Title: Thad Roberts Letter

Date/Date Range :   1865 January 24

Extent: 0.1 linear feet

Abstract:

In this letter, Thad Roberts of the 148th New York Infantry writes home to "cos" . Roberts discusses the spread of disease through Nashville, Tennessee where the 148th is stationed. He also mentions the conditions of the regiment's weapons as well as their prisoner of war and death counts.

Call number: MS-2900

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

Aquisition Information:

The University of Tennessee Special Collections Library purchased this collection on June 8, 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], Thad Roberts Letter, MS-2900. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

This collection consists of one folder

Thaddeus Roberts was born in about 1838. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1858 and recieved a commission as a 1st Lieutenant in Company A of the New York 148th Volunteer Infantry in 1862. He was promoted to Adjutant on August 1, 1864 and to Captain on November 30, 1864. He resigned on May 15, 1865.

In this letter to his cousin, Thad Roberts reports that the 148th has settled into a garrison situated in Nashville and that he is concerned because of an epidemic of smallpox that is spreading through the city and the soldiers stationed there. He attributes the spread of the disease to the proximity of the soldier's quarters to the Nashville Quarantine Hospital. He also tells of 22 men who were captured and sent to the prisoner of war camp at Andersonville, Georgia. He states that of the 22 men, 19 were released but discharged from service as a result of their traumatization and 3 were presumed dead. He speaks of his desire for death before his incarceration there. He also talks of upcoming political elections and his admiration for Abraham Lincoln and "Little Man" Ulysses S. Grant.

• United States -- History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
• Andersonville Prison -- History.
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons, Confederate.
• Nashville (Tenn.) -- History.
• Soldiers -- New York -- Correspondence.