American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography, including The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography

A group of 22 letters, spanning 1860-1865, documenting the war time experiences of three New York brothers, John Burke (ca 1837-1863) and his younger siblings George S. Burke (ca 1839-1931) and James Burke (ca 1843-?). Letters detail experiences in both the Western Theater and Eastern Theaters, giving testimony to the great sacrifice of a family with three sons serving in the Civil War.

The 1860 US Census identifies John T. Burke's occupation as a "Nurseryman." His earliest letter is written from Commerce, Missouri, in December 1860, where he is working as a teacher. A later letter of 25 June is written from Blandville, Kentucky, and here John indicates that he is going to go into partnership with another in a "nursery and orchard business." He further describes the wild landscape of Kentucky stating that "I am going away from here. The country is so wild I cannot go from one house to another without getting lost...." Returning to Commerce, John enlists with a Battalion of Home Guards in the early months of the war, only to resign because "I thought it was better to give up my office than to have to act with men that I was ashamed of their deeds even though they were for the Union." Backtracking once again, John heads to Kentucky and enlists in the 20th Regiment Kentucky Volunteers. The new regiment suits John, and he describes much related to the general life of the the regiment and the soldier, and the politics of regimental officers. One of his more notable letters is written from "3 miles east from Corinth / in the woods May 19th 1862." John describes skirmishing and ultimately taking possession of Corinth, noting the plunder they recovered after the hasty Confederate retreat.

Both George and James later enlisted. George's early letters describe drilling and early days in his first regiment, Battery L, the 1st New York Light Artillery, or "Reynolds Battery." After sustaining a serious injury at an unidentified battle, George writes from the hospital assuring his family of his recovery. He would ultimately be discharged for disability, and then re-enlist into the NY Veteran Cavalry. It seems the family wished for the youngest brother, James, to fight alongside one of his brothers, and as such James joined George in the NY Veteran Cavalry when he enlisted. In a joint letter to their parents of 16 June 1864 they describe their recent service: "...we have seen some hard times since the last time I wrote to ye and we have done considerable hard fighting. we had a battle on the (f) fifth, of this month at Piedmont, we took 1500, fifteen hundred Prisoners killing their Comander [sic] Gen. Jones [Gen. William E. "Grumble" Jones, KIA Piedmon 6/5/1864], I saw him after he was dead...." Another letter sent from James and George on 25 February 1865 from "Camp Pratt" indicates that they have been in "one Batle at New Market one at iedmont, Linchburg, Winchester, Curnstown, Martinsburg, Charlestown and one at Mary Land Heights, besides several Skirmishes with the Bushwhackers and Gurilies and one Batle at Letown on the 3d and 4th July."

HDS indicates that Sgt. John T. Burke enlisted on 10/15/1861 at Smithland, Kentucky. On 1/6/1862, he mustered into "K" Co. Kentucky 20th Infantry. He was killed 1/3/1863 at the Battle of Stones River, TN, and is buried at Stones River National Cemetery. Thirty-four year-old George Burke enlisted as a private on 8/5/1863. On 8/5/1863, he mustered into New York 14th Heavy Artillery. He transferred out on 10/10/1863 and on 10/10/1863, he transferred into "C" Co. New York 1st Vet Cavalry. He was Mustered Out on 7/20/1865 at Camp Piatt, WV, after receiving promotions to Sergt 11/1/1863 and 1st Sergt 3/1/1865. James Burke was 21 years old when he enlisted as a private on 8/12/1863 at Rochester, NY. On 10/10/1863, he mustered into "C" Co. New York 1st Vet Cavalry. He was Mustered Out on 7/20/1865 at Camp Piatt, WV after receiving promotions to Corpl 7/1/1864 and Sergt 9/1/1864.