Letters & Correspondence
The soldiers of the 9th Michigan Infantry, stationed at West Point and Fort Duffield during the winter
of 1861–62, left behind a remarkable body of personal letters. These documents — written by officers, enlisted
men, and family members — offer an intimate look at daily life on Muldraugh’s Hill: sickness, storms, fort
construction, rumors of Buckner, and the emotional strain of separation from home.
This archive gathers all known letters connected to Fort Duffield, organized by writer. Each collection includes
original transcriptions, readable versions, and contextual notes.
Letter Collections
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Halladay Letters
Letters of Monroe D. Halladay — sickness, loneliness, and fragments from Nashville. -
Love Letters
Private John C. Love’s vivid accounts of storms, sickness, fort construction, and daily soldiering. -
DeLand Letters
Captain Charles V. DeLand’s published letters describing camp conditions, measles, Belgian muskets, and the
famous “night alarm.” -
Barker Letter
Frank H. K. Barker’s October 29, 1861 letter describing the journey to West Point and early rebel encounters. -
Parkhurst Letters
Letters from Lt. Parkhurst to Helen and others — early camp life, anxiety, and family concerns. -
Duffield Family Letters
Letters to and from Col. William W. Duffield and his family, including the July 21, 1862 “capture” letter.
Featured Exhibit
Little Love Letters from the Hill
A curated exhibit combining the letters of Halladay, DeLand, and Love — the most personal voices from
Muldraugh’s Hill.