VO L. 1 THE CLEMENTS LIBRARY ASSO C IATES N O .1

THE QVARTO, wealth of new material available to interest to the British governm ent. them, and to encourage those who have Some were Americans living in NEW SERlES not yet visited the Library to come and London, others were Englishmen who explore. We take advantage of this had neve r seen the colonies, many were With the hope that friend s and col­ occasion, this renewal, to greet old lawyers, some were Members of leagues will enjoy hearing news of our friends and welcome new ones to the Parliament, but all of them were activities, the Cleme nts Library proudly Clements Library. familiar with government politics, resumes publication of The Quarto. In acco mplished in the art of "dancing 1942 Library Director attendance" on the Randolph Adams officials who made began The Qua rto as colonial policy. an occasional publica­ They frequented the tion aimed at the rare coffeehouses of book and manuscript Westminister and collector. Five years the City, where later, when the politicians, bankers, Clements Library and merchants Associates was trading with the founded, it became colonies gathered to the newsletter of this talk and read the first "friends" latest Lond on news organization at The or American Universi ty of Michi­ dispatches. Regu­ gan, occup ying this larly attending the role until the 1980s. House of Commons, Much has changed they followed the since then, and we Charle ston was a thriving port in the /7605. Exports of rice and indigo, both crops debates from the want to reflect those cultivated by slave lahor, brought annual profi ts ofhalfa million pounds sterling visitors' gallery and changes in The into the South 's only large colonial city. In this view from Scenographia Americana kept their clients Quarto. The Library (London, 1768), Charlestown is shown f rom across the Coope r River with Gran ville inform ed about Bastion on the far left and Saint Philip '5 Church on the right. Associates now legislation that include a highly affected America. diverse group from allover the country, Colonial agents had no standing in law whose historical interests are as varied THE COLONIAL or the fonnal constitutional structure of as their backgrounds and ways of life. the British Empire, yet they played an In the last ten years the Library has AGENT: IMPERIAL important role in making the imperial greatly expanded its holdin gs, moving LOBBYIST machine work, and work fairl y well, into new collecting fields and adding given the problems of distance and depth to old ones. As this is written, The colonial agent is an obscure figure informati on. Agents were the ones who renovations to our building are under in early American history. Few of us brought a colony' s business to the way. These are exciting times at the know that Benjamin Franklin first government's attention. Following the Clements Library, and we want to share made his reputation in London as agent instruction s they received from their the excitement - to tell our Associates for Penn sylvania in the late l750s, constituents, agents drafted petitions abou t the fine acqui sitions which have much less what his job entailed. which they presented to the Board of been made through their generou s In fact, an agent was half-lobbyist, Trade or the Privy Council - a giving, to inform resea rchers who have half-ambassador, employed by an req uest for repairs to a fort or men to used our resources in the past about the American colony to represent its garrison it, a plea for money to buy the Indian presents they hoped would buy America, then beginni ng to be in tion, the agen ts of the Thirteen Colonies allegiance or stave off an attack, a agitation," as Britain tightened control in London were in an unrivaled position claim to land in dispute with another over her colonies. In May 1764 Garth to see, analyze, and explain the emer­ colony, or an application to expand the first heard detai ls of Grenville's plan to gence of the crisis. Few were better colony's export market. What ever the raise revenue in America from stamp observer-reporters than Charles Garth, issue, these petitions were supported by duties and warned, "It is of great Member of Parliament and agent for reports. statistics, or statements by concern to the Colonies not to suffer a South Caro lina, Georgia, and Maryland . interested partie s. information about the precedent of this kind." As American His letters to his American employers American colonies gathered to impress resistance mounted, Garth and his were particularly perceptive and the British government. As a result, the fellow agents organi zed oppos ition detailed. Thu s the acquisition by the colonial agents created an invaluable among London's merchants. When a Clements Library of a letterbook historical record. bill repealing the Stamp Act passed the containing Garth's reports to the South A fascinating piece of that record House of Commons in March 1766, Carolina legislative conunittee is was recently acquired by the Clements Garth could take a measure of credit for particularly noteworthy and greatly Library, a letterbook containing the its succes s. University of Michigan strengthens the library's holdin gs on the correspondence of South Carolina Emeritus Professor of History Jacob M. genesis of the American Revolution." agent Charles Garth and his predeces­ Price has commented, " In the dozen or sor James Wright. later Governor of so years before the Ame rican Revolu- Georgia. It adds a substantial number of letters not included in the Garth letterbook published in the South. THE SOLDIER'S LIFE: THE SCHOFF Carolina History and Genealogical M agazine. The letters, written between CIYI L WAR COLLECTION 1758 and 1766, cove r the tumultuou s final years of the French and Indian On March 14, 1863, Private Charles where are the oppresse d and the down­ War and the first stage of the American Henthorn of the 77th Illinois Infantry trodden millions of the eart h to look for Revolut ion, the Stam p Act Crisis. wrote to his father from Milliken's hope of better days." Wright's letters of 1758-60, deal Bend, Louisiana, 25 miles above Henthorn's lofty ideals would with wartime crises - wrangling with Vicksburg on the Missi ssippi: accord with the contemporary popul ar the Board of Ordnance for cannon to Grant's army is said to stretch tendency to romanticize the Civil War, fortify Charleston Harbor, convincing for a distance of seventeen miles portray ing it as a gallant, if brutal, the Admiralty to provide convoys to along the river. The inner side of the face-off between tho se who fought to protect South Carolin a ships trading levee is thickly marked with graves preserve the Union and the defenders so taking it all together there has been with London, getting the Secretary at of what was to be a tragic "lost cause." a great number of deaths since War, "after long sollicitation and much Such popularization s, whether in hook , coming down the river. The number trouble," to approve payment of "all the movie, or televised form, tend to depict expences whatever, on acco unt of the may reach thousands.. .. The future historian will record the number who the participants in the war as true War." His petition to the Treasury in fell on the memorable Battlefields of believers, as willing and courageous November 1758 reveals the colony's Bull Run, Donelson, Shiloh and warrio rs. Indeed, many were. Histo­ vulnerability on two fronts, from Indian others but who shall know the rian Gera ld Linde rman 's psychological attacks on settlements in the back number who have perished by disease profi le of Civil War soldi ers, Embattled country and from slave uprisings on before Yorktown and amid the Courage, depicts a widespread plantations in the low country. "Two miasmatic swamps of the allegiance to Victorian-era virtues­ thousand pounds worth of good s to be Chickahominy. courage, manliness, duty, honor, used as presents" were urgently needed Henthorn could not have realized godliness , knightliness. As the war "to gain the support of the Choctaws, as that his letters to father, brother, and wore on, these ideals were more likely well as Cherokees , Cree ks, and sister would themselves beco me a rich to beco me replaced by bitterness and Chic kasaws who regularly come into source of evidence for "the future disillusion, although years after the fact Charlestown. Together these tribes historian" of his musings. Even so, the the romantic myth of a heroic war have 10,000 Gun Men," that the French detail and eloque nce of his writing strongly reasserted itself. could incite again st the colony 's "8 ,000 about "this "accursed rebellion" show But perhaps for every Private men, who have 60,000 slaves to keep in that he was well aware of the signifi ­ Henthorn, with his patrio tism, anti­ proper subjection." Within two years cance of this vast enterprise in which slavery senti ments, and disapproval of of Wright's petition, South Carolina he played such a small part, and in plundering, there is a Robert Sherry. was embroiled in bloody warfare which he hoped to acquit himself with The 32-year-old carriage maker from against the Cherokee. honor. "How anxiously the world is Buffalo, New York, served as a private Garth's letters, written in the watching our struggle for exis tence," in the 2 1st and 97th New York Infantry aflerrnath of the Seve n Years' War, he wrote. "[I]f this experiment in self­ regiments from May 186 1 until report the polici es "relative to North government by the people shall fail, November 1863, when he died of

