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  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, June 4, 1865

    In this letter from June 4, 1865, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his preparations to start another survey the following morning. Reed outlines his potential route and notes the inexperience of his crew, as most of his previous group found other employment. He also details an upcoming Indian gathering, featuring all of the tribes in the vicinity of Salt Lake and Brigham Young.

  • Letter from Jennie Reed, May 26, [1865]

    In this letter from May 26, 1865, Jennie Reed writes to her cousin Adda discussing various family matters and some of her activities during her stay in Burlington, Iowa. She notes that her husband, Samuel Reed, is in Mount Pleasant, Iowa that day and will soon go "out on the line for a month."

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, May 21, 1865

    In this letter from May 21, 1865, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family noting their arrival in Denver after a week-long stagecoach ride. Reed notes the ample evidence of Indian attacks along the route.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, May 14, 1865

    In this short letter from May 14, 1865, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his arrangements to leave Omaha at 8:00 p.m. that evening with two assistants. His bill for the stage is an exorbitant $1,200.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, April 20, 1865

    In this letter from April 20, 1865, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the difficulty of traveling by stagecoach and mentions that he heard the news of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Reed notes that their party was the first to inform many people of the President's death. He also describes a memorial service in Omaha, NE.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Artemus J. Mathewson to Samuel B. Reed, April 13, 1865

    In this letter from April 13, 1865, Artemus J. Mathewson writes to Samuel Reed describing a taxing visit to New York , during which he was required to draw and shade profiles of the work done on the railroad the previous summer in the mountains of Utah. He notes that he repaired some of Reed's survey tools, and asks Reed to write a letter on his behalf to Thomas C. Durant requesting reimbursement for the "expense of the luxury" of room and board Mathewson incurred during his illness in Utah. He tells Reed he is uncertain that he will be able to accompany him "out on that miserable desert" for the next season's work.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Artemus J. Mathewson to Samuel B. Reed, April 12, 1865

    In this letter from April 12, 1865, Artemus J. Mathewson writes to Samuel Reed following a return from a trip to New York . He states that "the committees had not met and dissolved and others had met & they were meeting nearly every day." He discusses some survey maps and profiles he presented to them and repeatedly asks Reed come visit him, seeming anxious to discuss the matter in person. Mathewson rewrote and extended this letter the next day.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Thomas C. Durant, April 10, 1865

    In this letter from April 10, 1865, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, requesting that he talk with General Dix, President of the Union Pacific Railroad, and settle the question of an increase in pay for Reed for the previous year's services. Reed tells Durant that Mrs. Reed is authorized to sign a voucher for the amount of $490 "if you will send her the money."

  • | Letter

    Letter from Mary C.E. to Jennie Reed, March 26, 1865

    In this letter from March 26, 1865, Mary C.E. writes to Jennie Reed, wife of Samuel Reed, describing flooding which has damaged the local railroad and bridges, preventing mail from getting through. She discusses the drafting of a family member, who has not yet received his notice and may therefore avoid having to report for duty. She also notes that an acquaintance died sixteen days after receiving a wound to the ankle in the war, and that his family did not learn of his death for two weeks.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Thomas C. Durant, March 1865

    In this letter from March of 1865, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, submitting a list of the men he will need for a work party he will take with him to make surveys in the mountains of the Utah Territory. He notes that "if the line is run South of the Unitas and East of Green River a military escort will be necessary for the safty of the party."

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, January 13, 1865

    In this short letter from January 13, 1865, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his work schedule and informs them that he hopes to head west again before March 1.

  • | Annual report

    Report from Division Engineer Samuel B. Reed to Chief Engineer Peter A. Dey Describing Survey from Green River to Salt Lake City, December 24, 1864

    In this December 24, 1864 report, Samuel B. Reed describes his surveys and explorations of the land from Green River, Utah to Salt Lake City. He gives his recommendations for the route of the Union Pacific Railroad line, including the availability of timber for railroad ties and coal to power the locomotives.

  • Letter from Peter A. Dey to Samuel B. Reed, December 10, 1864

    In this letter from December 10, 1864, Peter A. Dey, Chief Engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad, writes to Samuel Reed describing the way in which Reed should prepare his survey report for the Railroad's directors. Dey also mentions that Reed has his full support and that he (Dey) voiced this sentiment to members of the Board.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Peter A. Dey to Samuel B. Reed, December 10, 1864

    In this letter from December 10, 1864, Peter A. Dey, Chief Engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad, writes to Samuel Reed describing the way in which Reed should prepare his survey report for the Railroad's directors. Dey also mentions that Reed has his full support and that he (Dey) voiced this sentiment to members of the Board.

  • | Illustration

    View in Atlanta, Georgia

    This image from the November 26, 1864 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts the railroad depot in Atlanta, Georgia.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, November 17, 1864

    In this short letter from November 17, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the wind and cold he endured during a 20-day stagecoach ride from Salt Lake City.

  • | Illustration

    Soldiers' Building Roads in Front of Petersburg

    This image from the November 5, 1864 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts a train in the distance as Union soldiers under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant build a road near Petersburg, Virginia during the American Civil War.

  • | Illustration

    United States Military Railroad Before Petersburg

    This image from the November 5, 1864 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts a Union military railroad near Petersburg, Virginia during the American Civil War.

  • | Time Table

    Brookline Branch Railroad Timetable, October 31, 1864

    This timetable, which took effect October 31, 1864, shows departure times and fares on the Brookline Branch Railroad. It also features a complete schedule for "Newton Special Trains."

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, October 27, 1864

    In this letter from October 27, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family noting his new assignment to "go west and explore on horseback the route out of the desert."