Consists of 129 Civil War letters of Carlos W. Colby of the Illinois 97th Volunteer Infantry Regiment written between 1862 and 1865 to his sisters, brother, brother-in-law, and niece. These letters describe in detail all aspects of Colby’s daily camp life as a common soldier including such topics as accommodations, food, clothing, health, weather, scenery, transportation and weaponry, as well as reflecting social and racial attitudes, moral and mental states, observations of the military leaders and strategies, and patriotic sentiments. Colby includes graphic descriptions of particular battles and skirmishes, including the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, the Siege of Fort Blakely, Alabama, and the Battle of Jackson, Mississippi. Also, a few writings of Colby’s including his reminiscences of his boyhood and his military service; and some miscellaneous material relating to his Congressional Medal of Honor, the published history of the Illinois 97th Infantry Regiment, and copies of newspaper articles about Colby and several of his obituaries.