This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
Size | 10 items |
Abstract | Ten letters, 1862-1863, from Henry Oman written while serving in the 124th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment to his wife, Sarah Mentzer Oman. Oman writes about religious beliefs and practices, shared acquaintances, interactions with enslaved people on plantations, the Siege of Vicksburg, and plans for the future. |
Creator | Oman, Henry, 1835-1863. |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
Henry Oman (1834-1863) was born in Newport, R.I., and married Sarah Abbie Mentzer (1835-1918) on 27 Feb 1855 in Stow, Mass. Henry and Sarah moved to a farm in Kewanee, Ill., and had a daughter, Alice, in 1859, and a son, Henry, in 1863. On 8 August 1862, Oman enrolled in the newly begun muster roll for what became Company A for the 124th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The regiment mustered into federal service and then traveled to the front in Jackson, Tenn. Oman served as a private through the Siege of Vicksburg, but became ill with typhoid fever, which resulted in his death on 18 August 1863.
Sarah moved back to Massachusetts with the children and remarried twice, to Henry Stiles in 1869 until his death in 1870, and to Edward Francis Green in 1871 until his death in 1913.
Back to TopThe collection contains ten letters from Henry Oman to his wife, Sarah Mentzer Oman, sent during his service with the 124th Illinois Infantry, primarily in Mississippi. Oman's letters include writings on his religious beliefs and practices, shared acquaintances, interactions with enslaved people on plantations, the Siege of Vicksburg, and plans for the future.
Some letters contain notes made by one of Oman's daughter Alice's four children, who had each been given some of the letters from their mother.
Back to Top