Correspondence to Henrietta Steptoe Manuel and Ann Rebecca Steptoe, 1862-1864

This series contains twenty-four items: twenty-three letters written between 1862 and 1864 to Henrietta Steptoe Manuel from her brothers George, James and John, her sister Rebecca and her sister-in-law Amanda Steptoe and one letter written to Ann Rebecca (Beck) Steptoe from her brother, John.

During this period both John and James would die in the war. John joined the 72nd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers August, 1861. Beck was at John's bedside when he died in the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon & Hospital, Philadelphia in July, 1863. Brother William was thought to have joined the Confederate Army as both James and George wrote Henrietta with that news in October and November 1862. On January 7, 1863, James wrote Amanda that Bill was not in the Confederate Army but was seen working in Delaware; he possibly never was a rebel.

George wrote his letters from Union camps in Washington, D.C., near Suffolk, VA, and Audenreid and Philadelphia, PA. James wrote from Williamsport, MD, Harpers Ferry, WV, near the Rappahannock River and near the Culpepper, VA, Court House. John wrote Henrietta from Falmouth and Harpers Ferry, WV, and Fairfax Station, VA; he wrote Rebecca from Harrisons Landing, VA.

Arrangement is alphabetical by the last name of the recipient, then the first name of sender, and then chronological.