Samuel D. Foster Letter
Scope and Content
This collection consists of a single, three-page letter written by Samuel D. Foster, a Union soldier during the American Civil War, to William Johnston and family. Writing from the medical inspector's office at Louisville, Kentucky on August 17, 1864, Foster is apparently responding to an inquiry from the Johnstons regarding a soldier named John (almost certainly Corporal John W. Johnston of Company H, 89th Ohio Infantry). In relaying news of John, Foster describes conditions at the prisoner-of-war camp at Danville, Virginia from which he had been released on April 23. Foster notes the poor quality of the prisoners' rations, including very fat, badly cured, and unwashed bacon; unwashed black beans; and inferior, poorly ground, and unsifted cornbread. He describes the guards as "generally very blasphemous & insulting." Foster writes that when he left the prison, John's health was good but that since his release, the remaining prisoners at Danville have been sent to Americus, Georgia, undoubtedly referring to the Andersonville prison.
Dates
- 1864
Creator
- Foster, Samuel D. (Person)
Language of Materials
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to 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
Samuel D. Foster was a Union soldier, probably serving in an Ohio regiment, during the American Civil War. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war at the Confederate prison in Danville, Virginia, and was released on April 23, 1864. No further information could be found.
John Wesley Johnston, the supposed subject of passages in Foster's letter, was the son of William and Elizabeth Jones Johnston and was born in Ross County, Ohio on December 10, 1842. He enlisted as a private in Company H, 89th Ohio Infantry on August 13, 1862 and mustered in with the regiment on August 26. A year later, he was promoted to corporal. On September 20, 1863, Johnston was taken prisoner at the Battle of Chickamauga. Initially held prisoner at Danville, Virginia, Johnston was later transferred to Andersonville Prison. John W. Johnston of the 89th Ohio died at Andersonville on August 9, 1864 and was buried there.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
Letter from Samuel D. Foster, a Union soldier during the American Civil War, written from Louisville, Kentucky on August 17, 1864, to the Wm. Johnston family, describing conditions at the Confederate prisoner-of-war camp in Danville, Virginia, from which Foster had been released.
Source of Acquisition
The collection was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 1990.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Samuel D. Foster Letter 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 Samuel D. Foster Letter commenced and was completed in August 2022.
- Title
- Samuel D. Foster Letter, 1864
- 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
- 2020-09-08: Finding aid notes updated to new department standards. juliags
- 2021-03-08: LM Rozema added missing notes for an unprocessed collection, added FA title and filing titles, added FA date from EAD, and added component with instances previously attached to collection level.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu