Duncan/Stoddard Letters

Posted December 8, 2010 - 3:46pm by revetts

Duncan/Stoddard Letters Collection
.25 linear feet ; one .25 inch gray box
The Duncan/Stoddard Letters Collection is comprised of letters written by Uselma Duncan and other members of his family. The dates span a period of time from 1857 to 1864. The bulk of the correspondence deals with Uselma's life as a member of the 71st N.Y. Volunteer Regiment during the early days of the Civil War, and with his death at the First Battle of Bull Run on September 21, 1861.

Basic details

Control number:

MSS-013

Collection dates:

1857 - 1864

Size on shelf:

0.25 linear ft

Provenance

The Duncan/Stoddard Letters were donated to the Auraria Library Archives and Special Collections Department by Philip Becker in 1989. Mr. Becker, a UCD employee at the time, received the letters from his father-in-law, E. James Ferrar. The letters were originally the property of the Stoddard family of New Brunswick, New Jersey. When the last direct descendant of the family died, the letters were given to Mr. Ferrar and subsequently to Mr. Becker.
Property rights are held by the Auraria Library Archives and Special Collections Department. No part of this collection may be photocopied, reproduced or in any other way published without the expressed written permission of the Auraria Library Archivist.

Biographical note

Uselma Duncan, as a young man in the 1850s was working as a dry goods clerk on the western frontier city of Saint Louis, Missouri. When the Civil War broke out in early 1861 he returned to his home in New Jersey, and eventually volunteered with the 71st New York Volunteer Regiment. During the early months of the war his regiment was stationed at the Washington Navy Yard. On September 21, 1861, his regiment was engaged in the First Battle of Bull Run outside Washington D.C. Uselma was killed during that battle and his body was never recovered.
Uselma had a younger brother, Kenneth, and a sister, Sarah. Sarah married William C. Stoddard and raised three children, Emilie, Willie, and Lizzie.

Historical sketch

1857-59 Uselma Duncan is living and working in Saint Louis, Missouri
1861 He joins the 71st NY Volunteer Regiment of the Union Army - and is killed at the First Battle of Bull Run
1864 Sarah Stoddard, Uselma's sister, is living with her family in New Brunswick, New Jersey

Scope and content

The Duncan/Stoddard letters span an eight year period from 1857 to 1864. The early letters are from Uselma to his family in New Jersey describing his life and work in Saint Louis, Missouri. The letters written between April and July 1861 focus on Uselma's service with the 71st NY Volunteer Regiment stationed at the Washington Navy Yard. These letters yield a valuable insight to the mood of the nation on the eve of the Civil War's first major battle. They also give an interesting picture of Army life as experienced by the flood of volunteers who enlisted during those early months.
The letters from Sarah to Emilie in 1864 provide a brief insight into everyday life - family visits, school, fashion, etc.

Container list

One .25 inch gray box:
1/1 [1857] November 2 - Correspondence from Uselma to his sister Sarah
1/2 1858 April 11 - Correspondence from Uselma to Sarah
1/3 1858 July 21 - Correspondence from Uselma to Sarah
1/4 1861 April 16 - Correspondence from Sarah to her daughter Emilie
1/5 1861 May 6 - Correspondence from Uselma to Sarah
1/6 1861 May 11 - Correspondence from Uselma to Sarah
1/7 [1861] - Correspondence from Uselma to Sarah
1/8 1861 May 31 - Correspondence from Uselma to Sarah
1/9 [1861?] - Correspondence from Uselma to Sarah
1/10 [1861] - Correspondence from Uselma to his brother Kenneth
1/11 [1861 July 15] - Correspondence from Uselma to Kenneth
http://archivesdrupal.auraria.edu/content/duncan-stoddard-page-1
http://archivesdrupal.auraria.edu/content/duncan-stoddard-transcript
1/12 1861 July 18 - Correspondence from Uselma to his Mother (includes two newspaper clippings)
1/13 1861 July 25 ; July 29 - Two telegrams from Lt. G. W. Curtis (71st NY) to William G. Stoddard ; 1861 July 24 - one telegram from Kenneth Duncan to William G. Stoddard ; two newspaper clippings regarding the Battle of Bull Run (n.d.) ; one business card of Converse, Todd & Co. signed on back by Uselma Duncan (n.d.)
1/14 1861 July 25 - Correspondence from D. X. Junkin to Uselma Duncan's mother
1/15 1861 July 27 - Correspondence from Kenneth to Sarah
1/16 1861 July 29 - Correspondence from Kenneth to Sarah
1/17 1861 August 6 - Correspondence from Kenneth to Sarah
1/18 1861 August 19 - Correspondence from Kenneth to Sarah
1/19 1861 August 24 - Correspondence from Kenneth to Sarah
1/20 [1861 July 22] - Correspondence from Sarah to her mother
1/21 1861 September 4 - Correspondence from Kenneth to Sarah
1/22 1861 October 23 - Correspondence from Kenneth to Sarah
1/23 1861 November 11 - Correspondence from Kenneth to Sarah
1/24 [1864 July 29?] - Correspondence from Sarah to Emilie; includes one newspaper clipping
1/25 1864 August 23 - Correspondence from Sarah to Emilie
1/26 [1864] - Correspondence from Sarah to Emilie
1/27 [1864 August 14?] - Correspondence from Sarah to Emilie
1/28 [1864?] - Correspondence from Sarah to Emilie
1/29 1864 August 30 - Correspondence from Sarah to Emilie