Description
This collection comprises seven letters
sent from Albert M. Forbes, Lieutenant, Member Company of the 2nd Illinois Light Artillery,
to his family in 1862 during the Civil War. The letters provide a first-hand, detailed
account of skirmishes in Tennessee and Mississippi. He describes battle preparations,
soldier life in camps and the harsh living conditions, and long marches through Memphis and
other areas. He repeatedly urges his younger brother not to enlist. Forbes also mentions the
work of his officers and peers, describes troop movements under the direction of Generals
William Tecumseh Sherman and John McClernand, and criticizes General Ulysses S. Grant for
his tactical decisions. Four of the letters were apparently written while Forbes' troop was
encamped near battle sites.
Background
Albert M. Forbes was a Union soldier in the Civil War who served as a Lieutenant in Member
Company of the 2nd Illinois Light Artillery. His Company was active in Tennessee. When the
first of these letters were written on April 16, 1862, Forbes was stationed at Boltons
Battery, after moving from Benton Barracks. By November of that same year, he was camped at
La Grange with an army of over 100,000 Union soldiers, where they clashed fiercely with
Confederate soldiers in Holly Springs. The last letter in this collection in this collection
was apparently written during the winter of 1862.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet
(1 oversize folder)
Restrictions
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by
the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish,
please contact the Head of Special Collections and University Archives.
Availability
Collection is open for research.