Civil War Collection

MS-17

• Introduction
• Access and Use
• Access Points
• Scope and Content
• Biographical Sketches
• Container Listing
  

INTRODUCTION:

Size: .4 linear feet (1 manuscript box)

Span Dates: 1861-1865, undated                         Bulk Dates: 1861-1865

Accession number(s): M1993-0303; NKU2008-027; NKU2008-028; NKU2010-004; NKU 2010-005; NKU 2011-006; NKU 2009-008

Donor: Charles Rowland; Mark Savolis; Charles Warnick; Special Collections and University Archives department purchases

Custodial History: This collection was previously known by the name “Civil War Diaries.” Recent department purchases were acquired to serve as a foundation for a collection specifically documenting Civil War history related to greater Cincinnati and Kentucky. This is an artificial collection created by the department by combining various small accessions into a single collection of thematically related materials. New accruals may occur in the future and be added to this collection.

Location of originals: The original diary of B. F. James and original J. H. McConaha[s?] autograph book of prisoners of war book are held by the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site in Perryville, Kentucky. The original diary of A.C. Dicken is held by Kentucky Historical Society. The original diary of John Denman is held by a private owner.

Summary: This collection consists of selected documents related to the American Civil War (1861-1865). It contains four pocket diaries (two are photocopies); two unit histories (photocopies); one autograph book (photocopy); three administrative orders, including a payroll voucher, travel permit, and discharge paper (all original); and five photographic portraits. Items are from individual sources but all are related to the experiences of soldiers in the Civil War from both the Union and Confederate sides and have some topical or biographical connection to Kentucky.

ACCESS AND USE:

Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research access. The Absolom V. Amerman and the William H. Masters diaries are in poor physical condition and some pencil script is heavily faded. Researchers are required to use photocopies and transcripts before handling original material.

Use Restrictions: The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, US Code) governs the reproduction of copyrighted material. The User assumes full responsibility and any attendant liability for the fair use of materials requested in total compliance with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) that may arise through the use of any requested materials.

Preferred Citation: [Box #, Folder #], MS-17 Civil War Collection, Eva G. Farris Special Collections, W. Frank Steely Library, Northern Kentucky University.

Related Materials: Special Collections’ book collection contains a wealth of secondary material on the Civil War including monographs, regimental histories, and biographies. To find related material, search the Steely Library catalog. 

The Amerman, James, and Masters (previously named Martin) diaries were digitized and transcribed in 2007-2008 thanks in part to grant funding from the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives.

Processing Information: processed by Anne Ryckbost, October 2012.

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ACCESS POINTS:

Subject(s):
Confederate States of America. Army. Kentucky Cavalry Regiment, 4th.
Confederate States of America. Army--Military life.
Dicken, A. C. (Absolom Columbus), 1835-1918--Diaries.
Perryville, Battle of, Perryville, Ky.,1862.
Representatives, U.S. Congress--Kentucky.
United States. Army. Illinois Infantry Regiment, 94th (1861-1865).
United States. Army--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
United States. Army. Michigan Cavalry Regiment, 8th (1863-1865).
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Cavalry operations.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Military life.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives, Confederate.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Portraits.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Prisoners and prisons.

Person(s):   
Amerman, Andrew V., 1817?-1894?.
Bennett, E. H.
Black, William H.
Chandler, Daniel H.
Crabb, ? W.
Davidson, John L.
Denman, John.
Dicken, Absolom Columbus, 1835-1918.
Goodman, Dan E.
James, B.F.
Jones, Andrew J.,?-1873
Masters, William H.
McConaha[s?], J. H.
Pope, Curran. ?-1862.
Powell, T.E.
Smith, E. Kirby, 1824-1893.
Vis[d?]in, John S.
Ward, Sarah Tobin.
Ward, William Thomas, 1808-1878.

Geographic location(s):
Camp Chase (Ohio).
Chattanooga (Tenn.)
Munfordville (Ky.)
Newstead (Ky.)
Perryville (Ky.)
Vicksburg (Miss.)

Format(s):
Cabinet photographs.
Cartes-de-visite.

