This collection contains 13 letters written by Alonzo D. Cushing, a soldier in the 15th Maine Infantry during the American Civil War. Among them are letters written from camps in Pensacola, Florida; and New Orleans; and from a hospital in Readville, Massachusetts. Cushing's letters focus on camp activities, interactions with local inhabitants, and family matters.

Cushing's first letter, written from Gardner in early 1861, discusses the mustering in of his regiment. He describes his meals and promises to send home provisions with his pay. (Because the 15th Maine was organized in late 1861, Cushing may have served for a short time in an earlier unit, or his letter may be misdated.) Cushing next writes from Ship Island, Mississippi, briefly describing his recent sea voyage and discussing his prospects for transfer to a Massachusetts cavalry regiment. Discussing family matters, Cushing expresses alarm over his sons' misbehavior and disobedience at home, a concern that would be often repeated throughout his letters. In the next four letters, dated from October, 1862, to April, 1863, Cushing writes from Pensacola, Florida. Among Cushing's points of discussion are an argument caused by a letter that he'd written to his hometown newspaper, the drunkenness in camp, observations of local enslaved people ("[T]he slaves hear abouts have all hurd of Mr. Linkons proclamation tha are having a jolification ..."), Confederate prisoners of war, a freedmen's school, and the regiment's movements and activities. He also writes of the attitudes of soldiers and the local inhabitants toward slavery. Throughout Cushing's letters are scattered directions to his wife in how to manage the farm and the family and lengthy fatherly advice to his sons. He writes of arguments with local inhabitants about the war and slavery, on the latter Cushing writing, "I disliked slavery befour this rebelon I abhor it now and pray and hope it [the war] never will sease until all are free." By August, 1864, Cushing was in the hospital in Readville, Massachusetts, apparently suffering from rheumatism, and he describes his surroundings and the food.