Finding aid for the June and Gilbert Krueger collection of Civil War letters
0167
Finding aid prepared by Sue Luftschein
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2011 November
Title: June and Gilbert Krueger collection of Civil War letters
Collection number: 0167
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.42 Linear feet
1 box
Date: 1861-1886, undated (bulk 1861-1865)
Abstract: 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.
creator:
Beebe, Charles L.
creator:
Drake, Zachary L.
creator:
Obriham, Charles J.
creator:
Obriham, Edwin C.
creator:
Obriham, Frank W.
creator:
Obriham, Harlow H.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], June and Gilbert Krueger collection of Civil War letters, Collection no. 0167, Special Collections,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Scope and Content
The June and Gilbert Krueger collection of Civil War letters consists of 86 letters, 2 postcards, 1 note, 4 clippings, and
one program, dated 1861-1886. The letters were written by members of the Obriham extended family--brothers Charles J., Edwin
C., Frank W., and Harlow H., cousin Charles L. Beebe, and friend Zachary L. Drake. The majority are addressed to Lovina Obriham,
sister of Charles, Edwin, Frank, and Harlow. The letters were written from Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama,
Georgia, South Carolina, and deal largely with camp life, troop movements, and military engagements, with some mention of
the siege of Vicksburg and the march on Savannah. Of particular interest are the letters from Edwin Obriham and Charles Beebe;
they are the most numerous and thus give the most comprehensive picture of these soldiers' experiences in the Civil War. Almost
all of them were present at the Battle of Vicksburg, and Edwin's letters describe the scene in some detail. Charles's letters
are more detailed than any of the others, describing in more personal terms the food, marches, and general conditions of soldiers
in the Union Army. The collection also includes letters to Lovina from female relatives, and letters to and from other cousins
and friends.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Historical note
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.
Acquisition
Gift of June Krueger, 1960, 1966; Philip Gray, 2013.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Beebe, Charles L. -- Correspondence
Drake, Zachary L. -- Correspondence
Krueger, June -- Archives
Obriham, Charles J. -- Correspondence
Obriham, Edwin C. -- Correspondence
Obriham, Frank W. -- Correspondence
Obriham, Harlow H. -- Correspondence
Obriham, Lovina -- Correspondence
Clippings
Letters
Postcards
Soldiers--United States--19th century--Archival resources
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Archival resources
Box 1, Folder 1
Beebe, Charles L.
1861 January-1863 March
General Physical Description note: 9 letters
Scope and Content
These nine letters are written from Charles Beebe to his cousin Lavina between 1861 and 1863. In his letters he mentions things
such as how he made another trade, he was sick with the ague, he mentions locations where the army is staying, and complains
about marching barefoot without any food. In one letter he says, "I hope to see the day that this war will be at an end but
I don't believe we will ever see the south subdued."
Box 1, Folder 2
Beebe, Charles L.
1863 April-December
General Physical Description note: 6 letters
Scope and Content
This folder contains 6 letters written in 1863 to Lavina from her cousin C.L. Beebe. The letters contain various pieces of
information about the health of C.L. Beebe, the activities the soldiers do, how many rebels they have captured, how he can
hear the church bells from camp and how he wishes he could attend the church services. He also mentions rumors he hears about
various battles in the war, and how he enlisted again for 3 more years.
Box 1, Folder 3
Beebe, Charles L.
1864 April-1865 December
General Physical Description note: 8 letters
Scope and Content
This folder contains several letters written by C.L. Beebe to his cousin Lavina from 1864-1865. There are also several envelopes
included, one of which contains a dried leaf inside. One letter instructs Lovina to sign her name "Lydia" from time to time
so as to trick a "sertain person hear that trubles him self considerable about other folks busnes..." Each letter begins with
a description of his health, and most letters go on to describe what is going on in the war, where he is camped, etc.
Box 1, Folder 16
Beebe, Mary
1886 November 29
General Physical Description note: 1 letter
Scope and Content
This letter was written by Mary Beebe to her sister Abby Beebe. Mary talks about Abby being sick, and mentions that Pearl
(Mary's daughter) is sick.
Box 1, Folder 4
Drake, Zachary L.
1861 October-December
General Physical Description note: 3 letters
Scope and Content
This folder contains 3 letters, all from 1861, from Zachary Drake to Lavina Obriham, who appears to be his cousin. In the
letters, he mentions (although not in much detail) the drills and the camps of his regiment, as well as his task of buying
bread for his camp, for which he had to walk one mile three times a day.
Box 1, Folder 17
Drake, Zachary L.
1862 July 24
General Physical Description note: 1 letter
Scope and Content
This is a letter written from City Hospital in St. Louis from Zachary Drake to Lavina Obriham. Zachary writes about his time
spent in the hospital, calling it a "splendid hospital".
