Samuel House Civil War Letters

Photostats of letters by Samuel House, Co. L. Artillery Corps, dated from 1862 to 1865, written from army camps near Cornish, Columbus and Vicksburg, Mississippi, and from Castle William, Governors Island, New York Harbor, to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel C. House, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Notes found with the collection are: "Confederate War record of Samuel House taken from a letter from his daughter, Retta House Bowen to Mrs. D.A. Avant, Historian, Florida Division, U.D.C." "My father, Sam House enlisted in the Confederate army April 15, 1861 - Co. A. 1st Regiment of Heavy Artillery, Tenn. volunteers, Confederate States of America. He was in Memphis at the time he enlisted. He was in the siege of Vicksburg, was parolled July 7, 1863-was taken to parole camp at Enterprise, Miss. Later to Demopolis, Alabama and was exchanged Dec. 9, 1863. He went to Fort Morgan Dec. 15, 1863. On Aug. 7, 1864 he wrote from there a most interesting letter to his sister, giving a graphic account of the sinking of the Monitor. When Ft. Morgan was surrendered he was taken prisoner and sent to Castle William, Governors Island, New York Harbor, arriving there Sept. 28, 1864. Later he was taken to Elmira, N.Y."

The letters written by House from Vicksburg contain some interesting facts about the prolonged and intensive battle of that area. Also in Special Collections are letters by John M. House to his parents. John and Samuel House were brothers and were both in U.S. Military prisons at the same time at different locations: John at Johnsons Island and Samuel at Castle William, Governors Island, New York Harbor.

Also known as MSS 0-142.