Skip to main content

Herman J. Bradley Correspondence

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-1989-074

Scope and Content

This collection contains two letters associated with Herman J. Bradley, a Union soldier during the American Civil War, written to Bradley's family. The first letter, dated November 10, 1861, at Camp Butterfield, [Virginia], is written by Darius Russell to Herman's father, William Bradley of Marion. Russell writes at length regarding Bradley's ill health. The second letter, incomplete, is unsigned but attributed to Bradley. Written at Camp Cedar Creek on November 7 (no year, but likely 1864), the letter is addressed to "Dear Father and Friends." The writer notes that he has just returned from an 80-mile march from Martinsburg, expresses anxiety at having no money or stamps, and requests a pair of mittens from home. He briefly mentioned guerilla action in the area and the recent capture of General Alfred N. Duffie.

Dates

  • 1861, n.d.

Creator

Language of Materials

The materials in the collection are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Biographical Note

Herman J. Bradley was a Union soldier during the American Civil War. There is nothing in this collection that definitively identifies Bradley's army unit, but evidence within the letters suggests that he was the Herman (or Hermon) J. Bradley who served in Company I, 17th New York Infantry and Company B, 9th New York Heavy Artillery. This Herman Joseph Bradley, son of William and Delilah Eddy Bradley, was born in Williamson (Wayne County), New York on December 1, 1840. The 1860 federal census lists him among the residents in his parents' Williamson home. Bradley enlisted in Company I, 17th New York Infantry in September 1861, and was discharged due to disability the following year. He enlisted in Company B, 9th New York Heavy Artillery on September 13, 1864, and was mustered out with the 9th on July 6, 1865. In the 1870 federal census Bradley appears as a farmer residing in the home of Lewis Bradley (probably Herman's older brother) in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Bradley married Harriet A. Kellog (1837-1897); the couple would have three children. By 1880, the Bradleys were living in Kent County, Michigan, where Herman Bradley was employed as a grocer. Herman J. Bradley died in Williamson, New York on March 10, 1909, and was buried in Marion Cemetery.

Sources:

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Additional Description

Abstract

Two letters associated with Herman J. Bradley, a Union soldier during the American Civil War, written to members of his family from Camp Butterfield and Camp Cedar Creek, [Virginia]. Includes a letter written on Bradley's behalf by Darius Russell regarding Bradley's ill health, and a letter from Bradley to his father in which he mentions guerilla action in the area and their recent capture of General Alfred N. Duffie.

Source of Acquisition

The Herman J. Bradley Correspondence was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 1989.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Herman J. Bradley Correspondence by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).

Processing Information

The processing and description of the Herman J. Bradley Correspondence commenced and was completed in February 2022.

Subjects

Record Groups

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Herman J. Bradley Correspondence, 1861, n.d.
Status
Completed
Author
John M. Jackson
Date
2022 (CC0 1.0)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2020-09-02: Finding aid notes updated to new department standards. juliags
  • 2021-05-17: LM Rozema added missing notes for an unprocessed collection (abstract, source, processing, bio note), added FA title, added FA date from EAD, and added component with instances previously attached to collection level.

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

http://spec.lib.vt.edu
Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308

Staff Interface | Visit ArchivesSpace.org | v3.3.1 | Send Feedback or Report a Problem