Albert Day resided in Ann Arbor, MI when he enlisted at 22 years old.

Enlisted on 8/15/1862 and on 8/16/1862, he mustered into "H" Co. Michigan 20th Infantry.  He was obviously a capable individual, with promotions up to Brevet Major (in command of the regiment at mustering out on 5/30/1865 at the Delaney House in Northwest Washington D.C.  He did a stint as a 1^st and 2^nd Lieutenant in Company B, before serving as Captain of Company H.

This grouping includes 3 letters written to Captain Day – 2 from his mother (Ann Arbor) and one from his cousin (Milwaukee).  The letters from his mother strike a familiar chord, primarily expressing her worry for her son when the papers brought her news of the fighting toward the close of the war (April 2^nd/65, April 12^th/65). At one point, she gives Albert something of an ultimatum, telling him to decide whether he wants to continue a life of excitement or return to Ann Arbor to take care of his aging mother and cut loose his “peculiar pleasures” (whatever those may have been).  Given that he moved to New York City, he seems to have made a choice.  She is quite doting, taking every opportunity to fortify her soldier’s spirits by expressing her pride in him and offering spiritual advice. Further lines mention the goings-on back at home, including some of the latest gossip.

His cousin’s (Lizzie) letter concerns much personal business, opening by addressing his previous letter.  He seemed to have touched upon some existential crisis, to which she told him he is both still young and good-looking.  She hopes he feels better about the “conflict of age” soon.  After venting about school-related frustrations (she seems to have been a teacher), she asks him to reconsider his idea to join the regular Army after the war’s end. Interestingly, she cautions him about his interest in ‘his little fly’, as another man in the 28^th Michigan seems to lay claim to the same person.  It certainly implies that he may have some aggressive interest in a woman who is already in some type of relationship.  This seems to be relative to her asking him if he still plans to come to Milwaukee.

All 3 letters are in good condition, written in oxidized ink on lined paper.  The letters from his mother were folded horizontally into thirds, while the letter from his cousin is folded into quarters.  Each paper measures 7 ¾ - 8” x 10” when unfolded. Some light discoloration is noted on the April 2^nd letter from his mother.  All edges and corners are sharp and no major separation is observable along the fold creases.  2 covers are included, a blue one from the cousin with a cancelled 3-cent stamp and Milwaukee postmark, and a yellow one from his mother with a cancelled 3-cent stamp and an Ann Arbor postmark.  Both are addressed to Captain Day of the 20^th Michigan Infantry, Washington D.C.  At some point during the war, Captain Day kept a $10 Confederate note, obviously folded into approximately a 1.5” square – a nice touch to a very personal grouping.

The home front is an oft-neglected aspect of the Civil War, but of the utmost importance to the men in the armies.  These items were important enough to Captain Day to save and they deserve a prominent place in a collection. [cm][ph:L]