Henry I. Colyer Correspondence: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Huntington Library staff.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2000
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.


Overview of the Collection

Title: Henry I. Colyer Correspondence
Dates (inclusive): 1862-1865
Collection Number: mssHM 28943-29056
Creator: Colyer, Henry I. (Henry Isaac), approximately 1841-
Extent: 146 pieces in 2 boxes + copies and transcripts in 2 binders and 1 box.
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains the Civil War correspondence of Union soldier Henry I. Colyer, consisting chiefly of letters to his parents, siblings, and friends in Chittenango, New York.
Language: English.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

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]. Henry I. Colyer Correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Purchased from Clifford Couch Colyer, 1966-1970.

Biographical Note

Henry Isaac Colyer (also spelled Collier), a Civil War Union soldier. Resident of Chittenango, Madison Co., New York, he enlisted in 157th N.Y. Volunteers in 1862. Until Nov. 1, 1862, the Regiment was assigned to the defenses of Washington, D.C., and then moved to Centreville, Virginia, and took part in the advance to Fredericksburg, Virginia, (Dec. 8-17). In late December, Colyer was hospitalized with a heart and lung condition, and remained in King St. Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, until Aug. 1863. After that he served in the Veteran Reserve Corps for remainder of the war. Until March 1864, he was on guard duty at United States Draft Rendezvous (known as the Conscript Camp) at New Haven, Conn., and then served in Alexandria, Fairfax, Fort Williams, Va. and Washington, D.C. He was discharged in July 1865 and returned home.

Scope and Content

The Colyer Collection contains the Civil War correspondence of Union soldier Henry I. Colyer, consisting chiefly of letters to his parents, siblings, and friends in Chittenango, New York. The letters discuss war, political, and family news and contain detailed factual accounts of the camp life -- rations, barracks, soldiers' finances, conscripts and substitutes, desertions, drinking, courts martial, hospital, prisons, demobilization, etc.

Arrangement

Original letters arranged chronologically in 2 boxes, followed by transcriptions of letters and envelopes in 1 box and 2 binders.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.  

Subjects

Colyer, Henry I, (Henry Isaac), approxiamtely 1841 -- Correspondence.
United States. Army -- Recruiting, enlistment, etc. -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
United States. Army. New York Infantry Regiment, 157th (1862-1865)
New Haven (Conn.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.
New York (State) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental histories -- Sources.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Hospitals -- Personal narratives.
Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources.
Washington (D.C.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources.

Forms/Genres

Letters (correspondence) -- United States - Civil War, 1861-1865.
Personal papers -- New York (State) -- 19th century.


 

Originals

Box 1

Correspondence. 1862-1863

 

1862 September 30. Letter to Parents from Camp Mitchell

 

1862 October 1. Letter to Parents from Camp Chase Arlington

 

1862 October 5. Letter to Brother Edward from Camp Chase Arlington

 

1862 October 7. Letter to Sister from Arlington Hts.

 

1862 October 18. Letter to Sister from Fairfax Court House

 

1862 October 21. Letter to Sister from Fairfax Court House

 

1862 October 29. Letter to Brother and Sisters from Fairfax Court House

 

1862 October 30. Letter to Brother Edward from Fairfax Courthouse

 

1862 November 4. Letter to Friends at Home from Thoroughfare Gap, Va.

 

1862 November 12. Letter to Mother from New Baltimore, Va.

 

1862 November 16. Letter to Sister from New Baltimore, Va.

 

1862 November 21. Letter to brother Edward from Centreville, Va.

 

1862 November. Letter to Edward

 

1862 December 4. Letter to Parents from Fairfax Court House

 

1862 December 7. Letter to Parents from Fairfax

 

1862 December 7. Letter to Henry from sister Mary from Chittenango, N.Y.

 

1862 December 11. Letter to Sister from Fairfax Court House

 

1862 December 10. Letter to Henry from Mother from Chittenango, N.Y.

 

1862 December 13. Letter to Mother from Fairfax Court House

 

1862 December 13. Letter to Brother Edward from Fairfax Courthouse

 

1862 December 25. Letter to Parents from Fairfax Courthouse

 

