Collection View
The letters are arranged chronologically.
The letters are arranged chronologically.
The letters are arranged chronologically.
The letters are arranged chronologically.
- Scope and Contents
The collection consists of twenty-eight letters by George Roden, Jr., addressed to his family in Newark, N.J., dating from 28 August 1861 to 13 May 1864 and posted from different camps or battlegrounds in Virginia where his company in the 2nd New Jersey Infantry was stationed, such as Fair Oaks and Fairfax. The letters provide a valuable record of military life during the American Civil War by a soldier in the Union Army. George Roden, namesake of his father, addresses his parents as "Dear folks at home"; other letters are specifically addressed to his mother, to his brother, Hugh, or to his sisters, Lizzie, Rachel, and Agnes. In addition to providing detailed accounts about the movements of the "Rebels," Roden writes about battles he participated in, his superiors in the army, namely Gen. George B. McClellan, Gen. Phillip Kearney, and Capt. John Taylor; and about the scenery in different areas where he was stationed. He also writes about sending or receiving items or money from his family. A letter dated 26 January 1863 includes a small pen-and-ink drawing by Roden.
- Arrangement
The letters are arranged chronologically.
- Collection Creator Biography:
Roden
The son of English immigrants who settled in Newark, N.J., George Roden enlisted at age twenty-one as a 1st Sergeant in Company K, 2nd New Jersey Infantry, a regiment in Gen. Phillip Kearny's 1st Brigade. Stationed in northern Virginia during its active service in the Civil War, the 2nd New Jersey infantry was involved in several important engagements, including the Union defeat at Blackburn's Ford in June 1861, and as a reserve regiment in the First Battle of Bull Run (or Manasas) on 21 July 1861, which was the first major land battle of the war. Roden left the service on 21 June 1864.
- Acquisition:
Gift of Samuel Cohn in July 1950 (AM14100).
- Appraisal
No appraisal information is available.
- Processing Information
This collection was processed by Dina Britain on August 24, 2007. Finding aid written by Traci Ballou-Broadnax on November 14, 2007. Folder Inventory added by Hilde Creager (2015) in 2012.
- Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
- Conditions Governing Use
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
- Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
- Credit this material:
George Roden Civil War Letters to His Family; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library
- Permanent URL:
- http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/2f75r8061
- Location:
-
Firestone LibraryOne Washington RoadPrinceton, NJ 08544, USA
- Storage Note:
- ReCAP (scarcpxm): Box 1
- Subject Terms:
- Soldiers -- Virigina. -- 19th century -- Correspondence
- Genre Terms:
- Letters. -- 19th century
- Names:
- United States. Army. New Jersey Infantry Regiment, 2nd (1861-1865)
- Places:
- Newark (N.J.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. -- Sources
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.
Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.
