Unpublished Civil War Material
in the Clarke Historical Library
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
Alexander, Walter H. Correspondence, 1864. 1 folder. One letter, dated Nov. 16, 1864, addresed to "friend Hez" and mailed from Watertown (NY). The letter describes the snow, a house full of relatives, and fears of raids from Canada. Politically, he mentions mass meetings, stump s(p)eaking (campaign speeches), a calm election in Jefferson County (NY) for Gov. Horatio Seymour, and "Hurray for Abe" (Lincoln). He mentions that Gus Alexander and Hez were drafted into the Gov. Seymour Guards. Gus was at Homeopathic Medical Hospital in New York City.
Alliton, Silas (1842- ) Papers, 1860-1916, include reunion banner, Company G, 3rd Michigan Cavalry, 3 diaries, 1863-1866, postcards, newspaper clippings, correspondence with Alliton and girlfriend, Dora Knight. Letters describe camp life, skirmishes with Rebels in MS and Ark., discontent and mutiny over delayed discharge after War. Also letters of Henry R. Wallace, a soldier in Company B, 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics to Dora about the Battle of Chattanooga, Ga. skirmishes, political sentiments, and pro-Lincoln ideas.
Blair, Austin [Gov.] (1818-1894) Civil War Centennial Observance Commission Papers, 1959-1966. Correspondence of chair, Floyd Haight, minutes, reports, publications of Commission. Correspondence re: dismissal of Exec. Sec'y Michigan Historical Commission, Lewis Beeson, newspaper clippings, papers "Major internal problems of the Confederacy" by A. B. Moore and "Michigan and the centennial of the Homestead Act, 1862-1883."
Clark, C. Letter, Nov. 11, 1859, from Clark in Ann Arbor (MI) to his unidentified sister, about family topics and Abolitionist John Brown.
Collet Family. Family Papers, 1840, 1936. .75 cubic ft. (in 1 box). Family Papers, 1840- 1936 and undated, of the Collet and Hall families. Topics covered include: politics, the Civil War, and slavery. Bio: The Collet and Hall families were joined in 1851 through the marriage of Emma Hall and Stephen Collet. Finding aid available.
Hopkins, Mordecai L. Papers, 1855-1891, include letters by Hopkins about politics, 1855- 1860; slavery, 1857; letter to his wife, March 1862. Letters to Hopkins from William H. Drake and T. Eastman with general Civil War news. In Mordecai L. Hopkins Papers. Also partial letter from Ananias Worden about the draft agreement, 1863, letter to Mort from George H. Osgood about Rebels, undated. Bio: Drake served in Company A, 3rd Michigan Infantry. He was discharged for disability at Washington, D.C., on Jan. 13, 1863 at age 28. Hopkins was a Michigan Senator from Ottawa County, 1855-1856. No information available on Eastman or Osgood. Worden was a friend and post office special agent under Pres. Lincoln.
One Term Republican Club (Lansing, MI). Letterpress Book, 1894. 1 v., includes index. Letterpress book, June 21-July 28, 1894, includes letters from the Club's Executive Committee Secretary, Fred E. (Frederick Eugene) Farnsworth to various Michigan residents and Republicans urging their support of Detroit's Mayor Hazen S. Pingee in his campaign for governor. Two letters are signed by the mayor's secretary, Robert S. Oakman, and four by Freeman O. Gullifer, both of whom were Republican politicians, Gullifer also being a Civil War veteran and Michigan Senator. The book is indexed by surnames and city names. Pages 192-499 are blank. Most of the letters are typed.
Scrapbook, 1 v. Debate on granting Jefferson Davis a pension, condensed from Proceedings of the Senate, March 3, 1879. 8 p. Pamphlet missing cover, pasted into Scrapbook No. 6, with newspaper clippings.
Truesdell, Henry J., 1833- Correspondence, 1863. 1 folder. Letter (photocopy) by Truesdell, while camped in Laurel (Md.), to his "Dear Niece" Clara [Mar?], dated June 20, 1863. He wrote that the government needed protection from Copperheads and cowards and in general about the "Old Flag", and the Rebellion. There is also a photocopy of his service record. Bio: Clara was a school teacher. Truesdell enlisted in Company A, 16th Michigan Infantry at Ontonagon (MI) at age 28. He was mustered on Sept. 17, 1871 and discharged as disabled in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 12, 1862.