Gettysburg 50th Anniversary Letter, 1913-06-26 - 1913-07-11

Item — Box: 23.3, Object: 5

Identifier: 23.3.5

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Michael Dougherty Collection includes documents, personal letters, and artifacts related to the life and military service of Private Michael Dougherty of Company B, 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Dougherty was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Civil War, specifically for his actions at the Battle of Jefferson, Virginia, in 1863. The collection documents his experiences as a prisoner of war in Andersonville and other Confederate prisons, highlighting the challenges faced during his 23 months of captivity.

Among the items in the collection are two Medal of Honor certificates, the first from 1897 and a reissue from 1927, as well as Dougherty’s medals, letters, diaries, and official documents, including his naturalization and pension certificates. The collection also includes a letter documenting his participation in the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Dates

1913-06-26 - 1913-07-11

Conditions Governing Access

Contact Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library (archive@grundylibrary.org) for information about accessing this collection.

Biographical / Historical

This handwritten letter, sent by Michael Dougherty to his daughter Sister M. Adolpha, details his visit to Gettysburg in July 1913 for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. The letter includes reflections on his participation in the events, descriptions of the memorials and commemorations, and observations on the veterans' reunion. It offers a personal perspective on the gathering atmosphere and Dougherty's experience as a former soldier revisiting the historic battlefield. At an unknown date, someone marked the pages to correct spelling and added punctuation to the letters. The pages of the letter were also permanently laminated together.