September 29, 1862 | Letter
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.
September 21, 1862 | Letter
In this letter from September 21, 1862, Samuel Reed writes to his wife offering advice pertaining to the affairs of the family farm. He briefly mentions hearing of a treaty made with the Indians, but states that he has "no faith in treaties with them if the war with the south lasts." Reed also states that orders from Mr. Thielsen have caused him to delay his plans to visit home, but that he will return as soon as he can.
September 7, 1862 | Letter
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.
September 1, 1862 | Letter
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.
August 24, 1862 | Letter
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.
August 12, 1862 | Letter
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.
August 10, 1862 | Letter
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.
March 17, 1862 | Letter
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.
November 26, 1864 | Illustration
This image from the November 26, 1864 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts the railroad depot in Atlanta, Georgia.
November 5, 1864 | Illustration
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.
November 5, 1864 | Illustration
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.
October 22, 1864 | Illustration
This image from the October 22, 1864 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts the arrival of fresh recruits by train during the Battle of Peeble's Farm as part of Union General Ulysses S. Grant's Virginia Campaign during the American Civil War.
October 1, 1864 | Illustration
This image from the October 1, 1864 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts the destruction of railway cars by Confederate General John Bell Hood before the evacuation of Atlanta during the American Civil War.
July 9, 1864 | Illustration
This image from the July 9, 1863 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts Union soldiers under the command of General William T. Sherman constructing a telegraph line along railroad tracks in Georgia.
July 9, 1864 | Illustration
This image from the July 9, 1863 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts Union soldiers under the command of General William T. Sherman at "Big Shany Station" near Kennesaw, Georgia.
July 2, 1864 | Illustration
This image from the July 2, 1864 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts Union soldiers under the command of General William T. Sherman near a railroad depot at Adairsville, Georgia during the American Civil War.
July 2, 1864 | Illustration
This image from the July 2, 1864 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts a railroad tracks and telegraph wires at Kingston, Georgia.
July 2, 1864 | Illustration
This image from the July 2, 1864 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts Union soldiers under the command of General William T. Sherman near a railroad depot at Resaca, Georgia during the American Civil War.
July 2, 1864 | Illustration
This image from the July 2, 1864 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts Union soldiers under the command of General William T. Sherman destroying a railroad bridge at Resaca, Georgia during the American Civil War.
May 21, 1864 | Illustration
This image from the May 21, 1864 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts Union soldiers from the First Brigade, Third Division of the Twenty-third Army Corps destroying the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad during the American Civil War.