A Guide to the William Wagner Papers, 1860-1862

Biographical Note

Born to Joseph and Elizabeth Wagner of Noble, Ohio, William Wagner (ca. 1843-1862) was a student at Ohio University in Athens when the Civil War began. He left school to enlist in the 63rd Ohio Infantry of the United States Army and was present at the Battle of Island No. 10 at New Madrid, Missouri, in the spring of 1862. That July, Wagner died of disease in a Corinth, Mississippi, hospital.

Scope and Contents

Comprising photocopies of correspondence, a poem, and an obituary, the William Wagner Papers, 1860-1862, document William Wagner’s life as a student and soldier as well as his death. Wagner’s early letters (1860-1861) to his family and friends describe his experiences as a student at Ohio University. Later correspondence (1862) includes missives from Wagner as a Union soldier in the Civil War, detailing his experiences in camp, battle, and on the march, and two letters to his parents announcing his death in July 1862. Additionally, the collection contains a poem by Prudence Jane Smith, “On the death of William Wagner,” and an obituary for Wagner.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

William Wagner Papers, 1860-1862, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Processing Information

Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s “History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light project,” 2009-2011.

Detailed Description of the Papers