[Back to Formatted Version]

Perkins/Hiatt Papers, 1861-1916

Collection Overview

Title: Perkins/Hiatt Papers, 1861-1916

Extent: 4.0 Folders

Date Acquired: 09/01/1980

Languages: English [eng]

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Perkins/Hiatt Papers consist primarily of photocopies of Civil War letters from William L. Perkins to Mary E. Foster as well as Perkins' pension record. Also included are two Civil War letters and the wartime journal of Reuben Hiatt.

Perkins and Foster were residents of Washington County, KY when he enlisted in the 19th Kentucky Infantry, USA. He spent most of his time in Louisiana and Mississippi where he participated in the Siege of Vicksburg and other smaller battles. Perkins and Foster married soon after the end of the war.

Hiatt served in the 10th Kentucky Infantry, USA and according to a note in the collection died early in the war; however, the only Reuben Hiatt in the Adjutant Generals Report was mustered out after three years of service in 1864. Perkins mentions Reuben in his letters, but the connection between the two is unknown.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Source: Willham, W.O.

Box and Folder Listing

Folder 1: DocumentsAdd to your cart.
Item 1: Copy Book of Reuben Hiatt, 1861-1862Add to your cart.
Includes a list of expenses and a war time journal.
Item 2: Civil War Pension Documents for William L. Perkins, 1865-1916Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Correspondence to Mary E. Foster from William L. Perkins, 1861-1864Add to your cart.
Perkins writes to his fiance with news about where he is and asks for news from home. His letters are written from Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana and Mississippi, but he spends most of his time in Louisiana. Early letters are mostly about Mary and his concern over her not writing with only brief mentions of the war. Later letters are more descriptive. He received a minor injury at Vicksburg and spent some time in Washington Hospital at Memphis.
Folder 3: Battle of PerryvilleAdd to your cart.
Copies of Harper's Weekly materials on the battle and a modern brochure commemorating the battle.
Folder 4: Correspondence, 1861, 1869Add to your cart.
Item 1: Correspondence to Amanda Logsdon from Reuben Hiatt, 1861Add to your cart.
Two letters in which he asks about people and family from home and talks about his messmate dying and other descriptions of army life.
Item 2: Correspondence to William Foster from Johnny Perkins, 1869Add to your cart.
Typescript of a letter in which Perkins talks briefly about his war experiences.