Center for Archival Collections

Before the days of wire services or news bureaus, newspapers frequently printed letters from local soldiers to provide more in-depth coverage of war news. Since regiments were recruited by geographical regions, most of the men serving in a unit were neighbors, and their families often shared letters with each other. Some soldiers specifically arranged to send reports of company news to their hometown newspapers. This index, prepared by Dan Masters, records all soldiers' correspondence printed in Lorain County newspapers during the Civil War. Researchers should be aware that these indexes do not necessarily represent the holdings of the Center for Archival Collections. Those wishing to review the news articles or editorials cited here should consult the Guide to Newspaper Holdings .

Illinois Units | Indiana Units | Iowa Units | Kentucky Units | Michigan Units | Minnesota Units
Ohio Units | Wisconsin Units | Other Units
Index to Lorain County Newspapers by Date
Other Civil War Resources: NW Ohio in the Civil War | CAC Manuscripts | Resources on the WWW | Newspaper Index List

Illinois Units

35th Illinois Volunteer Infantry

Captain Charles W. Horr, Company B
Charles W. Horr enlisted while a resident of Vandalia, Illinois as Captain of Company B, 35th Illinois Volunteer Infantry on July 3, 1861, mustering into service August 29, 1861. He resigned his commission October 20, 1862.
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: April 9, 1862

41st Illinois Volunteer Infantry

Captain Daniel Kerns Hall, Company G
Daniel K. Hall was born September 5, 1833 and enlisted while a resident Christian County, Illinois as First Lieutenant in Company G, 41st Illinois Volunteer Infantry on July 27, 1861, mustering into service August 5, 1861. He was promoted to Captain to date December 27, 1862 and was discharged for promotion by order of the President May 27, 1864. He died February 18, 1905 and is buried in Cass County, Missouri.
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: April 30, 1862

83rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry

Unknown
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: November 12, 1862

Indiana Units

20th Indiana Volunteer Infantry

Private Asher V. Chapman, Company B
Asher V. Chapman enlisted while a resident of Lake Co., Indiana as a Private in Company B, 20th Indiana Volunteer Infantry on July 22, 1861, mustering into service the same day. He was discharged for disability September 18, 1863.
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: March 26, 1862

Iowa Units

9th Iowa Volunteer Infantry

Captain Frederick S. Washburn, Company G
Frederick S. Washburn was born in 1823 in New Hampshire and enlisted while a resident of Waterloo, Iowa as Captain of Company G, 9th Iowa Volunteer Infantry on September 16, 1861, mustering in the same day. Severely wounded in the face and neck May 22, 1863 during the assault on Vicksburg, he died of his wounds June 16, 1863 at Vicksburg, Mississippi. He was the brother of Elyria Independent Democrat editor George G. Washburn.
Articles: Elyria Independent Democrat: June 24, 1863, July 1, 1863
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: January 29, 1862, February 5, 1862, April 2, 1862, June 25, 1862, October 29, 1862, November 19, 1862, December 3, 1862, April 29, 1863

Kentucky Units

22nd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry

Chaplain Samuel S. Sumner
Samuel S. Sumner enlisted as Chaplain of the 22nd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry at Ashland, Kentucky on December 12, 1861, mustering into service January 10, 1862. He resigned his post March 15, 1864.
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: February 5, 1862, April 9, 1862, June 18, 1862

Michigan Units

13th Michigan Volunteer Infantry

Corporal Henry B. Oliver, Company B
Henry B. Oliver enlisted while a resident of New Casco, Michigan as a 33 year old Private in Company B, 13th Michigan Volunteer Infantry on December 11, 1861, mustering into service January 17, 1862. He reenlisted January 18, 1864 and was promoted to Corporal January 1, 1865. He was mustered out July 25, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: April 15, 1863

Minnesota Units

3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

Sergeant Edward G. Bailey, Company E
Edward G. Bailey was born in Canada and enlisted while a resident of Wastado, Goodhue Co., Minnesota as a Sergeant in Company E, 3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry on October 10, 1861, mustering into service the same day. He reenlisted October 5, 1863and was mustered out September 2, 1865 at Devall's Bluff, Arkansas.
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: June 8, 1864

Ohio Units

For complete biographical information about members of Ohio units, see Northwest Ohio in the Civil War.

