Civil War Correspondence, Diaries, and Journals at the Massachusetts Historical Society 1754-1926; bulk: 1861-1865 Guide to the Microfilm Edition Sponsored by the Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities.

Table of Contents Collection Summary Biographical Sketches Collection Description Related Materials Acquisition Information Detailed Description of the Collection Index by Military Unit Index by Individual Preferred Citation Access Terms

Collection Summary

Biographical Sketches

Luke Emerson Bicknell

Luke Emerson Bicknell (b. 1839), of Boston, enlisted in the 1st Company of Massachusetts Volunteer Sharpshooters at Lynnfield on August 19, 1861, after completing three months of service with the 8th Massachusetts Regiment. The Sharpshooters were an independent company, attached at various times to the 15th, 19th, and 20th Massachusetts Regiments. Bicknell was wounded at Antietam, promoted to second lieutenant a few days later, and discharged on July 18, 1863. (Bicknell is identified as Emerson Luke Bicknell in Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War.)

Edward Jarvis Bartlett

Edward Jarvis Bartlett (1842-1914), of Concord, Mass., enlisted in F Company of the 44th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on August 19, 1862. He saw service in North Carolina at Rawle's Mill and Whitehall and was mustered out on June 18, 1863, when the nine-month enlistment term of the regiment expired. Bartlett then served in a recruiting office in Nashville, Tennessee, where he helped enlist colored regiments. He then served with the U.S. Sanitary Commission until the summer of 1864. On July 5, 1864, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in E Company, 5th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry, the first Massachusetts cavalry regiment to be composed entirely of black troops. The regiment saw duty in the Washington, D.C., area and dismounted at Petersburg, after which it was shipped to Texas as a counterthreat to Maximillian's adventure in Mexico. Bartlett was mustered out on October 31, 1865.

John E. Bassett

John E. Bassett, of Southbridge, Mass., was mustered into service at Worcester in the autumn of 1861, served with D Company of the 25th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in North Carolina and Virginia, was wounded at Cold Harbor, and was mustered out in the autumn of 1864.

Moses A. Cleveland

Moses A. Cleveland (b. 1822), of Willoughby, Ohio, enlisted in the 7th Battery, Massachusetts Volunteer Light Artillery, at Worcester, Mass., on January 4, 1864. He served in the Department of the Gulf and was discharged at Boston on November 10, 1865.

J. Chapin Warner

J. Chapin Warner, of Granby, Mass., enlisted in K Company, 34th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, on September 31, 1862. He served through the war as a private and was appointed chief bugler in 1863. He saw action at the battles of New Market, Winchester, Petersburg, Fisher Hill, Cedar Creek, and Appomattox. He was mustered out on June 16, 1865.

George H. Baxter

George H. Baxter (ca. 1824-1862), a farmer and resident of Newton, Mass., enlisted in the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on October 19, 1861, when he was 37 years old. He was mustered into the 24th Regiment as a private in Company F on October 23, 1861. The regiment was recruited at Camp Massasoit, Readville, Mass., starting on September 1, and left for Annapolis, Md. on December 1. As part of Foster's Brigade, Burnside's Coast Division, the regiment saw action with losses at Roanoke Island and Newbern, N.C. In May of 1862, Baxter's regiment joined the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, and in early June moved on expedition towards Little Washington, N.C. They met the enemy on June 5 at Tranter's Creek, where Baxter was one of five men killed in battle.

Andrew R. Linscott

Andrew R. Linscott (1844-1926), of Woburn, Mass., enlisted in K Company, 39th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, on July 29, 1862. He saw service with the Army of the Potomac at Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania, and the Wilderness. He was wounded at Petersburg on June 18, 1864, transferred to the 9th Veteran Reserve Corps, and mustered out on June 26, 1865.

Edwin W. Bearse

Edwin W. Bearse (b.1839), of Barnstable, Mass., enlisted in E Company, 40th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, on August 10, 1862, and was mustered out on August 31. He saw service in the area of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore before moving to the operations in South Carolina. The 40th served as a mounted infantry regiment in Florida, after which it was sent north to participate in the actions at Drury's Bluff and Cold Harbor. Bearse was wounded at Cold Harbor on June 1, 1864, and was mustered out on the 16th.

