Perkins/Hiatt Papers, 1861-1916 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

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Collection Overview

Title: Perkins/Hiatt Papers, 1861-1916

Extent: 4.0 Folders

Date Acquired: 09/01/1980

Subjects: Civil War, 1861-1865.

Languages: English

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.

Subject/Index Terms

Civil War, 1861-1865.

Administrative Information

Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Acquisition Source: Willham, W.O.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Folder:

[Folder 1: Documents],
[Folder 2: Correspondence to Mary E. Foster from William L. Perkins, 1861-1864],
[Folder 3: Battle of Perryville],
[Folder 4: Correspondence, 1861, 1869],
[All]

Folder 2: Correspondence to Mary E. Foster from William L. Perkins, 1861-1864: 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.