Alfred Holcomb (b. ca. 1843) was a farmer laborer from Southwick, Hampdon County, Massachusetts. He enlisted in Company F, 27th Massachusetts Infantry on September 12, 1861. He was wounded at Washington, North Carolina on April 3, 1863 and again at Petersburg on June 18, 1864. He mustered out of service on September 27, 1864. Alfred’s older brother, Chauncey (b. ca. 1838), served as a sergeant in the same company. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Drury’s Bluff on May 16, 1864 and died of his wounds on May 22. Most of the letters in this collection were written to family members back home, including parents, Milton and Elvira Holcomb, sister Emma Holcomb (b. ca. 1841), brothers Birney (b. ca. 1845) and Wallace (b. ca. 1847), and a young sister, Mary (b. ca. 1855).