Items | Digital Collections at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library

Letter from Sophronia McNitt to George M. Harkey, June 8, 1865
Multi-Page Item | 4 pages | 1865 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to George M. Harkey, a Union soldier in the 126th Illinois Infantry, from Sophronia McNitt. McNitt wrote about her hopes for the return of Harkey's regiment and about visits with family and friends. It is possible this letter was never sent, as it is incomplete.
Letter from John M. Brown to Sophronia McNitt, March 26, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from her cousin, John M. Brown. Brown described his recent activities and his plans to return to Colorado, as well as his romantic pursuits.
Letter from John M. Brown to Sophronia McNitt, January 18, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from her cousin, John M. Brown. Brown described his activities during the Christmas holidays and commented their respective romantic lives.
Letter from Patrick Moynihan to Sophronia McNitt, August 22, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 5 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from Patrick Moynihan, a private in the 9th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Moynihan wrote about military expeditions and fights, life in camp, the reputation of Col. Jesse Phillips, and the possibility of leaving for Texas or Arkansas. He also wrote about the affairs of others back home and mentioned his dislike for Copperheads.
Letter from H. F. Potter to Sophronia McNitt, August 8, 1864
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1864 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from H. F. Potter, a Union soldier. Potter described life at camp near Helena, Arkansas, and his desires to return home.
Letter from Thomas B. Reames to Sophronia McNitt, May 15, 1865
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1865 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from Thomas B. Reames, a private in the 126th Illinois Infantry. Reames wrote about the end of the war, including the capture of Jefferson Davis and unsurrendered troops in the South. He also expressed concern over events in Mexico and his anticipation of war.
Letter from Edward F. Knight to Sophronia McNitt, January 1, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from Edward F. Knight, a private in the 117th Illinois Infantry. He described a conflict that his unit encountered on their way into Tennessee and life at Fort Pickering, outside Memphis.
Letter from Thomas Moynihan to Sophronia McNitt, May 8, 1864
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1864 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from Thomas Moynihan, a private in the 126th Illinois Infantry. Moynihan wrote on battles occuring during the Camden Exposition near Little Rock, Arkansas, and remarked on news from Illinois.
Letter from "Bachelor" to Sophronia McNitt, March 28, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 4 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from an anonymous "Bachelor". The "Bachelor" wrote from Memphis, Tennessee, confessing his affection for Sophronia and praising her beauty.
Letter from Eli Cress to unknown, Undated
Multi-Page Item | 14 pages | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter from Eli Cress, a Union soldier in the 117th Illinois Infantry, to an unknown recipient - possibly Sophronia McNitt. Cress wrote about Christmas and life in the camp.
Letter from Patrick Moynihan to J. Frank Williamson, August 25, 1862
Multi-Page Item | 4 pages | 1862 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to J. Frank Williamson from Patrick Moynihan, a private in the 9th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Moynihan wrote about some of the happenings at Camp Rienzie, writing to other friends, his devotion to the Union cause, and how he justified not writing to Frank sooner.
Letter from William F. Sanders to Sophronia McNitt, January 20, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from her friend, William F. Sanders. Sanders asked for a reply from Sophronia regarding his letter of January 7, 1863.
Letter from Thomas Moynihan to Sophronia McNitt, March 31, 1865
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1865 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from Thomas Moynihan, a private in the 126th Illinois Infantry. Moynihan wrote about life aboard the steamer Nebraska in the White River in Arkansas and encountering the 117th Illinois Infantry. He also discussed his hopes to return home and shared other news of men in his unit.
Letter from Unknown to Sophronia McNitt, circa 1860s
Multi-Page Item | 2 pages | 186 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from an unknown author. The author wrote on behalf of a young man named Frank, who requested a letter from Sophronia to cure his "rheumatism of the heart" with loving words.
Letter from "The Left Hand" to Sophronia McNitt, January 15, 1864
Multi-Page Item | 2 pages | 1864 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from "The Left Hand" (possibly Otis Williamson?). The author wrote about recent incidents in daily life.
Letter from Albert B. Lee to Sophronia McNitt, February 27, 1865
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1865 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from Albert B. Lee, a private in the 126th Illinois Infantry. Lee wrote to request a reply from Sophronia so that they could begin a correspondence and friendship.
Letter from John H. Berry to Sophronia McNitt, September 2, 1862
Multi-Page Item | 4 pages | 1862 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter from John H. Berry, a Union soldier in the 126th Illinois Infantry, to Sophronia McNitt. Berry described life as a Union recruit at Camp Terry, a regimental muster camp in Mattoon, Illinois.
Letter from Unknown to Sophronia McNitt, June 11, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 8 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from an unknown author. The author described a conversation they had about Sophronia with another unnamed person and shared news of mutual friends.
Letter from John H. Berry to Sophronia McNitt, January 25, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter from John H. Berry, a Union soldier in the 126th Illinois Infantry, to Sophronia McNitt. Berry wrote on camp life in Humboldt, Tennessee, including the weather and guard duty, and asked after life at home, requesting more letters from Sophronia.
Letter from Patrick Moynihan to Sarah Chambers, September 13, 1886
Multi-Page Item | 14 pages | 1886 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sarah Chambers from Patrick Moynihan, a former private in the 9th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Moynihan wrote about some of his travels, his poor health, and his crops and his farm. He also mentioned and asked about other friends (and/or relatives?), including one's marriage, and he invited Sarah to visit him.