PAG E 2 T H E Q1JARTO - respiratory disease in an anny and was most pleased to find hospital. In Sherry's letters to that the library owns a unique his wife. an image of the war account written by Stone on his more akin to Ambrose Bierce case. He also made extensive than Currier and Ives emerges. use of Clements materials in his for he was a rough man in a book on the Peninsular cam­ rough regiment. Relations paign, To the Gates oJ Rich­ between officers and enlisted mond. men, troubled from the How did this magnificent beginni ng. ended in a mutiny co llection come to be? From which saw 20 men sent to the small beginnings! In 1972, Tortugas to serve "without when present Clements Director arms, until they show them­ John Dann joined the staff as selves more worthy to bear Curator of Manuscripts, the them." The embittered Sherry library had scant Civil War wrote that "I hope that I shall holdings, for past Directors had live long enough to see the day chose n to concentrate on when we will get into some previous historical periods, battle that will be the means of building impressive research getting a great portion of our collections in early Americana. Officers killed or wounded so But Dann is a Civil Warenthusi­ that they will never be fit for ast, and he found himself in the duty again." The feelings were "A rough soldier in a rough regiment. " Private Robert right place at the right time. mutual. While Sherry was on Sherry, 21st and 97th New York Infantry. Long-time Clements benefactor guard duty his Company and board member James S. Captain murdered the soldier's pet dog material for theses, academ ic historians Schoff had, in the 1950s, shifted his with an ax : "[ItI made me very mad at with specialized research interests. person al collecting interests from the the time and I called him any thing but popular historians who interpret the American Revolution to the Civil War. a gentleman and he threatened to have war and its characters for a wider and by the early 1970, possessed the me court marshield but I guess that he audience- many types and levels of finest privately-held collec tion of its is afraid to do so for I told him as much research and teaching are served by the kind. As the two men struck up a as to say that I wo uld as soon or rather Clements' Civi l War resources. friendship based on shared historical shoot him as the dog in the battle field University of Michigan History interests. Schoff came to appreciate that and a great deal rather than one of the Professor Maris Vinovskis teaches a Dann had the motivation and ex pertise enemy." The pugnacious Sherry popular co urse on the soc ial history of necessary to exploit the full potential of enjoyed looting and fighting, and the war, taking adva ntage of the his co llections - to catalog them, harbored no illusions about a noble collections and curators of the promote them with students and cause . Resentful of the Republ ican Cleme nts and Bentley Libraries to offer scholars, and build upon the initial gift Party and its championing of "adam undergraduates an intensive experience in coming years. Schoff' s personal nigger:' Sherry muses about returning in original research and writing. He philosophy was to give not to institu­ to Virginia after the war for an easy. feels that they leam firsthand the tions, but to peop le, and his relation­ well-paying job on a plantation. challenges and rewards of "doing" ship with Dann and then Library The Henthorn and Sherry papers history. While they are learnin g, they Director Howard H. Peckham decided represent but a tiny part of the richly rub elbows (sometimes almost literally, him in favor of the Clements as a home varied Civil War collection at the when researchers till every available for his Civil War co llection. Between Clements Library. but they give some space and then some) with more 1973 and 1976 he donated around 20 idea of its value as a window into the seasoned historians, who are often soldiers' diaries or se ts of personal world of the Civil War soldier-his life preparing publications based on letters, 706 books, and approximate ly in camp. experiences in battle, views on material in the collections. Currently, 800 miscellaneous letters. When Dann the war, the enemy. African-Americans, studies on General P.G.T. Beauregard, became Director in 1976 he made and his fellow-soldier, and the effect of the 19th Connecticut Infantry Regi­ frequent visits to Schoff in New York, these ex periences and attitudes on the ment, the Battle of Bentonville, NC, the sharing with him acquisition decisions life of eac h individual. Users of the 16th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, and adding to the Civil War collection co llection are nearly as varied as the junior officers of the Army of the both at Schoff's and the library's resources themselves. Resea rchers of Potomac, and the Fredericksburg expense. ~ family history, writers of regimen tal campaig n are under way. Noted Most purchases were initially history. undergraduate students historian Stephen Scars is at work on made at New York auctions , but fulfillin g their university writing an article concerning disloya lty charges increasingly Dann developed a network requirements. graduate students seeking against Union General Charles P. Stone of dealer contacts throughout the