2nd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry

First Lieutenant Stephen A. Mason, Companies A and M
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 20, 1864

Captain Franklin S. Case, Company H
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: February 19, 1862

"B."
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: September 3, 1862

"F.B."
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: April 9, 1862

11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry

Hospital Steward Kilburn H. Stone
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: October 21, 1863, March 16, 1864

Battery B, 1st Ohio Light Artillery

Corporal Merwin Blanchard
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: February 12, 1862

Battery E, 1st Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery

"Cannoneer"
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 16, 1862, August 13, 1862, December 10, 1862

"J.B.W."
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: August 5, 1863, September 9, 1863

"Quid Nuc"
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: October 7, 1863, October 14, 1863, November 18, 1863

15th Ohio Light Artillery Battery

Sergeant Frederick H. Dibble
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 6, 1864, November 9, 1864

7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Articles:
Elyria Independent Democrat: September 11, 1861, August 20, 1862

Chaplain Frederick Thomas Brown
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: September 11, 1861

Musician William Henry Park, Regimental Band
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 10, 1861

Captain Martin M. Andrews, Company C
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: January 6, 1864

Sergeant John Gardner, Company C
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: April 9, 1862, May 27, 1863, January 6, 1864

Captain John W. Sprague, Company E
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: October 23, 1861

8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Articles:
The Lorain Eagle: May 6, 1861
Elyria Independent Democrat: April 24, 1861, May 1, 1861, July 29, 1863

Lieutenant Colonel Charles A. Park
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: August 7, 1861

Surgeon Thomas Bright
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: January 29, 1862

First Lieutenant Elijah Hayden, Company H
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: September 11, 1861, August 27, 1862, October 1, 1862

First Lieutenant Stephen Strange, Company H
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: September 2, 1863, February 17, 1864

First Sergeant Albert D. West, Company H
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: October 1, 1862

Sergeant Alonzo O. Packerd, Company H
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: May 29, 1861

Sergeant Thaddeus S. Potter, Company H
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: September 30, 1863, February 24, 1864

Private William H. Clough, Company H
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: August 5, 1863

Major Azor Howitt Nickerson, Company I
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: September 11, 1861, September 18, 1861, September 25, 1861, October 16, 1861, October 30, 1861, November 6, 1861, January 1, 1862, January 22, 1862, February 26, 1862, April 16, 1862, July 9, 1862, July 23, 1862, July 30, 1862, August 6, 1862, August 13, 1862, August 27, 1862, September 3, 1862, September 10, 1862, September 17, 1862, September 24, 1862, January 7, 1863, January 14, 1863, January 28, 1863, February 4, 1863, March 4, 1863, April 1, 1863, May 20, 1863, June 24, 1863, July 1, 1863, November 18, 1863, November 25, 1863, May 25, 1864

Captain Elizur G. Johnson, Company I
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: May 1, 1861, May 15, 1861, May 22, 1861, June 12, 1861, June 26, 1861

First Lieutenant Lewis Breckenridge, Company I
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: May 15, 1861

First Lieutenant David R. Wallace, Company I
Article: Elyria Independent Democrat: May 27, 1863
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 2, 1862, July 30, 1862

Sergeant Ransom E. Braman, Company I
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 15, 1863

Sergeant Edgar H. Irish, Company I
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 15, 1863, January 13, 1864, March 9, 1864

Corporal Lucien Abbott, Company I
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 15, 1863, May 25, 1864

Corporal Henry Julius Hart, Company I
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: September 3, 1862, December 10, 1862, December 31, 1862, March 18, 1863, July 15, 1863

Corporal Horace R. Pond, Company I
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: March 5, 1862

Corporal Horace W. Snow, Company I
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: June 4, 1862

