This collection contains four letters written by Private Frederick C. Hale, Company F., 118th New York, to his parents during the the American Civil War. The first letter, dated 1864 July 1, described the rebels sending artillery into the camp, the railroad was completed and in working order, and they could tell the time from a clock tower in Petersburg 100 yards in the distance. The second letter, dated 1864 August 11, described the rebels tyring to counter mine the Union's trenches in Petersburg, surrender of Fort Gaines and Battle of Mobile Bay, and Hale giving up smoking. The third letter, dated 1863 May 2, described a battle with the rebels near Suffolk, Virginia and the fourth letter, dated 1864 May 29, described an account with the United States Colored Troops (USCT) at the Battle of Wilson's Warf.