THE Q!)ARTO PAGE 3 "Head Quarters, Gen 'l. Torbert near Winchester. Va., Nov. /864." country. As word spread that the Schoff Collection into areas which are anecdotes of camp life and encounters Clements Library was very much "in presentl y less fully docum ented here: with civilians, views on military ethics the Civil War," and potential donors the expe riences of Confederate and on those who opted not to fight, are became aware of the special care which soldiers, African-Americans, women powerfully vivid and insightful. A stint would be given their family papers, and ethnic minorities. regiments from in Belle Isle Prison is depicted with more gift collect ions were attrac ted. the border states, the west, and northern great emotional intensity. Even a The detailed correspondence of New England, operation s in the cursory glance at Webh 's diary rewards Pennsylvania's Miller brothers, Harry western theater of the war, and guerrilla the reader. Ilere, he writes bitterly of a Simm ons' journal and fine watercolor warfare. Photographic collections have poorly-led and failed campaign, and of sketches, surgeon George Trowbridge's expanded from a solid base don ated by the sting ofbeing criticized by those daily accounts of military life to wife Mr. Schoff, including Brady and safe at home: Lebby, and the letters of Colonel Henry Gardiner, to outstanding strength. Received some Northern papers C. Gilbert of the 19th Michigan Growth of the collections has today. They are full of the particulars Infantry Regiment are exa mples of the brought increased use and a spreading of the "Mine Run Campaign." They fine collections which have been reputation for exce llence. In addition teem with accounts of the fruitlessness donated in recent years . Prese ntly the to helping researchers who visit the of the affair. I admit it all amounted Schoff Collection has some 150 diaries library to work with the materials in to nothing, There was no unity of and sets of correspondence, 1400 person, the curators respond to an ever­ action certain, and I don't believe there was any well laid plan. What a additional single items - but it' s swelling volume of correspondence: privates opinion may be of the growing so quickly, in both size and answering questions, preparing commander of an Army, is of little diversity, that these figures change photocopies, sending papers out to be account I am aware. but .. . I kno w from month to month. In addition, microfilmed. In a recent letter Stephen that Meade is not an able General. not there are important Civil War collec­ Sears inqu ired about James Schoff, one who should be entrusted with the tions, such as the Handy, Haskell, and commenting that he must have been command of such an Anny as this. Gilbert papers, which fall outside of the "some collector." Indeed he was, and The campaign just through with Schoff Collection. The Clements is the collection which bears his name demonstrates to a certainty that he has particularly strong in documentin g has. from the solid core of material s not the requisite independence to take Virginia engage ments, Vicksburg and which he dunated, evolved into a command... . Although the the early Mississippi campaigns, premier resource for historians ofthe campaign is a failure. and it really prisons and priso ners of war. and Civil War. amounted to nothing to the cause, yet. regiments from the states of New York, Among the gems of a great to those who are now in their snug parlors before the glowing grate, Penn sylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and collection is the Nathan Webb diary. talking about how the men didn't fight Mich igan. There is extensive coverage Young Webb left a remarkable five­ and lacked stamina. and were listless of medical aspects of the war and of volume record of his experiences in and demoralised. I would have them political prisoners.Other topics one of the most active Union cavalry understand that to the individual significantly treated in the various regime nts, the I st Maine. The Method­ soldier, to the man in the rank, the collections include African-American ist seminarian enlisted fresh out of Mine Run Campaign amounted to a regiments, the experience of women school at the age of 19 and saw three great deal. It amounted too much to both in the war and on the home front, hard years of service, mostly in those who lived from parsnips three military chaplains, and naval opera­ Virginia, His entries. including days on picket. who marched & tions, Current Curator of Manuscripts acco unts of batt les and skirmishes, counter marched in the mud through Rob Cox actively seeks to extend the opinions of officers and strategy. cold raw November days, much to

