Collection of Civil War-era family papers consists of letters and diaries of Marcus Moore, 51st Mass. Regiment, letters and a diary of his brother, Harlan P. Moore, 36th Mass. Regiment, letters of their father, Newell Moore, and two albums of photographs. Marcus Moore enlisted in the 51st Regiment, part of the nine months' quota requirement from the southern part of Worcester Co. The regiment was mustered in at Camp Wool and transported from Boston on the Merrimac to become part of General Foster's North Carolina command. Arriving at Beaufort, the regiment went on to barracks in Newbern. Moore's diaries (1862 Sept.-1863 July) note the weather and his activities (drill, picket duty, etc.). There are three letters sent to his family: 1863 March 18, Newbern - prospects for the war,"we shall never conquer the south," not in favor of a draft, loyal whites, "blacks must do their share of fighting before we can succeed;" 1863 April 20, Beaufort - Beaufort healthier than Newbern, visit to a black church, "not many yet who can read but they are eager to learn," reflections on the evil of slavery; 1863 May 20, Newbern - "we have a few books in the library," reading Gasparin, describes camp and barracks, news of Richmond's capture, describes local flora. Harlan P. Moore, a graduate of Phillips Andover Academy and a member of the Amherst College class of 1865, was appointed orderly sergeant in the 36th Mass. Regiment in July, 1862. He was later detailed to serve as clerk in the Quartermaster's Dept. His diary, 1863 Jan. 1-31is a well-written account of his service, particularly after he was posted to Washington. He describes visits to Congress in session, politicians, and life in a city that also served as a military garrison near the seat of war. Also include: bust photograph of Moore in uniform (ca. Sept. 1862, Beal, Photographer, Main St., Worcester); letter, 1862 Aug. 4, Holden, from and signed by the selectmen of Holden recommending Moore as "a man of unblemished moral character;" letter, 1863 April 2, Acquia Creek, Va., to his sister, Martha (w/ env.) - "I am getting along right smart with none to molest or make me afraid, tho' I take the precaution to sleep with a loaded pistol under my head..."; letter, 1863 June 3, Hickman's Bridge, Ky., to his sister, Martha (stationery with colored view of Frederickburg, Va.) - has left Acquia Creek, Va. with Lieut. Col. T.E. Hall and Gen. Burnside's staff and moved west through Baltimore, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pa., Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lexington, Ky., "It is a beautiful spot I assure you, one of the most lovely I ever was in..." Letters of Newell Moore to his wife, Eliza, include: 1863 May 11, Quartermaster's Office, Aquia Creek, Va. - description of hospitals and camps, "... all round Falmouth for miles you see the hills covered with the white tents of the army...," "Many houses in the city look quite airy the air holes being caused many of them by balls and shell from our guns...," the citizens not as patriotic as soldiers who get paid little compared to clerks, anger at the suttlers overcharging the soldiers; 1864 Feb. 27, Camp Nelson, Ky. - Harlan, suffering with "brain fever," is dying, "In all his ravings and wild talk I believe no profane or improper words have escaped his lips and I bless God for it..." With: album of photographs relating to Harlan P. Moore - Phillips Andover Academy classmates, Amherst College class of 1865 classmates, Camp Nelson officers (inc. Theron E. Hall), Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, family members, "Our Present Peace Commissioners," George and Martha Washington; album of photographs - members of the Moore, Bryant, Newell families, including Harlan, Marcus, and Newell Moore.
