Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1805.044 |
Collection |
Moore Letters |
Object Name |
Letter |
Title |
Moore Letters |
Scope & Content |
Will Moore wrote about 46 letters home between summer 1862 and summer 1865, mostly to his mother. One was written to his father, and a few were written to his brother. He was a part of the 119th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Will's letters recall camp and military life, including marching, setting up camp, weather, exposure to the elements, and exposure to battles. Will witnessed the post battle carnage and misery of the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the battles of the Overland Campaign, the City Point wharf explosion, and the siege of Richmond and Pietersburg. The Confederates came remarkably close to capturing Will during the Battle of Cedar Creek – part of the Valley Campaigns – in 1863. Will's letters also detail the mentalities of a soldier, specifically the importance of home and family connections, and the moral bosting effect on letters. Will gained hospital experience, and wrote about wounded soldiers after battle, and the effect of sickness on the soldiers. William W. Moore wrote around 29 letters home between summer 1862 and summer 1865, mostly to his sisters Mary and Mollie [sometimes spelt "Molly,"], his brother, and his mother. William W. Moore’s letters recall camp and military life, including marching, setting up camp, weather, exposure to the elements, and exposure to battles. He enlisted on August 15, 1862 with the 50th New York Engineers and wrote about his experience surrounding the Battle of Franklins Crossing, the Battle of Fredericksburg, and other smaller engagements. In 1864, William became a 2nd Lieutenant in the 38th Regiment United States Colored Troops and fought in the Battle of New Market Heights, where he died in battle. His letters detail the mentalities of a soldier, specifically the importance of home and family connections, and the moral bosting effect on letters. William wrote remarkable little on his experience as a leader of Black troops, however, his few lines on the subject convey a certain amount of prejudice toward his Black subordinates. |
Dates of Creation |
1862 - 1865 |
Year Range from |
1862 |
Year Range to |
1865 |
Notes |
This collection was originally labeled as the "William M. Moore Letters." The collection is housed in one box with seven folders of original civil war letters and a folder of military records relating to William M. Moore, the Union Solider that originally enlisted with the New York Engineers before becoming an officer with the United States Colored Troops. The military papers in this folder correspond with the William Moore that died at the Battle of New Market Heights on September 29, 1864. While in the process of transcribing the letters, it became evident that the collection was actually comprised of letters from two different William Moores that both fought in the Union Army. The two Moores have different handwriting, use different names for family members, and sign their names differently. The letters in folders 1 through 4 were from Will Moore, as he signs his name, a Pennsylvania soldier in the 119th PVI. Will Moore lives past the Battle of New Market Heights as there are letters from him dated through the end of the war in 1865. The letters in folders 5 through 7 were from William M. Moore, a New York Engineer and later officer with the USCTs. William W. Moore’s affiliation with the 38th Regiment of the USCT matches military records on file and his letters stop after the date of his death, confirming his identity. |
Extent of Description |
1 box, 9 folders |
Relation |
Show Related Records... |
Legal Status |
On loan from the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia. |
Multimedia Files |
Click here to view the full transcription of the Moore Letters Collection. |
People |
Moore, Will Moore, William W. |
Search Terms |
Moore Letters 119th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry 50th New York Engineers 38th United States Colored Troops |
Containers |
01-01: Correspondence to Mother and Father, 1862 01-02: Correspondence to Mother and Father, 1863 01-03: Correspondence to Mother and Father, 1864 01-04: Correspondence to Mother and Father, 1865 01-05: Correspondence with Others, 1862 01-06: Correspondence with Others, 1863 01-07: Correspondence with Others, 1864 01-08: Transcriptions, Incomplete, 1862 - 1864 01-09: Miscellaneous Photocopies of Military Papers, 1862 - 1865 |