Van Etten mustered into the 56th New York Volunteers in Sept. 1861 and mustered out in Sept. 1864 at the expiration of his term of service. He traveled with the 56th New York to Washington, DC, through Virginia, and ended up in the Sea Islands near Charleston, South Carolina.
Letters and order book of Solomon Van Etten, a surgeon in the Union army.
Letters to his brother Levi in late 1861 and 1862 cover Van Etten's time in Washington and Virginia. Later letters, and the order book, document his time and work in South Carolina in 1863-1864.
The order book contains copies of all orders and circulars given and received by Van Etten, and documents personnel issues, supplies (medical and otherwise), reporting and documentation, and living and sanitation conditions and issues.
Unrestricted access.
Solomon Van Etten Papers, Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.