The Civil War Collection consists of material acquired over many years from different sources. Coverage is of Lancaster County soldiers and of daily life in the county during the Civil War. The collection contains records of various military units, family correspondence, "Home Front" papers, Civil War era diaries, the Captain John R. Bricker/Dept. of Commissary papers, celebration and reunion materials, images, newspaper clippings, and general orders.
System of Arrangement
The collection is organized by category into ten series.
The oversized documents of Series A, C, F, and H are oversized and filed flat in Box 4.
Series A Military Units: Series A contains documents of military units, including muster rolls, enlistment papers, discharge certificates, assignment and promotion records, and papers of individual soldiers and officers.
Pennsylvania Volunteers
Pennsylvania Militia
Certificate of State Regiments
U.S. Regiments
Series B Civil War Families
Benjamin Reed Family
Soldier's Letters
Series C The Lancaster Home Front
The Bounty Funds
Pension Claims
Articles
Letters
Series D Lancaster Notables
Series E Civil War Era Diaries
Series F The Captain John R. Bricker/Dept. of PA Commissary Papers
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Civil War Collection (MG0018), Series #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Restrictions are noted at the item level.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-18
Classification
MG0018
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Much of the collection was cataloged prior to 1997. Added to database 23 March 2022.
Letter to Deborah T. Simmons Coates from [a sibling], 1837
Letter to Elizabeth Coates from Alice, 1862 (Elizabeth Jackson Coates, future wife of Marriott Brosius)
Civil War diary of Marriott Brosius, 1863-1865, with damage from bullet that shattered his arm (original, digital copy of images of each page and transcription)
Note from Gertrude (donor's g-g-grandmother) to her daughters Gertrude and Helen regarding the diary
Framed certificate: Commission to 2nd Lt., 97th Infantry
Pass for leave, Marriott Brosius, 1863
Digital and hardcopy of "Marriott Brosius story"
Digital and hardcopy of "Marriott Brosius military regiment history"
This collection has not been cataloged, but may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The chronicles of Middletown, containing a compilation of facts, biographical sketches, reminiscences, anecdotes, &c., connected with the history of one of the oldest towns in Pennsylvania
Chapters : First Light --- All Talk --- They're Here --- They're Gone --- Storm Clouds --- The First Day --- The Second Day --- The Third Day --- The Fourth of July --- Sunday "Sabbath of Suffering " --- Monday " Up From The Ashes " --- Tuesday " Food Bandages and Prayer " --- Wednesday "More Surprises " --- Thursday " On The Move" --- Friday "A week of Peace " --- July 11 - 12 " The Living and The Dying " --- July 13 - 19 " Some Go Home " --- July 20 - 31 " An End To Nursing " --- August and September " Lingering Effects " --- November 19 " Four Score and Seven " --- Epilogue --- List of Hospital Sites
Summary
"Many books have documented the military repercussions of the Battle of Gettysburg - but never before has an author delved so deeply into what has been a nearly untapped historical resource: the accounts of the town's 2,400 civilians, who became combatants and casualties, spies and stretcher-bearers - eyewitnesses all to this momentous event." [from GoodReads]
The diaries of Willam T. Clark of Chestnut Level, Drumore Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : Dating from his enlistment in Co. B 79th Penna. Vet. Vols. September 12, 1861 to November 30, 1865
"Transcribed from six volumes of daily entries while in the field with the U. S. Army of the West during the CIvil War, and three volumes of miscellaneous entries."
Library has v. 1-7; copy 2 (v.1-6 )has information about William Clark and the 79th Pennsylvania and computer disc inserted.
Contents
vol 1. 9/12/61 - 5/21/62 Enlistment; Departure; Louisville, Ky.; Tennessee; Raid into Alabama -- v. 2. 5/22/62 - 2/9/63 Tennessee; Kentucky; Battle of Chaplin Hills (Perryville, Ky.; Kentucky hospitals; Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro), Tenn. -- v. 3. 2/10/63 - 10/4/63 Tennessee; Raid into Alabama; Furlough home to recruit during Battle of Gettysburg; Battle of Chickamauga, Tenn. -- v. 4. 10/5/63-6/10/64 Georgia; Tennessee; Battles of Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Ringgold, Tunnel Hill; Regimental furlough home; Battles of Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, Etoway, Georgia -- v. 5. 6/11/64 - 2/11/65 Battles of Kennesaw Mountain, Allatoona, Marietta; The campaign for Altanta; Sherman's March to the Sea;The campaign for Savannah -- v. 6. 2/12/65 - 11/30/65 North through the Carolinas; The capture of Columbia; Battle of Bentonsville, N. C.; Surrender of Gen. Johnston; March to Washinton via Richmond;Victory parade; Return to Chestnut Level -- v. 7. Company B muster list; Original roll of Company B; Reenlistment as Veteran Volunteers (2/8/64); Miscellaneous expenses from January 1864 -- v. 8. Lists of rations issued as Regimental Commissary Sergeant, 1865 -- v. 9. Addenda and maps; Brief histories of W. T. Clark, 79th Regt. P.V.V.; The Clark family; Information on a few persons of note mentioned in the diaries -- v. 10. Rewrite of volume one.
