Civil War
Thornville, OH, ca. October-November 1863
Civil War Letters from Worried Parents to their Union Soldier Son on Fantastic Patriotic Stationery
Archive

An archive of three handwritten letters from an Ohio farm family to their son/brother serving in the Union Army. The letters discuss how the family is managing the crops and property in their son's absence while confessing their anxieties over the possibility that he may not return. This home front correspondence provides a glimpse into how the family experienced separation during the Civil War era.

Comprises, in chronological order:

1.) Autograph letter signed, 2pp, on the recto and verso of one sheet of patriotic stationery with a red top edge and a blue right edge, 5" x 8", Thornville, Ohio, October 3, [1863]. Noted at conclusion: "Exhibit A." The blind-embossed seal at top left recto reads: "Union and Constitution," which, along with a laurel wreath, surrounds an American Eagle atop a shield with stars and stripes. Letter exhibits expected folds and creases. Toning and scattered foxing. Some separation at lower edge of embossed seal, likely due to heavy pressure from the embosser. Very good plus to near fine.

In full and as written, but with punctuation added for ease of reading:

"Dear son
I take the pleasant opertunity riting few lines to you. we are all as well a common and hope those few few lines will find you well. we received your letter yesturday and was very glad to hear form you. we never heard any thing from you since you have bin gon only what we heard from other ones. I was very much hurt that you dident rite if you have any pity on your mother. wach Monroe and try and keep him out of bad habits. father is doing the best he can. he has fan manchfarger a helping. he has about two hundred shocks out. we want you to rite and tell us what we are to do for their has bin a good deal of hard saying it seams as my trouble is more than I am able to bare. if Monroe gets any money see that he puts it in safe keepen for him. I want you to come home on a furlow as soon as you can. pap entends to keep every thing until you come home and if you never come home rite and tell us how to dipose of it for you. if you was to see Dock you would not know him he has never been worked yet he is as fat as a pig. rite soon it seames as if my hart will break to think that bout of you in the army somemore but rite soon. from your mother and father. / Adam Crawford / Dock give this to Adam."

2.) Autograph letter signed, 1p, on one unevenly cut sheet of ruled laid paper, 5" x 8", no place, October 31, [1863]. Noted at conclusion: "Exhibit C." At verso: "Give this to Adam / Monroe." Expected transmittal folds and creases. Scattered ink splatter. Very good plus to near fine.

In full and as written, but with punctuation added for ease of reading:

"Dear son I will rite a few lines to you. I dont know why you dont rite to us. we are as well as common and hope those few lines will find you well. Adam I want you to rite and tell me wheter I must take care of that field of yours or not. therre is claims come a ganst you and they a threaning to take the coarn. if you want me to take care of the coarn rite and tell me what to do with it. I will apy every thing I can to pay up the dets if you leave every thing as it is it is brock. Claims is here and he sais it must be paid now Adam. rite soon so no more from your father and mother Adam."

3.) Autograph letter signed, 4pp, on ruled bifold stationery, 5" x 8", Thornville, Ohio, November 10, 1863. A decorative cartouche reading "SUPER" is blind-embossed at top left. Noted at conclusion: "Exhibit B." Expected transmittal folds and creases with minor separation at fold edges and tiny loss at fold intersections. A few scattered pencil notations. Toning and staining, heaviest at final page. Some fading to ink. Near very good.

This letter contains multiple family messages to brothers Adam and Dock. In part and as written, but with punctuation added for ease of reading:

"Dear son, I seat my self on the purpose of answering your kind letter which came to hand to day. we was very glad to hear from you again. we are as well as usual and hope those few lines will find you well and doing well. Emma and I are very busy spinning. we heard from Noah and he got home safe and they are well. Noah tok the horse and he said he would take him and keep him for you. he left writings to show if you wanted the horse you could have him when you come home. if the horse lived he said he would take good care of him. we have very cold weather here now it has bin a snowing and freezing off and on. father is not very well he can scarcely able to get around for a few days. I long to see the day when I can see you safe at home. it is a great consolation for to hear your hurah for Brough for we heard once that you was on the other side."

"Dear Brother Adam I will have to rite a few lines to you. I am well now. I was sick a week with a sore throat. I was very glad to here from you. I cant hardly wait from one time to another to here from you if I could only see you I would tell you more...John is as hateful as ever yet he takes what he pleases dock can tell you how much he done in the coarn..."

Here, "hurah for Brough" refers to part of a popular Union marching chant, the whole of which was "Hurrah for Brough and Abraham! And a rope to hang Vallandigham!" John Brough (1811-1865) served as the 26th governor of Ohio during the final years of the Civil War, dying in office of gangrene shortly after the war concluded. His opponent, lawyer and politician Clement Laird Vallandigham (1820-1871), was leader of the Copperhead faction of anti-war Democrats.

Adam Crawford (1840-1864) was a young Ohio farmer from the Thornville area of Perry County who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He married Laura K. Walters in 1861, and they were the parents of at least one son. He lived in Walnut Township, Fairfield, Ohio, for about ten years. Crawford died in Virginia at the age of 24, and was buried there.

Adam's parents were John Herod Crawford (1803-1864) and Margarette Boganwright Crawford (1808-1885). The brothers mentioned in the letter were Monroe Peter Crawford (1848-1864) and John Herod Crawford (1832-1909), also known as "Dock." Their sister was Jane Crawford (1832-188-?).

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 5" x 8"
  • Medium: Archive

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

by University Archives
July 28, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
88 Danbury Road
Suite 2A
Wilton, CT, US 06897

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000