Moore, Charlie and John

Papers, 1839 February 14-1856 August 12
0.5 lin. feet

Moore, John
Rank:	Pvt.; Capt.
Regiment:	12th Connecticut Infantry Regiment (1862-1865) United States. Army--Infantry Regiment (Colored), 99th (1864-1866)
Service:	1862 January-?

Moore, Charlie
Rank:	Unknown
Regiment:	United States. Army--Infantry Regiment (Colored), 99th (1864-1866)
Service:	Unknown

Background note:

Charlie and John Moore appear to have been cousins who lived in or near Hartford, Conn., and had parallel careers in the Civil War military. In 1864, both men received captains' commissions in the 5th Engineers, Corps d'Afrique (later designated the 99th U.S. Colored Infantry) which was raised in southern Louisiana.

The 99th Colored Infantry participated in Nathaniel Banks' Red River Expedition, where they performed a critical role in constructing bridges and fortifications, after which they were stationed near Morganza and New Orleans. Late in the year, the 99th Infantry, still performing engineering duties, was transferred to Key West, Fla., where they participated in several engagements, including the Battle of Natural Bridge in April, 1865.

Scope and Contents:

The letters of Charlie and John Moore are fairly uninformative about their personal lives and military experiences. The two seem to have been cousins, writing to John's father in Hartford, Conn. The collection falls into two distinct parts, the first of which includes nine letters written by John Moore, covering the period of time from his training at Camp Lyon in Connecticut, to his transport and arrival at Ship Island. John Moore's letters are generally well-written, suggesting that he was well educated, however his descriptions of Camp Lyon are routine, focusing mainly on food and requests for stockings, books (Cooper's The Spy and Wept of Wish ton Wish), and other daily needs. Two letters stand out: one describing the unpleasant journey to Ship Island aboard the Steamer Fulton (1862 May 3-5), and another desribing the wildlife that he and his fellow soldiers encountered around Ship Island while gathering logs for construction (1862 March 29).

Moore had trepidations about becoming ill in the South, and on June 16, 1862, he wrote that he had become lame and was being considered for a medical discharge. The presence of an additional letter from Moore, dated April 17, 1864, suggests that he did not receive a discharge. By that time, Moore had been commissioned as Captain in the 5th Engineers, Corps d'Afrique (later designated as the 99th U.S.C.T.), and was involved in Banks' Red River Campaign.

Charlie Moore is less articulate than John, and the letters he wrote while an officer in the 99th U.S. Infantry (Colored) were written while stationed in relatively calm New Orleans. Most of Charlie's five letters discuss bad news he has received of Banks' campaign, and rumors of good news of Grant's success in the east. Moore's company appears to have spent much its time overseeing "contrabands" who were working plantations.

M-2662a6
cat. 10/91 rsc

Link to subject index to the Charlie and John Moore Papers

Alphabetic index to the Schoff Civil War Collections

Return to:

Homepage	Manuscripts	Collections	Staff	Hours and policies