American Historical Ephemera and Photography

Archive contains three CDVs: albumen photograph on cardstock mount featuring a standing portrait of Corporal Edmund Wilson in uniform including frock coat with two chevrons (toned, scattered marks, light soil). New York: A.M. Burrough, [ca 1862]. -- Albumen photograph on cardstock mount featuring a standing portrait of Harry Graves in civilian attire (light soil, scattered marks, toning). Syracuse, N.Y.: Glover, [ca late 1860s]. -- CDV on cardstock mount featuring a bust portrait of Sergeant Harry Graves in civilian attire (scattered marks, toned, light soil). Syracuse & Oswego, N.Y.: H. Lazier, [ca late 1860s].

[With:] A group of six letters, including four war-date soldiers' letters. Two letters written by Graves, one to his brother and another to his sister-in-law Sarah Adelle "Della" Graves (1841-1925), wife of his brother Edwin Graves. Graves writes to his brother from "Arlington Mill, Va" on 5 August 1861 describing his location and circumstances. "Our regiment is now encamped about 15 miles from Washington on the southern side of the Potomac we are thrown out as an advanced guard and are now stationed where other regiments have refused to stay unless there was a large force sent on we are encamped about three miles from the enemy & have breastworks thrown up...." Graves's second letter is sent to "Della" from his ranch in Chinook, Montana, in 1906 and contains general family news and events. -- Three letters written by Wilson, one to his parents and another two to his sister "Della." Wilson writes twice from Fredericksburg, VA, in May 1862, once with an anecdote about cooking "hoe cakes" and another with description about his location. Notably, in his letter of 12 May 1862 he references the pontoon bridge and a bridge of canal boats across the Rappahanock, and an encounter with a "contraband": "Prisoners, deserters, and contrabands are brought in every day. Among the contrabands was one of Jeff's [Davis] coachmen. He says Mrs. Davis thinks the Confederacy about played out. And I recon she is about right." Wilson's letter of 12 March [1863] is written from Baltimore where he is working in the hospital there. Though Wilson does not mention his injury sustained at Fredericksburg, it is possible that he entered hospital due to his wound at that battle, and remained as a nurse instead of immediately rejoining the regiment.

Together, 9 items.

Wilson and Graves, who both write to "Della," were likely related through marriage, with Della married to Grave's brother and appearing to have been a sibling of Wilson. HDS indicates that Harry Graves enlisted as private on 5/4/1861 and mustered into Co. D, New York 24th Infantry regiment. He was listed as POW 8/30/1862 at Second Bull Run, paroled, and mustered out as a sergeant on 5/29/1863. HDS indicates that Wilson enlisted as a private on 5/4/1861 and mustered into Co. D of the same regiment. The 24th New York Infantry regiment, the "Oswego County Regiment," was part of the famed Eastern Iron Brigade under Col. Walter Phelps, Jr. The regiment participated in significant engagements including Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville.