The Marsh family papers consist of original and typed transcripts of Civil War letters, the bulk of which were written by Benjamin F. Marsh to his family in Fentonville, Michigan, while serving in the 8th Michigan Infantry. There are also letters from other family members, including A. B. Fay, Ed Francis Holmes, Gordon K. Fay, Lucy A. Bacon, and Augustus Holmes.

The letters describe Marsh's army experiences on the march, in camp, in battle, on provost duty, and in army hospitals as both nurse and patient. Marsh took part in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg and Vicksburg, as well as skirmishes in Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The letters report on local boys serving with Marsh and ask constantly for news of home. Also included are letters (1872-1887) between Marsh and his wife largely concerned with family matters, and written while he was engaged in various railroad-building and repair projects in the Flint-Detroit area of Michigan. Letters from before the Civil War (1833-1856) era also discuss family matters and daily life. These letters are to update spouses, children, and parents while their family members are out of town for school, business, or other reasons.

The collection also includes an issue of Wolverine, a newspaper written by the 8th Regiment of the Michigan Infantry that provides the history of the 8th Regiment.

Civil War materials (1862-1865, folders 2-7) and the issue of Wolverine have been transcribed, scanned and placed online at http://civilwar.archives.msu.edu/collection/7-1C-9/marsh_fam/.