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Guide to the Albert M. Forbes Civil War Letters, 1862
MS-M055
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Title: Albert M. Forbes Civil War letters,
Date (inclusive): 1862
Collection number: MS-M055
Creator:
Forbes, Albert M.
Extent:
0.1 linear feet (1 oversize folder)
Repository:
University of California, Irvine. Library.
Special Collections and Archives.
Irvine, California 92623-9557
Abstract: This collection comprises seven letters sent from Albert M. Forbes, Lieutenant, Member Company of the 2nd Illinois Light Artillery,
to his family in 1862 during the Civil War. The letters provide a first-hand, detailed account of skirmishes in Tennessee
and Mississippi. He describes battle preparations, soldier life in camps and the harsh living conditions, and long marches
through Memphis and other areas. He repeatedly urges his younger brother not to enlist. Forbes also mentions the work of his
officers and peers, describes troop movements under the direction of Generals William Tecumseh Sherman and John McClernand,
and criticizes General Ulysses S. Grant for his tactical decisions. Four of the letters were apparently written while Forbes'
troop was encamped near battle sites.
Language:
English.
Collection is open for research.
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and University Archives.
Albert M. Forbes Civil War Letters. MS-S16. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
Gift of unknown donor, ca. 1967.
Processed by Adrian Turner, 2001.
Albert M. Forbes was a Union soldier in the Civil War who served as a Lieutenant in Member Company of the 2nd Illinois Light
Artillery. His Company was active in Tennessee. When the first of these letters were written on April 16, 1862, Forbes was
stationed at Boltons Battery, after moving from Benton Barracks. By November of that same year, he was camped at La Grange
with an army of over 100,000 Union soldiers, where they clashed fiercely with Confederate soldiers in Holly Springs. The last
letter in this collection in this collection was apparently written during the winter of 1862.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection comprises seven letters sent from Albert M. Forbes, Lieutenant, Member Company of the 2nd Illinois Light Artillery,
to his family in 1862 during the Civil War. The letters provide a first-hand, detailed account of skirmishes in Tennessee
and Mississippi. He describes battle preparations, soldier life in camps and the harsh living conditions, and long marches
through Memphis and other areas. He repeatedly urges his younger brother not to enlist. Forbes also mentions the work of his
officers and peers, describes troop movements under the direction of Generals William Tecumseh Sherman and John McClernand,
and criticizes General Ulysses S. Grant for his tactical decisions. Four of the letters were apparently written while Forbes'
troop was encamped near battle sites.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Forbes, Albert M.--Correspondence.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Correspondence.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives--Correspondence.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns--Correspondence.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Attitudes--Correspondence.
Soldiers.