Three letters written to "My Dear Wife" [Mary Ann (Whitney) Mansfield] by James Mansfield while at Camp Parapet in Carrollton, Louisana. In the letter dated January 27 1863, James asks for more letters and describes New Orleans, Camp Parapet, his pay raise and their order to take charge of 2000 contrabands to build a fort and extend the parapets to New Orleans. In his letter dated March 11, 1863, James again requests more letters especially from his children. He describes how many of the soldiers have ""ground itch"". After writing that he will send money once he is paid, James expresses his desire to better clothe and house his family. In the letter dated April 7 1863, James writes about the creation of a negro regiment. He describes a 8 PM to 2 AM march during which they surprised a Negro camp and took 67. He reassures his wife that he will not reenlist and requests money since he wont be paid until he is discharged. Record includes tintype photos of Ella Taylor (daughter of John and Melissa Merrill), James Andrew Mansfield, Ann Wood (daughter of J.A.M.) and two photos of James Lloyd Mansfield (son of J.A.M.). Donor provided genealogical notes on the Mansfield family. Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War (Norwood, MA: Norwood Press, 1932) p.183 lists the following: Mansfield, James A.-Priv.-Res. Hopkinton; 43; bootmaker; enl. Aug 26 1862; must. Sept 24 1862, Must. out Aug 20 1863.
Civil War correspondence of Private James Andrew Mansfield, Mss A 540, R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, New England Historic Genealogical Society, online at DigitalCollections.AmericanAncestors.org.
Notes (date):
1863 January 27-April 9
Identifier:
Mss A 540
http://library.nehgs.org/record=b1054808~S0