Private John C. Biggs, Company I
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: October 9, 1861, January 29, 1862, March 19, 1862, May 21, 1862

"F.," Company I
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: April 2, 1862

"Q.P.Z.," Company I
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: February 26, 1862

14th Ohio Infantry

Surgeon George E. Sloat
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: November 6, 1861, November 20, 1861, December 11, 1861, January 29, 1862, February 5, 1862, July 23, 1862, August 20, 1862, September 24, 1862, November 19, 1862, December 10, 1862, January 21, 1863, January 25, 1865, February 15, 1865, February 22, 1865, April 26, 1865

Unknown
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: June 24, 1863

23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Article:
Elyria Independent Democrat: June 12, 1861

Assistant Surgeon John McCurdy
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: April 30, 1862

Major James P. McIlrath, Company A
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: August 20, 1862

Captain Abraham A. Hunter, Companies K and D
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: October 1, 1862

Captain Dewitt Clinton Howard, Company K (see also 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry)
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: June 12, 1861, June 26, 1861, July 3, 1861, July 24, 1861, July 31, 1861, August 7, 1861, August 14, 1861, August 21, 1861, September 4, 1861, September 18, 1861, September 25, 1861, October 9, 1861, December 11, 1861, December 18, 1861, January 15, 1862, January 29, 1862

Captain Archie C. Fisk, Company K
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 10, 1861, July 6, 1864, July 13, 1864, July 20, 1864, August 17, 1864, August 24, 1864, September 28, 1864

Corporal Degrass S. Chapman, Company K
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: February 26, 1862, May 21, 1862

Corporal John C. Worcester, Companies K and G
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: December 17, 1862

Private John M. Bonsor, Company K
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: April 16, 1862

"F.," Company K
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: May 7, 1862, May 28, 1862, October 8, 1862

41st Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Captain Daniel S. Leslie, Company F
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 30, 1862

42nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Articles:
Elyria Independent Democrat: April 29, 1863, May 20, 1863

Brigadier General Lionel Allen Sheldon
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: October 23, 1861, October 30, 1861, November 27, 1861, December 4, 1861, January 1, 1862, January 8, 1862 (2), January 15, 1862, January 22, 1862, February 5, 1862, February 19, 1862, February 26, 1862, April 9, 1862, April 16, 1862, April 30, 1862, May 7, 1862, May 14, 1862, May 28, 1862, June 4, 1862, July 2, 1862, July 16, 1862, August 13, 1862, August 20, 1862, January 14, 1863, January 28, 1863, March 4, 1863, March 18, 1863, April 15, 1863, September 30, 1863, November 4, 1863, November 18, 1863, November 25, 1863, December 2, 1863, January 13, 1864, March 16, 1864

Captain Melvin L. Benham, Company E
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: January 28, 1863

First Lieutenant Charles P. Goodwin, Company E
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 8, 1863

Private Charles P. Gould, Company E
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: November 27, 1861, December 18, 1861, January 22, 1862, March 5, 1862, December 24, 1862

Private Edson A. Root, Company E
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: February 5, 1862

Private Howard Williams, Company E
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 1, 1863

"Company E," Company E
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: February 12, 1862, July 30, 1862, April 15, 1863

"Eaton Boys," Company E
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: October 29, 1862

Unknown, Company E
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: December 31, 1862, December 23, 1863

43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Chaplain Richard L. Chittenden
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: January 14, 1863, April 6, 1864, May 10, 1865

103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Article:
Elyria Independent Democrat: August 6, 1862, June 1, 1864

Major DeWitt Clinton Howard (see also 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry)
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: November 19, 1862, April 22, 1863, October 7, 1863, December 2, 1863, December 9, 1863, December 16, 1863, January 20, 1864, August 3, 1864

Surgeon Luther D. Griswold
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: October 8, 1862, April 1, 1863, June 1, 1864, June 22, 1864

First Sergeant Newton L. Cotton, Company F
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: August 24, 1864

Quartermaster Clark W. Quirk, Company H
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: May 20, 1863

