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CIVIL WAR COLLECTION—Examining letters and photos from a collection given to the La Crosse State University Library by Mrs. L. V. Markgraf are, from left, Edwin Hill of the library staff; SallyAverkamp, a student; and Dr. George Gilkey, chairman of the LCU history department.—Tribune Photo.'COULEE BOYS' COLLECTIONLCU Library Gets Civil War LettersThe area research center in times people contact them. Oncea contact is made, the procedures for handling materials are basic. We are well-equipped to store and maintain these mate-the special Collections room in the Eugene Murphy Library, La Crosse State University, recently received a collection of letters of historical significance to the La Crosse area.The collection is of photocopies of letters from the time ofthe Civil War. The letters were written by La Crosse citizens to La Crosse citizens. All original letters belong to Mrs. L. V, Markgraf, 129 N. 11th St., who received them from her father, the late Edward Cronon of La Crosse.The copies, taken from the originals, will be on display along with other Civil Waritems in the library in April and May.dr iY *rials safely. We do want to appeal to anyone in the area who might have old documents, letters, diaries to contact eitherlogical order, the morale changes are particularly to be noted: The optimistic tone which predominated in the early letters gave way to pessimism toward the mid-1360s.they fun we had in the company.Many of the men requested that postage stamps be sent to1 them from their homes since it was difficult to obtain themmyself at the library or Dr. George Gilkey.” Dr. Gilky is a history professor.Mrs. Markgraf’s father was a member of the 8th WrisconsinVolunteers. He enlisted with hisbrother, David, in 1861 for service in the Union Army.Among the letters are several from James Mellor, who was Mr. Cronon’s father-in-law andHill explains that this historical fact has been established and was reaffirmed by the letters: Union servicemen entered the war with high spirits thinking that it would be a short war. However, as the war dragged on, differences in morale were obvious.while they were moving from place to place. IA constant concern for condi-Mrs. Markgraf’s grandfather.Mellor was wounded in the Battle of Nashville and died in a‘‘We’re delighted to get this important collection,” said Edwin Hill, who is in charge of the special collections room. “Other documents and collections offield hospital in January 1865.☆☆ *Mi • MBAs an example of an early letter, Hill quoted from Mr. Cronon’s letter of April 1862 to his mother:“There is a report here that our troops have taken Corinth, Miss., with heavy loss. If that is taken, I think the war is neartions at home Is reflected in the letters. Not. only did the men ask questions about their families, they also tried to keep informed about crop conditions and the weather. Also, they exchanged news from home and maintained a comradeship among themselves, which prompted them to be called the “Coulee Bovs.” jNames of all servicemen whoare mentioned in the lettershave been indexed for the con-over . . .M**local or state historical significance must exist. We’re always looking for items which cover these broad aspects of history, Hill explained.LCU’s history department staff members work with the library on these projects. “Their help is invaluable,” stated Hill. “Sometimes they findout about collections and some-Photos of the correspondentsalso were furnished for use inthe election.Throughout the letters, references were made to La Crosse area residents indicating th a t those men in action made aspecial attempt to keep in touch with and spend time with their acquaintances from home. Several of the documents dealwith camp conditions and indicate changes in morale from time to time. Taken in chrono-Then, in February 1865 Thom-as Cunningham, another La Crosse resident, wrote to Mr. Cronon from Vicksburg—(Absence of punctuation and spelling from the original):“David Davis is in the Dedd corpse hey is in they place that suits him now Chris Johnson is dead hey died in the hospital in Mound City, David Langston was wounded in they hey is well ... We are all lonsome since we lost him for hev was allvenience of those who might be looking for news of relatives.Also part of Mrs. Markgraf’s collection are two Civil War songs. “The Two Days Battle” (which was fought at Nashvillein 1864) is one. Its sixth versedeals with the part played bythe 8th Wisconsin Regiment in the battle.Biographical data about Mr. Cronon as a La Crosse citizenas well as a compilation of his recollections of the Civil War, written after 1900, also were Given to the library. '
Newspaper Details
La Crosse Sunday Tribune
La Crosse, Wisconsin, US
Sun, Mar 01, 1970
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
La C.
WI, USA 12 Feb 2021
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