Thomas S. Howland

Thomas S. Howland (b. 1844), of North Dartmouth, Mass., was mustered into I Company, 33rd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in August 1862, and was successively promoted to corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, and second lieutenant. He saw service in Virginia, then at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge, and took part in William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and the March to the Sea. He was mustered out on June 11, 1865, with the rank of first sergeant.

Caleb H. Beal

Caleb H. Beal (1832-1876), of Hingham, Mass., was living in New York when the war broke out and enlisted in the 14th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. In the spring of 1863, he joined the 107th New York Volunteers and was commissioned second lieutenant. In December of 1863, he resigned his commission, and in June of the following year, he enlisted as a private in the 35th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, where he was promoted to corporal in May of 1865. On June 9, he transferred to the 29th Massachusetts Volunteers and became a sergeant. He saw action at Antietam, both battles of Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Petersburg, and South Mountain. He was mustered out on July 29, 1865.

Stephen Goodhue Emerson

Stephen Goodhue Emerson (1838-1863), of Chelsea, Mass., enlisted in H Company, 1st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, on July 31, 1862. He saw service at Blackburn's Ford, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, where he was killed in action on May 3, 1863.

John W. Trafton

John W. Trafton (b. 1839), of Quincy, Mass., joined E Company, 27th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, at Springfield, Mass., on October 16, 1861, with the rank of first lieutenant and was commissioned captain on July 23, 1862. He saw service chiefly in North Carolina, was slightly wounded at Newbern on August 2, 1863, and was posted to recruiting duty in Boston. He became Acting Assistant Adjutant General on July 29, 1864, but was returned to his regiment in December and assumed command of I Company. On March 7, 1865, he became Acting Assistant Inspector General and was mustered out on June 26, 1865. He then served with the U.S. Customs Service and attempted to secure the appointment to the post of U.S. Army paymaster.

George Edward Fowle

George Edward Fowle (b. 1837), of Woburn, Mass., enlisted in K Company, 39th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, on July 21, 1862. He was mustered on August 22 and commissioned a second lieutenant on January 15, 1865. Fowle saw service at Cold Harbor and Petersburg and was wounded at Hatcher's Run on February 6, 1865, hospitalized for three months, and mustered out on May 18, 1865.

Joseph Lincoln Brigham

Joseph Lincoln Brigham (b. 1840), of Boston, was appointed captain's clerk of the U.S.S. Pocahontas on June 1, 1861, and took up his duties on the 15th. On February 3, 1862, he became the pay steward aboard the U.S.S. A. Houston and served until his discharge on October 9, 1862. On October 25, he enlisted as quartermaster sergeant in B Company, 1st Battalion, Massachusetts Volunteer Heavy Artillery, and was appointed first sergeant on October 1, 1862. He served with the battalion in coastal defense duties in New England until his discharge on June 29, 1865.

Edward Louis Edes

Edward Louis Edes (1845-1864), of Bolton, Mass., enlisted in B Company, 33rd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, on June 23, 1862. He was mustered on August 5 and promoted to corporal on February 25, 1864. Edes saw action at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge. He began the Atlanta Campaign with William T. Sherman's army, became seriously ill, and was transferred to Hospital No. 2, at Chattanooga, where he died on July 3, 1864.

Robert Thaxter Edes

Robert Thaxter Edes (1838-1923), of Bolton, Mass., was commissioned assistant surgeon on September 30, 1861. He saw service with the Mortar Flotilla in the West Gulf Squadron, serving on the U.S.S. Horace Beale and the Black Hawk in operations at Port Hudson and in the Red River expedition. In September 1864, he was assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital at Chelsea, Mass. He was then transferred to duty on the U.S.S. Colorado and resigned on May 31, 1865.

Henry Francis Wellington

Henry Francis Wellington (1841-1915), of Milton, Mass., enlisted in B Company, 45th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, on September 12, 1862. The 45th was a new militia regiment, organized in response to President Lincoln's call for volunteers. It was organized at Camp Meigs as a nine-month regiment and saw service at Beaufort, Newbern, Goldsboro, and Kinston before being mustered out at Dedham on July 7, 1863. One week later, part of the regiment was reactivated in response to the Boston draft riots between July 14 and July 21, 1863.

