- Written by
- Stagenwalt, John, American, 1843 - 1885
- Received by
- Sheaffer, John, American, born 1802
- Subject of
- United States Army, American, founded 1775
- Date
- September 20, 1866
- Medium
- ink on wove paper
- Dimensions
- H x W (a): 8 × 4 15/16 in. (20.3 × 12.6 cm)
- H x W (b): 3 1/16 × 5 1/2 in. (7.7 × 13.9 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 brown ink on one sheet of lined 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 left is [Jackson Barracks] and at top right is [Sep. 20th 1866]. In the letter, Stagenwalt asks for Sheaffer to write and send him $10, as well as asking if Sheaffer has Stagenwalt's belongings. The second interior page and the fourth page are blank, with no writing or marks. The yellow envelope (b) features a red three cents George Washington stamp on the front, is postmarked September 22, addressed to Mr. John Sheaffer, and has no markings on the reverse.
- 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
- Military
- Reconstruction, U.S. History, 1865-1877
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2021.16.22.3ab
- Restrictions & Rights
- Public domain
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