Box 1, Folder 5
Obriham, Charles J.
1862 September-1863 March
General Physical Description note: 5 letters
Scope and Content
These 5 letters from C.J. Obriham to his sister describe the whereabouts of the soldiers, the health of all the soldiers,
and contain many encouraging words asking his sister and parents to continue trusting in God for their safety. He also conveys
rumors he has heard about how they hope the war will be over by the following Spring.
Box 1, Folder 18
Obriham, Charles J.
1863 February 3
General Physical Description note: 1 letter
Scope and Content
This is a letter written by Charles J. Obriham to his sister, L.L. Obriham. Written from New Madrid, Mo., Charles complains
that he does not have any postage stamps. He talks about the weather, among other things, and he mentions that tobacco is
1.00- 1.50 a pound.
Box 1, Folder 6
Obriham, Edwin C.
1861 November-1862 October
General Physical Description note: 10 letters
Scope and Content
These letters also detail the movements of Ed's regiment, and contains a particularly interesting description of life as a
soldier- "in one end of the Barracks they are writing to their friends, and the next their are dancing and playing eucher
and the next are cleaning guns and the next thare is a man just breathing his last breath." He mentions his injured arm and
the Surrender at Vicksburg as well.
Box 1, Folder 7
Obriham, Edwin C.
1862 November-1863 May
General Physical Description note: 10 letters, 1 note
Scope and Content
In these letters Edwin describes the orders he has received to be ready to march at any hour of the day, he anticipates that
there will be a battle at Vicksburg and in later letters describes the Battle at Vicksburg. He also mentions how it is hard
to watch his army burn good houses just because they are in the rebels' territory.
Box 1, Folder 8
Obriham, Edwin C.
1863 June-September
General Physical Description note: 7 letters
Scope and Content
This folder contains more letters from Edwin Obriham to various family members including a very somber letter informing his
family of the death of his brother Harlow. Included in this folder is also a newspaper clipping from 1863 that looks to be
from a Union newspaper.
Box 1, Folder 9
Obriham, Edwin C.
1864 April-1865 May
General Physical Description note: 8 letters
Scope and Content
These letters describe what the army has accompolished in various battles and skirmishes, and in several of the letters Edwin
complains about how his sister has not written back in several weeks.
Box 1, Folder 19
Obriham, Edwin C.
1863 June 6
General Physical Description note: 1 letter
Scope and Content
This is a letter from Edwin Obriham to his sister Lavina. Written from the Yazoo River, Edwin talks about the rebels, the
"Ladies of the north," and the general wartime situation.
Box 1, Folder 10
Obriham, Frank W.
1863 March-1865 January
General Physical Description note: 8 letters
Scope and Content
These letters to his parents and sister from Frank detail parts of the Battle at Vicksburg as well as other details of life
as a soldier. One of his letters is in the form of a poem written to his mother.
Box 1, Folder 20
Obriham, Frank W.
1863 February 2; 1864 December 15
General Physical Description note: 2 letters
Scope and Content
This folder contains 2 letters from Frank W. Obriham, one addressed to his father and the other addressed to "father, mother,
and sister". In the letters Frank talks about how he's doing well and how he eats well. He asks about his friends back home
and mentions that he is sorry to hear that his father is lame.
Box 1, Folder 11
Obriham, Harlow H.
1862 January-1863 March, undated
General Physical Description note: 4 letters
Scope and Content
In these letters written to his sister, Harlow mentions aspects of his daily life, a few descriptions of battles, and describes
how he and several other soldiers spent New Year's Day.
Box 1, Folder 21
Unidentified letter
1865 December 11
General Physical Description note: 1 letter
Scope and Content
This letter is simply addressed "To cousin" and "From cousin".
Box 1, Folder 12
Miscellaneous letters
1862 July-1863 August
General Physical Description note: 6 letters
Scope and Content
Unsigned letter to Lovina Obriham; letters to Lovina from Emmaline Knight, Sylvester Robinson; letter to Lidy (Lydia Beebe?)
from George Culver; letter to "cousin" (Lovina?) from Sophia.
Box 1, Folder 13
Miscellaneous letters
1864 July-1886 July
General Physical Description note: 4 letters, 2 postcards
Scope and Content
Letter from M.M. (Malinda) Beebe to Lovina Obriham; Mary Beebe to Abby Beebe; Marcy Culver to Abby Beebe; and Rusha to Abby
Beebe.
Box 1, Folder 22
Miscellaneous empty envelopes
1860s
General Physical Description note: 4 envelopes
Scope and Content
Three of these envelopes are addressed to Lovina Obriham, one is addressed to Abby W. Beebe.
Box 1, Folder 14
Ulysses S. Grant Memorial program
1885 August 8
Box 1, Folder 15
Clippings--songs and poems
undated
