This collection contains six letters from Private Edgar W. Johnson (1845-1864) of Company F, 50th New York Engineers during the American Civil War, written from Elmira New York, Washington D.C., and a camp near Rappahannock Station, Virginia to his father in 1864. In the first letter, written from Elmira on January 17, 1864, Johnson urges his father to collect his scrip and pay various debts. He then describes crowding in the barracks: "[I]t is about inpesibul to rite. Whare thare is from 8 to 10 hudred in one building. Sone snaking [smoking] some playing ucar [Euchre] fidling some dueing ever thing that ever was thoug of." Writing on February 5, Johnson again directs his father regarding the scrip and other financial matters and asks his father to visit him. Still writing from Elmira on February 7, Johnson informs his father of his ill health: "[I] ante ben exrackley wel I first had the shites and then to top off on a weak ago to day the Dr put sunthing In my arme that made it most aufull soar ..." Johnson was in Washington, D. C. by March 12, 1864, when he again wrote his father, mostly concerning personal financial affairs. In a letter dated March 21, Johnson writes from a camp near Rappahannock Station, Virginia that he has finally reached his company, and he describes recent movements of the Confederates and firing of the artillery. In his final letter, dated April 3, 1864, Johnson writes of playing baseball, then describes the recent execution of a Union soldier: "the First Mass calver man had ben on picket and they just went by here while they was out the grites pitched on them and and took one of our men and striped him nacid and then put 26 ball holes thrue him ..."

The collection also contains three letters from Thomas M. Blyth, also of the 50th Engineers, to Johnson's father. On April 20, Blyth writes from Stevensburg, Virginia and notes that his Company has been engaged in fixing a corduroy road. He then writes that Edgar and others have been left at Rappahannock. Blyth describes Edgar as a good soldier and good son and discusses in general the morality of soldiers. Writing on May 31, Blyth relays news of Edgar's death and advises his father to apply to the Sanitary Commission for Edgar's back pay. Blyth notes that the regiment, acting in the capacity of infantry, has been working and marching night and day while on short rations. Writing from near Petersburg, Virginia on August 11, 1864, Blyth expresses outrage over an apparent scheme by a woman named Edith Johnson to obtain Edgar's personal effects and back pay, then mentions that he has had the Virginia fever, describes engagements with Confederate pickets, and complains about not having been paid: "I wonder if the administration at Washington thinks Our Families can subsist on air and make Us more patriotic in the Field to know they are starving at home," Blyth writes. "We are perfectly willing to undergo hardships, providing they dont share it while Contractors and shoddyites are revelling in Luxury on the Country's Blood." Also in the collection is a letter from Sergeant Henry De. Wakeman, of Company A, 50th New York Engineers, describing Edgar's ailments (including the mumps) and death and offering advice regarding the back pay and personal effects of the deceased.