Biographical/historical information

James Willard Carter was born in 1842 to James and Indiana Carter in Cambridge, MA. He married Ellen J. Nealy in 1845. He served in the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. Following his service, he and Ellen had four children. Most of his children died young, with only his son Robert surviving to adulthood. Carter's wife died in 1885 and he later died in 1918 in Concord, MA.

Scope and arrangement

This collection consists of correspondence (1861-1862, 1864) of James W. Carter, a Massachusetts soldier in the Civil War, with his cousin Lydia A. Goodnow.

Of particular interest are comments on camp life, the Battles of Big Bethel and First Bull Run (Manassas), General Benjamin Butler's role at Bethel, and General Winfield Scott's praise of Massachusetts troops (June, 1861). Other commentaries concern the disruption of camp routine by discovery of gold in a nearby creek, a visit by Governor John Albion Andrews of Massachusetts to their camp at Alexandria (July, 1861), a 4th of July celebration (1861), and the unsanitary conditions that the white community left the black community in. Battle information relates to an advance to Centreville, Union defeat at bull Run, and the effectiveness of enemy fire (July, 1861).

Letters from Camp Meigs mention possible assignment to General Nathaniel P. Banks for an expedition to Texas or New Bern, N.C. Also included is a report and newspaper criticism of a disorder involving the 47th Mass. Regiment. Apparently a small riot had erupted over the poor quality of food being furnished by food contractors (1862). The last Civil War letter comments on conditions in New Orleans and tells of Union troops rounding up and supervising enslaved Black people on the plantations (1864).

The remaining correspondence (1888-1918) deals with family matters, the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic), the death of James W. Carter, and the disposition of his lands. One letter gives a detailed account of an East to West coast railway trip on the Canadian Pacific R. R. through Montreal to Vancouver and south to San Francisco. Particular attention is devoted to the growing of wheat in the Midwest, cattle raising, Midwestern Canada, and the Rocky Mountains.

Administrative information

Custodial History

July 1, 1974, 22 items; Correspondence (1831-1918) of Massachusetts soldier. Loaned for copying by Mr. David R. Pruette, Greenville, N.C.

Source of acquisition

Loaned by Mr. David R. Pruette

Processing information

Processed by R. Faulkner, May 1975

Encoded by Apex Data Service

Updated by A. Racine, May 2023 and N. Hardison, August 2024

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Metadata Rights Declaration

Key terms

Personal Names

Carter, James Willard, -1918

Corporate Names

Grand Army of the Republic

Topical

Big Bethel, Battle of, Va., 1861--Personal narratives
Bull Run, 1st Battle of, Va., 1861--Personal narratives

Places

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives

Container list