Second Lieutenant William T. Chapman, Company H
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: October 8, 1862, October 22, 1862, November 5, 1862, November 12, 1862, November 26, 1862, December 3, 1862, December 31, 1862, January 14, 1863, February 18, 1863, March 11, 1863, March 25, 1863, April 8, 1863, April 22, 1863, May 6, 1863, May 20, 1863, June 3, 1863, June 24, 1863, July 8, 1863, July 15, 1863, August 12, 1863, January 27, 1864, February 17, 1864, March 2, 1864, March 23, 1864

Private Francis S. Towner, Company H
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 27, 1864

"Ben"
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: August 24, 1864, November 23, 1864, March 29, 1865

"B.F.N."
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: July 20, 1864

"C."
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: August 17, 1864

John V. Vale
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: November 11, 1863

107th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Article:
Elyria Independent Democrat: September 10, 1862

Major Fernando C. Suhrer, Companies B and G
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: May 27, 1863

124th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Private William T. McDowell, Company E
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: March 11, 1863, August 19, 1863, August 26, 1863

125th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

"Miles"
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: December 31, 1862

128th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Private Thomas C. Ingersoll, Company D
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: March 2, 1864

135th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Private Oscar N. Bush, Company K
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: August 17, 1864

Private Elbert H. Brush, Company K
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: June 22, 1864

"Company K," Company K
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: June 15, 1864

"Typo," Company K
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: May 25, 1864, June 15, 1864, July 20, 1864, August 3, 1864

150th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Unknown
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: June 8, 1864

178th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Article:
Elyria Independent Democrat: October 4, 1864

Private Melvin A. Emmons, Company D
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: February 15, 1865

Wisconsin Units

1st Wisconsin Volunteer Light Artillery Battery

Captain Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster enlisted while a LaCrosse, Wisconsin resident as Second Lieutenant of the 1st Wisconsin Light Artillery Battery on September 16, 1861, mustering into service the same day. Promoted to First Lieutenant to date June 5, 1862, and to Captain to date October 28, 1864. He was appointed ordnance officer of the 13th Corps and was acting chief of artillery for the Department of the Gulf. He was mustered out July 18, 1865 at Camp Washburn, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He died March 6, 1921 in Salem, Marion Co., Oregon and is buried in City View Cemetery.
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: February 12, 1862, March 12, 1862, April 16, 1862, April 30, 1862, May 28, 1862, July 30, 1862, August 6, 1862, October 29, 1862, November 12, 1862, November 26, 1862, January 28, 1863, February 11, 1863, March 4, 1863, March 11, 1863, April 1, 1863, May 13, 1863, June 24, 1863, July 29, 1863, September 23, 1863, November 11, 1863, December 23, 1863, March 23, 1864, June 15, 1864, June 29, 1864, January 18, 1865, March 8, 1865, March 29, 1865, April 26, 1865, May 10, 1865, June 7, 1865

Other Units

Corps d'Afrique

Captain L.L. Jenkins
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: December 9, 1863

5th United States Colored Troops

"H.N.S."
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: January 27, 1864, February 24, 1864

1st Batallion, U.S. Engineers

Major General Quincy Adams Gillmore
Quincy Adams Gillmore was born February 28, 1825 in Lorain, Ohio and graduated from West Point in the class of 1849. Assigned to the Corps of Engineers he was promoted to Captain in the 1st Battalion, U.S. Engineers on August 6, 1861, and was given a brevet promotion to Lieutenant Colonel for his actions in reducing Fort Pulaski in Georgia. Promoted to Brigadier General to date April 28, 1862, he took part in operations in Kentucky and outside of Charleston. He was given subsequent brevet promotions to Colonel, Brigadier General, and Major General for actions at Somerset, Kentucky, Fort Wagner, and Morris Island. He served in the U.S. Army following the war until he died April 7, 1888 in Brooklyn, New York.
Letters: Elyria Independent Democrat: December 17, 1862

Unknown Unit

"I.H.H."
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: August 13, 1862