American Historical Ephemera & Photography

HARTLEY, Calvin S. Autograph letter signed ("Cal") from "Camp 28th Regt. P. Vols." Addressed to "Dear Sallie." Aquia Creek Landing. 8 May 1863. 3pp. 8 x 10 in. (creasing at folds, light soil). Written three days after the Battle of Chancellorsville (May 1-5), Hartley describes the "tremendous battle" comparing it to a devastating previous engagement noting that "Antietam was no circumstances no the fireing here & I do not think there ever was a more severe battle in the world."  Hartley continues to describe the losses sustained ("we have lost our best friend in Major [Lansfield] Chapman, and a braver man never lived"), troop positions, and the gallantry of General Joseph Hooker. -- Autograph letter from Hartley addressed to "My Dear Wife." "Camp 28th Regt. P.V. Mill Spring Ga." 10 May 1864. 499, 8 x 10 in. (creasing, some pencil fainst but legible). Written two days after the Battle of Dug Gap (May 8), Hartley provides a lengthy account of troop movements leading up to the battle and of the battle itself. He writes in small part: "...as we moved near Rocky Faced Mountain, were were drawn up in line of battle & moved forward in this position some 2 or 3 miles, over fields, through woods, across creeks, and over hills, until we arrived at the foot of the mountain, where the Dug Out Gap commences, we then charged up the hills...onward we pushed, the mountain was some 400 feet high, very steep & rocky, the weather fearfully hot & a galling fire poured into us...." He then continues with an account of the deaths of two color bearers from the 73 PA regiment, and how the movement of the 3rd color bearer down the mountain instigated "like a flash of lightening" a panicked descent down the mountain in which he was carried 30 feet while still with his sword drawn. A highly descriptive letter from a small but savage battle of the Atlanta Campaign.

[With:] Manuscript "Condensed Report of the 28th Regt. PA Vols. from the 3rd Day of May to the 4th Day of Sept. 64." Signed by Captain Calvin S. Hartley, Co. K, 28th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Hartley reports on a period in which his regiment was participating in the Atlanta Campaign, with frequent skirmishing and engagements at Mill Springs, Resaca, Golgatha Church, and Peach Tree Creek.

[Also with:] A letter signed by 53 "citizens of Bridesburg [PA]" expressing their "pleasure" at his advancement to officer and urging him to accept the accompanying sword [not present] as a token of their esteem. The 1850 US Census lists Hartley as a resident of Bridesburg, though by 1860 he had removed to Philadelphia. -- "Special Orders, No.149" issued from Headquarters Department of Washington, 24 June 1865, convening a General Court Martial and detailing Captain Hartley to serve as Judge Advocate for the court. -- Discharge from service of the United States for Calvin S. Hartley, Co. K 28th Regiment, Philadelphia, 28 July 1865. -- An affectionate poem titled "To Sallie," Philadelphia 8 January 1858, and signed "C.S.H." 

Calvin S. Hartley married Sallie McClain in Philadelphia in January 1860. HDS indicates that Hartley enlisted on 7/20/1861 a a private and mustered into Co. K PA 28th Infantry. He was promoted to 1st Lieut. in 3/1/1863 and Captain 8/5/1863, and served throughout the duration of the war. The 28th regiment saw extensive action during the war, including at Antietam, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. Following the war Hartley was a member of GAR Post #91 in Chicago.