F. Gearhart as a chaplain for the Union army. While "many of the Chaplains have been Wofully deficient in the Religious influences they Exert," Chamberlin...

Letter from L. Pierce to C. Ruff (Copy)
March 23, 1862

Lieutenant Colonel L. B. Pierce writes Lieutenant Colonel C. J. Ruff, US Mustering Officer, and outlines his accusations of misconduct and corruption against Colonel William Frishmuth. Pierce’s accusations include Frishmuth “attempting the...

Letter from Henry Maxwell to Alexander McClure
September 2, 1862

Henry D. Maxwell writes a letter to Colonel Alexander K. McClure informing him of a possible spelling error in the name of a military officer, whom he praises. "I see the name of A. L. Seem MD of Martin’s Creek printed in todays paper as A. K...

Location: MC 2003.4, B7, F7

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: PDF icon Letter from Henry Maxwell to Alexander McClure

Carlisle Herald, "Proclamation by the Governor"
September 11, 1862

The Carlisle Herald publishes Pennsylvania Governor Andrew G. Curtin's proclamation on September 11, 1862 in which he calls for "able-bodied loyal men of Pennsylvania" to join military companies in response to the threat of Confederate...

Letter from William Wagenseller and P. R. Wagenseller to Eli Slifer
September 15, 1862

William Wagenseller and P. R. Wagenseller write Eli Slifer, Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Civil War, to request that Dr. B. F. Wagenseller be promoted from Assistant Surgeon to the rank of Surgeon just like Dr. H. P. Hattenstein....

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