Title: Charles Christensen Letter

Date/Date Range :   1862 February 21

Extent: 0.1 linear feet

Abstract:

This collection contains a February 21, 1862, letter from Civil War soldier Charles Christensen, camped at Cairo, Illinois, to Richard Morris of Cedar Lake Wisconsin. Christensen, a member of the 8th Wisconsin, discusses his regiment, Union victories at Forts Donelson and Henry, Confederate General Lloyd Tilghman, possible rebel attacks at Cairo, the overpopulation of prisoners of war, as well as personal family matters.

Call number: MS-2762

Repository: University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN

Aquisition Information:

This collection was purchased by Special Collections in March 2006.

Access Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Copyright:

The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of Item], Charles Christensen Civil War Letter, MS-2762. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

Collection consists of a single letter.

Charles Christensen was a volunteer in the 8th Wisconsin Regiment. The 8th Wisconsin particpated in several important battles including Corinth, Vicksburg, Mechanicsville, Jackson, and Nashville. First Lieutenant Charles Christensen was discharged on May 20, 1865.

Fort Henry was the first major Union victory in the western theater. With the fall of Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, Union forces gained a new point of entry for invasion of the South. The demise of Fort Henry opened the Tennessee River to Union gunboats.

Fort Donelson fell less than two weeks after Fort Henry. It too, created a new entry point for Union invasion and opened the Cumberland River to Union gunboats.

This collection contains a February 21, 1862, letter from Civil War soldier Charles Christensen, camped at Cairo, Illinois, to Richard Morris of Cedar Lake Wisconsin. Christensen, a member of the 8th Wisconsin, discusses his regiment, Union victories at Forts Donelson and Henry, Confederate General Lloyd Tilghman, possible rebel attacks at Cairo, the overpopulation of prisoners of war, as well as personal family matters.

• Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
• Fort Henry, Battle of, Tenn., 1862.
• Fort Donelson, Battle of, Tenn., 1862.
• Soldiers -- Wisconsin -- Correspondence.