Letter from John H. Berry to Sophronia McNitt, October 12, 1862
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1862 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter from John H. Berry, a Union soldier in the 126th Illinois Infantry, to Sophronia McNitt. Berry wrote that his regiment had moved to Alton, Illinois and described the situation there, as well as asking after Sophronia and requesting a photo of her.
Letter from William F. Sanders to Sophronia McNitt, circa 1860s
Multi-Page Item | 4 pages | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from her friend, William F. Sanders. Sanders told Sophronia about plans for a ball and invited her to come to Pana, Illinois. The letter is undated but the accompanying envelope is postmarked April 16th.
Letter from Eli Cress to Sophronia McNitt, January 15, 1865
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1865 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from Eli Cress, a Union soldier in the 117th Illinois Infantry. Cress described the 117th's participation in the Battle of Nashville, and the celebrations at Christmas.
Letter from Sophronia McNitt to Anna M. Collins, January 10, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 8 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Anna M. Collins from Sophronia McNitt. McNitt described the events of the days around the Christmas holiday and spoke about the romantic lives of herself and her friends.
Letter from Eli Cress to Sophronia McNitt, April 1, 1865
Multi-Page Item | 10 pages | 1865 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from Eli Cress, a Union soldier in 117th Illinois Infantry. Cress updated Sophronia on the travels of his regiment to Louisiana and others in the regiment, including men killed.
Letter from Anna M. Collins to Sophronia McNitt, May 4, 1864
Multi-Page Item | 5 pages | 1864 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from her friend, Anna M. Collins. Collins wrote about her trip from Irving, Illinois to Cincinnati, Ohio, including her impressions of the scenery and her arrival. She also shared news of her family and friends in Cincinnati.
Letter from Louis Harkey to Sophronia McNitt, May 6, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from her cousin, Louis Harkey. Harkey wrote about news of friends and crime in Denver, Colorado.
Letter from John M. Brown to Sophronia McNitt, May 3, 1862
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1862 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from her cousin, John M. Brown. Brown wrote of his travels toward Denver, Colorado, and asked for news from home.
Letter from John M. Brown to Sophronia McNitt, July 5, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from her cousin, John M. Brown. Brown described his life in Nebraska Territory, including crops and his friends there. He also expressed his desire to see Sophronia and asked about friends from Illinois.
Letter from Anna M. Collins to Hellen McNitt and Jennie McNitt, June 6, 1867
Multi-Page Item | 2 pages | 1867 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Hellen and Jennie McNitt from their friend, Anna M. Collins. Collins stressed the importance of getting a good education.
Letter from John M. Brown to Sophronia McNitt, April 19, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from her cousin, John M. Brown. Brown wrote on his religious feelings and shared news of friends who were with him in Nebraska Territory.
Letter from Anna M. Collins to Sophronia McNitt, November 15, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 5 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from her friend, Anna M. Collins. Collins reflected on memories from her time living in Montgomery County and discussed the romantic lives of herself and mutual friends.
Letter from George M. Harkey to Sophronia McNitt, May 5, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from George M. Harkey, a Union soldier in the 126th Illinois Infantry. Harkey wrote about his company's camp in Jackson, Tennessee, including their conditions and food, and news of other friends in the 126th.
Letter from Anna M. Collins to Sophronia [McNitt] Cress, June 6, 1867
Multi-Page Item | 8 pages | 1867 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia [McNitt] Cress, from her friend, Anna M. Collins. Collins expressed her surprise at the news of Sophronia's marriage to Eli Cress and shared news of her own courtship, as well as her work as a teacher. She also enclosed pieces of fabric from a dress and sack.
Discharge certificate for Eli Cress and related papers, August 5, 1865
Multi-Page Item | 8 pages | 1910 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)The discharge paperwork for Eli Cress from the Union Army. Also included is a document listing the miles traveled by Cress's unit, Company B of the 117th Illinois Infantry.
Letter from William F. Sanders to Sophronia McNitt, December 14, 1862
Multi-Page Item | 4 pages | 1862 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from her friend, William F. Sanders. Sanders invited Sophronia to come to Pana, Illinois, for Christmas and shared other news of his daily activities.
Do you remember the times past and gone? pencil sketch, [1865?]
Multi-Page Item | 4 pages | 1865 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A pencil sketch given to Sophronia McNitt by an unknown artist. The sketch features a young man and woman in a house's parlor, with the man's head in the young woman's lap as they sit on a bench. It is captioned with the words "Do you remember the times past and gone?"
Note from W. A. Cottingham to Sophronia McNitt, [1861?]
Multi-Page Item | 4 pages | 1861 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A note of introduction from W. A. Cottingham, a Union soldier in the 9th Illinois Infantry.
Letter from Eli Cress to Sophronia McNitt, June 28, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 6 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter to Sophronia McNitt from Eli Cress, a Union soldier in the 117th Illinois Infantry. Cress wrote about his hopes to return home, church, and his stay in the hospital at Fort Pickering, Tennessee.
Letter from John H. Berry to Sophronia McNitt, March 1, 1863
Multi-Page Item | 8 pages | 1863 | McNitt Family Papers (Digitized Content)A letter from John H. Berry, a Union soldier in the 126th Illinois Infantry, to Sophronia McNitt. Berry wrote about his good memories at home, desire to return, and hopes for the war's end.

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