Alvah and Enos Beach of Russell, NY, and their brother-in-law David Robinson fought on the Union side in the Civil War. The collection consists chiefly of letters written by Alvah and Enos Beach of Russell, N.Y., while they were in the Union Army during the Civil War. The collection also includes two photos of Alvah Beach and some material relating to David Robinson, including letters concerning his death in the Battle of Antietam.
Ambrotype image of Alvah Beach.
Collection Overview
According to the family history, written by Alvira Robinson and edited and submitted with the collection by Sarah Robinson, the family came from Vermont by way of the Paradise Road. They settled near Brockville, but moved to Canton at the time of the War of 1812 to avoid fighting. By the time of the Civil War, they had moved to Russell. Alvah and Enos Beach of Russell, NY, and their brother-in-law David Robinson fought for the Union.
This collection was donated to St. Lawrence University by Atwood Manley who had received it from Sarah Robinson, niece of Alvah and Enos Beach. The records of the invalid pension which Alvah Beach received after his service with the N.Y. 16th were donated by Carter Faulkener, a student researcher.