Oliver A. Ricker

Oliver A. Ricker (b. 1838), of Lawrence, Mass., enlisted in C Company, 40th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, on August 14, 1862. He served for three years and saw service in the area of Washington, D.C., before becoming ill with typhoid fever and spending time in a military hospital. According to the official record, Ricker was mustered out, disabled, at Yorktown on June 2, 1862. However, the entries in his diary, which continue to September 1863, suggest that he may have been discharged to his home well before mustering out. A copy of a discharge certificate indicates that he was mustered out at Providence, R.I., on May 20, 1863.

William H. Eastman

William H. Eastman (1839-1912), of Melrose, Mass., enlisted in the 2nd Battery (Nim's Battery) of Massachusetts Volunteer Light Artillery on July 31, 1861. After brief service in Maryland, the battery was assigned to the Department of the Gulf and saw service at Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, and Port Hudson. At the expiration of his three-year enlistment, Eastman chose not to re-enlist and was discharged on August 16, 1864.

Henry Mitchell Whitney

Henry Mitchell Whitney (1843-1911), of Northampton, Mass., enlisted in C Company, 52nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, on September 19, 1862. On October 14, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant major, left C Company, and became a member of the regimental staff. After seeing service at Baton Rouge and Port Hudson, the regiment, which had been enlisted for nine months, returned to Massachusetts and was mustered out on August 14, 1863. After his discharge, Whitney took up service with the United State Christian Commission and was active in Virginia, where he served until 1865.

Samuel Storrow

Samuel Storrow (1843-1865), of Boston, enlisted as a corporal in H Company, 44th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, a nine-month regiment, on September 12, 1862. He saw service at Newbern, Rawle's Mill, Whitehall, and Goldsboro before being mustered out in June 1863. On September 22, 1864, he was mustered as a first lieutenant in G Company, 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, at the time of its reorganization. He saw service with William T. Sherman's army in Georgia and the Carolinas before his death at Averysboro, N.C., on March 16, 1865.

Lorin Low Dame

Lorin Low Dame (1838-1903), of Lowell, Mass., began recruiting a battery of light artillery late in 1862. He was mustered into the 15th Battery, Massachusetts Volunteer Light Artillery, as a second lieutenant on February 9, 1863. He served as the battery recruiting officer, completed the quota, and sailed from Boston for the Department of the Gulf in March. On September 27, he became a first lieutenant and saw action at New Orleans. Dame also participated in the Arkansas expedition and the fall of Mobile. He was mustered out on August 4, 1865.

Charles M. Whelden

Charles M. Whelden (1821-1910), of Pittsfield, Mass., joined the "Pittsfield Guards," Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, as a fourth sergeant in 1854. He became a fourth lieutenant in A Company of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia in March of 1856, then captain in 1858, and was discharged in September of 1860.

Under the direction of General Benjamin F. Butler, Whelden began to recruit the 31st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in western Massachusetts during the autumn of 1861 and became acting lieutenant colonel of the regiment. He saw service at New Orleans, Port Hudson, and Baton Rouge, before becoming commandant of Fort Pike. Although his commission was issued by Governor John A. Andrew, Whelden never received it and resigned in protest on December 23, 1862. General Butler recalled him to service and appointed him provost marshal for the district of Virginia, a post he held for the remainder of the war.

54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was the first northern regiment composed entirely of black troops, although all of the officers were white. The regiment, which began formation in Massachusetts on March 30, 1863, was composed of troops from many states and saw service in South Carolina, most notably in the assault on Fort Wagner. The 54th also served in various minor actions near Charleston and participated in the Florida expedition before it was mustered out on March 27, 1865.

Charles Bowers

Charles Bowers, of Concord, Mass., enlisted as a third lieutenant in the 5th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, saw service near Washington and Bull Run, and was mustered out on July 31, 1861, having completed the regiment's three-month tour of duty. Bowers then began to recruit and joined G Company of the 32nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.

Charles E. Bowers

Charles E. Bowers, son of Charles Bowers, joined the 32nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry--his father's regiment--on June 10, 1862. He became first sergeant on November 16, second lieutenant on December 30, was wounded at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, became first lieutenant on June 1, 1864, and was mustered out disabled on October 25, 1864.

