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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02232.13 |
| From Archive Folder | Collection of Edward Ward, 4th regiment, Tennessee, infantry |
| Title | Edward K Ward to his sister describing his living conditions, and friends he has lost |
| Date | 26 January 1863 |
| Author | Ward, Edward K. (1837-1864) |
| Recipient | Ward, Elmira |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | He describes the interior of his tent in detail including some of the books and newspapers sitting on his table. Ward tells his sister that he and his tent mate, Webber, have hired an old hotel cook at $40 per month to cook for them. Writes that he usually visits the ladies of the town he is in, but hasn't been to town this time because he has boils on his neck. In an effort to get rid of the boils, he has stopped eating meat and is taking a dash of salt every morning. He updates his sister on camp news and news of other soldiers. Ward closes the letter by stating that he has lost "many warm friends" to the last battle of Murfreesboro (Stones River) including Lieut. Hale who was killed by a minnie ball. Contains some cross writing. |
| Subjects | Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro) Soldier's Letter Confederate States of America Civil War Military History Confederate Soldier's Letter Military Camp Military Provisions Diet and Nutrition Women's History Health and Medical Battle Death Ammunition |
| People | Ward, Edward K. (1837-1864) Ward, S. Elmira (fl. 1861) |
| Place written | Shelbyville, Tennessee |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Health & Medicine |
| Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
| Additional Information | The collection consists of thirty-four letters written by Edward K. Ward to his sister Elmira Ward. Edward enlisted in Company A of the 4th Tennessee as a Second Lieutenant. He writes of his experiences at Murfreesboro, Shiloh, Nashville, Chattanooga, Seminary Ridge, and Atlanta, where he was killed. The collection is accompanied by an oil painting of Ward and a collection of carte-de-visites of Ward family members and acquaintances. Also making a frequent appearance in the correspondence is Edward's brother Samuel Marshall Ward (often referred to as "Marshall"). Marshall Ward enlisted as a hospital steward in the same company as his brother. Selected highlights from the collection include: letter 11 from Murfreesboro; letter 27 of 8 December 1863, which has a fairly graphic description of Missionary Ridge; letters 29, 30 and 31 (8 February 1864, 2 April 1864, and 21 April 1864) are written from Dalton, Georgia; letter 30 warns his sister very strongly not to associate with union sympathizers and looks forward to independence; letter 33 is written by Lieutenant B. S. Thurman, reporting Ward's death in battle. This last letter is accompanied by an obituary signed by members of his company: "Killed on the 22nd of July 1864, in the charge made by Hardee's Corps on the enemy's works near Atlanta, Geo., Lt. E. K. War, aged 27 years. He was a member of 'Shelby's Grays' of Memphis Tenn. ...." Thurman notes that Ward was buried in Atlanta, Georgia. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |
| Civil War: Recipient Relationship | Sister |
| Civil War: Unit | 4th Regiment Tennessee infantry, A Company |