William and Hattie Lawrence Correspondence, 1854-1880

Scope and Contents: William B. ("Ben") Lawrence, of Bloomington, Ill., served in Co. A, 94th Ill. Vol. Inf. during the Civil War. Enlisting as first sergeant, he reached the rank of first lieutenant and was quartermaster of the 2nd Battalion Convalescent Camp in New Orleans, 1862-64. This collection mainly contains letters to Lawrence from his wife, Hattie, in which she describes life on the home front and family matters, and notes in particular her loneliness. Other letters are from Lawrence to his wife, his parents, relations, and friends. The collection also includes a daguerreotype of Lawrence, a sick list for the 94th Ill. on Aug. 7, 1863, and Col. John McNulta's letter that month recommending Lawrence for promotion to first Lieutenant. The collection, which also contains a few items dating from before and after the war, was acquired by the Illinois Historical Survey in 1993.