Charles W. Sleeper Letter,

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
Newman Library
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
560 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish material from Charles W. Sleeper Letter must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Charles W. Sleeper Letter, Ms2012-009, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
0.1 Cubic Feet 1 folder
Creator:
Sleeper, Charles W., abt. 1841-1893
Abstract:
The collection includes a letter from Charles W. Sleeper, private and later Quartermaster Sergeant with the 7th Independent Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery, to his cousin, written from Yorktown, August 24, 1862.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Charles W. Sleeper Letter, Ms2012-009, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of a letter from Union soldier Charles W. Sleeper, a private and later Quartermaster Sergeant with the Massachusetts 7th Light Artillery, written to his cousin on August 24, 1862, from Yorktown, Va. The letter includes detailed discussion of the Confederate defenses in the area, miserable conditions at the Yorktown camp, the prevalence of illness among the soldiers, and other details of the Yorktown area, including mentions of Revolutionary War sites.

Sleeper writes, "Out of the 130 men in our co., there are now 56 on the sick list. ... I can bear to see the poor fellows brought in that have been shot, but the slow lingering work of disease still has its untold horrors" and "The roads are all of them badly cut up, and innumerable mules and horses are lying by the sides with the turkey buzzards hovering over them or gorging themselves upon the filthy messes."

Acquisition information:
Collections was purchased by Special Collections in February 2012.
Processing information:

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Charles W. Sleeper Letter was completed in May 2012.