Processed by
Paul Brockman
15 May 1998
Revised 23 January 2002
Updated 9 March 2004
Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
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VOLUME OF |
1 manuscript box, 1 reel of microfilm. |
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COLLECTION |
November 1861–May 1865 |
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PROVENANCE: |
Mary K. Frye, 126 East Thompson Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46226, 13 February 1998; Frederick Luther Co., Indianapolis, IN, 1961; Prof. Hermann E. Rothfuss, 1830 W. Grand, Kalamazoo, MI 49007, May 1976 |
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RESTRICTIONS: |
None |
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COPYRIGHT: |
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REPRODUCTION |
Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society. |
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ALTERNATE |
Microfilm of original letters. |
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RELATED |
Vincent Wicker Letters (SC 1573) |
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ACCESSION |
1998.0262, 1961.0020, 1976.0507 |
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NOTES: |
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Joseph Hotz (1832–65) was born near Kinsing (Kinzig) Baden, Germany, and immigrated to Seymour, Jackson County, Indiana, where he was a farmer. On 31 October 1861, he enlisted in Company A of the 50th Indiana Regiment. Hotz was transferred to the 50th Reserved Battalion, Company E, on 2 March 1864 and was killed at Spanish Fort, Alabama, on 28 March 1865. Hotz had a wife named Maria and daughter named Karolina.
Sources: Information in collection.
The collection is comprised of 25 letters written in German by Joseph Hotz while he served with the 50th Indiana Regiment to his wife, Maria, November 1861–February 1865. These letters apparently are part of a larger collection of original letters. Also included in the collection are two sets of typed translations. The first set contains transcriptions and translations of 112 letters from Hotz to his wife. Written while serving as a private in the 50th Indiana, the letters were written from Bedford, Ind., Kentucky, Tennessee, Camp Morton (Indianapolis), Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alabama, November 1861–March 1865. Hotz writes of his loneliness and is often disappointed with his wife's lack of comfort and support. He also inquires about friends and family at home, the health of his daughter, and gives financial instructions regarding the running of the family farm as well as relating the regiment's engagements and the death of friends. Also included are translations of three letters to Mrs. Hotz from Corporal V. Wicker of the 50th Indiana, Company E, in Mobile, Alabama. Wicker discusses Hotz's death and his financial accounts with soldiers in the company.
The collection also contains a reel of microfilm of approximately 108 of Hotz's letters to his wife in German and a printed copy of a second set of typed translations of these letters. Professor Hermann E. Rothfuss of Western Michigan University made the translations of the film in 1976. There is a great amount of duplication although these translations are more literal.
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Letters, Nov. 1861–Nov. 1862 |
Folder 1 |
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Letters, Jan.–Nov. 1863 |
Folder 2 |
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Letters, Jan. 1864–Feb. 1865 |
Folder 3 |
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Translations of letters, Nov. 1861–Nov. 1862 |
Folder 4 |
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Translations of letters, Jan.–Dec. 1863 |
Folder 5 |
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Translations of letters, Jan.–Dec. 1864 |
Folder 6 |
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Translations of letters, Jan.–May 1865 |
Folder 7 |
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Microfilm of letters, Nov. 1861–May 1865 |
F 0079 |
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Translations of microfilmed letters, Nov. 1861–June 1863 |
Folder 8 |
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Translations of microfilmed letters, July 1863–May 1865 |
Folder 9 |
For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:
1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog: http://157.91.92.2/
2. Click on the "Basic Search" icon.
3. Select "Call Number" from the "Search In:" box.
4. Search for the collection by its basic call number (in this case, M 0710).
5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.