The Julius Hall and Jared Kimberly Papers on the 1st California Regiment contains first-hand accounts of two men from Connecticut who served as Union soldiers in Company K from 1861 to 1864. The collection consists of Julius C. Hall's correspondence with his family, an article written by him detailing his experiences during his service, and three versions of his unpublished memoirs; and Jared T. Kimberly's diary and letters. Together, these accounts provide a fascinating glimpse into Civil War service, far from the main campaigns and battles of the Civil War. Both men are fiercely patriotic, but, at the same time, critical of the political environment of the early 1860s. Perhaps because neither of the soldiers appears to have seen any action in the war, they did not become as disillusioned with the war as many who fought in battles on the east coast of the United States. They were openly hostile towards the Native Americans, basing much of their discussion and, probably, their own opinions upon atrocity stories told by their fellow soldiers. On several occasions, they both relate, in letters or in diary, the same event and subsequent consequences. While Hall appears to have been fairly satisfied with army life and his time in California, Arizona, and New Mexico, Kimberly was critical of the area, the forts, and army life. Both men regularly expressed their desire to return to their home in Connecticut.

Researchers interested in the Civil War, generally, and the Civil War in California and the Southwest, in particular, will find this collection to be extremely valuable. Researchers interested in soldiers' opinions on the federal government during the Civil War should consult the letters of both Hall and Kimberly. Further, the memorialization of the war is well documented by Hall's article, memoirs, and correspondence with George H. Pettis, who wrote a regimental history of Company K of the 1st California Volunteer Infantry (included in the collection).