The Warren H. Cudworth papers contain 11 Civil War era letters. The first 8 letters are from Warren to his sister Fannie Gile. Warren writes from Harrison's Landing, James River; a camp near Alexandria, Virginia; Rikers Island, New York; and a camp at Brandy Station. He discussed his movements and the situations he encountered, such as: seeing a demonstration of the breech-loading Armstrong guns (October 5, 1863); and marching close to Washington to find rebels retreating under General Meade (October 23, 1863). In a letter from September 11, 1862, Cudworth criticized the Union Generals for being the cause of the army's misfortunes and "not [being] equal to the positions they are called upon to fill and consequently, as the rebel generals are, they have got the worst of it in nearly every battle." In September 1864, Cudworth mentioned the lack of transport out of Savannah, Georgia, and the unhealthy living conditions, which caused many of the men to become sick as they waited to return home from the war.
Two letters, one from 1864 and one from 1865, are from Jesse L. Osgood to his uncle John and Aunt Fannie, respectively. Osgood, who was in the Union Army stationed in Charleston, commented on McClellen's nomination to the Democratic ticket for the presidency, but thought "that Lincoln is as good a man as they will find” (September 1, 1864). Another letter was from Dr. James F. Upham, who seemed to know Jesse Osgood. Upham wrote of being stationed outside Washington and anticipated being discharged, because the war was coming to an end.
The collection also includes one letter from Warren Cudworth to Mr. Brigham, written from Jerusalem on November 23, 1880, on photo-illustrated stationery. He described his party's recent travels in the Holy Land and their use of hired men and animals.
Warren Handel Cudworth was born to Warren and Angeline Cooper Brown Cudworth in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1825. He had one older sister, Angeline Mozart Cudworth. They were raised by their mother, after their father died in 1827. Warren was encouraged to sing and play the organ, and at age 16 was employed at the Lowell Unitarian Church as an organist. Cudworth attended Phillips Andover Academy and graduated from Harvard Divinity School in 1851. He was ordained in 1852 and helped establish a Unitarian church in East Boston. His influence was felt outside of the church; he was active on the committee for public schools and organized aid to the sick and the poor. In 1861, with the fall of Fort Sumter, Cudworth left his church and became a chaplain for the First Massachusetts Regiment, Cos. F and S. He published an account of his experiences in the Civil War in 1865, entitled History of the 1st Regiment (Massachusetts Infantry).
After the war, Cudworth was welcomed back by his church in East Boston. With growing numbers of parishioners, he helped to raise the funds to build a larger church in 1868. In 1880 he embarked on a trip around the world with two generous church members, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard, who paid for the trip. On Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1883, Cudworth died of a stroke, as he was leading his church in prayer.