PAGE 4 TH E Q1JARTO those poor fellows who overcome by charging a battery loaded with grape and tableaux, but as an event of great fatigue & hunger lay down to rest a while canister. J should like to see them once on physical. emotional. and moral com­ and awoke to find themselves in the picket when next post has been fired upon. plexity. Only from a comprehension of enemy's hands, with Libby and Belle Isle I should like to see them once when for 48 this complexity can valid history be looming up before them like ghouls in the hours they had nothing but raw parsnips to written, And only a great deal of dark. It amounted too much to those shot eat and then have them give out If they energy and forethou ght produces such a on rear guard while retreating. and fell to then returned to their homes they never rich source of evidence. The Civil War the frozen ground, to be left to the mercies again would croak over the failure of collections at the Clements Library of an inhuman foe. It amounted too much campaigns, save to condemn Officers who to those frostbitten and maimed for life in think more of their position than their have been painstakingly put together the trenches before Mine Run. It amounted country. through the well-planned, ambitious too much to the friends of those who were Idealistic Charles Henthorn, bare­ efforts ofJames S. Schoff, Howard H. frozen to death while on post in those fisted Robert Sherry, well-educated, Peckham , the director and curators, trenches. It amounted too much to those at analytical Nathan Webb: these three combined with the generosity of many home whose sons, husbands, & brothers represent the varied soldierly experi­ other donors. Thank s to such efforts, fell on those days. either dead, or to ences and attitudes to be found in the the Schoff Civil War Collection will languish days in all the agony of mortal Schoff Collection. From their words continue to grow. wounds. How I wish these croakers were the real Civil War comes into view ­ once, just once, put in our places. I should like to see them once when we were not as a set of romantic, simplistic

