Benjamin F. Hughes, Soldier, Civil War Letters and Other Material A&M 3741

Benjamin F. Hughes, Soldier, Civil War Letters and Other Material A&M 3741


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West Virginia and Regional History Center

1549 University Ave.
P.O. Box 6069
Morgantown, WV 26506-6069
Business Number: 304-293-3536
wvrhcref@westvirginia.libanswers.com
URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu

Staff of the West Virginia & Regional History Center

Repository
West Virginia and Regional History Center
Identification
A&M 3741
Title
Benjamin F. Hughes, Soldier, Civil War Letters and Other Material 1854-1906 and undated
URL:
https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/196274
Quantity
0.21 Linear Feet, 2.5 in. (1 document case)
Creator
Hughes, Benjamin F.
Location
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Language
English

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Conditions Governing Access

No special access restriction applies.

Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia & Regional History Center reference department at https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc.

Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Benjamin F. Hughes, Soldier, Civil War Letters and Other Material, A&M 3741, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift from Doerschner, Frances, 2010 July 15


Scope and Contents

Transcripts and originals of letters regarding the Civil War authored by Sergeant Benjamin F. Hughes of Company F, West Virginia 3rd Regiment, and of Company D, West Virginia 6th Cavalry (10 items, 11 leaves). Subjects include battle of Allegheny Mountain (1861), battle of Droop Mountain (1863), service as a scout, report on wounded, his health, camp life, the home front, and opinions regarding the war. These letters were sent from locations mostly in West Virginia. There are also pension records for Hughes (1892-1906) and other material.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Civil War - West Virginia 3rd Regiment, Company F.
  • Civil War - West Virginia 6th Cavalry, Company D.
  • Civil War battles - Allegheny Mountain.
  • Civil War battles - Droop Mountain.
  • Civil War battles - Greenbrier River.
  • Hughes, Benjamin F.

Container List

Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1
Transcriptions of Hughes Letters
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
Originals of Hughes Letters (11 leaves, 10 items) (two items include stationary illustrations, including General Robert H. Milroy)
1861-1865
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3
Miscellaneous Letters (3 items)
1860-1867
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
Miscellaneous Manuscripts (4 leaves, 4 items) (include receipt for home remedy, undated; two ledger pages, 1854-1856; and Preston County school report, 1861)
1854-1861
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5
Map (hand-drawn map of Beverly and vicinity);
1861-1865
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6-8
Pension Records of Sergeant Benjamin F. Hughes
1892-1906
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9
Genealogies of the William Hibbs (1629-1686) and William Price (1771-undated) families
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 10
Biographical Information regarding Benjamin Hughes
undated
Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 11-12
Addendum of 2012 April 30, Correspondence and Other Material
1857-1863, undated
Scope and Contents

This addendum contains five letters and a leather-bound notebook. The letters were either written by or sent to Hughes; one of the letters is dated from 1860, two from 1861, one from 1863, and one is undated (box 1, folder 11). The notebook was kept by Hughes between the years of 1857 and 1861 (box 1, folder 12). (1857-1863, undated; 5 letters consisting of 7 leaves and 13 pages, 1 notebook)

The letter of 5 October 1860 was written by David Hibbs and addressed to a "Dear friend", presumably Hughes. Hibbs offers news of family members and mutual acquaintances. He also discusses visiting Hughes for a hunt, but is concerned about the dangers and expense of traveling.

The letter of 20 April 1861 consists of two parts. The first part is likely a draft of an unsent letter from Hughes to President Lincoln regarding Hughes' concern about the number of secessionists in (West) Virginia and the threat that they pose to the Union, as well as the need for Unionists to arm and organize. The second part is a separate letter written on the same leaf of paper, in blue ink rather than the usual black. This letter is signed "a girl in trouble" and has no salutation. This letter appears to have been written by a young woman engaged to a young man that she no longer loves and wishes for the recipient, presumably Hughes, to aid her in breaking the engagement. There is also a photocopy of these two letters.

The letter of 25 December 1861, written by Hughes from Camp Leedsville in Randolph County, is addressed to Dr. A. Brown. Hughes describes the hardships of the soldiering lifestyle, but also his determination. He describes the Battle of Greenbrier River (3 October 1861) in detail and also makes reference to the Battle of Allegheny Mountain (13 December 1861), as well as other conflicts with Confederate troops and secessionist sympathizers. Hughes takes a hardline stance against all rebels, describing his habit of killing such men where he finds them. He writes that there are no Confederate troops currently on his side of the mountains and he predicts that the fighting will soon be finished, at least in (West) Virginia. Hughes mentions the possibility that Britain might enter the war on the side of the South; such speculation is likely a consequence of the Trent Affair having occurred the previous month.

The letter of 1 June 1863 was written to Hughes by his mother. She expresses concern for the Hughes and is particularly worried because she has not received any letter from him recently. She also provides news from home about Hughes' father, friends, and other acquaintances.

There is also an undated letter fragment signed by Hughes which appears to be the final pages of a longer letter. Hughes writes from Fort Kasper in the Dakota Territory and gives his rank as Sergeant. The letter regards Hughes' opinions regarding the local Indians, namely that they cannot be civilized and should be exterminated so that American settlers and miners can make better use of their land. Hughes asks for news from the States and writes that he has heard little of goings on back east "since the war closed".

The leather-bound notebook contains financial accounts, measurements, and technical sketches (1857-1860); and notes regarding Hughes' military service (1861).