June 26, 1864 | Letter
In this letter from June 26, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his hard work over the previous week. Reed also mentions the recent change in his diet, as he caught two brook trout and another member of the party shot an antelope.
June 18, 1864 | Letter
In this letter from June 18, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family detailing the difficulty of the terrain. In three weeks he has only surveyed 24 miles. Reed also notes the pleasant climate, comments on the price of gold, and describes a few of the men in his party.
June 12, 1864 | Letter
In this letter from June 12, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his first forty miles of surveying. Reed describes the high prices for various foodstuffs—including $14.00 for 100 pounds of flour—all of which were purchased from Mormons on the trail, by order of Brigham Young.
June 7, 1864 | Letter
In this letter from June 7, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his first few days of work surveying a route for the Union Pacific railroad. He comments on his living quarters, bed, and food.
May 26, 1864 | Letter
In this letter from May 26, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the pleasant condition of Salt Lake City and its exceptional organization.
May 21, 1864 | Letter
In this letter from May 21, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his travel from Atchison, Kansas to Salt Lake City. He spent thirteen days and nights on the stage coach with nine other passengers and describes the weather and terrain he encountered.
May 8, 1864 | Letter
In this letter from May 8, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the difficulty in arranging travel due to the gold-seekers and notes the exceptionally high stage coach fares.
May 3, 1864 | Letter
In this letter from May 3, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his upcoming trip to Salt Lake City via the Overland Stage. He notes that in Atchison he has seen many runaway slaves from Missouri. This letter also includes Reed's instructions from Peter Dey in the Engineer's Office.
April 28, 1864 | Letter
In this letter from April 28, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his orders to leave for Atchison, Kansas on the first boat.
April 25, 1864
In this letter from April 25, 1864, Peter A. Dey, Chief Engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad, writes to Samuel Reed informing him that the Board of Directors has assigned him to survey the land between the Great Salt Lake Valley and Green River in Utah. He states that "President [Brigham] Young has volunteered to furnish you party and transportation for your work." Dey gives detailed descriptions of the areas through which the line will most likely have to be run, telling Reed that "it will be safe to sacrifice distance and straight lines to cost of construction."
April 19, 1864 | Letter
In this letter from April 19, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing how the numerous gold-seekers heading west from Omaha make travel difficult and expensive.
April 15, 1864 | Letter
In this letter from April 15, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the difficult terrain he will survey and notes the potential danger from Indians.
April 5, 1864 | Letter
In this letter from April 5, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his tiresome travel from Grinnell, Iowa via stage and discusses his coming work.
March 17, 1864 | Book
In these excerpts from a Senate debate over regulations for a District of Columbia street railroad, many typical arguments for and against public segregation are aired in language that also reveals attitudes towards race and equality as the Civil War continued.
1864 | Photograph
December 6, 1863
In this letter from December 6, 1863, Samuel Reed writes to his wife describing how busy he has been kept with the problems his crew has been having with wells along the line of railroad construction. He states that he has found his name on the draft enrollment list in Burlington, Iowa "among the unmarried and less than 45." He believes he will be able to prove both facts untrue, and asks her to check the enrollment list in Joliet, Illinois so that he may work to have his name removed from that list as well if it appears there. Reed also expresses displeasure at the efforts of some to force the pastor at the church he attends to "preach abolitionism instead of the gospel as handed down from the Fathers."
December 1, 1863
In this letter from December 1, 1863, Samuel Reed writes to his wife discussing the next day's city election in Burlington, Iowa. He worries that there will be trouble and expresses anger at the Republican Party for having "thrown away the old constitution which has been our safeguard thus far in our national existence and set up the administration in its place whose greatest asperations seems to be the nigger." Reed states that he is glad he has business on the road the next day, as he has no desire to be near any "row" which may occur. He also notes that there is still no certainty regarding the extension of the road that season, and is undecided "about staying here for 1000 a year and gold rapidly advancing."
November 29, 1863
In this letter from November 29, 1863, Danforth H. Ainsworth writes to Samuel Reed informing him of his new position with the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad. He states that he is glad to have the position, even if it only pays $75.00 per month. Ainsworth also notes the progress of the work of their mutual friend and fellow railroad employee, John R. Boyle, and asks Reed to write to him at his new position as often as he has the chance.
October 11, 1863
In this letter from October 11, 1863, Jennie Reed writes to her husband, Samuel Reed, describing the progress of the harvest on their farm. She states that his enlisted brother, Erastus H. Reed, is still well, but that many believe Colonel Frederick A. Bartleson was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga.
October 3, 1863
In this letter from October 3, 1863, Jennie Reed writes to her husband, Samuel Reed, expressing hope that he succeeds in his latest attempt to secure employment closer to home. She also relays information concerning some acquaintances of theirs who have been wounded in the war, noting that Erastus H. Reed, Samuel Reed's enlisted brother, is still alive and well.