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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02155.102 |
| From Archive Folder | Collection of letters from Michael M. Miller, K company, 1st Pennsylvania Reserves |
| Title | Michael M. Miller to Lile Miller regarding the poverty of the surrounding area |
| Date | 24 May 1863 |
| Author | Miller, Michael Murray (fl. 1861-1864) |
| Recipient | Miller, Lile |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Writes, "... the different Regts keep the People that live around here, they come into camp and gather up all the Bread meat an coffee the Boys do not make use of which is not a little, they are generally women and children, and I must say I should care to have a wife or sister of mine traveling around camp as they do for they must hear and see things in camp which would not Be pleasant to a decent woman..." Goes on to compare the poverty of the area in Virginia to the relative comfort of his hometown (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania). Ironically remarks that he hopes war will not touch home, noting, "god Preserve Penna from ever Becoming what Virginia is, if the Southern People were the instigators of this Rebellion they are Paying the Penalty..." |
| Subjects | Soldier's Letter Civil War Military History Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Military Camp Diet and Nutrition Refugees Women's History Children and Family Military Provisions Confederate States of America Poverty Wartime Pillaging and Destruction |
| People | Miller, Michael Murray (fl. 1861-1864) Miller, Lile (fl. 1861-1863) |
| Place written | Fairfax Station, Virginia |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Children & Family; Women in American History |
| Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
| Additional Information | Folder Information: Sergeant Michael Murray Miller of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserves came from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Most of the letters are to his wife. Included in 206 item collection are 39 letters from his wife to him from Gettysburg and 13 other letters to and from relatives. According to William A. Frassanito, Early Photography at Gettysburg (1995), Miller's letters are the only large archive of a soldier from Gettysburg. Miller's correspondence was split by a descendent so that this collection has every other letter. Michael Murray Miller was a member of Company K, 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry. Company K was the only local company to fight in the battle of Gettysburg. He joined Company K on June 28, 1861 and by March 7, 1863, he rose to the rank of fourth sergeant. Michael was the son of Andrew Bushman Miller and Catherine Culp (14). Michael was married to Lile Zeigler his first cousin. Michael and Lile’s mothers were daughters of Mathias (5) Culp and Anna Maria Miller. Another daughter, Susan (17), was married to Adam Maurey. Adam and Susan’s son William Maurey was a member of Company C., 49th Tennessee, then a unit in the Confederate army that Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had assembled to seek to relieve Vicksburg. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |
| Civil War: Recipient Relationship | Wife |
| Civil War: Theater of War | Main Eastern Theater |
| Civil War: Unit | 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry, Company K |