Written by
Stagenwalt, John, American, 1843 - 1885
Received by
Sheaffer, John, American, born 1802
Subject of
United States Army, American, founded 1775
Date
July 30, 1866
Medium
ink on wove paper
Dimensions
H x W (open): 9 13/16 × 15 1/2 in. (25 × 39.3 cm)
H x W (closed): 9 13/16 × 7 13/16 in. (25 × 19.8 cm)
Description
A letter 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 [Dear Father]. At top right is [New Orleans July 30 1866]. In the letter, written on the same day as the New Orleans Massacre, Stagenwalt mentions the election writing "There is an ellection in New Orleans today. There is a great ecsitement prevails throughout camp about the result of the ellection." He signs off on the third page, "Your affectionate son." The last page has only some numerical markings in graphite.
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
letters (correspondence)
Topic
American West
Correspondence
Families
Military
Politics
Race relations
Race riots
Reconstruction, U.S. History, 1865-1877
Violence
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2021.16.22.4
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd51ce612bb-c1af-4972-b25d-b378d1c67919

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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