John G. Burggraf was born in Baden-Baden, Germany in 1825. His family moved to the United States in 1835 and settled near Columbus, Ohio. In 1851 Burggraf married Eliza Cox. In 1856 they moved to Centralia, Illinois where they lived until 1883. The Burggraf family moved to Salem, Oregon in 1891.
Burggraf volunteered soon after the Civil War began, joining the United States Army on October 19, 1861 in Salem, Illinois. He served in the 49th Illinois Infantry from December 1861, when the unit was mustered in, until it was mustered out on September 9, 1865. During his time in the military, he served as a carpenter, a mechanic, and secretary to Colonel Phineas Pease.
The Burggrafs had nine children. One of their sons, Charles H. Burggraf, became an architect noted for his designs of public buildings, including Education Hall and Waldo Hall on the campus of Oregon State University. Burggraf died on November 24, 1904. He was survived by two of his children, Charles Burggraf and Elizabeth Draper.
The letters written by John G. Burggraf begin in May 1860 when he traveled to Holly Springs, Mississippi for work. The majority of the letters were written after December 29, 1861 when he went to Camp Butler, Illinois as part of the newly formed 49th Illinois Infantry.
These letters cover various aspects of Burggraf's war experience. The 49th Illinois Infantry fought in a number of major battles during the Civil War including the battle of Shiloh and the battle of Pleasant Hill. While Burggraf does not speak of the battles themselves in his letters, he frequently describes the aftermath of battle. His description of walking through the battlefield of Shiloh is vivid.
The letters also describe daily life in camp. His account of "capturing" a writing desk from an abandoned house in the town of Dover, after the capture of Fort Donleson, provides insight into how soldiers provisioned their camps. In other letters Burggraf describes how soldiers built housing and kept warm during the winter months.
The majority of the letters are to his wife, Eliza, but there are also letters to his sons Willy and Frank; his daughter Lizza; and his sister, Margaret McNulty. The collection also contains a letter to Burggraf from Colonel Phineas Pease, a letter from Margaret McNulty (Burggraf's sister), Civil War memorabilia, and poems.
The collection contains two series. Series I contains the Burggraf letters, which are arranged in chronological order. Series II contains Civil War memorabilia and poems. These items are arranged in alphabetical order.
The collection is open to researchers.
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[Identification of item], John G. Burggraf collection, Archives and Special Collections, Mark O. Hatfield Library, Willamette University.
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lural Burggraf, Class of 1924
Oregon State University Archives. Board of Regents Records (RG 8)
Oregon State University Archives. Buildings Photo Collection (P 16)
Oregon State University Archives. OSU Facilities Services (RG 193)
Written from Holly Springs, Mississippi
Written from Water Valley, Mississippi.
Written from Granada, Mississippi.
Written from Camp Butler, Illinois.
Written from Camp Butler, Illinois.
Written from Fort Donelson, Tennessee.
Written from Fort Donelson, Tennessee.
Written from "the Steamer Fort Wayne, 10 miles above Fort Henry, Tennessee".
Written from Savannah, Tennessee.
Written from Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.
Written from "Camp McClemont, 2 1/2 miles south of Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee".
Written from "Camp McClemont 3 miles in the woods from the river" (Tennessee River).
Written from "Camp McClemont, Tennessee, 3 miles from Pittsburg Landing".
Written from Pittsburg Landing, Camp McClemont,Tennessee.
Written from Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.
Written from "Camp McClemont, 5 miles from Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee".
Written from "a camp in the woods 7 miles from Corinth, Mississippi".
A letter from Margaret McNulty (sister) to John Burggraf, written from Centralia, Illinois.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee, to son Willy.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from Camp Bethel, Tennessee.
Written from White Station, Tennessee.
Written from White Station, Tennessee.
Written from White Station, Tennessee.
Written from Germantown, Tennessee.
Written from Germantown, Tennessee.
Written from Germantown, Tennessee.
Written from Germantown, Tennessee.
Written from Little Rock, Arkansas.
Written from Little Rock, Arkansas.
Written from Memphis, Tennessee.
Written from Memphis, Tennessee.
Written from Memphis, Tennessee.
Written from Memphis, Tennessee.
Written from Memphis, Tennessee.
Written from Memphis, Tennessee.
Written from Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Written from Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Written from Grand Ecore, Louisiana.
Written from St. Louis, Missouri.
Written on board the Steamer Spray, Smithland, Kentucky.
Written from Paducah, Kentucky.
Written from Paducah, Kentucky.
Written from Paducah, Kentucky.
Written from Paducah, Kentucky.
Letter from Lt. Col. Phineas Pease to J. G. Burggraf, written from Centralia, Illinois.
Written from Paducah, Kentucky.
Written and signed by J. G. Burggraf.
Hand-written message on back – "To Mattie from Charles, Sept. 19th, 1888".
Signed by Leida Jane Cutler.
Inscribed - "Sedgwick Post, No. 10, Dep't Oregon – In Memoriam – Honor the Noble Dead".
Written in German, signed by Maria Heil. Translation provided.
Signed by William H. Metcalfe