| A deed from 1763, a Lyon Republican newspaper from 1863, a Wayne County Democrat newspaper 1892, and
various Civil War era letters and/or transcriptions.
This set of letters, spanning the Civil War Period from November 1862 to July 1863, are primarily from a Union soldier, Edwin Steel, to his family (Mother, Father and Brother) in New York.
In these letters, Steel often expresses his disappointment in not receiving replies to the letters he send home. Several times he asks the addressee to send him a postage stamp when they next write him. He also asks his father to send tobacco.
Some of the main subjects Steel writes about are his military activities, including “skirmishes” his company was involved in and “boat duty” he participated in. He also speaks of being sick (with dysentery) and moving around frequently (various places in Louisiana- Carrollton, Thibodeaux, Brashear City- and steaming up the Mississippi River). He always updates his mother on how the other boys in his company are doing and remarks to all that he is “itching for a fight.”
Another significant topic Steel comments on is the point of the war. He states that all of the soldiers have come to the conclusion that they are fighting for the freedom of slaves [African Americans]. Steel also speaks of the atrocities that have occurred during the war, including the Confederates’ treatment of Union prisoners. He says they “made them dig their own graves and shot them in the back.”
The final letters, one from Edwin’s cousin Benjamin W Roys, inform the family of Edwin’s death and comment on the struggle that continues with “the Rebels.”
Steel was a member of the 160th Infantry Regiment (160th New York Volunteers). The regiment was created on September 6, 1862 and mustered into the service of the U.S. for three years on November 21, 1862. They left New York on December 4, 1862 and served mostly in Louisiana (Bayou Teche, Gunboat Cotton, Berwick City, Pattersonville, Fort Bisland, Jeanerette, Plain Store, Port Hudson, Sabine Cross Roads, Pleasant Hill, Cane River Crossing and Mansura) and later Virginia (Snicker’s Ferry, Opequon, Fisher’s Hill and Cedar Creek).
Throughout the entire war the casualties are as follows: Killed- 4 Officers, 40 Enlisted; Wounded- 15 Officers (of which 2 later died), 175 Enlisted (of which 13 later died); Missing- 1 Officer and 33 Enlisted. The regiment was honorably discharged and mustered out at Savannah, GA on November 1, 1865.
Lyon Republican, Friday April 24, 1863- There is a small "War News in Brief" report. It reports on all fronts of the war and specifically mentions the Bayou Teche area and that there was a "skirmish near Franklin on the 12th."
Rockland County Democrat, May 20, 1892- This newspaper really does not mention anything relevant to Steel or the war.
Accessioned by Neva Sypniewski
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