Pettis, Aetna B. Letters, 1860-1864
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Aetna B. Pettis
Title: Letters, 1860-1864
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for this diary, contact the Curator of Special Collections.
Size of Collection: 0.33 cubic feet
Locator Number: Mss./A/P477
Scope and Content Note
Private Pettis, 23 rd Michigan Infantry Regiment, writes to his wife living in Saginaw County, Michigan, while stationed in Kentucky and Tennessee in 1862-63. His letters describe many aspects of daily army life, especially health and economic aspects and provide details of casualties and movements of his regiment. He writes frequently of his concern for his wife’s economic and social welfare and of his devotion to her and their young son. He also comments on political aspects of the war, particularly the Republican Party and emancipation.
Biographical Note
Aetna B. Pettis was born in 1833, Cattaragus County, NY , the oldest child of Ira and Betsy Pettis. His family moved to Michigan in 1838, eventually settling in Fremont Township, Saginaw Co. in 1857. He married Julia Herrick, St. Charles, Saginaw Co., Mich. ca. 1861. They had one son, Eddie, born ca. 1862. Aetna enlisted in the 23rd Michigan Infantry Regiment as a private in Company E in Sept., 1862. He was reassigned as acting regimental ordnance sergeant in May, 1863. During intense fighting near Loudon, Tenn., in November, 1863, he was captured and imprisoned in Richmond, Virginia. He died in Libby Prison, Richmond, in the spring of 1864.
Folder List
Folder 1: Correspondence, 1860-1862
Folder 2: Correspondence, January 1863 – March 1863
Folder 3: Correspondence, April 1863 – June 1863
Folder 4: Correspondence, July 1863 – September 1863
Folder 5: Correspondence, October 1863 – June 1864
Subject Headings
Courtship – United States
Family in dreams
Family – Religious life
Kentucky – Description and travel
Kentucky – History – Civil War, 1861-1865
Letterheads
Libby Prison
Louisville (Ky.) – History – Civil War, 1861-1865
Love-letters
Love poetry, American
Michigan – History – Civil War, 1861-1865
Military discipline – United States
Morgan, John Hunt, 1825-1864
Mormon Church – History – 19 th century
Nelson, William, 1824-1862
Patriotic poetry, American
Racism – United States
Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )
Slavery – United States
Tennessee – History – Civil War, 1861-1865
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Destruction and pillage
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Economic aspects
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Equipment and supplies
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Health aspects
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Hospitals
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Medical care
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Prisoners and prisons
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Transportation
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Underground movements
United States – Race relations
United States. Army – Guard duty
United States. Army – Military life
United States. Army – Ordnance and ordnance stores
United States. Army – Recruiting, enlistment, etc.
United States. Army – Supplies and stores
United States. Army. Michigan Infantry Regiment, 23 rd (1862-1865)
Wolford, Frank L. (Frank Lane), 1817-1895
