One of my non-history colleagues here at Cumberland loaned me a book filled with family letters from the Civil War. The writer of the letters was Justus Daniel Strait of Pennsylvania. Strait wrote the letters to his parents while he served in the Union Army’s Company I, 45th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 9th Division. Strait served in Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania before he became a prisoner of war in 1864.
In looking around my favorite Internet book-selling sites, I only see one copy available for sale. I don’t know if my colleague has extra copies to sell, but if you’re interested in purchasing one, contact me, and I’ll put you in touch with him so you can ask. He also would probably be glad to talk to you about Strait and the family.
Jacksonian America: Society, Personality, and Politics 
I have all of the original letters written by J.D. and the manuscript used to produce the book. They are a family treasure. Trying to figure out the best way to preserve them.
Do you know Mitch Walters? He’s the colleague I mentioned in the post. If you don’t, you should contact him: http://www.cumberland.edu/directory/0001/01/04/walters.1303631?person=1
The letters published by Beatrice Strait Lines.are available on line at http://www.familyweb-site.com/strait/strait.php I would love to include scans of the original letters. Please contact me at mikesbibles at yahoo.com.
Mitch Walters is the person to contact about the letters: http://www.gocumberlandathletics.com/athletics/staff-directory/2/mitch-walters/
My Grandmother and Great Aunt were the compilers of the book! I learned something from this today Mark! We all got the books!
Glad to hear that, Susan.
Very interested in viewing or receiving a copy of the book. Justus is a distant cousin (both tie back to Daniel Strait).
I’ll give my colleague your contact information.