This collection of ninety-three letters, date between 1863 and 1865, documents the experiences of Robert R. Newell in the 54^th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. The majority of the letters consist of correspondence from Newell to his mother, his father William Newell, his sisters Fan and Jenny, and his brothers Will and Kirk. There are two letters addressed to Robert Newell, one from his father, William Newell, and one from F.I. Child, one of his Harvard professors. Newell writes from Jacksonville, Florida and various places in South Carolina, including Charleston, Morris Island, Hilton Head, and Fort Green on Folly Island. Newell provides detailed descriptions of daily life in the camps, campaigns and expeditions, encounters with Southern soldiers, and mentions of senior officers, particularly a Colonel Hallowell and Captain Walton. Of particular interest are Newell’s discussions of the African-American troops in his regiment and the issues they faced related to lack of payment and the problems and discontent related to that. The collection also contains a copybook of nine letters written to friends between 10 January  and 6 June 1864 and a photograph of a daguerreotype of Robert Newell.