John Stagenwalter (circa 1843-after 1910) was only semi-literate, and used several different spellings of his own last name over the course of his letters, ranging from Stacwolder to Sagenwalt, sometimes adding his stepfather's surname Scheaffer. 15 of the letters were written as a private in the nine-month 178th Pennsylvania Infantry from October 1862 to June 1863. He wrote from Fort Magruder, VA on 28 April 1863: "The rebels are close to us . . . our picket and the Rebel picket can talk togeter. General Wise from Richmont was close hear for to take this fort here, but he missed it. . . . Now he is reduced into rancks. The Rebs put General Hood on his place."
In 1864 he joined the 162nd Pennsylvania / 17th Cavalry as a substitute, and was soon captured at Bunker's Hill in the Shenandoah Valley campaign. The collection includes one letter to his stepfather dated February 1865 after his release: "Was taken to the Libby Prison at Richmond & then to the hospital where I remained till last Sunday morning when with over a thousand others I was paroled. . . . Was slightly wounded in the shoulder but am doing well." After the war, he re-enlisted in the army, serving through 1883 and never advancing beyond private.
with--5 of Stagenwalter's post-war letters dated 1866-69 from Louisiana New Testament in 32mo, publisher's cloth, minimal wear, with his inscription on the front free endpaper. New York, 1861 One letter from Stagenwalter's sister dated 1862 3 letters from Stagenwalter's cousin Porter Line of the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, 1864-65, one of them stating "I must tell you about John. The last I heard of him was the night he was captured, and I did not hear of him since, but as soon as I hear enything of him dead or a live I will let you know." 5 other family letters, 1849-55 and the small metal chest used by the family to house this archive.