John Q. Adams Letters

Collection

Identifier: M48

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Thirteen letters written in May, June, and July 1862 by John Q. Adams to his wife Sarah ("Kate") from military campsites at Shiloh, Tenn., and in northern Mississippi, specifically the areas of Pope, Farmington, Corinth, Booneville and Big Springs. The letters contain information concerning family matters and letters Adams received from and wrote to other people. Throughout the letters he gives information about the life of a soldier, quotes prices in a local store, writes about foraging for blackberries, relates details of the Independence Day celebration, and describes preparations for picket duty.

Dates

Creation: May 11, 1862-July 20, 1862

Creator

Adams, John Q., -1866 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Noncirculating; available for research

Conditions Governing Use

This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).

Biographical / Historical

Union Sergeant John Q. Adams, a native of the DuQuoin, Ill. area, was mustered into service about February 17, 1862, and was stationed in Tennessee and northern Mississippi during the spring and summer of that year. He was with Co. E., 60th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, and he arrived at the Shiloh Battlefield from Cairo, Illinois, one month after the battle. Between May 25 and July 20, 1862, he was stationed in northeast Mississippi in Tishomingo County, at Booneville, and near Corinth. While there is no evidence of his participating in any fighting, he was on picket duty. At the end of July 1862 his unit was preparing to leave Mississippi, possibly to be sent to Tennessee. In July 1864 Adams was in the area of Kinnesaw when his term of service had expired, John Q. Adams was discharged from federal service at Goldsboro, N.C. Adams died in Perry County, Ill., on February 23, 1866.

John Q. Adams was married in January 1857 to Sarah C. Sullivan, and they were the parents of a son George M. Adams, born October 16, 1859. After Adams' death, Sarah married Thomas Roberts.