Papers (1862-1863) consisting of correspondence from a Massachusetts soldier written to his mother while he was stationed for part of his Civil War service in occupied New Bern, North Carolina.
Lucius Thomas was a member of Co. F, 7th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteers. He was stationed in various camps in Massachusetts before being transported to North Carolina for Union occupation duty.
The bulk of the correspondence was addressed from New Bern, NC, to his mother Mary A. Thomas, of Marshfield, Massachusetts.
Of particular interest is the mention of Confederate preparations against a Union attack in the New Bern area. A letter mentions a battle near New Bern in which Union gunboats shelled the Confederates, and other letters mention battles near Washington and expeditions of Union troops to Pollocksville and Trenton.
Also of note are commentaries on camp routine, camp facilities,food, it's acquisition and preparations, and descriptions of New Bern. Other topics include General Foster's inspection of Union troops, the Ladies Relief Society, the Union Volunteers Refreshment Saloon in Philadelphia, and trips aboard Union transport vessels the MERRIMACK and EMILIE. Among these letters is a drawing of the floor plan of a tent and the positions of all the occupants and equipment. Several letters relate the problems that arose in the shipping of the Union dead back to their families and the activities of the camp sutler.
Gift of Dr. Edwin M. Wolf
Processed by R. Browning, October 1978; Updated by N. Hardison, June 2025
Encoded by Apex Data Services
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