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An ambrotype image of an unidentified African-American Union soldier with his wife and daughters. Library of Congress image, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Historians in Ind. town hope to bring Civil War letter home

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
An ambrotype image of an unidentified African-American Union soldier with his wife and daughters. Library of Congress image, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
An ambrotype image of an unidentified African-American Union soldier with his wife and daughters. Library of Congress image, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

MADISON, Ind. (AP) – A group of historians in a southern Indiana city are hoping they can purchase a Civil War soldier’s rare letter describing a bloody battle and his vision of free blacks.

The letter by the son of John Carter, an African-American grocery store owner in the Ohio River city of Madison who helped move slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, has long been in the hands of private collectors. It will be included in the March 21 Printed and Manuscript African Americana sale in New York.

Carter’s letter is in good condition, written on “wove paper” in ink that has mostly held up. The letter features some misspellings that speak to Carter’s likely lack of formal education, but an observer said it doesn’t detract from its poignant descriptions of the effects of the battle on soldiers.

Jefferson County historian Janice Barnes said Carter and his father and brother are well-documented in county historical records to a point, but then the trail runs cold.

Morgan Carter was mustered out of the Army in Corpus Christi, Texas, and returned to Madison, where he worked for his father, but there are no records for him after that.

Barnes said it’s unclear if Carter has any descendants. The historical society, which has been researching the Carter family, has not been able to find evidence of a marriage, children or census records after the Civil War for Carter.

His brother, John Carter Jr., was a teacher in Switzerland and Jefferson counties, but there is no evidence he had children, either.

The Madison Courier reports the historians have created a fund to purchase the letter penned by Morgan Carter.

Historian and genealogist Janice Barnes says, “We want this document back in Indiana,” but added the Jefferson County Historical Society is strapped for cash.

The group is seeking donations for the letter-buying effort. Donations can be dropped off at the Jefferson County Historical Society office or mailed to the office.

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Information from: The Madison Courier, http://www.madisoncourier.com

Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

AP-WF-03-12-13 1417GMT

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

An ambrotype image of an unidentified African-American Union soldier with his wife and daughters. Library of Congress image, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
An ambrotype image of an unidentified African-American Union soldier with his wife and daughters. Library of Congress image, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.