Extracts from Letters Written by Alfred B. McCalmont, 1862-1865

Extracts from Letters Written by Alfred B. McCalmont, 1862-1865, Volume 1, is a detailed work of history and biography. This collection of correspondence provides a firsthand account of the American Civil War through more than ninety letters written to family members. The text follows Alfred B. McCalmont from his early days organizing the Petroleum Guards in the 142nd Pennsylvania Volunteers to his eventual rise as a commanding officer.

This personal narrative covers critical military engagements including Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. As a regimental history, the volume tracks McCalmont's promotion to colonel of the 208th Pennsylvania Volunteers. The letters offer professional insights into the siege operations at Petersburg and Richmond, the Appomattox Campaign, and the pursuit of Lee. This biography serves as a primary source for those studying the United States Army and Pennsylvania soldiers.