How to Sell Your Civil War Diary and Letters

The American Civil War was one of the most transformative and divisive eras in U.S. history. Personal diaries and letters from soldiers provide an unfiltered and honest account of the emotional impact and hardships of daily life that they endured. Our collectors have interest in multi-letter lots and diaries that include battle content. Texas and Illinois items are especially coveted. Please let us know if you’d like to sell your civil war diary and letters. We offer free appraisals.

Here’s what our collectors are interested in:

1863 Civil War Diary of a 31st Indiana Infantryman

This diary details the experiences of Jesse B. Connelly of the 31st Indiana Infantry during 1863. He includes content from the Battle of Stone’s River as well as other battles and skirmishes. On January 3 Connelly writes, “…we were ordered to drive the enemy from a point of woods they occupied in our front. It was done at the point of the bayonet…” On January 6th he discusses burying the deceased from a week prior, “…the mangled and torn corpse of friend & foe lying in close proximity with lofty patriotism and firm determination…”

Connelly also eloquently writes about the conditions of camp, raids on Confederate soldiers and other unique observations during the winter, spring and summer months. Diary is mostly unfilled after August.

Letter Lot by Soldier in the 76th Illinois Infantry

This is a 200+ letter lot written by Henry B. Ingalls of the 76th Illinois Infantry, Co. B, who served from 1862-1865 and fought in several battles throughout Mississippi, the Siege of Vicksburg and Battle of Fort Blakely. Ingalls composed these letters to his wife and children back home during the entirety of his Civil War service.

Some interesting content includes his mention of Generals Grant and Bragg on 9 December 1862 writing, “Mary the News is glorious from grant [General Grant]. He is the Man to push things. He has gave Brag [General Bragg] what he needed A good thrashing. They think the Rebs will Come here And try to take this place Again…well let them come they will Receive A warm Reception here for the Boys Are highly Elated with the Success of their old Commander And they will first just As well As if he was here…we All think that grant is the Right Man in the Right place And if they will let him Alone he will Soon finish the Job…”.

On 20 July 1864 Ingalls wrote, Seems Like A hard thing to Shoot A Man But when you Are Shot At All you think of is to Shoot. Well i Shot Sixty four times during the Battle And i Emtied one Saddle for when we were Retreating there was one officer that was urging on his Men And Some of our Boys Caled to Me Shoot him. Well i Stoped turned And fired And he went head formost out of his Saddle…”

Letter lot is also includes a post-war kepi and shot bag, with Ingalls’ initials “H I” stitched in the lining of the kepi.

Letter Lot from 31st Texas Cavalry, Co. I Soldier

This 60 letter lot was written by Thomas W. Johnson of Hawpe’s Regiment to his wife between October 1862 and his death in November 1864. Letters cover numerous battles including Stirling’s Plantation, Fort DeRussy, Bayou de Glaise, Mansura, Vidalia and Harrisonburg. Johnson recounts details from battles explaining “the enemy rolled in to the river so we had to fight them here with field artillery & small arms” and “It seemed to be evry man for himself…We collected our dead & buried them…” Lot contains additional relics such as pre and post-war letters and documents such as Texas deeds of conveyance, Confederate bonds and several receipts.

Individual letters with great battle content are also of interest. Here’s an example we sold:

129th Illinois Autograph Letter Signed

We sold a four page letter from a soldier in the 129th Illinois Infantry, Co. I who composed diary-style summaries of his experiences between February 1864 and the end of the war in April 1865. Letter goes into detail of being “ordered to Nashville to defend the place against Rebel G. Hood. December 1 we got there and dug trenches 2 days and 1 night” and having to “capture 5000 prisoners 30 canon and several battle flags”. Excellent single letter with content of soldier’s travels.

Thanks for visiting our civil war diary and letters blog! We offer free appraisals for your civil war items. Please feel free to reach out if you’d like to sell your civil war diary / letters or if you have any questions.