3 autograph letters signed, including: 2 pp. dated March 23rd, 1863, addressed to "My dear Parents". The letter describes how he received his commission as Brigade Surgeon "on a huge square of parchment signed by Abe Lincoln & Edwin Stanton..." * 3 pp. + stampless address leaf. Dated Aug. 10th, 1863 and addressed to "My dear parents & sisters," in which he relays his grief upon the death of his son Thomas from dysentery. The address leaf is addressed to Rev. William Goodell, Constantinople, Turkey. * 4 pp. dated August 18th, 1863 and addressed to "My dear father, mother, Belle & Emma," this letter is written from Goodell's wife Casey and relays her grief about her son's passing. Together 3 letters, each ink on blue paper, 10¼x8¼.

William Goodell (1829-1894) was a prominent American doctor, gynecologist, and remembered for Goodell's Sign. He was the son of Missionary William Goodall Sr. Goodell, Jr. started his professional career in Constantinople, then moved to the United States, settling in West Chester.