(5) Well-documented and deeply personal group of five Civil War letters and related correspondence tracing the brief service, hospitalization, and death of Union soldier George W. Phillips of Ohio, spanning October through December 1862. The archive presents a continuous and increasingly urgent narrative, beginning with Phillips’s own accounts of camp life and early illness, initially described as “rheumatism,” and progressing through his transfer to hospital care, where his condition deteriorates into what is later identified as pneumonia. The earliest letters describe harsh field conditions, exposure, inadequate rest, and poor rations, offering insight into the everyday realities faced by Union soldiers. As the sequence advances, Phillips writes of prolonged hospitalization, weakness, and worsening symptoms affecting his lungs and heart. One letter reflects his extended confinement and the uncertainty of recovery, while another reveals his expectation of being moved as hospitals cycled patients to maintain capacity. The final phase of the group includes a letter written on Phillips’s behalf by a male nurse, describing his rapid decline, severe respiratory distress, and the onset of pneumonia in the final days of his life, followed by additional contemporary accounts detailing his final hours, including medical observations, visits from attendants, and remarks indicating his awareness of approaching death. The sequence forms a rare and cohesive narrative arc from active service through terminal illness, now further strengthened by this additional firsthand account of his last moments. Accompanying several of the letters are period envelopes and later typed interpretive sheets that summarize and contextualize the contents, aiding in understanding the chronology and circumstances of the correspondence. The group illustrates the broader historical reality that disease was the leading cause of death during the Civil War, with Phillips’s experience serving as a representative and humanizing example of that reality. Pickup & Shipping: Free pickup in Gardnerville, NV. FedEx Ground/Home Delivery within the continental U.S.: $30 + 1.5% insurance (unless waived in writing). Combined shipping available.

Good overall with typical age-related wear. Letters show expected fold lines, light toning, and scattered staining. Some edge wear and minor losses are present, consistent with handling and storage. Ink remains generally legible throughout, with some areas of light fading. Accompanying envelopes and later mounts show handling wear. Overall, the group presents well and remains stable for display and study.