Finding Aid to the Caroline T. Bosbyshell Collection on William Daniel Dixon MS 1620 Finding aid prepared by A. Wilson, 1998; reprocessed VJF, 2001.

This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit April 09, 2015 Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Georgia Historical Society 501 Whitaker Street Savannah, Georgia, 31401 912.651.2125 [email protected] Finding Aid to the Caroline T. Bosbyshell Collection on William Daniel Dixon

Table of Contents

Summary Information ...... 3 Biographical Information...... 4 Scope and Content Note...... 4 Administrative Information ...... 5 Related Materials ...... 5 Controlled Access Headings...... 6 Physical and Technical Access Restrictions...... 7 Publication Note...... 7 Collection Inventory...... 8 Copies of journal...... 8 Copies of Republican Blues materials...... 9 Copies of materials concerning postwar life of William D. Dixon...... 10 Original journal...... 11 Original Republican Blues materials...... 11 Original materials on postwar life of William D. Dixon...... 12 Images of William Daniel Dixon and family...... 12 Fire company images...... 14 Original images...... 15

- Page 2 - Finding Aid to the Caroline T. Bosbyshell Collection on William Daniel Dixon

Summary Information

Repository Georgia Historical Society

Creator Bosbyshell, Caroline T., b. 1933.

Creator Dixon, William Daniel, 1838-1914.

Title Caroline T. Bosbyshell collection on William Daniel Dixon

Date [inclusive] 1860-1974

Extent 1.85 cubic feet (5 boxes, 1 oversize folder)

Language English

Preferred Citation [item identification], William Daniel Dixon papers and visual materials, MS 1620, Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.

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Biographical Information

William Daniel Dixon (1838-1914) was born in Savannah, Georgia on September 26, 1838 to Andrew and Mary Ann Dixon. In 1861, he joined the Republican Blues and on May 31 of that same year was made 2nd sergeant. He continued to be promoted and on May 4, 1863 was made Captain. He surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina on April 26, 1865. After the Civil War, in 1866, he married Ann Caroline Theus. She died on November 3, 1881 and Dixon married Ann's cousin, Carrie Cecil Theus, on February 23, 1884. Dixon served for eight years as Chatham county coroner and went into the undertaking business (Dixon and Ferguson). He was recommissioned Captain of the Republican Blues on January 26, 1887 and served in this position until 1896, when he was placed on the retired list. Dixon died March 20, 1914. The Republican Blues, a military company, was founded in Savannah in 1808. It has participated in all wars since the (1812-1815), with the exception of the War with Mexico (1846-1848). With the advent of the Civil War (1860-1865), the Republican Blues were asked to form two companies. The 1st Republican Blues became Company C of the 1st Regiment and spent the beginning of the war guarding Ft. Pulaski and later Ft. McAllister. They served in various posts around Savannah until May 1864 when they were sent north to join General J. E. Johnston. They served with Johnston until the end of the war. On April 10, 1865, the ten remaining companies of the 1st Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry were consolidated into two companies. One of these was designated Company E and placed under the command of Captain Dixon. After the Civil War, the Blues were forbidden to be a military organization. They reorganized as a non- military benevolent association on May 17, 1866. They reformed as a military organization on April 8, 1872 and were designated Company A of the 1st Volunteer Regiment of Georgia.

Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of nine series. The first three series contain photocopies of the materials while the last three series contain the original documents. Copies in the collection (Series 1 through 3) should be used whenever possible to save wear and tear on the original materials. Also, Series 1 through 3 contain copies of materials not otherwise owned by the Georgia Historical Society and not found in Series 4 through 6. A large portion of the William Daniel Dixon Collection consists of Dixon's Civil War diary and the Republican Blues daybook. A transcription of these items was published in 2000 by the University of Tennessee Press in Knoxville under the title The Blues in Gray: The Civil War Journal of William Daniel Dixon and the Republican Blues Daybook. This monograph was edited by Roger S. Durham. The collection also contains visual materials, both original images and image reproductions. The image reproductions are mostly color photocopies, although there are also black and white photocopies and

- Page 4 - Finding Aid to the Caroline T. Bosbyshell Collection on William Daniel Dixon one color photograph. The original materials include cased images and albumen prints, including an ambrotype and a tintype. The box and oversize folder containing visual materials is noted as "VM" in the collection inventory.

Administrative Information

Publication Information Georgia Historical Society

Access Restrictions Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights Copyright has not been assigned to the Georgia Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Division of Library and Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Georgia Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Custodial History Material was acquired from family member of creator.

Accruals No accruals are expected.

Acquisition Information Gift of Caroline Thomas Bosbyshell, 1996, 2001, 2002; Roger S. Durham, 1996.

Related Materials

Separated Material

- Page 5 - Finding Aid to the Caroline T. Bosbyshell Collection on William Daniel Dixon Artifacts were separated and cataloged with the Georgia Historical Society Artifacts Collection. View digital images of artifacts at the end of this collection inventory or search the Digital Image Catalog for further information.

Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

• Georgia. Militia. Republican Blues.

Family Name(s)

• Dixon family. • Theus family.

Genre(s)

• Albumen prints. • Ambrotypes (photographs) • Cased photographs. • Daybooks. • Diaries. • Tintypes (prints)

Geographic Name(s)

• Confederate States of America. • Fort McAllister (Ga. : Fort) • Fort Pulaski (Ga.) • Georgia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865. • Savannah (Ga.) • --History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives. • United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Regimental histories.

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Personal Name(s)

• Bosbyshell, Caroline T., b. 1933. • Dixon, William Daniel, 1838-1914.

Subject(s)

• Volunteer fire fighters--Georgia--Savannah.

Physical and Technical Access Restrictions

Original documents are fragile and are restricted from patron use.

Publication Note

A transcription of Dixon's Civil War diary and the Republican Blues daybook was published as The Blues in Gray: The Civil War Journal of William Daniel Dixon and the Republican Blues Daybook (Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2000), edited by Roger S. Durham.

- Page 7 - Finding Aid to the Caroline T. Bosbyshell Collection on William Daniel Dixon Copies of journal

Collection Inventory

SERIES 1: Copies of journal 1861-1865

Scope and Contents note

This series contains photocopies and transcriptions of the two volumes of William Daniel Dixon's journal. There is also an introduction and several