Michigan in the Civil War

Browse by Name: Divine, Jacob M.

Van Vlack family

Albert Hancock, from Van Vlack family papers

The papers of this Hillsdale, Mich., family include letters of Alonzo A. Van Vlack and several other soldiers:

Alonzo A. Van Vlack, of Woodbridge, Mich. Van Vlack was in Company F, 18th Michigan Infantry. He was taken prisoner at Athens, Ala., Sept. 24, 1864, and exchanged April 22, 1865. About 150 letters (Aug. 1862-May 1865) including a photocopy of one letter (Dec. 16, 1864) from Cahaba Prison. (Some letters are accompanied by typescripts or transcriptions.) Also reminiscences (undated) of Cahaba Prison and the steamer Sultana.

Elmer Bradley, of Lenawee County, Mich., who served in Company K, 11th Michigan Infantry. One letter (Feb. 6, 1862) from Bardstown, Ky.

Jasper Bryan, of Cambria, Mich., who served in Company K, 10th Michigan Infantry. Five letters (Mar. 14, 1863-June 12, 1864).

Jacob M. Divine, of Woodbridge, Mich., who served in Company F, 18th Michigan Infantry. One letter (Dec. 16, 1863) written from Nashville, Tenn., where he was on patrol duty. He tells of an incident in arresting some drunks.

Albert Hancock, of Cambria, Mich., who served in Company F, 18th Michigan Infantry. Two letters (Oct. 9, 1864 and Jan. 6, 1865) from Decatur, Ala.

John Leonard Myers, who served in Company A, 18th Michigan Infantry. Transcription of reminiscence (undated) of the Civil War. He was a prisoner with Van Vlack.

George Ploughman, of St. Joseph County, Mich. Two letters (May 26 and Sept. 24, 1862) written from New Orleans while he was serving in Company C, 6th Michigan Infantry. He mentions poor fare except when they can forage, expresses his opinion of the people and the country, and tells of a spree on payday.

Sherman Ruport, of Woodbridge, Mich. Three letters (Oct. 3 and Nov. 14, 1862, and Aug. 17, 1863) written while he was serving in Company F, 18th Michigan Infantry. He mentions drill and inspection, nursing in a hospital in Lexington, Ky., Sunday meeting, and card playing. He was taken prisoner at Athens, Ala., 1864, and died in Andersonville, 1865.

William W. Wilson, of Woodbridge, Mich. One letter (Dec. 10, 1862) written from a camp near Lexington, Ky., in which he tells of an experience in a hospital, and another letter (Oct. 25, 1864) written from Decatur, Ala. Wilson was in Company F, 18th Michigan Infantry.