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SCOPE AND CONTENT:

This collection consists of two original diaries; two photocopied diaries; one photocopied autograph book; and two unit history photocopies and transcripts. These items are arranged alphabetically by creator. The diaries and unit histories describe the daily life of Civil War soldiers, transportation and troop movement, health and illness, and active battle engagement. The Battle of Perryville is mentioned in several of the items. The autograph book contains signatures from Confederate prisoners of war held at Camp Chase near Columbus Ohio in 1865. This collection also contains administrative records and orders, a letter, and portrait photographs, which are arranged by alphabetically. A letter from [?] W. Crabb in Newstead, Kentucky to John L. Davidson and Dan E. Goodman discusses acquiring guns and the whereabouts of a brass drum.

All items in this collection, with the exception of Sarah Tobin’s cabinet card, concern Civil War soldiers representing both the Union and Confederate sides. In this collection soldiers in the Confederate States Army are identified by “C.S.A.”

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Andrew V. Amerman was from Almont, Michigan. He served in Company E, 8^th Michigan Cavalry Regiment, United States Army as a first sergeant.

Daniel H. Chandler enrolled in service in Indianapolis, Indiana on September 16, 1861and was discharged November 24, 1864. He served with the 5^th Battery, Indiana Light Artillery, United States Army.

John Denman enrolled on October 8, 1861 in Indianapolis, Indiana into Company C, 47^th Indiana Battery Regiment, United States army. He mustered out as a Private Veteran on January 1, 1864 at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Absolom Columbus Dicken was a native of Campbell County, Kentucky and a member of Company D, Fourth Regiment Cavalry, Kentucky Volunteers in the Confederate army. His regiment organized at Mosgrove near Owenton, Kentucky on September 10, 1862 and saw action in the battles of Blue Springs, Rogersville, Laurel Gap, and Saltville. The regiment surrendered at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky on April 30, 1865.

B.F. James, Co. H [?], 51^st and 52^nd Tennessee Infantry Regiment, C.S.A., may have mustered in with the 52^nd regiment in January 1862 at Henderson Station, Tennessee. The regiment took part in the Battle of Perryville in October 1862. A B.F. James is listed in the National Park Service Civil War search for solders database as belonging to Company E and another to Company K but none to Company H. The 51^st and 52^nd Tennessee Infantry regiments consolidated and separated during the war.

William H. Masters was a private in Company B, 94^th Illinois Infantry Regiment, United States Army. He was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky and lived in Heyworth, Illinois. After mustering in on August 20, 1862 in Bloomington, Indiana, he saw three years of action before mustering out on July 17, 1865 in Galveston, Texas.

J.H. McConaha[s?] may have been a Confederate soldier at the Battle of Perryville. It is likely that he was a prisoner of war held at Camp Chase, Ohio in 1865.

E. H. Bennett, Sergeant, Co. I, 1^st Kentucky Cavalry, enlisted on October 17, 1861. He was discharged from the Confederate army on June 27, 1862 after being wounded by a gunshot in a skirmish.

T.E. Powell, 1^st Lieutenant, Co. I, 1^st Kentucky Cavalry, enlisted in the Confederate army on October 17, 1861 and was captured on General John Hunt Morgan’s raid into Ohio in July 1863.

William H. Black enlisted on December 16, 1861 at Camp King as a Union chaplain and was commissioned into the 23^rd Kentucky Infantry Regiment on January 2, 1862. He mustered out of service on October 10, 1865.

Andrew J. Jones, 7^th Kentucky Cavalry Regiment, was captured by General John Hunt Morgan in July 1862 at Cynthiana, Kentucky.

Colonel Curran Pope commanded the 15^th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Regiment of the Union Army  which was formed in December 1861. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Perryville in October 1862 and Pope was wounded during the battle. He later died of typhoid fever.

Edmund Kirby Smith, born in St. Augustine, Florida, was commissioned as a brigadier general within the Confederate army and fought in Kentucky (Richmond) in 1862. He surrendered his troops on May 26, 1865.

General William Thomas Ward served as U.S. Congressman from Kentucky’s 4^th district from 1851-1853 and a Union brigadier general in the Civil War. Sarah Tobin was his wife.

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CONTAINER LISTING

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