Scope and Content Note
The papers of the Shortelle family span the years 1851 to 1866, with the bulk of the material dating between 1861 and 1863, during which time Robert E. Shortelle served as a private in the 35th Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps (35th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment) in the Civil War. The collection is organized alphabetically by correspondent.
The collection is comprised primarily of correspondence from Robert E. Shortelle to his mother, brother, sister, and brother-in-law while staying in various army encampments around the Washington D.C. area and in Maryland and Virginia between 1861 and 1863. Topics include camp life, regimental activities, generals who led the Army of the Potomac, expected military activity, family news, and later, reactions to Robert E. Shortelle's death after he was killed on the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863.
Letters from James Edward Shortelle, Margaret Rebecca Coburn, Mary A. Shortelle, and Parly Coburn are also included in this collection and primarily discuss family news. This collection also contains a photograph of James Edward Shortelle in his United States Military Academy cadet uniform and a certificate of citizenship for Robert P. Shortelle dated from 1851.