1860-1959; bulk: 1863-1865
Guide to the Collection
Funding for the digitization of this collection and the creation of preservation microfilm was provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act grant as administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Restrictions on Access
Use of the originals is restricted. This collection is available as color digital facsimiles (see links below). Black and white microfilm is also available for use in the library.
Abstract
This collection consists primarily of correspondence of Lt. Edmund Miles of Cambridge, Mass. with family members during the Civil War.
Biographical Sketch
Edmund Miles was born in Halesworth, England, on 19 June 1825 to Edmund (1791-1856) and Harriet (Giles) Miles (1795-1846). The family moved to Montreal, Canada, where Edmund grew up and learned the printing trade. On 4 May 1848, he married Elizabeth Cribb (1828-1907), and the couple moved to the U.S., settling in Cambridge, Mass. They had seven children: Edmund Elisha Miles (1849-1870); Harriet Anne Matilda Miles (1850-1929), who married George Allen; Francis Henry Miles (1853-1935), who married Mary Ella Cutler; Clara Elizabeth Miles (1855-1931), who married Edmund D. Studley; William Sydney Miles (1858-1883); Gannett W. Miles (1861-1867); and Georgiana Shaw Miles (1865-), who married Anthony John Philpott.
In Aug. 1862, Edmund Miles enlisted in the 41st Massachusetts Infantry and shipped out to Louisiana. The 41st Infantry was changed into the 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry in June 1863, and Miles served in Company F. He fought in many battles, including the Siege of Port Hudson and the Red River Campaign. He was seriously wounded in the leg at the Battle of Cedar Creek on 19 Oct. 1864 and spent many months in the hospital. After a promotion to second lieutenant in Nov. 1864, he was discharged on 14 July 1865.
After the war, Miles returned to Cambridge and worked as a printer for John Wilson & Son (later the Cambridge University Press). For many years, he was superintendent of the composing room. He was also an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He died on 12 Jan. 1899.
Collection Description
This collection contains correspondence of Lt. Edmund Miles during his service with the 41st Mass. Infantry and the 3rd Mass. Cavalry, 1863-1865. Letters written by Edmund to his brother William and wife Elizabeth in Cambridge, Mass. from various places in Louisiana and Virginia describe daily camp life, skirmishes, tactics, confiscation of items from Confederate houses, picket duty, motivation for enlisting, and casualties. Edmund describes the siege of Port Hudson, La., the Teche County campaign, and the Red River Expedition in Louisiana. Letters from Elizabeth, Edmund's children, and his nephew Alfred describe life in Cambridge, school, newspaper articles about the war, and family health. Also included is a circular letter addressed to Edmund from the Lincoln Guard in Boston, Mass. regarding an evening procession, 1860; Edmund's certificate of naturalization, 1862; his military discharge paper, 1865; obituaries and letters of condolence following his death in 1899; and a family genealogy composed by Hugh C. Norse in 1959.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Janet Cushman and Isabel Studley, May 2002.
Restrictions on Access
Use of the originals is restricted. This collection is available as color digital facsimiles (see links below). Black and white microfilm is also available for use in the library.
Other Formats
The collection is also available as color digital facsimiles and on microfilm, P-803, 1 reel.
Detailed Description of the Collection
1860-1862
Apr.-June 1863
July-Aug. 1863
Aug.-Dec. 1863
Apr. 1864
July 1864
Aug.-Sep. 1864
Oct. 1864
NOTE: Miles' commendation for bravery, 19 Oct. 1864, has been removed to Mss. Large.
Nov.-Dec. 1864
1865
1897-1911
1959
Preferred Citation
Edmund Miles papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.
Persons:
Organizations:
Subjects:
Materials Removed from the Collection
Two carte-de-visite photographs of Edmund Miles (Photo. 500.16.1) and his wife Elizabeth (Photo. 500.16.2) and one ambrotype of Edmund Miles (Photo. 2.165) have been removed from this collection.