The collection consists chiefly of letters addressed to Lovina Obriham of Freeport, Winneshiek County, Iowa, from her brothers, Edwin C., Charles J., Frank W., and Harlow H. Obriham, her cousin and future husband, Chales L. Beebe, and other Union soldiers serving with the 9th Iowa Volunteers and other units; written from Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, the letters deal largely with camp life, troop movements, and military engagements, with some mention of the siege of Vicksburg and the march on Savannah.

The Obriham [Oberham] family resided in Freeport, Winneshiek County, Iowa. Charles, Frank, and Henry served in the 38th Iowa Infantry, mustered into service on November 4, 1862 in Dubuque, and mustered out of service August 15, 1865 in Houston, Texas. Charles seems to have been born in 1821 in Vermont. He entered the army on August 9, 1862 in Dubuque, Iowa and was a private when discharged. Records, now deemed incorrect, indicate that he died on June 20, 1863 in Decorah, Iowa; Henry on June 13, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Edwin Obriham served in the 9th Iowa Infantry, mustered into service on June 10, 1861 at Keokuk, Iowa and mustered out of service at Louisville, Kentucky on July 12, 1865. Charles L. Beebe was born in New York State on October 4, 1834 and married Lovina Oberham in 1866. He entered the army in 1861, was discharged in 1865 having served in both Company G of the 46th and Company I of the 40th Illinois Infantry and at time of discharge had risen to the rank of corporal.

0.42 Linear feet 1 box

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