This collection consists of Civil War letters from Irenus McGowan to friends in Michigan. In his letters written to Edwin (Ed) R. Havens and his younger brother, Nelson (Nell) Havens he discusses military life as well as the battles of Shiloh and Corinth, the Confederacy's weakness, and the Homestead Bill.

These letters have been transcribed and placed online at http://civilwar.archives.msu.edu/collection/7-1C-1F/mcgowan/.