Edward L. Chatfield letters, 1843-1919, bulk 1860-1865

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Summary

Creators:
Chatfield, Edward L. (Edward Livingston), 1842-1924
Abstract:
The American Civil War letters of Union soldier Edward L. Chatfield.
Extent:
Approximately 130 pieces in 3 boxes.
Language:
The records are in English .

Background

Scope and content:

Approximately 110 letters written by Edward L. Chatfield during his time fighting with the American Army in the Western Theater of the Ameican Civil War war and after his escape from prison. Letters are very detailed in nature and Chatfield talks about the army camps, conditions, his fellow soldiers, fighting, etc. There are several letters written by his father, mother, and brothers. There are also several poems written by Chatfield and a sketch he did of Henry Wirz. Each letter is accompanied by a full transcript (completed by the donors).

There is also a 40-page mimeograph of an unpublished work written by Chatfield's friend and fellow soldier in Company B, Riley Beach ("Recollections and Diary Extracts" dated 1919). Also included is a quantity of accompanying documents and photographs and a DVD with high-resolution scans of all letters and surviving envelopes.

Some of the letters are written on patriotic stationery (noted in finding aid and on folder).

Biographical / historical:

Edward Livingston Chatfield was born to Nathan Chatfield and Margaret Chatfield in Middleton, Ohio, in 1842. He was the eldest of seven children: David A. Chatfield (1845-1864); William Chatfield (1847-1925); Isaac Newton Chatfield (1849-1926); James Chatfield (1851-1919); Charles Chatfield (1855-1891); and Mary Chatfield (1859-1925). In 1860 the family moved to Kankakee, Illinois, where Nathan Chatfield had purchased a large farm. Edward Chatfield enlisted in August 1862 and was sent to Camp Hancock in Chicago. In October 1862, Chatfield was mustered into Company “B” of the 113th Illinois Infantry. They were ordered to Cairo, Illinois, November 6, 1862. During his time in the army, Chatfield traveled through and saw action in the Western Theater of the war including Memphis, Holly Springs, Chicasaw Bayou, Vicksburg, Corinth and others. Chatfield was taken prisoner in June 1864 and was sent to Andersonville prison. He was later sent to the prison at Camp Lawton and the Florence Stockade. Chatfield escaped while being transported on February 21st. He arrived in Annapolis, Maryland in early March and by early April he was with his Grandmother in Ohio. Chatfield was mustered out June 20, 1865 in Memphis.

In 1874, Edward Chatfield traveled to Colorado to purchase land but moved back to Kankakee. In 1877 he married Anna E. Bates, a family friend from Hartford, Ohio. In 1879 Chatfield and his wife moved to Littleton, Colorado. Their only child would be born in 1883: Edaline Chatfield. Edward Chatfield became a farmer, rancher and businessman. Many of his family members would follow him out to Colorado. After the death of his wife, Edward’s health declined and he moved to Long Beach, California, in 1917, to live with his daughter and son-in-law, Edaline and Bernie Rhea. He died there in 1924, at the age of 82.

Acquisition information:
Gift and purchase from Terry M. McCarty and Margaret A. McCarty, December 2015. Letters were found in room of Edaline Chatfield Rhea (only daughter of Edward L. Chatfield) after her death in 1964.
Processing information:

The majority of Chatfield’s letters have been published in The Chatfield story: Civil War letters and diaries of Private Edward L. Chatfield of the 113th Illinois volunteers by Terry M. McCarty and Margaret Ann Chatfield McCarty, North Charleston: CreateSpace Pub., 2010. These published versions of the transcripts were censored for Chatfields’ use of racial slurs but the transcripts available online and accompanying the original letters were not censored. See www.chatfieldstory.com

The diaries of Edward L. Chatfield are held in Littleton Historical Museum, Littleton, Colorado.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website