University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

White, Samuel, d. 1864.

Papers, 1862-1865.

UWM Manuscript Collection 135

.2 cubic ft. (1 small archives box)

ABSTRACT: Collection consists of seven letters written by two brothers and a friend describing their Civil War experiences to their family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Samuel White, captain in the 5th Wisconsin Infantry, wrote five of the letters, which describe his role in the infamous Mud March, an officer's mess in winter camp, the appointment of Ambrose Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac, the presentation of new battle flags by the governor of Wisconsin, and a review of the troops by General Grant. One letter written by William H. White describes the reaction of the soldiers to the assassination of President Lincoln. One letter from Alexander Samuels describes how Captain White lost an arm in combat and the losses incurred by his unit during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in May 1864. (White died two weeks later.)

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

White, Samuel, d. 1864. Papers, 1862-1865. UWM Manuscript Collection 135. Golda Meir Library. University Manuscript Collections. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS:

Butterfield, Miles, b. 1837. Papers, 1964-1865. (UWM Manuscript Collection 77)

Millane family. Photographs, ca. 1861-1908. (UWM Manuscript Collection 130)

United States. Army. Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, 5th (1861-1865). Records, 1861-1865. (UWM Manuscript Collection 78)

United States. Army. Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, 5th (1865). Muster-Out roll, 1865. (UWM Manuscript Collection 81)

ACQUISITION: The Golda Meir Library purchased the collection from manuscript dealer Charles Apfelbaum in 1998.

PROCESSING: Mark A. Vargas processed the collection at the Archives in October 1998.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Assassination--Public opinion--Sources.
Soldiers--Wisconsin--Correspondence.
Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of, Va., 1864.
United States. Army. Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, 5th (1861-1865).
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives.
Wilderness, Battle of the, Va., 1864.