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Newton T. Hartshorn Collection

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Hartshorn

Newton Timothy Hartshorn enlisted in the New Hampshire National Guard shortly after the beginning of hostilities. In October 1861, he enlisted in the regular army, joining the U.S. Engineer Corps. Advancing from private to corporal in October, 1862, he saw extensive service and was engaged in the construction of pontoon bridges and fortifications. In April 1864, he was commissioned Captain of Company C, War Department Rifles, and was assigned to duty at the White House, guarding president Lincoln. His brother, Vaola John Hartshorn (1835-1900), was a minister and never married.

The collection consists of thirty-six letters by Captain Newton T. Hartshorn, U.S. Army, to Vaola J. Hartshorn, his brother, written while Newton was in service during the Civil War. Accompanying some of the letters are pen-and-ink drawings by Hartshorn, as well as contemporary envelopes and stamps. Included are typed transcripts of the letters.

The letters are arranged chronologically.

The letters were a gift of Mrs. Jason Westerfield in 1935. AM 11022.

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Folder inventory added by Nicholas Williams '2015 in 2012. Revised by Hilde Creager '2015 in 2013.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2006
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Collection Inventory

Letters from Fort Constitution, Portsmouth, NH w/ envelopes, stamps, and typed copies describing arriving at Fort, money, sickness of father, praise from Capt. Davidson, becoming a Sergeant, 1861 August-September. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letters from Portland, ME w/ envelopes, stamps, and typed copies describing entering Engineering Corps, his health, studying, people he has met, religion, 1861 October-November. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Fairfax Court House, VA w/ envelope, stamp, and typed copy describing building bridge over Potomac, entering Manassas, marching, 1862 March 13. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Washington, D.C. w/ envelope, stamp, and typed copy regarding sent money, 1862 March 26. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Camp near New Bridge, VA w/ envelope, stamp, sketch, and typed copy describing camp, danger from the enemy, bridge building, poor reputation of Engineering Corps, 1862 May 14. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Camp near White House Landing, VA w/ envelope, stamp, and typed copy describing working towards Richmond, ague fever (malarial), 1862 May 19. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Camp near New Bridge, VA w/ envelope, stamp, and typed copy regarding money, skirmishing, requesting a hankerchief,, 1862 June 18. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letters from Camp at Harrison's Landing on James River, VA w/ envelopes, stamps, sketch, and typed copies describing journey to the landing, the wounded, Rebel advances and losses of the Union including artillery guns, casualities of war, camp, 1862 July 4-14. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letters from Aquia Creek, VA w/ envelopes, stamps, and typed copies describing camp, bridge building, fighting in Fredricksburg, 1862 August 27-29. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Harpers Ferry, VA w/ envelope, stamp, and typed copy describing fighting in Maryland including Battle of Antietam, 1862 September 22. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Sandy Hook, MD w/ envelope, stamp, and typed copy describing arrival of new troops, death of Second Lieutenant Washington George, Abolitionists in Sandy Hook, 1862 October 7. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Camp near Weverton, MD w/ envelope, stamp, and typed copy describing camp, winter, getting a commission, 1862 October 22. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Camp near Warrenton, VA w/ envelope, stamp, and typed copy describing making Corporal, enlisting men, asking Vaola to join him as a clerk, applying for discharge, 1862 October 22. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letters from Camp near Falmouth, VA w/ envelopes, stamps, sketches, and typed copies describing supplies and money, Battle of Fredericksburg, winter, poor health, drawing, family, battle, 1862-1863. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letters from Armory Square Hospital, Washington, D.C. w/ envelopes, stamps, and typed copies describing hospital stay and recovery, money, a lawyer named Robbins, religion, asking Vaola to contact members of his Battalion, 1863-1864. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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