SH ENAN DOAH . 1864: "VERY ROUGH SKETCHES" BY EDGAR KLEMROTH

In the fall of 1864 Sherid an's army palpitations," and upon being examined Martial on charges of absence without devastated the Shenandoah Valley, by the regimental surgeon was pro­ leave. Pleading guilty, the young playing out a brutal episode in the nounced "very much excited" and Corporal was reduced to Private, his climactic confrontation stripes cut off in the between Lee and Grant presence of his regi­ in Virginia. Taking part ment, and ordered to in the action as Corpo- forfeit $6.50, roughly ral in the Sixth Pennsyl- t-r-' half his monthly pay, for vania Volunteer Cavalry six months. Yet after all was 26-year-old Edgar this, Klemroth re­ Klemroth, whose three enlisted in January years of service made 1864. By August he him a seasoned veteran was on "detached duty" by Civil War standards. to General Torbert' s The New York City­ cavalry corps headquar­ born Klemroth had ters, of the Middle moved to Philadelphia Military District. in 1858 and joined up It turned out to be a as a Pennsylvanian in disquieting spot for a 186 I. His enlistment man suffering from papers descr ibe the heart palpitations, for young man as five feet the Union cava lry was eight inches tall, of to playa decisive role in light complexion, and a the Shenandoah book binder by trade ­ campaign. Ordered by but, as we shall see, an Grant to follow Early artist by inclinati on. "to the death," to (urn KIemroth was to have the Valley into "a barren his difficulties in the waste," Sheridan had Army, On September 13, 1862, on the ordered to the rear wagons.He still begun cautiously, well aware of the eve of a skinnish with Lee's army near evidently went farther than the rear disasters that had dogged other Union Frederick in western Maryland, wagons, winding up in Washington, Klemroth complained of "heart DC. He was tried in a General Court - continued on page 7

THE QYARTO PAG E 5 Above: "Cooking coffee ."

Right: "Inspector Gen 'l feels shocked at the wretched condition and discipline ofthe Troops in his Division "

Below: "Gen 'l Sheridan"

Righ t: "Letter Man "

