Beschreibung:

Archive of 20+ Civil War letters, plus photographs, personal items, and books relating to Corporal Frederick Swarman, 12th Massachusetts Infantry. Swarman was a machinist from Medway, MA, who enlisted as a Corporal in the first month of the war and mustered into Co. E of the 12th on June 26, 1861. He was severely wounded at Antietam, necessitating the amputation of his right leg and an eventual medical discharge in April of 1863. Four months later, however, he joined 8th Co., 2nd Battalion Veteran Reserve Corps (originally Invalid Corps), and served until January of 1864. Most of the letters are addressed to Frederick Swarman or his wife and family, and many regard his injury and whereabouts following Antietam: four letters from Sergeant William H. Durfee, R.I. Cavalry (his CDV in album); two letters from Charles C. Wehrum, Co. E., 12th Massachusetts, (his CDV in album); four letters and discharge papers of Fred's brother John Swarman (his CDV and tintype in album); three letters from Dr. William Prior, of "Antietam Hospital," (his CDV in album); one letter from Maria M.C. Hall, nurse at "Antietam Hospital" (she is noted in several sources accessible on the web regarding notable women of the war); four letters from the Massachusetts Soldier Relief Association and others regarding Swarman's injury; and five miscellaneous Civil War letters. All letters are war date and most contain good general content about the war, war life, and the travails of a wounded soldier and his family. Dates and content summaries can be viewed at cowans.com. Also included is a CDV album with space for 60 photographs, at two per page. Many cartes are identified as members of the Harding, Hutchins, Ellis, and Durfee families; tintype of older Fred Swarman with grandchildren; CDV of Co. E friend Charles C. Wehrum wearing kepi; man identified as William Prior / Hospital Antietam; two CDVs of a First Sergeant, by Mason & Gardner of Providence; two CDVs of men in uniform, by John Holyand; and a copy CDV of abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher. Additional photographs include: full plate tintype of a postwar Fred Swarman; full plate of children; three large format mounted albumens of schoolhouses, schoolchildren, and a dry goods store; and 10 cabinet cards of women and homes. Swarman's military and personal items include: kepi emblazoned 96 SV; leather wallet containing CSA $0.50, $10 and $20 bills; two binoculars, one by Jumelle Marine and one by W.E. Woodman Co., made in France; 1870 Commonwealth of Massachusetts recognition of service document, signed by the governor; and the 1875 diary of Fred's brother John H. Swarman. Books and other imprints include: New York Tribune of February 14, 1865; Profutt's Tourist, Vol. VI, 1874, 160pp, including pull-out railroad maps; History of the Great Rebellion, by Thomas P. Kettell, published at Hartford, CT: L. Stebbins & Cincinnati, F.A. Howe, 1865 (loose binding); Four Years of Fighting, by C.C. Coffin, publ. at Boston: Ticknor & Fields, 1866, 8vo, 558pp (loose binding); Record of the Second Massachusetts Infantry, 1861-1865, by Alonzo H. Quint, Regiment Chaplain, publ. at Boston: James P. Walker, 1867, 8vo, 528pp (loose binding); The History of Medway, Mass., 4to, 534pp (binding destroyed), The Military History of Medway, Mass., 4to, 110pp, and The Medway Biographies and Genealogies, 4to, 208pp, all by E.O. Jameson, 1886; and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town of Millis, Massachusetts, publ. by Millis Press, 1935 (loose binding).