Mayo Family Papers (UA.28.1)

Perry Mayo (son of James and Sarah P. Mayo) was born June 14, 1839 in Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pennsylvania. On May 10, 1861, Mayo enlisted in Company C of the 2nd Michigan Infantry. In 1864 he served briefly with the 20th Michigan Infantry. He received his discharge from the 2nd Michigan on July 21, 1864. Perry Mayo died on January 5, 1921.

Over fifty Civil War letters of Perry Mayo, written to his family in Calhoun County, Michigan, from June 1861 to May 1864, constitute the most important part of this collection. They include vivid descriptions of battles, marches, military personnel and camp life, together with perceptive observations on the conduct of the war. Since Perry Mayo's war experience with the Second Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry extended from the onset of the war (Blackburn's Ford and First Bull Run) to its last stages (Wilderness Campaign), these documents are of particular interest to the Civil War historian.