Buckley, R. Letter R. Buckley Letter, 1864 Ms.1989.042

R. Buckley Letter, 1864 Ms.1989.042


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Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech

Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Business Number: 540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu

John M. Jackson

Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Identification
Ms.1989.042
Title
R. Buckley Letter 1864
Quantity
0.1 Cubic Feet, 1 folder
Creator
Buckley, Ralph, 1830-1895
Language
The materials in the collection are in English.
Abstract
Letter from Union Army Captain R. Buckley, written to wife and mother from Rock Island, Illinois, where Buckley's regiment was engaged in guarding prisoners at a prisoner-of-war camp.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

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Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], R. Buckley Letter, Ms1989-042, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The R. Buckley Letter was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 1989.

Processing Information

The processing and description of the R. Buckley Letter commenced and was completed in January 2022.


Biographical Note

Apart from the signature, this letter contains no information to identify the writer. The writer addresses "Sally" within the contents so that seems to have been the name of his wife. Elsewhere the contents seem to suggest that the writer will soon return home to Philadelphia.

The writer may have been Ralph Buckley, born in England on January 31, 1830. As a young man, Buckley immigrated to the United States. He married Sarah Bowden (1824-1884), and the couple lived in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, where Buckley worked as a tinsmith. On June 27, 1863, he joined Company F, 29th Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia (Emergency) as first lieutenant. Later in 1863, he joined Company B of the 124th Pennsylvania Infantry as a second lieutenant, then was promoted to first lieutenant. On July 8, 1864, Buckley enrolled as captain of the 197th Pennsylvania Infantry, a 100-day regiment. Ralph Buckley died on October 11, 1895, and was buried in Middletown Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Elwyn.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of a single letter from Union soldier R. Buckley, writing from Rock Island to his mother and wife. The writer is likely Ralph Buckley of the 197th Pennsylvania Infantry. Buckley writes briefly of personal matters, health, and weather and is happy to report that the health of his regiment is improving: "I have not a man that is dangeriously ill ..." He notes that the regiment has had two deaths and that he will enclose papers for Mr. Evans so that he can collect the pay due his son. The closing passage suggests that Buckley will soon be returning home: "Now Sally in about three weeks you will be enciously looking to heare of your humbug being on his way to Phila, it is not long to keep up Salley, by increased affection we will pay up for our separation ..."

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Civil War
  • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the R. Buckley Letter by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).

Container List

folder 1
Letter
1864