Diaries

William H. Anderson (IAU¹ Acad² x1860³); diary, 1862

DC 1342 Cammack Papers

William H. Anderson was born March 28, 1843 and died December 28, 1862. His diary is an account of his experiences in the Civil War as a 19-year-old Union soldier under Captain Eli Lilly. The men drilled and moved camp often, but never saw much fighting or any major battles. Anderson was a bugle boy, calling the men to wake and assemble for roll call and drills. He expresses his homesickness and talks of his home in Putnam County. Anderson loved music, studying, and writing in his spare time. He prized time spent alone. His health fails as they move from camp to camp and he must be carried in the ambulance/ hospital wagon because he is too ill to march. He observes the desertion of fellow soldiers and the destruction of cities and towns that they travel through following plundering by Gen. Bragg's army. He enjoys letters from home and having friends come to visit while he was still stationed in Indianapolis. His diary reveals his philosophies on the war, patriotism, slavery and death.

Elijah Evan Edwards (IAU 1853); diaries, 1864-1865. Evans was a teacher, writer, minister and artist whose diaries and drawings illustrate his Civil War experiences.

DC 93

Elijah Evans Edwards relates his experiences as he served as chaplain to the men of the 7^th Minnesota during the Civil War years of 1864 and 1865. He was given the title Captain of the Cavalry. He shares accounts of battle, bullets flying past his ears, what it is like to be fired upon and watching the men advance into the thick of a battle. Heavy losses are sustained and he describes going out to search for the dead and wounded as well as digging graves and burying the dead. He tells that many of the bodies brought back have been robbed of rings and other valuables. There is also pillaging and looting of towns and homes by the soldiers. They also burn rebel homes and fields as they go.

Much of the time is spent traveling to new camps by steamboats along the Arkansas River, which reminds Edwards of the Wabash River at home. He also spends much time working as chaplain in the Officers' Hospitals in Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee. Once, during an illness, Edwards spent time at a boarding house in St. Louis, Missouri. He was also given the responsibility of caring for Confederate prisoners-of-war. Edwards illustrates many of his experiences with pen and ink sketches.

Hillary Gobin Papers (IAU 1870); later professor, vice-president and acting president of Indiana Asbury and DePauw University, Gobin was a chaplain during the war.

DC 63-65

The collection includes no private entries, but rather memorabilia from the Civil War concerning veterans affairs and pensions. Applications for Civil War pension, rules regarding pensions and different amounts for specific injuries. Enlistment papers from 1862 containing Gobin's assignment as second Corporal and his release certificate from a Confederate prison are also included. In addition, there are outlines of specific battles, including plans, reasons for choosing the locations, preparations, entering the city and maps of battle sites.

F. M. Harris (IAU Acad.x1862) Member of the Putnam County volunteer unit, the Asbury Guards. Diary, 1863-1865

DPU Vol. 240

Harris' war diary contains his thoughts on what it means to be a soldier. He is focused on his ideas rather than on day-to-day happenings. He feels soldiers are human weapons and reflects on that at great length. He shares tales of long marches even when they don't know where they are going. They ask for food at houses along the way and he describes taking prisoners. There are reflections on nature and the glory of creation. He expresses this through poems, songs and short stories. The founding articles of Beta Theta Pi are also contained at the end of this record.

Thomas V. Lyon (IAU x1864) Diary, 1864

DC 449

After enlisting, Lyon spent much time in Greencastle before he was moved to Alabama and Tennessee. His focus is on visiting family, attending church services, writing letters home and getting letters from home. Lyon makes mention of the black troops in the segregated Union army. Mention is made of getting goods along the way from friendly inhabitants, or by just taking them. Lyon does fall sick and is bedridden for a time; and he has problems with his eyes. He describes the mornings when men are found dead in tents next to his. Much of his time is spent in hospitals.

William Ward (IAU Law1858) Diary (copy) 1863. Lawyer practicing in Versailles and Vevay, Ind. Served as captain of Co. A, 37^th Ind. Vol., 1861-65.

DC 77

The diary was kept from June 24, 1863 - September 24, 1864. Ward was a prisoner of war, but was recovered and rejoined his unit. A large part of his writing is noting whether or not he has received mail from home, or if he has written any letters. His unit receives orders to march across the Tennessee River and through the mountains by wagon train. Ward sees much fighting in the form of small skirmishes and heavy fighting. A highlight is when he sends money home to Sarah to buy a new saddle. The soldiers have a few dress parades and inspections. The rebels are consistently in retreat. Ward receives an injury and is hospitalized when he is struck with a piece of shell in the face. He again recovers from his minor injuries and rejoins the men. The remainder of the battles were successful until they receive orders to return home. The diary ends when he gets off the train to meet his wife in Indianapolis.

Andersonville
Meth. Rec. v.f.

Asbury Guards: Volunteer unit organized in Putnam County, Ind. List of members.
DC 449

A.W. Crandall Papers
DC 287-289, 555

History of the Indiana Seventeenth, 1861-1865
DC 498:f.14

Putnam Guards: Volunteer unit organized in Putnam County, Ind. List of members.
DC 449

John A. Wilkins (IAU x1859)
Alum. v.f.
Microfilm 142
Card file index

Verl W. Winslow. Thomas V. Lyon, Union Soldier; His Experiences with the Army of the Cumberland as Taken From His Diary for 1864. January 1957, senior thesis, DePauw University. 121 pp.
Alum. v.f.

Christian Advocate, Newspaper published in New York by the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1863

Putnam Republican Banner, Local Putnam County, Ind. newspaper. 1861, 1863-1865

Weekly Indiana Press, 1865

Carl Zenor, Putnam County in the Civil War. 
DPU Masters Thesis, 1956

The Long Roll, Newsletter of the Civil War Roundtable of West Central Indiana, 1984-Present.  The Roundtable meets monthly in Greencastle.  Meetings include a presentation on some topic relating to the Civil War.  The Newsletter contains information about the programs, battlefield preservation, re-enactors, books and speakers
DC2156
Bound copies in Archives Reading Room