Collecting pieces of Minnesota's past for the future
About
The Minnesota Historical Society preserves and makes available a wide range of materials chronicling Minnesota's history and culture. The goals of the Collections Department are to collect and preserve; provide access and interpretation; and engage in education and outreach. This blog is a tool to share these stories and let people know what is happening in the department.
Civil War Daybook
Confederate Flag Fragment - January 15, 1865
By: admin
| Civil War Daybook
| January 15, 2015
A fragment of a Confederate flag captured on January 15th, 1865, at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher, in North Carolina. The wool "L" shaped fragment is fraying along the cut edges. Owned by Private George E. Lowry of the 13th Indiana Infantry, Company C, which was engaged at Fort Fisher.
"News From The South", "From Louisiana" and "From Missouri", The Saint Paul Pioneer and Democrat - January 13, 1865
By: admin
| Civil War Daybook
| January 13, 2015
A letter to James Christie from his son Thomas describing Georgia and oystering - January 11, 1865
By: admin
| Civil War Daybook
| January 11, 2015
A letter to James Christie from his son, Thomas Christie stationed at Ft. Thunderbolt, near Savannah, Georgia, reporting on "oystering" in the bay, and delays in their departure.
A partial transcription of the letter:
Ft. Thunderbolt, near Savannah,
January 11th, 1865
My dear Father:
[…] We have had first rate times since coming down here & I have been on the water every day. The second day I went out into the inlet in a boat to where a vessel is sunk, which shows a good part out of the water when the tide is out, & myself & two comrades got over a bushel of oysters which were sticking on the sides of the hulk. […] I cut my hands all to pieces though, in pulling the sharp clusters of oysters off the bed & the soaking in salt water don’t make them feel any the more agreeable. […] Not off yet & don’t know when we shall be, as the Infty. of the 15th Corps is going on the Boats, & it is said that we have to wait for a larger vessel than ordinary, on account of getting room for our Guns & Caissons. We are too much used to such delays since we have been in the service to fret much about it, and we no doubt enjoy ourselves as much here as we would at Beaufort. […]
Thos. D. Christie
See entire letter here: 1865-01-11_ChristiePDF
Citation: January 11, 1865.. Letter from Thomas Christie to brother Alexander. James C. Christie and Family Papers. Letters Dec. 6 1863-May 25, 1865. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1281
A partial transcription of the letter:
Ft. Thunderbolt, near Savannah,
January 11th, 1865
My dear Father:
[…] We have had first rate times since coming down here & I have been on the water every day. The second day I went out into the inlet in a boat to where a vessel is sunk, which shows a good part out of the water when the tide is out, & myself & two comrades got over a bushel of oysters which were sticking on the sides of the hulk. […] I cut my hands all to pieces though, in pulling the sharp clusters of oysters off the bed & the soaking in salt water don’t make them feel any the more agreeable. […] Not off yet & don’t know when we shall be, as the Infty. of the 15th Corps is going on the Boats, & it is said that we have to wait for a larger vessel than ordinary, on account of getting room for our Guns & Caissons. We are too much used to such delays since we have been in the service to fret much about it, and we no doubt enjoy ourselves as much here as we would at Beaufort. […]
Thos. D. Christie
See entire letter here: 1865-01-11_ChristiePDF
Citation: January 11, 1865.. Letter from Thomas Christie to brother Alexander. James C. Christie and Family Papers. Letters Dec. 6 1863-May 25, 1865. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1281
"The News", Losses Inflicted upon the Rebels in the last Sixty Days" and "Our Minnesota Troops at the Battles near Nashville", The Stillwater Messenger - January 10, 1865
By: admin
| Civil War Daybook
| January 10, 2015
Diary entry by Thomas Montgomery of the 7th Minnesota Regiment, Company K – January 8, 1865
By: admin
| Civil War Daybook
| January 8, 2015
Cloudy day. threatening storm[.] On Duty as R.O. of Day. Reading & writing[.] visited all the Co. Qrs[,] Kitchens, Hospital &c with Capt. Scholes. Storm of rain commencing.
Citation: January 8, 1865. Diary entry by Thomas Montgomery, Diary, 1864. Thomas Montgomery and family papers. Minnesota Historical Society. [P2812 box 1]
Citation: January 8, 1865. Diary entry by Thomas Montgomery, Diary, 1864. Thomas Montgomery and family papers. Minnesota Historical Society. [P2812 box 1]
"Official Bulletin", "News From the South" and "From Cincinnati", The Saint Paul Pioneer and Democrat - January 6, 1865
By: admin
| Civil War Daybook
| January 6, 2015
Letter from Thomas Christie to his brother regarding skirmishes and accuracy of artillery - January 5, 1865
By: admin
| Civil War Daybook
| January 5, 2015
A letter from Thomas Christie stationed in Savannah, Geoigia, to his brother Alexander Christie, telling of his Infantry company's recent skirmishes with the Rebels and the accuracy of the Union artillery.
A partial transcription of the letter:
Savannah, Ga.
