The Monroe Historical Society will be presenting a very special Civil War display from April 22 - April 25, 2010 at the Museum located at 10 E. Elm Street, downtown Monroe. Hours for this special event will be 10am – 3pm Thursday through Saturday and 1pm – 4pm Sunday.
Highlighting our presentation is a collection of letters from cavalry soldier Robert Burr of Cleves, Ohio (Hamilton County) to his sister Mattie Vance of nearby Bethany, Ohio (Butler County). The genealogy of the family begins with the legendary Aaron Burr and includes several Monroe families. These fascinating firsthand accounts of Civil War life, including the Battle of Shiloh, Murfreesboro and the taking of Savannah and ride to the sea, span the entire length of the war from 1861-1865. This is an unprecedented collection and a real treasure for Monroe:
“June 9th 1862 Savannah TN
I have got hardened to the sight of a dead man by this time. I would as leave sleep by the side of a dead man as to sleep with one that was a live only he wont keep me quite so warm.”
“March 17, 1863 Triune, TN
Mattie you must not look for me until you see me a coming for theire is no sertainty of a soldiers getting to go home until they get theire.”
“May 7, 1863 Triune, TN
I dreampt the other night that I got a furlough for twenty days and when I wakened up in the morning I was quite disappointed to find it was not so.”
Admission is free and we are encouraging everyone to visit the museum. We are happy to accommodate special viewings or field trips for students. Contact us at 539-2270.
The first general meeting will be April 29 at 7pm in the Mt Pleasant Activity Building. An entertaining program about the Civil War will be presented by historian Steve Battishill. Everyone is welcome to attend. If you would like to join the Historical Society, applications are now online at www.monroeoh-historicalsociety.org. Annual dues start at $10.
