Inventory of the Benjamin Schwartz Papers, 1861-1868 #Mss. Acc. 2007.01

Inventory of the Benjamin Schwartz Papers, 1861-1868

A Collection in the
Manuscripts and Rare Books Department
Accession Number Mss. Acc. 2007.01

Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary

Special Collections
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8794
USA
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Email: spcoll@wm.edu
URL: http://swem.wm.edu/scrc/

Processed by: Special Collections Staff

Repository

Special Collections, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary

Accession Number

2007.01

Title

Benjamin Schwartz Papers 1861-1868

Creator

Schwartz, Benjamin

Language

English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to all researchers.

Use Restrictions

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred Citation

Benjamin Schwartz Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased 01/05/2007.

Biographical Information

A Benjamin Swartz (alternate name: Benjamin F.Swartz), enlisted in the 5th Pennsylvania Calvary, Company F. His rank upon entering the regiment is listed as "Saddl.", his discharge rank was Sergeant.

Scope and Content

These letters are written from or on behalf of Benjamin Schwartz, who was stationed in Virginia with the 5th Pennsylvania Calvary, Company F. The letters primarily document a brother's concern over his family's health and money he sends to his sister. There is limited discussion of skirmishes, troop movement, taking and being taken prisoner, and recurrent predictions that the war will end soon. Schwartz mentions that the Union camp at Williamsburg, Virginia was burned by rebel forces.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in chronological order.

Series 1: Letters of Benjamin Schwartz 1861-1869

Item 1: Letter, Camp Griffin, to Sister Libby 11/23/1861

"fixing up things to keep us a little warm" Went to two reviews, one at Bailey's Cross Roads.
Item 2: Letter, Camp Griffin, to Dear Sister 3/5/1862
Item 3: Letter, Williamsburg, to Dear Sister 11/21/1862

Concerned about money sent, busy building winter quarters, notes that they have many new horses and recruits, predicts war will not last long.
Item 4: Letter, Williamsburg, to Dear Sister 4/23/1863

Hard week, rebels burned Union camp, but repulsed them, captured a number of rebel prisoners.
Item 5: Letter, Williamsburg, to My Dear Sister 5/1/1863

Predicts rebels will have to give up as "they are near starved[?] out and played out to nothing" "was taken prisoner and made my escape."
Item 6: Letter, Williamsburg, to My Dear Sister 6/10/1863

Sending money.
Item 7: Letter, Portsmouth, Va. 2/25/1864

Describes march to Richmond, foiled plan to burn city.
Item 8: Letter, Camp near Portsmouth 4/11/2864

Their camp has moved many times.
Item 9: Letter, Camp near Portsmouth, To: My Dear Sister 4/26/1864

Sending money.
Item 11: Letter, Camp Near Jones Landing to My dear Sister Elizabeth Schwartz, North Buffalo, Erie County, N. Y. 8/21/1864

Surprised that Home Guard was called out to defend Buffalo, describes prowess of Company F.
Item 12: Letter, Richmond to Dear Sister 4/29/1865

The war is over.
Item 13: Letter, Sollomon City, Saline County, Kansas to Dear Sister 3/3/1869

Discusses cold weather and high water. Folder also contains a single sheet, with paper and ink similar to letter above, asking for Henry's location, noting the loss of Eve's husband.

Series 2: (Item 14) Letter of Henry F. Jackson, Deep Bottom, Va. 3/25/1865

Stationery printed with "U. S. Christian Commission." handwritten underneath "and hard tack." Sent money, "Benjamin has gone out on a raid."

Series 3: Envelopes

Item 15: envelope addressed to Miss. Elizabeth Schwartz, Williamsvill[e], Erie Co., New York 10/18/n.y.
Item 16: envelope addressed to Elizabeth Schwartz, Williamsville, Erie Co., N[ew] York 9/13/1862
Item 17: (month?) 27 1868

Envelope addressed to Miss. Elizabeth Schwartz, Williamsville, Erie County, N. Y. has word "Coyote" written on it.