The full content of this document is only available to subscribing institutions. More information can be found via www.amdigital.co.uk

Collection Reference Number GLC03523.31.24
From Archive Folder Collection of Ira Blanchard, H company, 20th regiment, Illinois, infantry 
Title Ira Blanchard to Mary (Wright) Kellogg discussing communications from the North and asking about her life
Date 29 August 1863
Author Blanchard, Ira (b. 1835)  
Recipient Kellogg, Mary Wright  
Document Type Correspondence
Content Description Blanchard writes to Mary Wright from a camp in Vicksburg. Thanks her for copies of the newspaper "Independent." Reports they are not campaigning now and have much free time. Comments letters from the North are scarce and wonders if his friends have all turned copperheads or simply forgotten him. Speculates many of his lady friends have gotten married because they did not want to wait for the soldiers' return. Inquires if she is going to school and playing the piano. Writes about the beautiful weather and lovely flowers. States that a large steamer blew up at the dock loaded with ammunition for New Orleans. Informs forty soldiers and several lady passengers were killed. Says they are on provost duty in the city.
Subjects Civil War  Military History  Union Forces  Soldier's Letter  Union Soldier's Letter  Journalism  Copperheads  Women's History  Marriage  Art, Music, Theater, and Film  Education  Disaster  Ammunition  Steamboat  Death  
People Blanchard, Ira (b. 1835)  Kellogg, Mary Wright (1844-1912)  
Place written Vicksburg, Mississippi
Theme The American Civil War; Women in American History; Education
Sub-collection Papers and Images of the American Civil War
Additional Information Folder Information: This collection consists chiefly of correspondence from Ira Blanchard, Lieutenant, Company H, 29th Illinois Infantry, to Mary (Wright) Kellogg. These letters document Blanchard's service at Forts Henry and Donelson, Tennessee; Vicksburg, Mississippi; and other areas throughout Missouri, Tennessee and Louisiana from 1861-1863. Sometime after August 1863, Mary (Wright) Kellogg married Captain Henry Kellogg, and the letters from Blanchard ceased. In addition to the correspondence from Blanchard, this collection also includes a letter from Jason D. Wright to his niece Mary (Wright) Kellogg (1864), two obituaries for Mary (Wright) Kellogg (ca. 1912), a newspaper article mentioning Mary Kellogg's daughter, Mrs. L. E. Dodson (ca. 1927), and a collateral envelope. Blanchard enlisted 13 June 1861 in Illinois as a Sargeant. He mustered into "H" Co., Illinois, Infantry.
Copyright The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945
Civil War: Theater of War Main Western Theater  
Civil War: Unit 20th Illinois infantry, H Company