Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic medals, 1886

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.