The Wilhelm Ramthun Papers consist of eight letters, 1862-1863, and the birth certificate of a child born to Friedrich and Caroline Ramthun in 1861. Friedrich Ramthun was probably the “Brother Fritz” to whom seven, and possibly all eight, of the letters were written.
The letters were written from the front between February 1862 and July 1863. Included is an account of the Battle of Fredericksburg, although Ramthun was not involved in the main thrusts of that battle. Ramthun left no account of the Battle of Gettysburg. There are, in fact, numerous gaps in the correspondence, as revealed in the letters by references to other letters not found here. Ramthun's letters are significant mainly for the light they shed on the world of the common soldier in the Civil War. One sees here the dangers and concerns, as well as the elemental drudgery, poor food, dirt, and cold of the soldier's daily life. The last letter, written from the Gettysburg Court House Hospital only two days before his death, found Ramthun feeling “much better” and hoping soon to be home. This letter was written for Ramthun by someone else, but like the others is written in the now obsolete German Gothic cursive script, which has presented some difficulties in transcription and translation. In keeping with the rough-hewn character of the letters, and also to achieve the highest degree of exactness, the translation has been made as literal as possible.
The papers are arranged by date. In each case the original document in German Gothic handschrift is followed first by a typewritten transcript of the German and then by its translation into English.
