Correspondence and other related manuscript material pertaining to the service of John Hunt, a Rutland, Wisconsin resident who served with Company D, 7th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment during the Civil War, and died of disease in a Confederate prison after being captured during the Battle of Gettysburg. The collection consists primarily of letters written by Hunt home to his wife, Mary. Throughout his service Hunt encourages Mary to write often and keep him informed on the health of their infant son. He also enquires about the daily activities of other family members and requests news about events from home. Early letters briefly describe his training at Camp Randall, being ordered to Washington D.C, and life in camp around the capital city. He frequently mentions the monotony of camp life, and the frequent injuries and illnesses among the troops. One letter (January 30, 1862) mentions that several of his tent mates were dying from disease and describes in detail the funeral of a fellow soldier. Hunt frequently updates his wife about the whereabouts of his unit and describes details about various campaigns and battles. He writes about pursuing General Stonewall Jackson during the Valley Campaign (May 27, 1862), coming into contact with units who fought at the Battle of Cedar Mountain (August 13, 1862), and participating in the Second Battle of Bull Run (May 31, 1862). Hunt also talks about his feelings and patriotism throughout the letters. He states that he supports the Union cause and that he feels the Union will eventually triumph. An early letter (October 20, 1861) describes him hearing rumors about Britain and France allying with the Confederacy and his belief that this is not in the interest of either nation. Hunt also shows support for Union generals, such as McClellan, and states on several occasions that the press is not supporting the Union cause. In one letter (April 27, 1863), Hunt asks his wife if there is dissent among Wisconsin residents and if they are supporting the Copperheads. The same letter mentions a corporal from a Rhode Island regiment was found to be a woman, which Hunt takes to mean that the Union's cause has more support and will eventually win the war. Letters written between September 8, 1862 and March 25, 1863 were written while Hunt was recovering in a convalescent camp. He became ill from marching after the Second Battle of Bull Run, and would spend the winter recovering and helping to build barracks at Harewood Hospital near Washington. The last letter written by Hunt (July 1, 1863) states that his unit was somewhere between Gettysburg and Emmitsburg, Maryland, that he was recovering from illness, and that the rebels were somewhere in Pennsylvania. The letter ends abruptly with Hunt stating, "Orders to march right off so I must stop," indicating his unit was about to enter the Battle of Gettysburg. Also included in the collection is a letter (April 14, 1864) to Mary from Lewis S. Isham, who served in Company D with Hunt. In the letter, Isham informs her that they had just received confirmation that Hunt had died in Richmond, Virginia on October 12, 1863. Other materials in the collection include an interesting oversized Sanitary Commission Report for Hunt from March 10, 1863 that lists health information and biographical data, and a personal bible he received while at Harewood Hospital and gave to his son, James. Also included is a poem written by Hunt to his wife entitled "A Shanty Song," newspaper clippings of poems about military life, and interesting pro Union propaganda about Jefferson Davis and General McClellan. Postwar materials include pension and payment materials, lyrics to the songs "The Old Camp Randall Days" and "Yankee Boys," and an interesting oversized advertisement for a Fourth of July celebration in Stoughton. Hunt was originally from England and moved to Wisconsin with his family sometime before 1850. John and Mary's marriage certificate from 1859 is also included in the collection.
