Calvin Shedd papers, 1862-1864.

ArchivalResource

Shedd, Calvin. Calvin Shedd papers, 1862-1864.

Calvin Shedd papers, 1862-1864.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/32877975

Civil War letters sent by Shedd from various sites in coastal South Carolina to his wife, S. Augusta Shedd, at Enfield, N.H., and South Reading, Mass., with observations on camp life, troop morale, and hospital conditions witnessed firsthand as a patient at U.S. Army general hospitals at Beaufort and Hilton Head, S.C., and a field hospital at Folly Island, S.C. Letters (26 Aug.-26 Sept. 1862) from Beaufort's General Hospital No. 5 concern Shedd's hospitalization with chronic dysentery. After a lapse in correspondence (26 Sept. 1862-16 June 1863) letters (29 July and 3 Aug. 1863) focus on the siege of Battery Wagner on Morris Island, report the death of regimental commander Col. Putnam, and complain that Northern newspapers unduly credited much of the Morris Island assault to black troops of the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts. Letters (12 Aug.-8 Oct. 1863) were written from Ward C, General Hospital, Hilton Head. Other topics include the Federal occupation of Beaufort (23 June 1862), the condition of blacks in low country South Carolina (29 July 1862), the organization of a black regiment at Hilton Head (12 Aug. 1862), the climate of Beaufort (13 July 1862), the unpopularity of Union commander George B. McClellan (14 Sept. 1862), and Northern peace sentiments (14 July 1863). Also including official document (2 Oct. 1863), from regimental adjutant, Lt. H.G. Webber, requesting that Shedd resign his commission in consequence of his extended medical absence; letter (8 Oct. 1863) indicating that regimental commander, Col. Abbott, had asked Shedd to resign; and letter (5 Jan. 1864), from assistant surgeon, J.E. Semper, U.S. General Hospital, Hilton Head, forwarding certificates [not present] to Shedd to be sent on to the Adjutant General in Washington, D.C.

41 items.

University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries