Manuscript Group 448
OSCAR BRADFORD SHARPLESS PAPERS
1861-1865
48 items
Oscar Bradford Sharpless was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, on
July 25th in either 1844 or 1845. He served in the Civil War from 1861-1865
in Company H of the 93rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Entering service
as a Private, Sharpless rose through the ranks to 1st Lieutenant and was promoted
by brevet to Captain for meritorious service in the assault on Petersburg. After
the War, Sharpless worked as a conductor for the Union Pacific Railroad. He
moved to Wyoming and became a deputy sheriff during the Johnson County Wars
and went on buffalo hunts with Buffalo Bill Cody. After it was opened for settlement,
Sharpless moved his family to Oklahoma.
The papers include original letters and related papers of Oscar Sharpless during
his Civil War service in Company H, 93rd Regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers,
1861-1865. Each letter is accompanied by a photocopy of typed transcript done
in the 1930s by his daughter Lois. The letters describe camp life and battles
in which Sharpless fought. There are also a few copies of original letters included
in the collection. The original letters remain with the family. The majority
of the letters in the collection are from Oscar Sharpless to his family. A few
of the letters are specifically addressed to his parents, his sister Dille,
or another family member or friend. Battles mentioned by Sharpless include Sharpsburg
(Antietam), Williamsburg, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the siege
of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, and Appomattox Courthouse. Two of the letters
briefly comment on his wounding at the Battle of Gettysburg and his subsequent
experience in the Hospital. A brief mention of the assassination of President
Lincoln is made in one of the letters.