Overview
Letterbook of Havard College graduate, Charles Brigham Stoddard (AB 1862), consisting primarily of Civil War letters to his family.
Dates
- Creation: 1861-1865 and undated
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on physical access to this material.
Extent
.3 linear feet (2 volumes)Autograph manuscript letters, signed, chiefly from Stoddard to his parents, Isaac Nelson Stoddard and Martha LeBaron Thomas Stoddard, as well as his aunts, Hannah Stevenson Thomas Davis and Electa Juliana Stoddard Atwood. The letters are dated at various army camps in Louisiana and New York; with a few addressed directly to Stoddard from Harvard classmates, dated at Cambridge, 1862; all are bound in an album.
Letters primarily concern matters relating to Stoddard's service in the Civil War, with accounts of skirmishes and camp movement. He also gives an account of a pleasure trip to New Orleans, and there is frequent mention of the 1863 draft. A letter from Edward D. Boit, Jr. (A.B. 1863), dated at Cambridge 1862 April 7, concerns Stoddard being elected to honorary membership in the Hasty Pudding Club.
Volume is bound in quarter black morocco with black cloth boards, ca. 300 leaves, 28 cm.
Biographical / Historical
Stoddard was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts, 1842 January 4. He was the son of Isaac Nelson Stoddard and Martha LeBaron (Thomas) Stoddard. He prepared for college at Frank B. Sanborn's School at Concord, Massachusetts, at Phillip's Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and graduated from Harvard College with an A.B. in 1862.
After college, with the Civil War underway, Stoddard was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the 41st Massachusetts Infantry. His regiment invaded Louisiana, under the command of Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, and took part in the capture of Baton Rouge and Port Hudson. His regiment was reorganized in 1863 as the 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry and he was commissioned Captain, assigned to Company A, and they proceeded to fight the Red River campaign. In 1864, they were sent to fight campaigns in Virginia, serving under General Sheridan. In 1865 he was commissioned as Captain and Assistant Quartermaster of the United States Volunteers. On August 14, 1865 he was mustered out of service.
After the war, Stoddard returned to Plymouth to become Treasurer of the Plymouth Foundry Company and of the Old Colony Batting Company. In 1881 he was appointed Cashier of the Plymouth National Bank and in 1891, with the death of his father, he became President of the bank. He died in Plymouth, on October 15, 1914 Stoddard had remained unmarried.
Immediate family members that have been identified, listing their relationship to Charles Brigham Stoddard:
- Isaac Nelson Stoddard, 1812-1891. (A.B. Amherst 1832). Father.
- Martha LeBaron Thomas Stoddard, 1816-1900. Mother.
- John Thomas Stoddard, 1838-1907. Brother.
- Francis Russell Stoddard, 1844-. Brother and father of donor.
- William Prescott Stoddard, 1846-. Brother.
- Mary Stoddard, 1848-1902. Sister.
- Martha Stoddard, 1850-. Sister.
- Anna Thomas Stoddard, 1853-1900. Sister.
- George Howland Stoddard, 1855-. Brother.
- Ellen Jennett Stoddard, 1858-. Sister.
- Laura Dewey Stoddard, 1860-1865. Sister.
- Hannah Stevenson Thomas Davis, 1821-1900. Aunt.
- Electa Juliana Stoddard Atwood, 1824-. Aunt.
Arrangement
Letters are bound into volume in rough chronological order. Sheets that have come loose, have been removed to a folder and are so noted in the item description.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
No accession number. Gift of Francis Russell Stoddard, New York; received: 1934 May 23. The donor Francis Russell Stoddard was the nephew of Charles Brigham Stoddard, and was Harvard College AB 1899.
Processing Information
Processed by: Alison Harris
- Title
- Stoddard, Charles Brigham, 1842-1914. Charles Brigham Stoddard letter book, 1861-1865: Guide.
- Author
- Houghton Library, Harvard College Library
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- hou01953
Repository Details
Part of the Houghton Library Repository
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