This collection consists of a war-time journal kept by Colonel Edward E. Cross, military reports, correspondence, and Cross’ passport. Among the correspondence is a letter to his father and hand-written copies of letters of recommendation from General Hancock. Among the military reports is a draft of his report on the Battle of Fair Oaks (Va.), a 12-page report on the Chancellorsville (Va.) campaign, and miscellaneous notes.

Cross’s journal provides a detailed account of the formation, training, and war-time exploits of the Fifth New Hampshire. It covers the period from the time that Cross assumed command in August of 1861 through February 1863 and contains his personal reflections about the regiment, Army politics, Cross’s trips back to New Hampshire, and accounts of the battles of Fair Oaks, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. The journal also includes pasted-in newspaper clippings, most of which detail the activities of the Fifth New Hampshire. Also in the collection is Cross’s 1860 passport and various newspaper clippings, both by Cross and others, concerning the Fifth New Hampshire.