Greetings: I am writing a history of the 121st New York State Volunteer Regiment from Herkimer and Otsego counties and am heavily involved in this very issue. Battlefield deaths were often reported in the local papers via reports from commanders or subalterns directly to the newspaper. Also battlefield deaths were reported via letter to the parents from the commander in the field directly and then were published in the local papers. In one case, a member of the 121st was given the duty by the local paper to send back reports of the doings of the regiment. When he was killed at Salem Church, the headline ran the very serious message: "Fred's Dead." Humorous today, not yesterday. Deaths by disease were often telegraphed by the deceased's illness--a parent was usually dispatched to the loved one's bedside in the hospital and saw them through "to the other side" and then accompanied the body back home. Some brought them home deathly ill and they died at home. No telegrams. Salvatore G. Cilella, Jr. President and CEO Indiana Historical Society 450 West Ohio Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-3269 317-234-3895 -----Original Message----- From: carol kammen [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006 10:22 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [NYHIST-L] Civil War death notices Dear All I have a feeling I should know the answer to this, but don't. How were families in upstate New York notified when loved ones in the Civil War were killed. I cannot imagine a soldier coming to the door; rather, I think it must have been a telegram. Could anyone tell me? with much appreciation Carol Kammen Tompkins County Historian