Albert and Garrett Vander Veer Civil War Correspondence Papers and Craig Family Papers, 1850-1922

Summary

Abstract:
This collection is composed of letters written by brothers Albert and Garrett Vander Veer to family members. Garrett and Albert were the fifth and seventh children, respectively, of Abraham Harris and Sarah (Martin) Vander Veer and were officers in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The majority of the letters are addressed to the Vander Veer’s sister and brother-in-law, Esther and John Craig.
Extent:
2 boxes
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection is composed of letters written by brothers Albert and Garrett Vander Veer to family members. Garrett and Albert were the fifth and seventh children, respectively, of Abraham Harris and Sarah (Martin) Vander Veer and were officers in the Union Army during the American Civil War. There are thirty-two letters in total written between 1862 and 1864. Twenty-six of these letters were written by Garrett Vander Veer from November 1862 until shortly before his death in 1864; all of these are addressed to his sister and brother-in-law, Esther and John Craig. In his letters, Vander Veer describes Beaufort and Hilton Head, South Carolina, complains about problems with army life and the incompetence of his superior officers, gives a lengthy account of a court martial, and describes troop movements. He also writes of his interactions with the African American troops of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry.

The remainder of the letters was written by Albert Vander Veer and letters are addressed to Esther and John Craig, as well as to his parents, Abraham and Sarah (Martin) Vander Veer. In his letters, Vander Veer also describes troop movements, comments on the state of the Army of the Potomac, and talks about the difficulties he encounters as regimental surgeon. The collection also includes several newspaper clippings about the death of Albert Vander Veer in 1929 and later memorial services. There are also newspaper clippings (a vast majority of which are obituaries) and miscellaneous objects.

Biographical / historical:

Albert Vander Veer was born in Root, New York on July 10, 1841, the seventh child of Abraham and Sarah (Martin) Vander Veer. At the age of nineteen, he began to study medicine with the local physician Dr. Simeon Snow, whose daughter Margaret he later married on June 5, 1867. When the Civil War broke out, Vander Veer was attending Albany Medical College but withdrew to volunteer for the Army medical division. His first post was the Ira Harris Hospital in Albany. In May 1862, he was assigned to complete his medical training at Columbian College Hospital, now George Washington University, in Washington D.C. where he had enrolled as one of the first hundred medical cadets called to Civil War service by the surgeon general.

Garret Vander Veer was born on August 8, 1836, the fifth child of Abraham and Sarah (Martin) Vander Veer. He was married to Margaret Kline on December 18, 1861 and they had one son, John, who died at an early age. Garrett joined the army and was commissioned as captain of Company A in the 115th New York Volunteers. Over the course of his career, he was stationed at various island forts along the South Carolina coast. He was shot four times at the battle of Olustee, Florida, but refused to be removed for treatment until the battle was over. He was then transported to Beaufort, South Carolina where he died of his wounds on February 24, 1864. At the time of his death he was a newly promoted lieutenant-colonel.

Acquisition information:
Accession: # LIB.2005.018 Accession Source/Date: Purchase from Dennis Holzman, January 2005
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research according to the regulations of the Albany Institute of History & Art without any additional restrictions.

Terms of access:

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the Albany Institute of History & Art Library will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Archivist/Librarian.

Location of this collection:
125 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12210, United States
Link to repository site
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