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  • | Legal decision

    Excerpts from Plessy v. Ferguson dissent

    These excerpts from Justice John Harlan's dissent from the Supreme Court's Plessy v Ferguson decision include scathing counter-arguments to the majority decision that asserted the legality of "separate but equal" facilities.

  • | Legal decision

    Excerpts from Plessy v. Ferguson decision

    These excerpts from the Supreme Court's Plessy v Ferguson decision outline primary points of the seven-man decision that asserted the constitutionality of "separate but equal" facilities.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Reverend John Wilkinson to Reverend Doctor Lord, September 19, 1860

    In this letter from September 19, 1860, John Wilkinson, rector of Christ Church in Joliet, Illinois, writes to the Reverend Doctor Lord of Vicksburg, Mississippi introducing Samuel Reed to his "pastoral care." He states that Reed "contemplates passing the winter in your city."

  • | Letter

    Letter from Julia B. Abbott to Jennie Reed, September 25, 1860

    In this letter from September 25, 1860, Julia B. Abbott writes to Jennie Reed, wife of Samuel Reed, discussing various family news. She notes that she attended the anniversary exercises at the Theological Seminary in Andover, Massachusetts and enjoyed it very much. Among those "celebrities" she saw and heard were Professor Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Ward Beecher.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John R. Boyle to Samuel B. Reed, March 17, 1862

    In this letter from March 17, 1862, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed discussing their shared opinion of the war as "unrational." Boyle states that he believes "we are decimating and depopulating the country" and expresses worry that there will not be enough work for all of the men once the war ends. He claims that agents from Australia and Canada are encouraging people to emigrate, and proposes that Reed work with him in a future venture.

  • | Letter

    Letter from W. P. Smith to J. W. Garrett, August 8, 1862

    The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Master of Transportation, W. P. Smith, writes to the firm's president of the "rough" removal of a nurse from a B and O train.

  • | Letter

    Letter from J. W. Garrett to General M. C. Meigs, August 9, 1862

    The President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad writes to General Meigs about the treatment of nurses on his rail line following an incident reported by Dorothea Dix.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, August, 10 1862

    In this letter from August 10, 1862, Samuel Reed writes to his wife from Center Township, Iowa stating that he feels like he is "on the extreme borders of civilization." He describes the excitement over the war in the area, speculating that if enlistment throughout Iowa were on par with that portion of the state "it will not be necessary to resort to [a] draft." Reed also offers an anecdote of his party's progress just before leaving Ottumwa, Iowa, and notes that a son of Mr. Thielsen, aged 13, has joined his party.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Jennie Reed to Samuel B. Reed, August 12, 1862

    In this letter from August 12, 1862, Jennie Reed writes to her husband, Samuel Reed, from their home in Joliet, Illinois regarding rumors of a "large guerilla force near Hanibal" [Illinois]. She worries that Samuel may be "captured or killed or carried away a prisoner" and asks him to write her more often to reassure her of his safety. She also discusses the possibility of a draft and the harvesting and sale of the crops on their farm.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, August 16, 1862

    In this letter from August 16, 1862, Samuel Reed writes to his wife reiterating his belief that there is no danger of a draft in Iowa given the large number of volunteers, and hopes that a draft will not be necessary in the state of Illinois either. He also relates the details of his visit to a Baptist church, describing both the building and the congregation as "of very humble pretensions." He tells his wife that there is no possibility of him returning home for a visit until the field work is completed, but that he believes he will be able to get a family pass on the railroad for visitations.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, August 24, 1862

    In this letter from August 24, 1862, Samuel Reed writes to his wife describing the difficulty of his party's work. He states that "the life we are now living would well fit us for army servis," and relates joking with his men about joining the army as engineers, admitting that he "would be the first to back out if a serious proposition of that kind was made to us." Reed also gives an account of where the men in his party are originally from.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, September 1, 1862

    In this letter from September 1, 1862, Samuel Reed writes to his wife to assure them that he is safe from "all [Confederate] moving bands." He also comments on "the Indian troubles in Minnesota," stating that although he knows nothing of them he is not surprised to learn that there have been attacks on "the defenseless frontier on the north west" as there are many "fierce and warlike nations" which would relish an opportunity to attack whites.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, September 7, 1862

    In this letter from September 7, 1862, Samuel Reed writes to his wife stating that he may be home for a visit within three weeks if the field work continues at the present rate of eleven miles per week. He expresses surprise at the fact that the army "from Kansas had retreated from Arkansas" and requests information as to the war's progress in "Virginia and elsewhere." Reed states that most business not pertaining to the army seems to have been suspended, and worries that someone "more ambitious than patriotic" may be able to influence the Union army and assume control of the government as a military dictator.

  • | Letter

    Letter from B.J. Earl to Jennie Reed, September 29, 1862

    In this letter from September 29, 1862, B.J. Earl, Samuel Reed's brother-in-law, writes to his sister Jennie Reed requesting family news. He describes excitement over the war and enlistment in Pennsylvania and also details the progress of railroad construction in the area. He notes that their sister, Lettie, was forced to leave her home "on account of the Indian troubels in Minna" and asks if Samuel Reed's brother, Erastus Reed, enlisted in the war.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Erastus H. Reed to Jennie Reed, November 2, 1862

    In this letter from November 2, 1862, Erastus H. Reed, one of the enlisted brothers of Samuel Reed, writes to Jennie Reed describing his new life as a soldier as "a stern reality." He offers details on his regiment's encounters (or lack thereof) with the Confederate Army, and complains about the hard marching they have been forced to endure. He requests supplies and news, and encourages "Sister Jennie" to write to him as often as possible.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Children, December 7, 1862

    In this letter from December 7, 1862, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family from Burlington, Iowa requesting news from home. He notes that many in the area "would sooner see both north and south irretrievably ruined than have a settlement on any other grounds than the utter extinction of slavery." Reed states that if the North can hold out for another year peace may be possible, but he does not expect it any sooner unless "through foreign intervention."

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, June 7, 1863

    In this letter from June 7, 1863, Samuel Reed writes to his wife upon learning of the death of family friend Charles H. Abbott in the war. He notes the heavy losses of Union troops and, referencing Vicksburg, states that hundreds more are added each day. He tells his wife that after the directors of the railroad meet on the 17th of June, he will "know what to do about remaining on the road." Reed also describes an unexpected encounter with three "contrabands from Arkansas" while scouting timberland for purchase.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, August 9, 1863

    In this letter from August 9, 1863, Samuel Reed writes to his wife that he may be able to return home for a visit by the end of the week. He notes that Mr. Boyle is "getting along finely with his work," has 150 men employed, and hopes to be finished before the winter frosts. Reed also details a "rebellion" in Keokuk County, Iowa.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, August 16, 1863

    In this letter from August 16, 1863, Samuel Reed writes to his wife expressing regret that he could not return home for a visit the previous week. He describes the intolerably hot weather in Burlington, Iowa, and compares it to the climate of Vicksburg, Mississippi. He also notes that his enlisted brother, Erastus, is still doing well and hopes "he may escape the many dangers incident to a soldier's life."

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, August 30, 1863

    In this letter from August 30, 1863, Samuel Reed writes to his wife after a visit home telling her how homesick he is and how busy he has been since his return to Burlington, Iowa. He notes that he met a Captain Mundore on his return trip through Chicago and plans to "write to him about a situation nearer home," though he has little faith in succeeding.