Papers (1830-1883, 1994) including original letters relating to family matters, Civil War, etc. (12 letters and 2 envelopes) and transcripts of correspondence, 1830-1883, and genealogical documents from a loose leaf notebook (146 pages) compiled by Laura (Foster) Renard, Christmas 1994.
Edward Henry Herbert, of Prince Anne County, VA, was born in 1806. Herbert married Rebecca Tatem and they had five children. Among these children were Annie and Rebecca. In 1867, Annie Elizabeth Herbert married Charles B. Foster, also of Princess Anne County. Foster was born in 1842, and enlisted in The Princess Anne Calvary Company "J", 15th Regiment in 1861.
Included in this collection are a scrapbook and some original letters. The Scrapooks series consists of a photocopied scrapbook compiled by Laura (Foster) Renard in 1994 entitled Herbert/Foster Letters, 1830-1883. This scrapbook contains genealogical information on the Foster, Herbert, Boush and Gibbons families. Specific materials include photocopied letters (some transcribed), photographs, family charts, maps and military records. Photographs are of Charles B. Foster, Annie Herbert Foster and Annie Herbert Foster with students. Military records include a complete roster of The Princess Anne Calvary Company "J", 15th Regiment. Also present are documents concerning Livingston Ingram, Abner Tatem "Buck" Herbert, Charles Burroughs Foster and Edward "Ned" Foster, all of the 5th and 15th Virginia Cavalries.
The Correspondence series contains eleven original letters. Transcriptions of these letters can be found in the previously mentioned scrapbook. Most of the letters in this collection (in both series) consist of 19th Century correspondence between Annie Elizabeth Herbert of Princess Anne County, Virginia and various friends and family members. (During the Civil War Herbert carried letters to soldiers across enemy lines.)
There are also several letters written during the mid-1860s by men who served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Lt. Livingston Ingram comments in his letters on various aspects of camp life. These include nutrition, camaraderie among the soldiers, furloughs, homesickness, previous battles and the effect of war on relationships between soldiers, family and friends. Private Charles B. Foster also provides various descriptions of camp life relating to promotions, furloughs and travel along roads.
Also included are letters sent from Virginia and Tennessee to Annie Herbert from Annie Riddick (possibly a friend) and Rebecca Herbert. These letters provide descriptions of life on the home front during the Civil War. For example, Riddick discusses Union occupation of Richmond, as well as various aspects of civilian life during the Civil War. Among these is the shortage of cloth for dressmaking. Riddick also describes how foodstuffs such as coffee, sugar, milk and butter are in short supply and considered a luxury by all. She also mentions the death of family and friends killed while fighting in the war, as well as her experiences of attending the funerals and remaining in mourning. Much mention is also given to a shortage of paper by both soldiers and civilians. Various battles are also briefly mentioned, including The 2nd Battle of Manassas, The Battle of Richmond and The Battle of Malvern Hill.
Postwar correspondence between Charles B. Foster and Annie Foster can also be found, including one letter sent from Level Green (VA?). These letters describe Charles' struggle to grow productive crops of corn and oats, as well as his frustration resulting from his failure to become self- supportive enough to marry Annie. Other topics include the health of Charles, Annie and their children, and recommended remedies for various illnesses. Of particular interest is a letter sent by Charles in 1881 in which he offers a detailed description of New Orleans during Mardi Gras season. In the letter, he mentions many observations of the parade, including masks, costumes, processions and floats lit with torches. Annie's letters to Charles contain cures for various ailments along with descriptions of her experience as a schoolteacher and mother. Also present are letters written in 1830 and 1854 from Annie's parents, Edward H. Herbert and Rebecca A. Herbert.
Gift of Mary Gibbons
Processed by Elizabeth Cahoon, April 29, 2003
Encoded by Mark Custer, January 9, 2008
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.