Content Description Nine stereoviews documenting the Civil War. One is from New York, five are from Virginia, two are from Charleston, South Carolina, and one is from an unknown location. The New York stereoview depicts the funeral procession for President Lincoln. The Charleston stereoviews depict ruins of a cathedral and tomb. The Virginia stereoviews depict images of various soldiers. Other stereoviews depict historical buildings and war images. An unidentified stereoview depicts a group of male laborers...

Content Description Four page letter and corresponding envelope from a camp near Newport News, Virginia. Steele was a Private in Company "B" of the 85th New York Infantry. In his letter he describes his arduous journey to Alexandria, Virginia and then his voyage aboard a ship to Fortress Monroe, Virginia. He noted the the extensive burned ruins of Hampton and surrounding areas by the Rebel troops and described his picket duty along the Yorktown Road. Steele noted the proximity of the vast numbers of Rebel...

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of one letter sent from Rikers Island, New York by a soldier, Lester Travis, writing to his sister, Ann Divine in Loch Sheldrake, New York.  Rikers Island was at that time a training camp, and Travis discusses trips into New York City itself, mutual acquaintances, and the arrival of African-American volunteers.