PAGE 6 T HE QlJARTO - continued f rom page 5 day-to-day scenes of a soldier' s life ­ generals. The assignment was of vital sometimes with humor, sometimes with importance, for the Shenandoah Valley pathos, but alway s with a sensitive served as main source of the Confeder­ interpretation of men and events. ate food supply, invasion route to the When the campaign ended Klemro th North, and secure base for guerilla presented his modestly-ent itled "Very operations against the Union rear. Rough Sketches" to Captain Rudolph Sheridan took the first round at Ellis, a friend from the Sixth Pennsyl­ Winchester with two victories in rapid vania Volunteers who became Assistant succession. By October 7 he promi sed Inspector General on Torbert's staff. Grant that "the Valley ... will have little The drawings now enhance the in it for man or beast." But Lee would Library's Schoff Civil War Collection, not concede the Shenandoah. He providing another windo w into the reinforced his general with cavalry and world of the Civil War soldier. Some infantry, and while Sheridan left his of the men whose personal effects army camped south ofWinchester at would find their way to the Clements Cedar Creek and went to Washington Library expressed themselves in words, for a strategy session, Early struck. A others in drawings; all have much to surprise attack at dawn on October 19 tell thnse who would understand and forced the whole Union Army to retreat interpret this compelling episode of in disarray four miles down the Valley, American history. losing in the process quantities of guns, ammunition, and 1300 men who were Below: "Gen'l Custer." taken prisoner. By mid-morning Early's victory seemed assured. But he had not reckoned on Sheridan's boldness, and the Union general made Above: "Contrabands" his now-legendary ride from Winches­ ter to the battlegrou nd, turning the tide Below: "Fishing for the Bean " in the Union's favor by the sheer force of his presence . Edgar Klemroth left his personal record of the Shenandoah campaign in the form of forty-fiv e lively, skillful pencil sketches. His dra wings do not depict the drama and heroics which now capture our imaginations, but the

Below: "Union fora gers in the Shenandoah ."

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THE Q!)ARTO PAGE 7 SUMMER SCHEDULE DURING music from the Edison Phonograph extraordinaire Elizabeth Stranahan BUILDING RENOVATION Company archive, and through his was well-known throughout the Major building renovations will efforts the Clements acquired a rare University ofMichigan and Ann Arbor disrupt the Library's service schedule first edition of The Star Spangled communities as an engaging personal­ from April to mid-Fall 1994. During Banner. 'Eugene Power, founder of ity who used her talent and intelligence, this period the main room exhibit area University Microfilms, ardent book energy and tough-mindedness to make will be closed to visitors. Readers will collector, friend ana advisor to all three things happen. Betsy brought all of enter from the rear of the building. of the Library's directors, generously these qualities to her work at the Those planning to use the Library established our Randolph G. Adams Clements as a contributor to the image during this period are urged to call lecture fund. Prominent Michigan project and as a member of the Associ­ ahead so that our curators can advise attorney and state legislator Robert ates Board. The Clements Library will them about the acces sibility of material, Sawyer was a direct descendant of not easily replace the dedication, as the construction work progresses. Josiah Bartlett, Signer of the Declara­ generosity, and talents of these dear tion ofIndependence for New Hamp­ friends. shire. Among his gifts to the Library is IN MEMORIUM a Bartlett cherry card table, a fine During the past year, the Staff and example of colonial American furni­ NEW ASSOCIATES Associates of the Clements have been ture. English Professor Emeritus and BOARD MEMBERS saddened by the loss of close friends, cherished friend Robert Haugb, a The Associates Board of Governors is all from the Ann Arbor area, each of scholar of nineteenth-century American pleased to announce the election of five whom made a uniqu e contribution to literature whose teaching enriched new members. From Michigan, we the life of the Library. generations of UM students, is survived welcome Ruth Hoyt, Elk Rapids; Anne Frederick H. Wagman, Emeritus by his wife Georgia, our former Book Marie Karmazin, Ann Arbor; Martha R. Director of the University of Michigan Curator. Dedicated volunteer Nancy Seger, Bloomfield Hills ; and William Librari es, served as Vice Chairman of Perkins contributed hundreds of entries C. Stebbins, Ann Arbor; and from Rye, the Committee of Management from to our picture catalog through her work New York, Joanna Schoff. Our new 1953 to 1978. Bly Corning was a on the Library's image project, and in members bring to the Board, along with dedicated member of the Associates her enthusiastic collecting of nine ­ their individual talents, a close personal Board for nearly thirty years . He gave teenth-century furniture, glass, fabrics, acquaintance with the Library, enthusi­ to the Library a major collection of and prints, displayed a wide knowledge asm for its programs, and commitment nineteenth-century American sheet of American domestic arts. Volunteer to its future.

Cl..UARTO A Publication of the Clements Library 909 South University Ann Arbor, MI 48109