Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Josiah Perry Letters, Accession 2215, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Acquisition Information

The collection was purchased by the Library on February 7, 1947.

Funding Note

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Scope and Content

The Josiah Perry collection consists of ca. 100 letters written by this Union soldier to his wife and family during his involvement in the Civil War, from the time of his enlistment on August 8, 1862, to his being wounded in July of 1864 and subsequent return home. The letters are chiefly addressed to his wife, and deal with a variety of subjects, notably descriptions of battles and camp life, as well as personal observations on the war. Josiah Perry was a native of Sharon, Massachusetts , and a member of Company K of the 33rd Massachussetts Infantry Regiment .

Letters of interest include vivid descriptions of the second battle of Bull Run (August 30, 1862); the battle at Antietam (September 24, 1862); and the battle of Gettysburg (July 17 and 28, 1863). Several letters written in 1862 and 1863 (notably two dated September 6, 1862 and July 28, 1863) deal with Perry's disapproval of the manner in which Northern newspaper editors criticized the actions of Union generals. Nearly every letter provides some description of the activities and living conditions of soldiers in the Union army. Letters often contain Perry's personal feelings about the politics and the war, as well as his religious observations. Perry was honorably discharged on January 25, 1865 due to his disability, a gunshot wound in the hand and wrist.

This collection also contains ca. 30 items of correspondence, 1857-1887, between members of Perry's family . These letters deal with private, family matters.