Nearpass family letters, 1863-1864.
Collection Number: 6040
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Nearpass family letters, 1863-1864.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
6040
Abstract:
Four letters written in 1863 and 1864. Three are from Philip Nearpass, a Union soldier,
to his sister Libbie Nearpass of Arcadia (now Newark and Palmyra). The last is from
Jacob Wentzel, also a Union soldier, to Libbie Nearpass, presumably after Philip's
death.
Creator:
Nearpass family.
Quanitities:
1 microfilm reels.
Language:
Collection material in English
A section in The History of Wayne County, N.Y. on Arcadia (now Newark and Palmyra) has a Civil War soldiers' list in which Philip
Nearpass appears. He belonged to the Union Army, Company I, 17th Cavalry and was enlisted
in l86l and killed on August 20, 1864. The letters are to his sister Libbie Nearpass
who lived in Arcadia. Elbridge G. Austin who is mentioned in one of Philip Nearpass'
letters also appears on the soldiers' list; he belonged to Company E, lllth Infantry,
n.d. The owners of the original letters, Mr. and Mrs. Scheer of Fairville, N.Y. are
the descendants of the Austin family of Arcadia.
: The four letters in this collection were written in 1863 and 1864. Three are from
Philip Nearpass, a Union soldier, to his sister Libbie Nearpass of Arcadia, N.Y. (now
Newark and Palmyra). The last is from Jacob Wentzel, also a Union soldier, to Libbie
Nearpass, presumably written after Philip's death.
Philip asks for news from home, health and welfare of friends and family, and tells
of battles and the long marches he has gone through. In his third letter he is dismayed
that he has received no word in return from Libbie, their mother, nor any other family.
Other names appear in the fourth letter.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Nearpass family letters, # 6040. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell
University Library.
Names:
Wentzel, Jacob.
Subjects:
Families -- New York (State) -- Wayne County.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Cavalry operations.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.
CONTAINER LIST
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Letter 1 |
From Philip Nearpass (Camp Sache ? ") to Libbie Nearpass. June 17th, 1863 .
|
June 17th, 1863 | |
|
Scope and Contents
Some mention of his duties as soldier.
|
|||
| Letter 2 |
From Philip Nearpass ("Camp near Winchester") to Libbie Nearpass. August 11, 1863
.
|
August 11, 1863 | |
|
Scope and Contents
Asks welfare of family and friends including Elbridge Austin who was also a Union
soldier.
|
|||
| Letter 3 |
From Philip Nearpass ("Paint Rock, Ala.") to Libbie Nearpass. December 23, 1863 .
|
December 23, 1863 | |
|
Scope and Contents
Mentions some heavy fighting and some names of cities such as Athens (no state name)
that his regiment has passed through. He has become acting orderly sargeant.
|
|||
| Letter 4 |
From Jacob Wentzel ("Camp near Washville, Tenn.") to Libbie Nearpass. December 16,
1864 .
|
December 16, 1864 | |
|
Scope and Contents
Answering Libbie 's inquiry as to what happened to the photographs Philip had made
of himself, he explains how they were lost in battle. There are other names written
in various places on the letter presumably not part of its original contents, such
as Delia Austin, E.G. Austin, and Henry Miller, with much scribbling and figuring
in the margins.
|
|||