1863 January 2. Letter to Mother from Fairfax, Va.

 

1863 January 21. Letter to Mother from Fairfax, Va.

 

1863 January 23. Letter to Brother Edward from Alexandria, Va.

 

1863 January 30. Letter to Mother from Alexandria, Va.

 

1863 February 7. Letter to Mother from Alexandria, Va.

 

1863 February 11. Letter to Aunt Lucinda from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 February 14. Letter to Mother (not signed) from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 February 15. Letter to Sister from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 February 22. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 February 26. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 February 27. Letter to George Walrath from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 March 4. Letter to Sister (Mary) from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 March 7. Letter to Sister (Frances) from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 March 14. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 March 19. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 March 21. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 March 29. Letter to Sister (Helen) from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 March 30. Letter to Cousin George Walrath from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 April. Letter to Sister (Frances) from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 April. Letter to Sister (Frances) from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 April 16. Letter to Sister (Mary) from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 April 16. Letter to Mother and sisters from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 April 18. Letter to Sister from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 April 24. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 April 30. Letter to Sister (Helen) from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 May 2. Letter to Sister (Frances) from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 May 8. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 May 8. Letter to Cousin Baron Henry from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 May 20. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 May 27. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 June 4. Letter to Sister (Helen) from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 June 9. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 June 12. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 June 18. Letter to Sister (Mary) from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 June 20. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 July 1. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 July 8. Letter to Sister from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 July 10. Letter to Sister from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 July 16. Letter to Mother from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 July 21. Letter to Sister (Mary) from King St. Hospital, Alexandria

 

1863 August 2. Letter to Mother from Camp Anderson, Washington DC

 

1863 August 8. Letter to B.H. Walrath (grandfather) from Camp Anderson, Washington DC

 

1863 August 10. Letter to Mother from Camp Anderson, Meridian Hill

 

1863 August 14. Letter to Mother from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 August 16. Letter to Sister (Mary) from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 August 26. Letter to Sister (Mary) from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 August 29. Letter to Mother from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 September 8. Letter to Mother from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 September 16. Letter to Mother from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 September 23. Letter to Mother from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 September 30. Letter to Sister from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 October 7. Letter to Sister (Mary) from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 October 25. Letter to Mother from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 October 29. Letter to Sister from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 November 9. Letter to Sister from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 November 19. Letter to Mother from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 December 6. Letter to Mother from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 December 11. Letter to Sister (Mary) from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 December 18. Letter to Sister (Helen) from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 December 20. Letter to Sister (Frances) from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

 

1863 December 30. Letter to Mother from Conscript Camp, New Haven, Conn.

Box 2

Correspondence. 1864-1865

 

1864 January 16. Letter to Mother from New Haven, Conn.

 

1864 January 28. Letter to Sister (Frances) from New Haven, Conn.

 

1864 January 29. Letter to Sister from New Haven, Conn.

 

1864 February 13. Letter to Sister (Frances) from New Haven, Conn.

 

1864 February 26. Letter to Mother from New Haven, Conn.

 

1864 February 21. Letter to Henry from Mother from Chittenango, N.Y.

 

1864 February 25. Letter to Sister from New Haven, Conn.

 

1864 February 28. Letter to Mother from New Haven, Conn.

 

1864 March 6. Letter to Mother from Fair Haven, Conn.

 

1864 March 28. Letter to Mother from Fair Haven, Conn.

 

1864 March 30. Letter to Mother from Fair Haven, Conn.

 

1864 April 15. Letter to Sister from Slough Barracks, Alexandria

 

1864 May 13. Letter to Sister (Helen) from Slough Barracks, Alexandria

 

1864 May 17. Letter to Mary from Cliffburne Barracks

 

1864 May 27. Letter to Sister from Camp near Alexandria

 

1864 June 24. Letter to Mother from Sickles Barracks, Alexandria

 

1864 June 27. Letter to Sister (Frances) also a fragment from Sickles Barracks, Alexandria

 

1864 July 5. Letter to Mother from Alexandria, Va.

 

1864 July 10. Letter to Sister from Camp near Alexandria

 

1864 July 16. Letter to Sister (Helen) from Camp near Alexandria

 

