1858-1864

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  Manley Ebenezer Rice papers

  Manuscripts

  The largest part of the collection is the letters that Manley E. Rice wrote to his wife Elizabeth Jane Day Rice from Camp Randall, Madison, Wisconsin, New Orleans, Brownsville and Fort Brown, Texas, Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, Alabama. The letters posted at Camp Randall describe the training and drills, or rather the lack thereof, veterans of the Vicksburg campaign returning from the battlefield, and former enslaved persons working at the camp. Rice also registered his unhappiness with the state legislators who had failed to appropriate more funds for medical help. The letters then follow Rice's journey from Wisconsin to Texas and Alabama, providing detailed accounts of camp life, his concerns for his family struggling to survive back home, eager anticipations of the "end of this Fratricidal Strife," description of the occupied country, war news, including the evacuation of Fort Brown, John Salmon Ford's operations at Fort Brownsville in the summer of 1864 and other operations in southern Texas, the battle for Mobile, Alabama, the peace negotiations, the Fourth of July, the first anniversary of the fall of Vicksburg celebration at Brownsville, and the hospital at Fort Gaines, including former enslaved persons employed there. Rice vividly describes the shock of the news of Lincoln's assassination that found him in New Orleans, noting that there were "several shot for rejoicing over the death of the President" and the shooting was "mostly done by Colored Troops." He also cited very tangible threats made against Confederate prisoners held at Fort Gaines. Also included are letters that George W. Day wrote to his sister describing the stay at Benton Barracks, the march to Springfield, Missouri, an expedition to Cross Hollows over Boston Mountains, the siege of Vicksburg, and duty at Navy Cove, near Fort Morgan, Alabama. Day recounted war news and rumors, his combat experience and camp life, including his courtship of "a negro girl" in Mississippi whom he intended to marry. Also included are letters by Frank Rice from Monticello, Iowa, San Francisco, Placerville, Carson City, and a few letters by Elizabeth Jane Day Rice, her sisters and in-laws, and other family members. The letters of William Sinks, Rice's brother-in-law, describe his farm in Wellington, Monroe County, Wisconsin. Also in the collection are miscellaneous manuscripts, including sundry recipes, a resolution of the Temple of Honor and Temperance, Boscobel, Wisconsin, on the passing of George M. Rice (1878), a "War Song of the 18th Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers," by Emma Day, and a copy of the New Testament presented to M.E. Rice by David Black of Belltown, Wisconsin, February 27, 1864.

  mssHM 69708-69803

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  1865-1882, ephemera

  Manuscripts

  The largest part of the collection is the letters that Manley E. Rice wrote to his wife Elizabeth Jane Day Rice from Camp Randall, Madison, Wisconsin, New Orleans, Brownsville and Fort Brown, Texas, Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, Alabama. The letters posted at Camp Randall describe the training and drills, or rather the lack thereof, veterans of the Vicksburg campaign returning from the battlefield, and former enslaved persons working at the camp. Rice also registered his unhappiness with the state legislators who had failed to appropriate more funds for medical help. The letters then follow Rice's journey from Wisconsin to Texas and Alabama, providing detailed accounts of camp life, his concerns for his family struggling to survive back home, eager anticipations of the "end of this Fratricidal Strife," description of the occupied country, war news, including the evacuation of Fort Brown, John Salmon Ford's operations at Fort Brownsville in the summer of 1864 and other operations in southern Texas, the battle for Mobile, Alabama, the peace negotiations, the Fourth of July, the first anniversary of the fall of Vicksburg celebration at Brownsville, and the hospital at Fort Gaines, including former enslaved persons employed there. Rice vividly describes the shock of the news of Lincoln's assassination that found him in New Orleans, noting that there were "several shot for rejoicing over the death of the President" and the shooting was "mostly done by Colored Troops." He also cited very tangible threats made against Confederate prisoners held at Fort Gaines. Also included are letters that George W. Day wrote to his sister describing the stay at Benton Barracks, the march to Springfield, Missouri, an expedition to Cross Hollows over Boston Mountains, the siege of Vicksburg, and duty at Navy Cove, near Fort Morgan, Alabama. Day recounted war news and rumors, his combat experience and camp life, including his courtship of "a negro girl" in Mississippi whom he intended to marry. Also included are letters by Frank Rice from Monticello, Iowa, San Francisco, Placerville, Carson City, and a few letters by Elizabeth Jane Day Rice, her sisters and in-laws, and other family members. The letters of William Sinks, Rice's brother-in-law, describe his farm in Wellington, Monroe County, Wisconsin. Also in the collection are miscellaneous manuscripts, including sundry recipes, a resolution of the Temple of Honor and Temperance, Boscobel, Wisconsin, on the passing of George M. Rice (1878), a "War Song of the 18th Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers," by Emma Day, and a copy of the New Testament presented to M.E. Rice by David Black of Belltown, Wisconsin, February 27, 1864.

  mssHM 69708-69803

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  1863 May-1864

  Manuscripts

  Letters from Daniel Horn to his wife Geles posted in various places in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia. Also, letters of Horn's comrades and the regimental chaplain informing Geles Horn of the death of her husband. The letters discuss camp life, payments, Horn's concern over his family back in Ohio, war news, the Union commanders, including Ulysses S. Grant, and his fellow Confederate soldiers. He also writes about several military operations including Fort Donelson, the siege of Vicksburg, Morgan's Ohio raid, and operations near Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia.

  mssHM 49539-49610

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  John Greenwood Meadows letter to Eleanor M. Hand

  Manuscripts

  An autograph letter, with envelope, written to "Dear Nellie" who lived in Wisconsin. The letter, written from Fort Lyon in Colorado Territory at the height of the Civil War, describes the tumultuous circumstances of the 9th Wisconsin Light Artillery, then serving as part of the post's garrison after the Union Army had withdrawn all regular troops to conduct the campaigns against the Confederate insurrection. Meadows apologizes to Eleanor Hand, who would later become his wife, for his lack of letters, but goes on to express his feelings for her, and discusses whether he should re-enlist. Meadows also outlines his episodes of detached duty to posts such as Fort Larned, Kansas, and protecting the settlers and overlanders from the perceived threat of hostile Native Americans.

  mssHM 84109

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  Rough sketch of the lines at Saratoga [cartographic material] / by G. Bartman, engineer

  Manuscripts

  Manuscript plan of the first fort and defenses at Saratoga, with the encampment of the 48th Regiment shown. An inset shows a profile of the defenses. The fort was located at the junction of the Hudson and Fish Kill rivers, and built during Johnson's march up the Hudson to Fort Edward and Fort William Henry. George Bartman was an aide-de-camp to Gen. Daniel Webb, who commanded the 48th. Drawn approximately 1757.

  mssHM 15438

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  Life and adventures of Captain William G. Felton, California Bill

  Manuscripts

  The manuscript memoirs, prepared by William G. Felton in 1886. The memoirs cover Felton's military service, including the battle of Lewisburg, the siege of Vicksburg, his time at the Camp Ford Stockade Prison, and his post-war career. Included are accounts of his experiences in stage coaching in Wyoming and South Dakota, including an incident with the Dakota Indians, after which Felton was sent to Fort Laramie; the Battle of Little Bighorn; Crazy Horse's death at Camp Robinson; farming in California and Nevada; and mining in Colorado. Felton specifically talks about Buffalo Bill, Crazy Horse, George Crook, George Custer, Ulysses S. Grant, Henry Heth, Wild Bill Hickok, and Joseph Reynolds.

  mssHM 68183