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Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Preferred Citation
  • Content Description
  • Conditions Governing Use

  • Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
    Title: Charles C. Berry Civil War correspondence
    Creator: Berry, Charles C., Corporal, 1841-1906
    source: Young, Jean
    Identifier/Call Number: 2017.125.w.r
    Physical Description: .1 Linear feet (one folder)
    Date: 1863 December 23
    Abstract: Correspondence from Charles B. Berry to his sister during the Civil War. The author is most likely Corporal Charles B. Berry of the 7th Independent Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery.
    Language of Material: English .
    Container: Civil War 6

    Conditions Governing Access

    This collection is open for research.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of Jean Young

    Biographical / Historical

    Cpl. Charles B. Berry (c. 1841-1906) was born to John and Mary [Gilman] Berry in Tamworth, New Hampshire. In July 1862, Berry enlisted in the 7th Independent Battery of the Massachusetts Light Infantry, which was organized in Lowell, Massachusetts. His Battery helped put down the draft riot in New York City before being sent in September 1863 to Camp Barry in Washington D.C., whence Berry wrote the letter to his younger sister. He was promoted to corporal before mustering out in Houston, Texas in July 1865. He married Fannie in 1873. The couple had one child, Walter P. Berry. They lived in Lowell, where Berry worked as a carpenter making blinds, sashes, and doors.

    Preferred Citation

    [Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Charles C. Berry Civil War correspondence (2017.125.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.

    Content Description

    This collection consists of one letter sent by Cpl. Berry to his sister from the Post Hospital at Camp Barry in Washington D.C. The 7th Independent Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery was at Camp Barry from September 1863 to January 1864. In his letter, Barry responds to his sister's professed desire to learn to ice skate by cautioning her not to go on the ice alone and to avoid the impropriety of "cutting around" or accepting the assistance of an arm "no matter how politely it is offered." He also discourages her from joining temperance meetings. He assures her that he abstains from liquor, but admits that he does "cling to" tobacco. The sister is not named, but the 1850 census reveals that Berry had one sister named Helen who was two years younger than him and another named Harriet who was nine years younger.

    Conditions Governing Use

    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.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Correspondence -- American Civil War
    Young, Jean