Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

 Introduction

The Sidney Brewster Papers were loaned for duplication to the Center for Archival Collections by Harold J. “Ted” Emch on 18 July 2007. The collection primarily consists of Civil War era correspondence between Sidney Brewster and his mother, Mrs. Nancy Brewster.

No restrictions exist in the use of this collection. This register was completed by Stephen M. Charter, Reference Archivist.

 Biographical Sketch

Sidney Brewster, born 18 May 1844 in Medina County, Ohio, was the son of Norman and Nancy (Philips) Brewster. Sidney had two older half-brothers George and Darwin Truman; a brother Walter F. Brewster; and a sister Elnora Brewster. His parents evidently divorced, as each remarried in 1864. Sidney served as a private in Company C of the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. He enlisted on 29 August 1861. He was 17 years of age at the time of his enlistment even though military records indicate that he was 18. He received an 18th Birthday greeting from his mother written on 11 May 1862. His father Norman served in Company C, 3rd O.V.C., while his brother, Walter Brewster, served in Company G, 189th O.V.I. during the Civil War. Sidney was killed during the Battle of Chickamauga on 19 September 1863. The Sydney (Sidney) Brewster Post No. 160, G.A.R., at Lemoyne, Wood County, Ohio was named in his honor.

 Scope and Content

The Sidney Brewster Papers is a collection of Civil War era correspondence, written between 1861 and 1865. Most of the correspondence is between Sidney Brewster and his mother, Mrs. Nancy Brewster. Included are two  letters from his brother George, three letters from Norman Brewster to his wife, two letters from Walter F. Brewster to his mother.

Sidney Brewster served with the 21st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company C, from 1861 through 1863, when he was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga on September 19. The letters provide a fairly comprehensive view of soldier life including health conditions, camp life, troop movement, and battle. His letter of September 14, 1862 encourages his younger brother Walter to stay home rather than join the army. His letter of January 24, 1863 from Parole Camp, Annapolis, Maryland talks about being captured at the Battle of Stones River and his subsequent travels (about 1000 miles) to Chattanooga, Richmond, Atlanta, and finally to Annapolis by way of Fortress Monroe. His letters of May 18 and May 20, 1863 from Camp Chase discuss his exchange and return to the Regiment. The Company received new revolving rifles, five-shooters, according to his letter of June 8, 1863.

 Series Description

CORRESPONDENCE

SIDNEY BREWSTER CORRESPONDENCE.
1861-1863.
Arranged chronologically.
Letters from Brewster while serving with the 21st Regiment
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company C, during the Civil War.

NANCY BREWSTER CORRESPONDENCE
1862-1863.
Arranged chronologically.
Letters to Sidney Brewster while he was serving with the 21st Regiment
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company C, during the Civil War.

MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE
1859-1897
Arrange chronologically.
Letters between various family members

PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL

POSITIVE PRINTS
Ca. 1861-1863
Scanned images of Sidney Brewster.

ARTIFACTS

RIBBON
Ca. 1881
Scanned image of ribbon from the Sidney Brewster Post No. 160, G.A.R.

 Inventory

Box 1

Folder

1. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster November 26, 1861
2. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster December 8, 1861
3. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster December 13, 1861
4. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster January 5, 1862
5. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster February 5, 1862
6. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster February 15, 1862
7. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster March 4, 1862
8. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster March 7, 1862
9. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster March 26, 1862
10. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster April 3, 1862
11. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster June 2, 1862
12. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster June 7, 1862
13. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster June 21, 1862
14. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster August 10, 1862
15. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster September 5, 1862
16. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster September 14, 1862
17. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster October 17, 1862
18. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster November 15, 1862
19. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster November 25, 1862
20. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster January 24, 1863
21. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster May 20, 1863
22. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster June 8, 1863
23. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster June 28, 1863
24. Sidney Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster July 24, 1863
25. Sidney Brewster to brother, George Truman August 2, 1862
26. Sidney Brewster to his brother October 13, 1862
27. Sidney Brewster to his brother, George Truman May 18, 1863
28. George Truman to Sidney Brewster July 24, 1862
29. Abram V. Smith to Sidney Brewster March 17, 1863
30. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster January 21, 1862
31. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster April 2, 1862
32. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster April 7, 1862
33. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster April 16, 1862 (his of April 3, 1862)
34. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster May 11, 1862
35. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster May 25, 1862
36. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster June 7, 1862
37. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster June 16, 1862
38. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster June 25, 1862
39. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster August 1, 1862
40. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster August 18, 1862
41. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster August 21, 1862
42. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster October 11, 1862
43. Mrs. Nancy Brewster to Sidney Brewster November 1, 1862
44. N. Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Truman April 21, 1862
45. N. Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster February 13, 1863
46. N. Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster June 22, 1863
47. Walter Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster May 28, 1865
48. Walter F. Brewster to Mrs. Nancy Brewster August 7, 1865
49. Benj. E. Low to Mrs, Nancy Brewster June 22, 1862
50. J. W. Phillips to Sister, Mrs. Nancy Truman July 26, 1897
51. Mary Dailey to Aunt Nancy Brewster May 3, ____
52. A. Himes to George Truman Feb 9, 1862
53. James A. Ambler to George Truman July 18, 1859
54. Walter Brewster to Brother Darwin n.d.
55. Letter transcripts

Manuscripts by Subject | Civil War Collections