Guide to the Albert M. Forbes Civil War Letters, 1862
Processed by Adrian Turner.
Special Collections and Archives
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California
Irvine, California 92623-9557
Phone: (949) 824-7227
Fax: (949) 824-2472
Email: spcoll@uci.edu
URL: http://www.lib.uci.edu/rrsc/speccoll.html
© 2001
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Note
Area, Interdisciplinary, and Ethnic Studies--American Studies
Geographical (By Place)--United States
History--United States and North American History
Guide to the Albert M. Forbes Civil War Letters, 1862
Collection number: MS-M055
Special Collections and Archives
The UCI Libraries
University of California
Irvine, California
Contact Information
- Special Collections and Archives
- The UCI Libraries
- P.O. Box 19557
- University of California
- Irvine, California 92623-9557
- Phone: (949) 824-7227
- Fax: (949) 824-2472
- Email: spcoll@uci.edu
- URL: http://www.lib.uci.edu/rrsc/speccoll.html
- Processed by:
- Adrian Turner
- Date Completed:
- 2001
- Encoded by:
- Adrian Turner
© 2001 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Albert M. Forbes Civil War letters,
Date (inclusive): 1862
Collection number: MS-M055
Creator:
Forbes, Albert M.
Extent:
0.1 linear feet (1 oversize folder)
Repository:
University of California, Irvine. Library.
Special Collections and Archives.
Irvine, California 92623-9557
Abstract: 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.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
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.
Preferred Citation
Albert M. Forbes Civil War Letters. MS-S16. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
Acquisition Information
Gift of unknown donor, ca. 1967.
Processing History
Processed by Adrian Turner, 2001.
Biography
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.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
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.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Forbes, Albert M.--Correspondence.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Correspondence.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives--Correspondence.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns--Correspondence.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Attitudes--Correspondence.
Occupations
Soldiers.
Collection Contents
Box FB-22 : 5
1862 April 16.
Scope and Content Note
Letter to mother and father from Pittsburg Landing describing battle preparations, fighting, and war devastation in the area.
Box FB-22 : 5
1862 April 23.
Scope and Content Note
Letter to brother and sister from Pittsburg Landing, similar in content to April 16 letter; also describes arrival of reinforcements
under direction of General Pope and Fremont and camp living conditions.
Box FB-22 : 5
1862 September 20.
Scope and Content Note
Letter to brother and sister from Bolivar Camp, describing march through Memphis.
Box FB-22 : 5
1862 October 12.
Scope and Content Note
Letter to brother and sister from Bolivar Camp describing battle of Hatchie.
Box FB-22 : 5
1862 November 14.
Scope and Content Note
Letter to brother from La Grange Camp describing fighting near Holly Springs, mentions removal of General McClelland.
Box FB-22 : 5
1862 ca. November-December.
Scope and Content Note
Letter to mother and father from La Grange Camp describing battle preparations near Holly Springs, and troop movements under
direction of Generals Sherman and McClernand.
Box FB-22 : 5
Undated.
Scope and Content Note
Letter to brother difficult living conditions and hardships of life as a soldier.
