Charles R. Pomeroy, Jr. Civil War letters
Scope and Content
This collection consists of six letters written by Charles R. Pomeroy, Jr. to his family while serving in Company A, 33rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Atlanta Campaign of the Civil War. Five are addressed to his sister and one to his father. The letters describe conditions faced by Union soldiers during the campaign including the lack of adequate shelter from the weather; the difficulties they experience while trying to flank Confederate forces; the exhaustion brought on by almost constant movement with very little sleep; and their hopes to soon bring the "Gate City" (Atlanta) under Union control. Of particular interest is a letter to his sister, including two drawings, that describes how the soldiers construct their own breastworks. Also included in the collection are two envelopes; one newspaper clipping describing how to permanently set letters written in pencil; and copies of newspaper clippings that include a transcript of the letter Pomeroy's father received describing his son's death in great detail and the location of his remains.
Dates
- 1864, undated
Creator
- Pomeroy, Charles R., Jr. (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. All requests to publish, quote, or reproduce must be submitted through the Kenan Research Center.
Administrative/Biographical History
Charles R. Pomeroy, Jr. (1842-1864) was the son of C. R. and Elizabeth Pomeroy of Pomeroy, Ohio. He enlisted as a private in Company F, Ohio 18th Regiment, on 22 April 1861, mustered out of that unit in August, and enlisted as a private in Company I, 33rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on 11 October 1861. He was promoted to first sergeant on 31 October 1861, to second lieutenant on 1 January 1862, and to first lieutenant on 15 March 1864. Pomeroy was captured at the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863 and was interned at Libby Prison for several months. Because he was assisting a wounded Union officer at the time of his capture, he was mistaken for a physician. When his captors exchanged him as a doctor, he surrendered to Union authorities in Washington, D.C., for "impersonating an officer." Rather than punishing Pomeroy, he was commended by the Secretary of War for securing his early release and returning to his unit. Pomeroy was leading his unit, Company A, in a charge on Confederate breastworks near Atlanta when he was killed on August 13, 1864.
Extent
1 folder(s)
Language
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase, 2005
Description Control
This collection was processed in 2013.
- Title
- Charles R. Pomeroy, Jr. Civil War letters
- Author
- Sue VerHoef
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository