Large Civil War letter archive including mostly soldiers from Company E, 3rd Regiment, Minnesota Volunteers – William Fitch, John J. Dewey, John and Ole Nelson, and J. F. Boucher. William Fitch (W.F.) Dewey (Co E 3rd Reg. Minn Vol) archive includes his military death notice dated Aug 31st 1863 addressed to William's father, inventory of W. F. Dewey taken at the time of death, a letter from W.F. Dewey from Camp Doan Dec. 28, 1861, and a letter dated April 1862 from W.F. Dewey. The death notice of W.F. Dewey from Henry Curry to Dewey's father, Dunning Dewey, states "your son W.F. Dewey died in the Hospital knight before last. He was taken sick three weeks ago…" Another letter from Capt. E. Baker, Co. E 3rd Minnesota Volunteers Oct. 2nd, 1863 – "Mr. Dunning Dewey, Dear Sir: I am having (sp?) to announce to you the death of your son, W. F. Dewey at the General Hospital at Helena Ark..of Typhoid Fever….I cannot close without bearing testimony of his many excellent qualities. He was upright in all his dealings, just, and generous, always prompt and cheerful in the performance of his duties he had the confidence and esteem of his officers and the affections of all his comrades… That heaven may comfort you for this sacrifice in a most just + holy cause is the prayer of your Obt Servant…" Excerpts from Dec. 28 1861 Camp Doan letter from W.F. Dewey to his father – "we are guarding bridges all the time now….We have drawn our Jackets caps and expect new guns soon. the country is full of niggers they are having fine times now between Christmas and New Years." Excerpts from April 1862 letter from W.F. Dewey to his father – "we are 6 miles from Nashville guarding a RR Bridge.. I have not seen but one union man since we came here.. I saw fort Donaldson and fort Zollicoffer. I thought we was going right ahead when we got here but we are at our old trade again guarding bridges. I am one of the generals body guard there was picked out of each regt in the brigade. We get one horse armed with (?") carbine and revolver. There is about 100,000 men in this state some of them is 60 miles below here. the rebels are making a stand at Murphresborough they think they will whip us there." (Note page one has a section torn out of it). This letter also has a drawing of man with a kepi and slouch hat and displays grotesque features. John J. Dewey archive (brother of William Fitch Dewey) includes a small account book, March 9th, 1862 from Camp Shepherdsville, August 1864 from Pine Bluff Arkansas, two letters addressed to J.J. Dewey from friend, J. Bowher(?sp), and a 19th century geneology paper listing the Dewey family including J.J. and W.F. Dewey. J.J. Dewey is listed as being born March 8, 1843 and Wm Fitch Dewey was born July 21, 1841. Excerpts of John J. Dewey account book – Fort Snelling, Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Entries begin July 11, 1864. Records various supply purchases. Entry for December 16, 1864 – Deserter shot for sentence of Court Marshall, Duvall's Bluff, Ark. Records a poem with one of the stanzas, "Discourage in our ranks starvation in our land the officer eats the flour bread the privates eat the brand." Excerpts from 1862 Camp Shepherdsville letter – "we expect to go down the river to have a hand in taking Memphis and New Orleans. We are wiling to go anywhere to get out of this madhole. We are all eager fight…" Excerpts from May 1862 Murfreesboro, Tenn letter – "we started from here and went to Columbia where we expected to have some fire but we was fooled..we did not see a southern soldier only some that had been taken prisoners and sent back to Columbia." Excerpts from 1864 Pine Bluff letter – Discusses several sick in camp including writer who became sick resulting in his trip on the boat to Ark. "While I was sick I was unable to take care of my things so I left them in charge of one the guards and by some neglect when we changed boats they were left behind so I lost every thing I had…."(letter incomplete). Excerpts from Little Rock, Ark Nov 1863 letter from friend Bowher(?) writing to J.J. Dewey, "We have fine times here as far as Duty is concerned nothing hard to do though it is very steaddy work." Excerpts from Little Rock, Ark Aug 10 (Year?) – (possible partial letter) – "The rebels seem to trying to take this place. I suppose the 6th Regt is having a little experience fighting now… I believe there is about 80 pieces of artillery here and about 6000 troops. I heard there was about 50,000 troops in and around Little Rock. It will take more men than the rebels can bring against us to take these places. This section of the country swarms gurillas, but our picket duty is not very dangerous for the cavalry does all the scouting and advance picket duty." Additional archive relating to John and Ole Nelson, Company F, 6th Regiment, Minnesota Volunteers (*Note – Some of John Nelson's Civil War letters and brother, Ole, are in the Minnesota Historical Society*) and mainly cover the Indian Wars – Summary of Ole Nelson Ft. Snelling March 5th, 1863 letter – trip from Red Wing, MN to Ft. Snelling. Excerpt from Ole Nelson Ft. Snelling May 7th, 1863 letter – "We have nothing but guard duty to perform…Only Co. F and part of Co. J remain here all the rest are at Camp Pope, or what was formerly called Yellow Medicine…Nearly all our aboriginal brethren have bidden us adieu and are now on their long and tedious journey to F. Randall on the upper Mo. river, where they will undoubtably live the remainder of their lives. I say to live, No, that is not so, they merely exist and not live. In the place of Indians, we have received Negroes….We are going to take all these colored people that are able to drive mules with us, and woe be to the poor Indian where Cuffy get after him…"Letters from John Nelson includes an excerpt from Preston Lakes (Ft. Ridgely) Dec 17th 1863 – "There is nothing new up here. We do not see any only when we go to Ridgely or Hutchison or Glencoe. the only white men we see up here are these that are here trapping. There is no chance of seeing any indians as they are more scarse than hens teath." John Nelson Jan 16th 1865 letter summary – general camp life letter discussing horses in the fort and the fact stables have not been built for them. Another discussion regards the ladies in the vicinity of the fort, "I am astonished at the great number of females or rather young ladies there are on the creek this winter…" Last remaining letter of this large archive, J. F. Boucher(?sp) Co. E 3rd Minn Duvals Bluff Ark. Aug. 30th 1863 – "There is only two Divisions of us 1st and 2nd under Gen Steel. Ours is the 2nd..I dont know what ailes Fitch (referring to W. Fitch Dewey who died of Typhoid). I will write to him as soon as we arrive at our journeys end…" Condition: