Guide to Civil War Manuscripts in the Missouri Historical Society Archives
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GUIDE TO CIVIL WAR MANUSCRIPTS IN THE MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY ARCHIVES compiled by Dennis Northcott Associate Archivist for Reference Guide to Civil War Manuscripts in the Missouri Historical Society Archives, 3/22/2005 1 INTRODUCTION This guide is the result of an extensive survey of the manuscript collections in the Missouri Historical Society Archives, conducted by Associate Archivist for Reference Dennis Northcott, with the assistance of several interns and volunteers. The parameters for the material covered in this guide are any documents—from military or civilian sources—dated 1861–1865, which discuss the war or its effects. In addition, postwar documents that comment on the events of the war, such as memoirs, reminiscences, addresses, newspaper articles, and records of veterans’ associations, are also included. The Civil War manuscripts in the Missouri Historical Society Archives relate primarily to affairs in Missouri and the affairs and operations of Missouri troops, both Confederate and Union, mostly in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. These manuscripts include personal papers, such as correspondence, diaries, and reminiscences; official military papers, such as muster rolls, loyalty oaths, paroles, and special and general orders; postwar records of veterans’ associations; and newspapers. This guide is arranged in two parts. Part A contains descriptions of the Civil War–related material in more than 400 manuscript collections in the Missouri Historical Society Archives. Please note that the descriptions and date ranges given in Part A refer only to the material in the collection that relates to the Civil War. So, for example, the Newton Elliott Papers, as a whole, comprises three manuscript boxes and nine volumes that span the years 1833 to 1909; however, the material deemed to be Civil War–related includes only nine items, dated 1862 to 1864. Part B contains an inventory of the Civil War Collection, which is a distinct collection comprised of individual documents and small collections acquired by the Missouri Historical Society by donation and purchase from a multiplicity of sources since the society’s founding in 1866. These items have been placed in the Civil War Collection because of their common subject matter (i.e., the Civil War). The detail of the descriptions in this guide differs widely due to the varying size of the collections. Descriptions of the collections in Part A, which often contain dozens or hundreds of documents, are necessarily fairly broad in scope; whereas the descriptions of items in Part B, which are mostly single documents or small collections, are usually more specific. A comprehensive index to both parts follows Part B. To place the manuscripts in context, biographical and historical sketches have been compiled in many cases, in addition to the scope and content descriptions. When information gathered from the manuscript collection itself was not sufficient to compile these sketches, other sources were consulted, including Civil War reference books; local histories; National Archives compiled service and pension records; and newspaper obituaries. The following abbreviations have been used in this guide: n.d.—no date; E.M.M.—Enrolled Missouri Militia; M.S.M.—Missouri State Militia; U.S.R.C.—United States Reserve Corps (regiments raised in Missouri in 1861); and U.S.C.T.—United States Colored Troops. The archives staff cannot do extensive research for patrons; a list of local independent researchers is available upon request. Requests for photocopies of specific items listed in this guide may be directed to the Archives. Missouri Historical Society Archives P.O. Box 11940 St. Louis, MO 63112-0040 [email protected] 314-746-4510 The following interns and volunteers assisted in the compilation of this guide: Thomas Brooks, Dan Proost, Craig Weiner, and Tim Cashel. Special thanks to Molly Kodner who worked on this project for most of its duration, and compiled inventories to numerous Civil War manuscript collections, most notably the Charles Parsons Papers. Guide to Civil War Manuscripts in the Missouri Historical Society Archives, 3/22/2005 2 A001 8th New York Cavalry. Records, 1862-1869 (bulk 1862-1864). approximately 1,400 items The 8th New York Cavalry, or “Rochester Regiment,” was organized at Rochester in November 1861, and served primarily in Virginia and Maryland. The regiment was mustered out of service in June 1865. The collection consists primarily of reports, returns, requisitions, and other records relating to the Quartermaster’s Department. The collection also contains some records of the Ordnance Department and the Subsistence Department, and one folder regarding quartermaster’s records of the 9th New York Cavalry. (Finding aid available.) A002 24th Missouri Infantry. Records, 1862-1863. approximately 1,350 items The 24th Missouri Infantry (Union) was organized in Missouri in 1861, and served primarily in southeast Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The regiment was mustered out in late 1864 and early 1865. Collection consists primarily of reports, returns, requisitions, and other records relating to the Quartermaster’s Department, while the regiment was stationed at Rolla, Mo., in 1862 and early 1863. The collection also contains some records relating to the Ordnance Department, the Subsistence Department, and the Commissary Department. (Finding aid available.) A003 Ackerman, Richard (1842-1862). Letters, 1861 Apr-1862 Dec. 104 items Richard Ackerman, a resident of New Brunswick, N.J., enlisted with the 5th New York Infantry on April 1, 1861. He was wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run on August 28, 1862, and spent several months at King Street Hospital in Alexandria, Va., before his death on December 19, 1862. Letters of Richard Ackerman to his parents in New Brunswick, N.J., include accounts of the affairs of the regiment while serving in Virginia and Baltimore. Letter dated June 11, [1861], contains a description of the engagement at Big Bethel, Va. Letters also contain descriptions of marches and fighting during the Peninsular campaign and information on camp life and diet. A004 Allan, David, Jr. (1842-1917). Letters, 1862 Oct-1865 June. 66 items David Allan, Jr., was mustered into service in the 29th Missouri Infantry (Union) at St. Louis in September 1862. He rose from the rank of private to captain, and was mustered out at Washington, D.C., in June 1865. He died December 21, 1917, at the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Danville, Ill. Includes letters of David Allan, Jr., to family and friends, written from Cape Girardeau and Patterson, Mo., dated October to December 1862, which briefly describe conditions in southeast Missouri; letters written from Woodville, Ala., dated January to March 1864; letters written from near Atlanta, dated July to August 1864, including brief accounts of the battles of Atlanta and Ezra Chapel; and letter dated May 24, 1865, containing an account of the Grand Review in Washington, D.C. Also includes two letters signed 1st Lieutenant Willie H. Gray, 29th Missouri Infantry, near Atlanta, Georgia, to Allan family members, August 15, 1864. (Some of the letters are photocopies.) (Finding aid available.) A005 Allen, Nathan D. (1819-1903). Diary, 1861-1865. 1 item (18 pages) Nathan D. Allen was born May 15, 1819, at Watkins Glen, N.Y., and came to St. Louis in 1837, eventually settling in Webster Groves, where he died May 9, 1903. Diary contains brief entries of general war news and affairs in St. Louis. Includes the following entries relating to the capture of Camp Jackson and related affairs in St. Louis in early May 1861: May 9, “600 guns 5 Cannon and ammunition from Baton Rouge La. arrive and taken to Camp Jackson (from U.S. Arsenal at Baton Rouge).” May 7- 8, “4000 Home Guards marched to Arsenal armed and mustered into service.” May 10, “100 soldiers U.S. and the Home Guards under Capt Lyon surround Camp Jackson and take all prisoners, who are marched to the Arsenal and paroled. Mob secession fired at Union soldiers after surrender fire returned about 30 persons killed.” May 11, “10th Ward Home Guards fired on 2 killed corner 5th & Walnut. Jackson men burn bridges on P.R.R. [Pacific Railroad] and retreat west.” May 12, “Funeral of E. Wright killed at Camp Jackson Great Panic 1000ands of families fled from city on rumor that the Dutch were going to burn the City.” Diary also includes description of meeting Abraham Guide to Civil War Manuscripts in the Missouri Historical Society Archives, 3/22/2005 3 Lincoln on a train in Illinois (entry dated February 1, 1861) and mention of seeing the actor and future assassin John Wilkes Booth at the theater (entry dated April 29, 1862). A006 Allen-Rodgers Family. Papers, 1864-1923. approximately 250 items Thomas Rodgers was born December 30, 1835, in Mercer, Pa. During the Civil War he served with the 140th Pennsylvania Infantry, eventually earning the rank of lieutenant colonel. After the war he came to St. Louis, where he worked as an insurance agent and a deputy clerk in the Circuit Clerk's Office. Rodgers also served as assistant adjutant general of the Department of Missouri, Grand Army of the Republic. He died May 30, 1916, in St. Louis. Collection contains a variety of papers regarding members and posts of the Department of Missouri, Grand Army of the Republic, including correspondence, transfer cards, discharge certificates, charges brought against members, and applications for post charters. (Finding aid available.) A007 Almstedt, Henry (died 1884). Papers, 1861-1865. 13 items A native of Germany, Henry Almstedt served as colonel of the 1st U.S.R.C. (3 months) from May to August 1861. In November 1861, he was appointed colonel of the 2nd Missouri Light Artillery (Union). He resigned this command in August 1863, and was later appointed to the staff of the Unites States paymaster.