Amos E. Hardy correspondence

Finding aid prepared by Olga Tsapina
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
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San Marino, California 91108
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Descriptive Summary

Title: Amos E. Hardy correspondence
Dates: 1858-1922
Collection Number: mssHM 81771-81832
Creator OR Collector: Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922
Extent: 61 items
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: Personal correspondence of Amos E. Hardy, chiefly to his parents during the Civil War.
Language of Material: The records are in English.

Administration Information

Access

Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, please go to following web site  .

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Amos E. Hardy correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Victoria Harris, August 2011.

Biographical Note

Amos Everett Hardy (1843-1922), hailed from Hampden, Penobscot County, Me., son of Abel and Rebecca Presby Edgerly. Hardy left home at the age of sixteen to sail to Guyana and Martinique onboard of a merchant vessel. On July 19,1862 , he enlisted in Co. F of the 18th Regiment of Main Infantry. The regiment was directed to the defenses of Washington,D.C. On January 6, 1863, the 18th Maine changed its designation to the 1st Regiment of Maine Heavy artillery. With his regiment, Hardy remained on duty on the defenses of Washington, D.C., engaged in building and garrisoning batteries and forts. In August, 1863, he was admitted to the hospital with typhoid fever and "rheumatics." On May 15,1864, the regiment was ordered to Virginia as part of Grant's Overland Virginia Campaign. Four days later, during the battle of the Spotsylvania Court House, Hardy took a minie ball in the right thigh and was sent to Washington,D.C., to the Columbian Hospital. Hardy arrived to Washington shortly before Jubal Early's raid on the capital; because the nurses had been sent to the defenses of the city, he was assigned to take care of the patients. He remained on nurse's duty until he was discharged at the end of August. Hardy rejoined his regiment that by then had been directed to Petersburg, Va. on September 5,1864. On October 2,1864, he was gravely wounded by a shell that tore his shoulder "all to pieces." His right arm was amputated in a field hospital; he was then transported to City Point, and on to Beverly Hospital in New Jersey. Hardy was discharged in September 1865 and soon left for Tillsonburg, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada where he had found work at an oil well belonging to a Mrs. Ames. He later returned home and married Edith Maria Morison; the couple had two sons Robert Samuel Hardy (b. 1873) and George Bradley Hardy (b. 1880). Amos E. Hardy served as the register of deeds and probate for Penobscot County. He died in Bangor in 1922.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically. It is housed in one box.

Scope and Content

Letters that Hardy wrote to his parents during his Civil War service constitute the bulk of the collection. The letters describe the work on the defenses of Washington, D.C., including Forts Massachusetts (Stevens), DeRussey, Talbot, Ripley, Alexander, Franklin and Sumner; life in camp, particularly the food, healthcare, and various sports and amusements; the men of his regiment, including the hated regimental surgeon suspected of killing off "weak soldiers" and an "old Hypocrite" of a chaplain' encounters with fugitive slaves, slaveholders, Confederate prisoners, Union conscripts, etc. Hardy also discusses the affairs at home, (including the fate of his dog), and renders his opinion on war news and state and national politics, e.g. the draft and the Copperheads. Longing for a battle, he also shared various schemes that would allow him to be transferred to cavalry or the Navy. The letters also contain accounts of the beginning of Grant's Overland campaign and the battle of Poplar Springs where he lost his arm as well as descriptions of the Columbian Hospital in Washington, D.C. and the Beverly Hospital in New Jersey. The letter of Dec. 25, 1858 describes Christmas in Georgetown, Guyana and briefly recounts Hardy's impression of the West Indies. Also included are: Hardy's letter to his future employer, Mrs. Ames, written from Soldiers' Home in Bangor and detailing his Civil War service; his letters from Tillsonburg, Ont., discussing the town and Hardy's plans for the future; a letter from his son, Robert Samuel Hardy, with a detailed account of festivities in his Bangor, Me. school; a newspaper clipping with Amos E. Hardy's obituary, and an undated letter from G. Low to William Low of Castleton, Vt.

Indexing Terms

Personal Names

Hardy, Abel, 1803-
Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922
Hardy, Rebecca Presby Edgerly, 1816-

Corporate Names

Columbian Hospital (Washington, D.C.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
United States. Army. Maine Heavy Artillery Regiment, 1st (1863-1865)
United States. Army. Maine Infantry Regiment, 18th (1862)
United States. General Hospital (Beverly, N.J.)

Subjects

Fugitive slaves -- Virginia

Geographic Areas

Bangor (Me.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Maine -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
Maine -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental histories -- Sources
Petersburg (Va.) -- History -- Siege, 1864-1865 -- Sources
Tillsonburg (Ont.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Hospitals
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental histories -- Maine -- Sources
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
Washington (D.C.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
West Indies -- Description and travel

Genre

Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Obituaries -- United States -- 19th century


Box 1

1858-1922 (HM 81771-81832)

 

 HM 81771  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1858, Dec. 25)

Georgetown, Guyana
 

 HM 81772  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1862, Sep. 4)

Fort Massachusetts, Washington, D.C.
 

