This remarkably fine collection of Civil War correspondence consists almost entirely of letters written by Richard E. Carter, a young native of Lancaster, Wsiconsin to his brother William E. who was an attorney of that city. Carter enlisted in the 5th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment at the outbreak of the war as a quartermaster sergeant, was advanced in rank to 2nd lieutenant, 1st lieutenant, and captain of Company I and, in the last year of the war, served as Acting Quartermaster of the regiment.
Soon after it was organized, the 5th Regiment left Camp Randall and saw heavy fighting throughout the war, including the battle of Bull Run, the Peninsular Campaign and other campaigns in Virginia, and the battles of Antietam, Gettysburg, and Rappahannock.
