Marsh Family Papers (c.00047)

The Marsh Family papers consist of original and typed transcripts of Civil War letters, the bulk of which were written by Benjamin F. Marsh to his family in Fentonville, Michigan, while serving in the 8th Michigan Infantry. There are also letters from other family members, including A. B. Fay, Ed Francis Holmes, Gordon K. Fay, Lucy A. Bacon, and Augustus Holmes. Benjamin F. Marsh enlisted in Company G, 8th Michigan Infantry in August 182 and mustered out in June 1865. He took part in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House as well as skirmishes in Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee during the Civil War. (Note: In some government records he is recorded as Franklin B. Marsh.) He is the brother of Alvah Marsh (c.00110). The letters describe Marsh's army experiences on the march, in camp, in battle, on provost duty, and in army hospitals as both nurse and patient. Marsh took part in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Vicksburg, as well as skirmishes in Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The letters report on local boys serving with Marsh and ask constantly for news of home. The collection also includes an issue of Wolverine, a newspaper written by the 8th Regiment of the Michigan Infantry that provides the history of the 8th Regiment.