John McGraw Civil War Letters | Digital Collections

Description

John McGraw was born in Ontario, Canada in 1835 to Irish parents. His family then moved to Western New York to work on the Erie Canal. He worked as a stonecutter and lived on Reynolds Street in the 8th Ward of Rochester, NY. He was a private in the Union Army during the US Civil War, serving in Company E of the 140th NY Volunteer Infantry. Though newspaper clippings refer to McGraw as a "conscript who volunteered", later writings refer to him as being drafted. John and his wife Mary had six children, two of whom died while he was serving in the Civil War. He was discharged from the Army with a paralyzed arm in 1865, and returned home to his wife and daughter, dying ten years later in 1875. Most of what we know about John McGraw comes from this collection of letters he wrote to Mary from the battlefields of Virginia to hospitals in Philadelphia and Maryland.

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: Photograph of a tintype of John McGraw in his Zouave uniform; Photocopy of an tintype of John McGraw in his Zouave uniform, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Tintype of John McGraw in his Zouave uniform; Tintype of John McGraw in his Zouave uniform, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from C- W- to Mssrs M- regarding delivery of stone from a local quarry, October 11, 1860; Correspondence from C- W- to Mssrs M- regarding delivery of stone from a local quarry, October 11, 1860, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Handwritten lyrics to song "Camp Gals". In John McGraw's hand; Handwritten lyrics to song "Camp Gals". In John McGraw's hand, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, September, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, September, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, September 12, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, September 12, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, September 13, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, September 13, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, October 2, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, October 2, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, October 23, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, October 23, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, October 26, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, October 26, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, October 30, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, October 30, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, November 3, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, November 3, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, November 11, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, November 11, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, November 17, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, November 17, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, November 17, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, November 17, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, December, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, December, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, December 13, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, December 13, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, December 17, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, December 17, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, December 25, 1863; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, December 25, 1863, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Handwritten furlough request template; Form asks for permission to leave a Washington hospital to return to New York State to vote for President Lincoln in the "approaching election"., Handwritten furlough request template, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, January 2, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, January 2, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, January 9, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, January 9, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, January 14, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, January 14, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, January 21, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, January 21, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, January 24, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, January 24, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, February 11, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, February 11, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from James McGraw to "Sister & Brother". Wheeling, WV, February 28, 1864; Correspondence from James McGraw to "Sister & Brother". Wheeling, WV, February 28, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, March 4, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, March 4, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, March 17, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, March 17, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, March 20, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, March 20, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, March 23, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, March 23, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, April 2, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, April 2, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, April 13, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, April 13, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, April 29, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, April 29, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, May 12, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, May 12, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, May 15, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, May 15, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, May 21, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, May 21, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, May 28, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, May 28, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, June 15, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, June 15, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, June 22, 1864; Correspondence from John McGraw to Mary McGraw, June 22, 1864, John McGraw Civil War Letters, D.528, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

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