Miller family correspondence, 1854-1906, bulk 1861-1864

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Summary

Abstract:
Correspondence of the Miller family of Pennsylvania including Francis Carpenter Miller, and his brother-in-law, James C. Voris, both of whom served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Extent:
2.4 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Miller Family correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The letters between Francis C. Miller and Agnes F. Voris, from 1861 October to 1865 October, document a budding romance between the two. His letters provide weekly updates on the war news and rumors, give very detailed accounts of the camp life and war experiences, personal feelings, religious reflections, and news about the fate of James C. Voris. The letters contain accounts of the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Gettysburg Campaign. In her letters to "Frank," Agnes describes her Presbyterian congregation, rather intense politicking in the community, and discusses war news, including General Robert E. Lee's invasion. There are two four-month gaps in the correspondence, from January to April of 1863 and 1864. The letters of James C. Voris, to his family, from 1854 to 1862, describe his time at school before the war, the minutia of camp life, his stay at the Mansion House Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, and accounts of the military operations, especially the Battles of the South Mountain and Antietam. There is also some post-war family correspondence, including letters by the Millers to their daughter Kittie, from 1888 to 1900.

Biographical / historical:

Francis Carpenter Miller (1839-1919), a native of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, joined the 50th Regiment of New York Infantry, Co. H, in September 1861. In October, the regiment was reorganized as the 50th Regiment of New York Engineers. Until March of 1862, the regiment remained on duty at Alexandria and Washington, D.C. and then moved with the Army of the Potomac to the Virginia Peninsula to take part in Antietam, Fredericksburg, and the Peninsular and Gettysburg Campaigns. In August of 1863, Miller's company was detached to the Engineer workshop in Washington, D.C., where it remained until spring. The men then joined the regiment for the campaign from the Rapidan to the James River (1864 May 3-June 15) and the siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond. Miller was discharged from the army in early October 1864 and soon afterwards married Agnes Forsyth Voris (1844-1905), daughter of Gilbert Voris and Catharine Ashenfelder of Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania. In the 1870s, the family moved to Bay City, Michigan. Miller's brother-in-law, James C. Voris, joined the 34th Pennsylvania Regiment (5th Reserve Regiment) Infantry in June 1861. The regiment was stationed on duty at Taneytown, Maryland, until October 10, 1861, and then at Camp Pierpont, near Langley, Virginia, until March 1862. Voris fought in the Seven Days Battles before Richmond, the Battles of Groveton and 2nd Bull Run, and the Maryland Campaign, including Battles of South Mountain and Antietam. He was killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862, two weeks after he was appointed the corporal of the color guard.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Charles Apfelbaum, January 2005.
Processing information:

Processed by Olga Tsapina in October 2005. In March 2025, Brooke M. Black created a finding aid.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

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]. Miller Family correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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