Bennett family collection of Civil War correspondence and other material

This collection documents both the routine and dramatic events that took place for various family members of the Bennett, Tandy, and Van Winkle families during the American Civil War. The documents in this collection range from 1832-1909, while the bulk of the letters are dated during the 1860s and 1870s. The letters illustrate the details of camp life at Fort Monroe, the Marine Hospital at Key West, Florida, Port Royal, Camp Parole in Annapolis, Maryland, and Camp Williamsburg. Winant (Winnie, Winie) Bennett and his sister Catharine M. (Kate, Kitty) Bennett Tandy are the primary correspondents in this collection. Other correspondents include Harmanus Bennett, Abram Van Winkle Tandy, Susan and James Van Winkle, Frank Van Winkle, and John F. Tandy, among others. Many letters to and from Winant Bennett were written when he was stationed at the Marine and Stewart hospitals in Key West, Florida. His letters are very descriptive of everyday tasks, such as cooking and gathering supplies that are associated with camp life; Winant's letters also describe in detail the meals that he ate, the weather, and illnesses common to his "messmates" while stationed at various military camps and hospitals.

Letters written by Frank Van Winkle reference the fall of Charleston, the attack on a Confederate battery on Back River in Virginia in 1861, and the "Burnside Expedition" led by Union Army General Ambrose Burnside in New Bern, North Carolina. This collection also includes a letter to Abram Van Winkle Tandy from Chas T. Brewster regarding his concerns of the South "seizing" the Capitol. Another letter to Abram Van Winkle Tandy from F.W. Lovejoy describes soldier life at Camp Williamsburg in Maryland. Some letters refer to New York's 84th Regiment from Brooklyn, also known as the 14th Militia. In addition to named correspondents are two anonymous letters to soldiers from "a friend of the soldiers of the U.S." declaring their admiration for those risking their lives. The anonymous letters were found in a bag handmade by a child.

In addition to to correspondence to and from soldiers are many letters regarding the personal affairs of family members. The letters address illness in the family, mortgages, loans, family businesses, and travel and holiday plans. John F. Tandy writes to his brother Abram about his recent 35 dollar purchase of a sailboat called "White Squall"; and another letter to Abram from his brother in-law Harman Bennett describes his family's close relationship and recent holiday visit with Harry, a man enslaved by Harman's grandfather.

Other document types include a United States Treasury form and a certificate of membership to the Order of American Firemen, both for Abram Van Winkle Tandy. One picture postcard (1909) of a bungalow at Laurel, Long Island, is also included in this collection.

Many of the letters and envelopes include Civil War Union Army letterheads printed in color. A significant amount of the letters are paired with envelopes with Civil War stamps, most of which are very well preserved. Some examples include a letterhead with music notes with text "For Auld Lang Syne," an envelope with a decal in color of the American flag that says "God Save the Union," and a letterhead with Lady Liberty leaning on a red, white, and blue shield.

The first folder of the collection contains a typed list of the items in the collection, as well as full and partial transcriptions of the handwritten letters, as provided by the donor.