Jan. 5th 1865
My dear Sandy:
[…] When we passed through the line of Rebel forts on our way to the city on the morning of the 21st we had a good chance to see the effect of our shots. Their embrasures were completely torn to pieces, & two of their guns had been dismounted by our Rodmans. I don’t think you have much idea of the terrible accuracy of our kind of guns, which the Rebels confess they dread far more than any other kind; Probably you think your rifle is pretty good at shooting, but what would you say to see a two foot square target in the shape of an embrasure, hit twice out of three times at a mile distance. This we have done repeatedly, and we have never failed yet to have the last shot with either Batteries or sharpshooters. […]
Th. D. Christie
See entire letter here: 1865-01-05_Christie_combined
Citation: January 5, 1865.. Letter from Thomas Christie to brother Alexander. James C. Christie and Family Papers. Letters Dec. 6 1863-May 25, 1865. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1281 box B]
A partial transcription of the letter:
Savannah, Ga.
Jan. 5th 1865
My dear Sandy:
[…] When we passed through the line of Rebel forts on our way to the city on the morning of the 21st we had a good chance to see the effect of our shots. Their embrasures were completely torn to pieces, & two of their guns had been dismounted by our Rodmans. I don’t think you have much idea of the terrible accuracy of our kind of guns, which the Rebels confess they dread far more than any other kind; Probably you think your rifle is pretty good at shooting, but what would you say to see a two foot square target in the shape of an embrasure, hit twice out of three times at a mile distance. This we have done repeatedly, and we have never failed yet to have the last shot with either Batteries or sharpshooters. […]
Th. D. Christie
See entire letter here: 1865-01-05_Christie_combined
Citation: January 5, 1865.. Letter from Thomas Christie to brother Alexander. James C. Christie and Family Papers. Letters Dec. 6 1863-May 25, 1865. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1281 box B]
"The New Year", The Rochester Republican - January 4, 1865
By: admin
| Civil War Daybook
| January 4, 2015
Letter from Mattocks, a surgeon in the MN 7th, describing how he spend Christmas Eve - January 3, 1865
By: admin
| Civil War Daybook
| January 3, 2015
A personal letter from Ebenezer Brewer Mattocks, a surgeon in the Minnesota Seventh Regiment, to his sister Nellie, written from Clifton, Tennessee, describing how he spent Christmas Eve.
A partial transcription of the letter:
Clifton, Tenn
Jan 3rd 1865
My Dear Sister
[…] Christmas eve was spent in camp with no tent, no supper and one horse blanket to cover me, yet there were some pleasant associations connected with my Christmas eve. The evening was pleasant, we had a good fire and I was surrounded with friends that I thought a great deal of. We talked, laughed, smoked and commented on things past, present, and to come. I slept well and awoke in the morning with the pleasing fact staring me in the face that I had no breakfast. (Our teams were not up with us, being delayed at the rim) Soon however an invitation came from some of the men for us to go down and breakfast with them. I at once gladly accepted and enjoyed a good breakfast. […] We have persued Hood thus far without coming up to him, although the fourth corps have been on his heels all the time. I think he will long remember the defeat at Nashville. […]
Your aff brother
Brewer Mattocks.
7th Minn […]
See entire letter here: 1865-01-03_Brewer_combined
Citation: January 3, 1865. Mattocks, Ebenezer Brewer, 1841-1934. Ebenezer Brewer Mattocks and Family Papers. Correspondence and related papers , 1830-1911. Minnesota Historical Society, Box 1. [P1452]
A partial transcription of the letter:
Clifton, Tenn
Jan 3rd 1865
My Dear Sister
[…] Christmas eve was spent in camp with no tent, no supper and one horse blanket to cover me, yet there were some pleasant associations connected with my Christmas eve. The evening was pleasant, we had a good fire and I was surrounded with friends that I thought a great deal of. We talked, laughed, smoked and commented on things past, present, and to come. I slept well and awoke in the morning with the pleasing fact staring me in the face that I had no breakfast. (Our teams were not up with us, being delayed at the rim) Soon however an invitation came from some of the men for us to go down and breakfast with them. I at once gladly accepted and enjoyed a good breakfast. […] We have persued Hood thus far without coming up to him, although the fourth corps have been on his heels all the time. I think he will long remember the defeat at Nashville. […]
Your aff brother
Brewer Mattocks.
7th Minn […]
See entire letter here: 1865-01-03_Brewer_combined
Citation: January 3, 1865. Mattocks, Ebenezer Brewer, 1841-1934. Ebenezer Brewer Mattocks and Family Papers. Correspondence and related papers , 1830-1911. Minnesota Historical Society, Box 1. [P1452]
Important Daybook Announcement
By: admin
| Civil War Daybook
| January 1, 2015
Dear Civil War Daybook Readers:
By 1865 the Civil War is winding down. To prevent the repetition of content, going forward the Civil War Daybook blog will post no fewer than 3 entries per week, rather than daily entries.
We hope you continue to enjoy the Civil War Daybook , and thank you for subscribing!
Best,
Civil War Daybook Team
By 1865 the Civil War is winding down. To prevent the repetition of content, going forward the Civil War Daybook blog will post no fewer than 3 entries per week, rather than daily entries.
We hope you continue to enjoy the Civil War Daybook , and thank you for subscribing!
Best,
Civil War Daybook Team
Pages