 HM 81773  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1862, Sep. 14)

Fort DeRussy, Washington (D.C.)
 

 HM 81774  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1862, Sep. 28)

Fort DeRussy, Washington (D.C.)
 

 HM 81775  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1862, Oct. 1)

Fort DeRussy, Washington (D.C.)
 

 HM 81776  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1862, Oct. 6)

Camp Talbot, Washington (D.C.)
 

 HM 81777  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1862, Nov. 15)

Fort Ripley, Md.
 

 HM 81778  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1862, Nov. 27)

Fort Ripley, Md.
 

 HM 81779  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1862, Nov. 29)

Fort Ripley, Md.
 

 HM 81780  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to "Dear Sister" (1862, Dec. 3)

Fort Ripley, Md.
 

 HM 81781  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1862, Dec. 8)

Fort Ripley, Md.
 

 HM 81782  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1862, Dec. 24)

Fort Ripley, Md.
 

 HM 81783  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1863, Jan. 2)

"Headquarters 1st Regt. Me. Artillery."
 

 HM 81784  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, Jan. 10)

"Headquarters 1st Regt. Me. Artillery."
 

 HM 81785  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to "Dear" (1863, Jan. 24)

"Headquarters 1st Regt. Me. Artillery."
 

 HM 81786  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, Mar. 10)

Fort Alexander, Md.
 

 HM 81787  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, May 26)

"Headquarters 1st Regt. Me. Artillery."
 

 HM 81788  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, June 1)

"Headquarters 1st Regt. Me. Artillery."
 

 HM 81789  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, June 15)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81791  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, June 27)

"Headquarters 1st Regt. Me. Artillery."
 

 HM 81792  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, July 12)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81793  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, Aug. 4)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81794  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1863, Aug. 16)

"Headquarters 1st Regt. Me. Artillery."
 

 HM 81795  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Sarah Frances Dunning (1863, Aug. 21)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81796  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, Sep. 22)

"Hospital at Fort Sumner," Md.
 

 HM 81797  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, Sep. 26)

"Hospital at Fort Sumner," Md.
 

 HM 81800  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, Sep. 30)

"Hospital at Fort Sumner," Md.
 

 HM 81801  Patterson, Andrew. Letter to "Dear Sir" (1863, Oct. 3)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81802  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, Oct. 10)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81803  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, Oct. 13)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81804  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1863, Oct. 18)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81805  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, Oct. 22-23)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81806  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, Nov. 11)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81807  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1863, Nov. 22)

"Headquarters 1st Regt. Me. Artillery."
 

 HM 81808  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1863, Dec. 1)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81809  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1863, Dec. 12)

"Headquarters 1st Regt. Me. Artillery."
 

 HM 81810  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1863, Dec. 31)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81811  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1864, Jan. 25)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81812  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1864, Feb. 20)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81813  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1864, Mar. 3)

Washington, D.C.
 

 HM 81814  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1864, May 17)

Fort Sumner, Md.
 

 HM 81815  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1864, July 14)

Washington, D.C.
 

 HM 81816  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1864, July 18)

Washington, D.C.
 

 HM 81817  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1864, Aug. 6)

Washington, D.C.
 

 HM 81818  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1864, Aug. 17)

Washington, D.C.
 

 HM 81819  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Ellen Maria Hardy Smith (1864, Aug. 24)

Washington, D.C.
 

 HM 81820  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1864, Aug. 25)

Washington, D.C.
 

 HM 81821  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1864, Sep. 6)

Petersburg, Va.
 

 HM 81822  Jay, Francis E. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1864, Oct. 4)

 

 HM 81823  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1864, Dec. 17)

Beverly, N.J.
 

 HM 81824  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1865, Jan. 1)

Beverly, N.J.
 

 HM 81825  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- (1865, Jan. 14)

Beverly, N.J.
 

 HM 81826  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1865, Jan. 29)

Beverly, N.J.
 

 HM 81827  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Mrs. C. L. Ames: Affidavit of his Civil War service [after 1865, Sep.]

Bangor, Me.
 

 HM 81828  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1865, Dec. 20)

Tillsonburg, Ont.
 

 HM 81829  Ditson, -----. Affidavit of his Civil War service (1865, Dec.)

 

 HM 81830  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1866, Jan. 3)

Tillsonburg, Ont.
 

 HM 81830a  Hardy, Amos E. (Amos Everett), 1843-1922. Letter to Abel Hardy, 1803- and Rebecca Presby Edgerly Hardy, 1816- (1866, Jan. 9)

Tillsonburg, Ont.
 

 HM 81831  Hardy, Robert Samuel. Letter to Amos E. (Amos Everett) Hardy, 1843-1922 (1887, Mar. 13)

Bangor, Me.
 

 HM 81832  Bangor Daily News. Obituary of Amos E. (Amos Everett) Hardy, 1843-1922 (1922, May 22)

Bangor, Me.
 

 HM 81790  Low, G. Letter to William Low [undated]

Windsor, Vt. Dated Nov. 2.