James W. Murray Civil War correspondence, 1863 March 3 - 1874 July 11

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Murray, James W., Private, 1827-1904
Abstract:
This collection contains approximately 100 letters from Pvt. James W. Murray, USA to his wife during the Civil War. Also included are transcriptions for each letter as well as a personal history and historical footnotes written by the donor.
Extent:
.25 Linear Feet (10 folders)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], James W. Murray Civil War correspondence (2019.187.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains approximately 100 letters from Pvt. James W. Murray, USA to his wife while serving with the Union Army during the Civil War. Murray joined Company H of the New York 12th Infantry, a regiment that fought in Virginia. Murray wrote from camp near Petersburg, City Point Hospital, Richmond, Fort Monroe, and, eventually Washington D.C. Most of his letters are brief. Many include descriptions of camp life and sickness, and express concern about pay and the welfare of his family members at home. There is also some correspondence from contemporaries, including relatives, to James and Ann Murray.

Biographical / historical:

Private James W. Murray, United States Army (1827 - 1904) was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He emigrated as a child with his family to Oswego, New York, and then to Canada. He married Ann Murray, with whom he had five children, before enlisting in the US Army with Company H of the New York 12th Infantry Regiment.

Acquisition information:
Gift of George E. Murray
Arrangement:

This collection is organized chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Correspondence -- American Civil War

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.

Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], James W. Murray Civil War correspondence (2019.187.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Contact:
(714) 532-7716