Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation

MSS 16441, Moore brothers Civil War letters and papers, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.

Provenance

Donated by Nancy Ament, 21 May 2019.

Biographical Note

John Wesley Moore was born on February 10,1840 and Albe Cady Barrett Moore was born April 18, 1844 to Michael Moore (b.1813-) and Rebecca Case in Elmira, New York. Other siblings included Susan Minerva Moore Black (1838-1905)(husband Reuben Black), Mary Melissa Moore Aldrich (1842-), and Theodore Harrison Moore (1846-).

Their mother died on August 27, 1847 and their father was remarried to Elisabeth Munch in 1848 and had four more children. In 1858 the family moved to Winona County, Minnesota. There is a more in depth genealogy of the Moore family in the collection.

Scope and Contents Note

The Moore brothers Civil War letters and papers (1861-1876; 0.2 cubic feet) consists of letters to family from two brothers serving on the Union side of the Civil War, one on the Eastern theatre, Albe Cady Barrett Moore in Company K, 5th Regiment Wisconsin volunteers, and John Wesley Moore, on the Western theater, in the Company B, 7th Regiment, Minnesota volunteers.

Albe Moore fought with the Army of the Potomac and died from illness in 1862 at Harrison's Landing near Richmond, Va. His letters contain information about battles fought in Yorktown, Va., Lee's Mill, Williamsburg, Gaines Mill, Goldings Farm, Garnett's Farm, White Oak Swamp, and Malvern Hill.

John Wesley Moore fought in the Western Theater and against Minnesota Dakota Indians at the Battle of Wood Lake and the Battle of Big Mound. Also mentioned are the "Winona Rifles".

The letters contain vivid descriptions of battle and camp life including regular visits from General McClellan and a sighting of President Abraham Lincoln.

Arrangement

The materials have been placed in chronological order.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Correspondence
• letters (correspondence)