Written by
Stagenwalt, John, American, 1843 - 1885
Received by
Sheaffer, John, American, born 1802
Subject of
United States Army, American, founded 1775
Date
August 16, 1868
Medium
ink on wove paper
Dimensions
H x W (a (open)): 7 15/16 × 9 7/8 in. (20.1 × 25.1 cm)
H x W (a (closed)): 7 15/16 × 4 15/16 in. (20.1 × 12.6 cm)
H x W (b): 3 1/8 × 5 1/4 in. (8 × 13.3 cm)
Description
A letter (a) with envelope (b) written by John Stagenwalt, a 1st U.S. Infantry soldier stationed at New Orleans during its occupation by the Union Army. Written in blue ink on one sheet of wove paper folded to form four pages, the letter is addressed to John Sheaffer, of Bareville, Leacock Township, Pennsylvania, with the salutation [My Dear Father]. At top right is [Greenville Barracks / August the 16, A.D., 1868]. In the letter, Stagenwalt asks after the family and their crops, updates them on his own health, and relates that there is no work in the city of New Orleans and that "there is a great many folks starving in this city...it is the Negroes fault as they want to work for nothing and they whites can't make anything]. The last page of the letter has Stagenwalt's return address and a sketch of a bird. The envelope is without stamp and is inscribed in graphite [Last Letter / John Stagenwalt].
Transcription Center Status
Transcription Available
Place made
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
Place used
Bareville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Documents and Manuscripts
Type
envelopes
letters (correspondence)
Topic
Correspondence
Families
Labor
Military
Race relations
Reconstruction, U.S. History, 1865-1877
Slavery
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2021.16.22.1ab
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd556eecfd8-c3e2-4eda-b20e-bdebb85f3790

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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