1864 July 22. Letter to Sister (Frances) from Camp near Alexandria

 

1864 August 1. Letter to Mother from Fort Ward, Va.

 

1864 August 7. Letter to Sister (Mary)

 

1864 August 12. Letter to Sister from Fort Worth, Va.

 

1864 August 27. Letter to Sister (Mary) from Fort Worth, Va.

 

1864 September 7. Letter to Sister (Helen) from Fort Williams, Va.

 

1864 September 16. Letter to Mother from Fort Williams, Va.

 

1864 September 18. Letter to Sister (Frances) from Fort Williams, Va.

 

1864 September 28. Letter to Mother from Fort Williams, Va.

 

1864 [Approximately September?]. Letter to Frances

 

1864 October 5. Letter to Brother Edward from Fort Williams, Va.

 

1864 October 7. Letter to Sister (Frances) from Sherburne Barracks, Washington DC

 

1864 October 12. Letter to Mother from Sherburne Barracks, Washington DC

 

1864 November 1. Letter to Sister (Frances) from Sherburne Barracks, Washington DC

 

1864 November 6. Letter to Sister from Sherburne Barracks, Washington DC

 

1864 November 11. Letter to Sister (Helen) from Navy Yard Bridge, Washington DC

 

1864 November 20. Letter to Sister (Frances) from Navy Yard Bridge, Washington DC

 

1864 December 2. Letter to Sister (Frances) from Navy Yard Bridge, Washington DC

 

1864 December 5. Letter to Sister (Mary) from Navy Yard Bridge, Washington DC

 

1864 December 11. Letter to Sister (Helen) from Navy Yard Bridge, Washington DC

 

1864 December 27. Letter to Sister from Sherbourne Barracks, Washington

 

1865 January 4. Letter to East Capitol Hill Barracks

 

1865 January 15. Letter to Mother from Washington, DC

 

1865 January 22. Letter to Brother Edward from Capitol Hill Barracks

 

1865 January 30. Letter to Mother from East Capitol Hill Barracks

 

1865 February 3. Letter to Brother from East Capitol Hill Barracks

 

1865 February 7. Letter to Mother from East Capitol Hill Barracks

 

1865 February 11. Letter to Mother from East Capitol Hill Barracks

 

1865 February 18. Letter to Brother from Washington, D.C.

 

1865 February 26. Letter to Brother from Capitol Barracks

 

1865 March 5. Letter to Mother from Capitol Barracks

 

1865 March 13. Letter to Sister (Frances) from Cliffburn Barracks

 

1865 March 25. Letter to Sister (Helen) from Cliffburn Barracks

 

1865 March 31. Letter to Sister from Cliffburn Barracks

 

1865 April 5. Letter to Henry from his Mother from Chittenango, N.Y.

 

1865 April 15. Letter to Mother (Assassination) from Cliffbourne Barracks

 

1865 April [16?]. Letter to ---[1st page missing]

 

1865 May 3. Letter to Mother from Cliffbourne Barracks

 

1865 May 7. Letter to Sister (Helen) from Cliffbourne Barracks

 

1865 May 11. Letter to Brother from Cliffbourne Barracks

 

1865 May 18. Letter to Mother from Cliffbourne Barracks

 

1865 May 24. Letter to Henry from Sister Frances (part missing) from Chittenango, N.Y.

 

1865 May 25. Letter to Mother from New York, N.Y.

 

1865 June 1. Letter to Henry from his mother from Chittenango, N.Y.

 

1865 June 2. Letter to Sister (Frances) from Augusta, Maine

 

1865 June 5. Letter to Sister, Helen from Augusta, Maine

 

1865 June 6. Letter to Mother from Augusta, Maine

 

1865 June 17. Letter to Mother from Augusta, Maine

 

1865 June 28. Letter to Sister (Mary) from Augusta, Maine

 

1865 August 27. Letter to Cortez C Morse from Chittenango, N.Y.

 

Transcriptions and envelopes

Box 3

Transcriptions of letters (chiefly handwritten) and envelopes.

Binder 1

Transcriptions (typescript), 1862-1863

Binder 2

Transcriptions (typescript), 1864-1865