George Middleton Barnard

George Middleton Barnard (1837-1898), of Boston, was commissioned as first lieutenant on August 20, 1861, and mustered into C Company, 18th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, on January 14, 1862. He saw service at Antietam, Chancellorsville, Cold Harbor, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and the second battle of Bull Run, where he was wounded five times. He became a captain on November 1, 1862, and was successively breveted major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel. He also served as Assistant Commissary of Muster for the 1st Division, 5th Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and was mustered out on September 2, 1864.

George Lincoln Prescott

George Lincoln Prescott (1829-1864), of Concord, Mass., held a commission in the "Concord Artillery," Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, before the Civil War. On April 30, 1861, he was commissioned captain, and his unit was mustered for three months as G Company, 5th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He saw service in Washington, Virginia, and the first battle of Bull Run, before he was mustered out on July 31, 1861. Shortly thereafter, Prescott was given the authority to recruit a company, and on October 31, 1861, he became captain of B Company, 32nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. On August 13, 1862, he became a lieutenant colonel and then, on December 20, colonel in command of the regiment. He saw service in the Army of the Potomac, the Army of the James, was wounded six times at Gettysburg, was mortally wounded at Petersburg on June 18, 1864, and died the following day. In 1867, he was posthumously breveted to the rank of brigadier general as of June 18, 1864.

George Henry Gordon

George Henry Gordon (1823-1886) was a soldier and lawyer from Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating from West Point in 1846, he was commissioned in the Mounted Rifles and subsequently transferred to the infantry. He fought in the Mexican War, receiving two wounds and one brevet, and went on to serve on the frontier at various posts. Gordon resigned from the Army in 1854 to attend Harvard Law School and become a lawyer in Boston. He returned to the Army in 1861 and was commissioned colonel of the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry on May 25, 1861.

As colonel, Gordon commanded the 1st Brigade, Banks's Division, Army of the Potomac (28 Aug.-18 Oct. 1861); 3rd Brigade, Banks's Division (13-14 Mar. 1862); and the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Banks's V Corps (13 Mar.-4 Apr. 1862). As brigadier general, United States Volunteers, 9 June 1862, he commanded the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Shenandoah (4 Apr.-27 May 1862 and 18-26 June 1862). He also led the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Army of Virginia (6 June-12 Sep. 1862) at Chantilly and Cedar Mountain.

At Antietam and South Mountain, Gordon commanded the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, XII Corps, Army of the Potomac (12-17 Sep. 1862). In the Army of the Potomac, he commanded the 2nd Division, IV Corps (4 May-15 July 1863) at Suffolk and the 1st Division, XI Corps (17 July-5 Aug. 1863). He then commanded the South End of Folly Island, X Corps (16 Aug.-24 Oct. 1862 and 28 Nov. 1863-15 Jan. 1864); the Forces of Folly Island, X Corps (15-28 Jan. 1864); and the District of Florida in the Department of the South (13 May-2 June 1864). Gordon also commanded the United States forces at Mobile Bay, the Union Department, and Army of the Gulf (1-31 Aug. 1864).

Breveted major general, United States Volunteers, for war service on April 9, 1865, Gordon was mustered out in August due to ill health. He returned to his Boston law office and wrote a number of books on the Civil War campaigns and battles in Virginia.

Collection Description

This microfilm edition contains more than 30,000 pages of correspondence, diaries, and journals written by 29 men who served with Massachusetts military units during the Civil War. The documents in this collection describe a variety of experiences in many of the most important battles of that war, as well as dreary field service and life in military hospitals, the Navy, the United States Christian Commission, and a provost marshal's office. Most of the material was generated by enlisted men serving in the infantry, but the collection also contains the papers of field officers and a major general. Many of the individuals represented in this microfilm served in more than one military unit; see the Index by Military Unit below to access the collections by military unit. To access the collections by individual, see the Index by Individual.

This microfilm is composed of 28 collections at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Collections have been filmed in their entirety, and some contain items dating from before or after the Civil War. Material is arranged chronologically, except where noted.

Related Materials

Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War. Norwood, Mass.: Norwood Press, 1931-1937.

Emilio, Luis F. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts, Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865. Boston: Boston Book Co., 1894.

Acquisition Information

The items in this collection were acquired through a combination of gifts and purchases.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Index by Military Unit

Index by Individual

Preferred Citation

Microfilm edition of Civil War correspondence, diaries, and journals at the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.